Rutgers Unite Half Marathon
If a university doesn't currently sponsor a half marathon, it should! The Rutgers Unite Half Marathon was an event particularly meaningful to Rutgers students and alumni, and seeing the streets draped in scarlet was enough to inspire any finisher, regardless of school loyalty.

Expo
The race expo was held from 9 am to 4 pm on the Saturday before the race at the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center on the Rutgers University campus. For an added $18 runners could choose to pick up their race packets on the morning of the half marathon. Since we flew in the morning before the race, we swung by packet pickup on our way back from Newark airport. Of note to future runners of this race, this year's event was held on the same day as Open House for future Rutgers students, and we rolled onto campus as Open House was beginning. As a result, we sat in some traffic. Friends who visited the expo later in the day had no problems entering or exiting the rec center, so we recommend going a little later. With that being said, arriving early ensured that we scored some great deals, got some free stuff, and enjoyed a quick massage without having to wait in line.

Runners who arrived at the expo knowing their bib numbers were sent directly to packet pickup, where the 6,000 bibs were evenly distributed across thirty volunteers.  A clear drawstring backpack was provided to hold our bibs, gender specific technical shirts, and advertisements for local races and event vendors. The shirts for this race may be the best we've ever gotten, particularly the women's shirts. In fact, they're so great, they'll make you wish you were a Rutgers grad or student!

Within seconds we had our race packets and were free to browse the rest of the expo at our leisure. This was not a massive expo by any means, but it felt like the vendors that were there were the ones who really counted. Emergen-C, Nuun, Mama Chia, and Agua Enerviva were all offering free samples to attendees. A local running store was selling discounted running gear, so we snapped up the deal of the day, a pair of Nike Flash tights for 50% off (though two Nuuns for $10 and a free water bottle wasn't bad either). We left the expo already feeling satisfied with our decision to run the Rutgers Unite Half Marathon. 

Accommodations
If you've got friends in the Rutgers University dorms, this is the ideal place to stay the night before the race, as the course winds through the Rutgers University Campus. 

If you're over 21 and don't have any student dorms at which to crash, the closest hotels to the Rutgers campus are the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick and The Helrich Hotel.  Both of these are nearly a 5K from the race start, so you'll still have to do some driving on race morning. 

Places to Eat
If you've never heard of the legendary Grease Trucks, you're not from NJ nor do you watch the Food Network. These food trucks are a favorite eating spot for college kids after a long night out, and are dispersed all across the different Rutgers campuses. A meal from the Grease Trucks is ideal post-run, especially if you're looking to replenish all your burned calories, and then some.

Downtown New Brunswick, home to the RU campus, has an array of dining options. If you are an adventurous eater there plenty of ethnic restaurants to try, ranging from Ethiopian to Indian to Mediterranean.

Course & Fan Support
The course began at the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center (also home to packet pickup). An inflatable Rutgers arch marked the start of the race and gateway to the slightly rolling hills of the Rutgers campus. The course may be familiar to recent Rutgers grads, and alumni may find that it showcases all the new and renovated buildings that didn't exist when they were students. Anyone not affiliated with the school will get a good tour of the campus by foot (which in our opinion is the best way to really see any new place).

Aid stations were located approximately every 2 miles and were well manned with volunteers distributing water and Gatorade. Runners could also grab energy gels around mile 7.  Intersections were also well-manned with volunteers clad in neon green shirts and often waving flags. Getting lost will not be a possible at this event.

The course's on-campus location makes this an easy event for spectators. Fans could be found all over the course, though were stationed most heavily at the start and finish. It is possible for ambitious fans to get to at least four points along the course; one man, his two kids, and their "touch here for power" sign made it happen.

The course ended on College Avenue (making it point-to-point) which was draped in scarlet race banners (in honor of RU's mascot the Scarlet Knight). 

Post-Race Party
After finishing under another inflatable RU arch, runners were presented with their race medals (which are sure to please anyone affiliated with the university), given a bottle of water, and corralled into the finish area where more free goodies were waiting for bibbed participants. Emergen-C was on hand again, this time allowing runners to spin their game show wheel for prizes (the neon orange aviators being my favorite).

A band was entertaining runners lounging lazily in the grass on one of the prettiest parts of campus. Some lounging was well-deserved after this race. We heard a number of runners who, like us, were exhausted by the long, gradual inclines of this course.

While no hot food or beer was served post-race, goodie bags contained yogurt, fruit cups, and cookies. Plenty of options for re-hydrating were available. Sports drinks were the logical choice for most, but it was nice to have the option of drinking a Coke, and that was a choice here.

Shuttles were available to get runners back to the start (as they were pre-race, where runners could be shuttled from their parked cars at the finish to the race start). While we didn't take advantage of either option, we heard no complaints during the race of anyone unable to board. Instead we battled traffic out of New Brunswick, abandoning our original plans to drop friends back off at the start. They graciously volunteered to hike it back to their car so we could race out of the city and catch a flight back home. Based on this experience, we recommend the shuttle over taking two cars and trying to drive back to your original location.

Final Verdict
This race is a must-do for anyone affiliated with the university. We were lucky enough to have friends and family members who were Rutgers alumni and employees, making the race a more meaningful event.

If you live in NJ and are considering a half marathon, this is a great option. The race was flawlessly organized and the course manageable (though not easy!) Both the expo and post-race party were enjoyable, probably due to the manageable size of the event (about 3,000 half marathoners and almost 1,000 8K runners).

Our friends declared we make this event a yearly tradition, and we'll agree...after we do some more hill training.

For more information visit http://www.cgiracing.com/unite/.

Expo
The race expo was held in one of the ballrooms at the Hilton Springfield from 4 pm to 8 pm on the Friday night before the race. Runners first lined up at tables by last name where each of us picked up an envelope containing our race bib and safety pins, and a bag filled with coupons and advertisements for other races. Of greatest value were the free passes to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, which cost us $22 in entry fees the day before the race! From there we were directed to the t-shirt table where runners could pick up their men's or women's size short-sleeve technical shirts. The white shirts featured an old-timey looking map of the race course printed on the front. They fit well enough that they can and will be worn regularly.

We spent the most time at the Springfield Road Runners Club table where shirts from previous year's races were on sale for $2. We were psyched to obtain one from the previous year's 50th anniversary race, whose design was featured in a Runner's World slideshow about awesome race shirts. New shirts were also available for $15.

After looping around the perimeter of the ballroom where booths mostly representing other local races had set up shop, we stopped at the one other vendor to make our best purchase of the week: two Bondi Bands. These keep the ears warm on race day without being so constricting as to leave lines in the forehead.

Any runner that couldn't make it to Friday's packet pickup had the option of visiting the Hilton from 6:30 am to 7:15 am on race morning to do so.

Accommodations
The race's host hotel was the Hilton Springfield, which was convenient for a number of reasons. First, it was the site of packet pickup, so anyone staying at the hotel needn't set foot outside to get from sleeping quarters to their race swag. Second, the hotel was less than two blocks from the race start, so it is possible to roll out of bed moments before the race and still arrive on time. Finally, anyone hanging out in Springfield to do some sight-seeing will find the Hilton is located within walking distance of just about everything there is to see and do: the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, the Old State Capitol, and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

The weekend of the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon also coincided with a major Illinois youth group convention. The Hilton was also host to these individuals, and there were tons of them. If future races coincide with this event, ask for a room closer to the ground floor. At times it was difficult to get onto an elevator, and we were too high up to be able to take the stairs.

Just across the street was a Doubletree Hotel, which would be almost equally as convenient as the Hilton.

Places to Eat
Everyone we talked to in Springfield suggested Saputo's, a local Italian restaurant. We chose it for carb-loading the night before the race. Prices were more reasonable than fine-dining, but more expensive than dinner at the Subway down the street or some of the local pubs. If you are going to eat at Saputo's call ahead for reservations.

We also enjoyed eating at Obed & Isaacs, known for the historic site it occupies and the delicious beers it brews. If you are up for a challenge, try the locally known "horseshoe", an open-faced sandwich topped with choice of meat, cheese sauce, and French fries. (This meal may be best post-race!)

For foodie lovers, consider a stop at Driftwood Cocktail & Eatery where we got a Charleston quality farm-to-table meal. The restaurant serves small plates of super delicious food in a creative way.

Course & Fan Support
We ran this race for the Lincoln penny finisher medal, so were pleasantly surprised to find the course was more scenic than Springfield first led us to believe.

After a moving speech by Abe Lincoln where he quoted Steve Prefontaine (we never in a million years thought we'd hear Abe quote Steve), the race began to musket fire by Civil War reenactors. The first half of the race ran immediately past the only home Abe Lincoln ever owned. From there we spent some time in the Washington Park area which showcased some majestic homes and tree-lined streets. The second half of the race was slightly more challenging, though not unreasonable. We kept hearing about some "monster hills" that had us quivering in our running shoes, however this was just the talk of Midwesterners who may, like us, be unused to hills. Anyone who has properly trained for the race will conquer the hills with a little extra effort, and be rewarded at one of them with a view of Lincoln's final resting place at Oak Ridge Cemetery. We loved that one of the hills was littered with signs encouraging runners to keep going, recognizing the challenge that those of us who live in The Land of No Hills may face.

Also rewarding were the number of fans out to support runners on a chilly April morning. It had been a while since we'd seen so many spectators at a race, especially ones holding signs like "Go random stranger!" and "Touch here for power." Intersections were well manned with volunteers. Aid stations, also manned with many generous volunteers were located approximately every two miles. Each aid station was stocked with water and Gatorade, with the one at mile 7 also providing energy gels to fuel runners through the last half of the race. Police officers were directing traffic throughout the course, ensuring all runners had a clear path to their destination, the finish line.

The course finished a block away from the race start just in front of the Old State Capitol where runners were draped with the greatest finisher medal of all time, a giant Lincoln wheat penny.

Post-Race Party
The post-race party was held on the lawn of the Old State Capitol where a lively bluegrass band entertained runners who were eating bagels, drinking chocolate milk, and even enjoying free beer from Rolling Meadows Brewery (who were most appropriately serving Abe's Ale and Lincoln's Lager). An awards ceremony was held at 10:30 where top finishers were awarded with framed posters of the same design on our shirts. We immediately regretted not buying one of the posters at the previous day's expo, because matted and framed they'd be a tasteful addition to any home and a brilliant reminder of a great race experience.

Final Verdict
This race is a must-do for every half marathoner, especially those that are Lincoln fans. Abe and Mary Todd impersonators were on hand at both the start and finish of the race and gladly posed for photos with runners (we took advantage of this both pre and post race). In addition to showcasing the most historic parts of Springfield, the course had just enough hills to keep it interesting, without being overly taxing. With about 2,000 runners, the race was neither too crowded nor too lonely. Finally, this race rewards you with a finisher medal that you'll want to prominently display somewhere where you can gaze upon it daily (or hourly if you are a huge Lincoln fan).

Tips for a Successful Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon

1. Do some hill or speed training to challenge yourself. This will ensure that the hills of Springfield feel manageable rather than impossible.
   
2. Take some time to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, especially since your race registration entitles you to a free ticket. The museum contains some interesting Lincoln artifacts and different perspectives on his life and presidency.
   
3. If you are a Lincoln fan, visit Abe's Old Hat, a store that has unconventional antiques, many Lincoln related. It's like a museum, except you can buy most of the items in the store.
   

Publix Savannah Women's Half Marathon
This race was an opportunity to return to beautiful Savannah, GA, the site of our first half marathon. Since it was a women's race, it was also an opportunity for one of us to attempt to catch up to the other in total number of half marathons run. Since Savannah is only a hop, skip, and a jump from our home base, signing up for this inaugural event was a no-brainer.

Expo
The Fashion and Fitness Expo was held in downtown Savannah in one of the ballrooms at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto Hotel (also the race's host hotel).  The ballroom was a fitting location for a fashion and fitness event, where chandeliers crowned the area selling official race merchandise. Runners were first directed to the bib pick-up line where (as of 8 pm) there was no line in which to wait. From there we were directed to pick up our participant gift (as opposed to the typical race shirt), a New Balance deluxe tote bag. We were then free to browse the rest of the expo. Hopefully this first event was a success, and future expos will host a larger and greater number of vendors. While we were super excited to pick up some freebies from Publix, we didn't buy any of the highly priced New Balance race merchandise and were left with only a few other vendors to visit. Byrd's Cookies and The Salt Table made it worth our while as they were giving out free samples. What we liked most of all was that the expo was open from 10 am to 9 pm, so even after fighting Friday night traffic at home, we still arrived at the expo with time to spare. Anyone unable to make even the 9 pm deadline also had the option of picking up a race packet on the Saturday morning of the race. 

Accommodations
Hotels in downtown Savannah are costly, though for this race the rates weren't as inflated as they are for the Rock-N-Roll half marathon. Runners can stay right across the street from the race start and finish at the luxury hotel, Mansion on Forsyth Park. The race's host hotel was more reasonably priced, as was our stay at the B Historic, which was about half the price of Mansion. Both the Hilton and B Historic were located less than a mile from the start, so they made for a good, walking warm-up before the race.

Places to Eat
If you are anything like us, you will likely eat at whatever establishment is close to your hotel. For those staying at B Historic, try The Distillery. It had a good variety of meal options, there was no wait on the Friday before the race, and it was within walking distance of our hotel.

Anyone interested in a memorable meal has a large variety of options to choose from. While in Savannah, many people make the attempt to eat at Lady & Sons, popular due to the fact that it is a Paula Deen restaurant. You can give it a try, but be prepared for a long wait.  Another memorable option is Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room where patrons eat family style from the constantly changing menu.

For anyone wanting to eat on River Street, which many enjoy experiencing due to the lack of laws prohibiting open containers, a plethora of options exist. The hotel's desk clerk recommended Huey's, but we couldn't wait the 90 minutes for lunch. Instead, we went upstairs to Tubby's Tank House where we thoroughly enjoyed each of our three meals and the fact that there was no wait.

Course & Fan Support
We've said this a lot in the last six months. This was one of the prettiest courses we've ever run, and its beauty was due mostly to the miles of stately homes, magnificent live oak trees, and even the sometimes dilapidated splendor that is Savannah. Though every time we return to Savannah the city seems more and more revitalized, there are still pockets of decaying beauty that are just as awe-inspiring as the manicured lawns of the Historic District. Every mile of the Publix Women's Savannah Half Marathon was beautiful. It's tempting to tell runners to experience this race with a friend, run easy, and enjoy the feast for the eyes that has been set before them. With that being said, the late March race date, manageable race size (2300 runners), and flat course make this event one for a potential PR. 

There was music to entertain runners at a few points along the course.

Aid stations for this event were located every two miles, and if they were stocked with more than water, I didn't grab those cups. (Rumor has it that sports drinks were available.) Anyone running this event should know there is no energy gel located anywhere along the course. Bring your own!

Prior to the race, the port-a-let situation looked manageable, and race organizers appeared to have planned for 2,300 female athletes, pre-race.

A delightful surprise to this event was that it never seemed overly crowded, or even crowded at all. In a way, it feels as if we got some of the benefits of a big race without all the hassle. The start was manageable and, as a 1:50 half marathoner, I started close the front, and didn't have to do any dodging during the race's first half mile. Most participants were running a 2:00 pace or slower, making the race accommodating to just about any runner or walker. Many of the streets were closed, allowing runners free reign of the roads. Police were stationed all over the course, ensuring traffic didn't impede runners' experiences. Additionally, it seemed fairly laid back, with even a bicyclist or two pacing a runner, and a spectator jogging here or there with a family member. Of note, few volunteers were out on the course directing runners.  Be sure to follow the arrows painted on the ground if you're unsure of which turn to take.  

If you run this race for any reason, run it for the course. It was one of the best. Don't miss out on experiencing it.

Post-Race Party
Post-race, runners were draped with tasteful finisher medals, encouraged to snap a photo, and corralled down a chute that offered up all the usual post-race fare: bagels, bananas, muffins, Powerade, etc.

Forsyth Park was set up much like Savannah's famed squares, with the gear check, stage, merchandise vendor, beer tent, and solutions center all surrounding an open space area for runners. We partook in at least four free samples of Natalie's juice, snapped some photos in the lovely park setting, and listened to a fun little band sing some pop songs better than the original singers. After chatting with some personable ladies from Tennessee, we hung out long enough to enjoy the awards ceremony. The top race finishers were awarded with cash and Satchel bracelets. Though men were invited to run this race, only females received awards. It was a little disappointing that though only the female half of the population received awards, age groups were still in 10 year increments rather than five. Needless to say, it was a short awards ceremony. Race organizers, please consider offering awards to age groups in five year increments, allowing you to recognize more runners! 

Final Verdict
I hope this event was enough of a success that its second running takes place next year. After attempting to run a PR, it will be nice to run leisurely through the streets of Savannah with a running buddy, finish the race, and enjoy reclining on the lawn of Forsyth Park before a day of shopping and strolling in downtown Savannah.

Tips for Running a Successful Publix Savannah Women's Half Marathon

1. This is an easy race to run. There is very little a runner can do to mess it up. My only suggestion: bring your own energy gel as none was provided on the course. 
   
2. Don't expect a race t-shirt. This year’s finisher "gift" was an attractive duffle bag I'll be taking to all future races. 
   

For more information visit http://www.savannahwomenshalf.com/.