​Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon
For the last year, we'd been talking up the Publix Savannah Women's Half Marathon to all our friends. Luckily, we convinced a few of them to join us in 2016. We now are hoping that in twenty years, Savannah Magazine writes a quick blurb about us, and how we’ve run the race every year since its inaugural running in 2015. Just as we hope for long and successful running careers for ourselves, we hope for a long and successful history for the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon.
 
Since we wrote a race recap of this event last year, this post will just add some additional information and address any changes that may have been made to the race. For the 2015 recap, go to: http://www.serialrunner.com/half-marathon-race-recaps/publix-savannah-womens-half-marathon.
 
Expo
The expo was once again held at the Hilton DeSoto in downtown Savannah. Registered runners received a participant gift rather than a race shirt. For the second year in a row the gift was a New Balance bag, though as opposed to last year’s duffel, this year’s bag was a tote… and a nice one, at that.

​Accommodations
Visitors to Savannah should take advantage of the numerous offerings on vrbo.com. We were able to rent a home less than a half mile from the starting line for less than the cost of a hotel room. VRBO required us to stay a minimum of two nights, which “forced” us to experience all Savannah had to offer, post-race, on Saturday. Additionally, the full kitchen in our rental allowed us to cook dinner the night before the race, and house an ice cream cake to celebrate a birthday.
 
Places to Eat
On this trip to Savannah we enjoyed lunch at The Public, which is located one block down from the Hilton DeSoto, site of packet pick-up. There was something on the menu to please all of us, and everyone was thoroughly impressed with their meals. Post-race on Saturday, all seven members of our party enjoyed the meals ordered at Moon River Brewing.  In fact, the beer drinkers among us were more impressed with the food than the drinks. Though it was a little over a mile from our accommodations, Moon River was well worth the walk.
 
Course & Fan Support
After running this race a second time, we remain convinced that this is one of the prettiest courses of all the half marathons we’ve run. It’s one of the many reasons we will return to run Publix Savannah year after year.

Post-Race Party
The post-race festivities were just as excellent as those in 2015, if not better. After chatting pleasantly with the Savannah Magazine representative at the race expo, we scored VIP passes to their post-race tent. This entitled us to post-race massages, hot food, and couches on which to sit. Runners who purchased a one year subscription to Savannah Magazine were given a VIP bracelet, which allowed them access to the tent.
 
All runners were treated to live entertainment by the talented A Nickel Bag of Funk. One of us even answered the call to act as a backup dancer for the band by joining them on stage for a song. Check out this band’s website (http://anickelbagoffunk.com) or Google them.

​Our one minor critique of last year’s race was that the age group awards were given in ten year increments. We were happy to discover that this year, race organizers made a change and runners were awarded in five year increments.  

​Final Verdict
This race is now a yearly tradition for us. Look for us there in 2017, and look for us there in 2027. The scenery, the organization, and the post-race festivities all add up to a race one wants to return to year after year.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/SavannahWomensHalf or http://www.savannahwomenshalf.com/.

Post-Race Party
Tired runners didn’t need to walk far to get to the freebies at the finish line. All could rehydrate and refuel on bananas, oranges, granola bars, pizza, chocolate milk, and water. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina had a fun little setup where they snapped photos of runners and awarded them with free photos, sunglasses and water bottles. Additionally, one local group was offering free massages, while another was offering $10 medal engraving.

A quick awards ceremony was held for overall and age group winners. Each winning runner received an additional medal and gift card to Omega Sports.

Apparently runners are starting to catch on to one of the neatest things about Race 13.1 events: the big giveaway. These giveaways offer a big prize to one random winner; the catch is, a runner must be present to win. Using a random number generator, race organizers called out random bib numbers until they got to the winner of this race’s prize: a $1,000 certificate of deposit from Yadkin Bank. This gives runners of all ability levels a chance to win a major prize, and it’s an exciting way to end a race.

Final Verdict
There are a number of Race 13.1 groupies out there; people who travel the Carolinas to run in these well organized, generous events. If you are a Race 13.1 groupie, this is another solid event and a must-run.

Tips for Running a Successful Race 13.1 Wilmington

1. There’s not much you can do to screw this race up. The course is flat, fast, and well marked.
2. Consider wearing sunglasses or a visor. The race’s start time combined with the direction runners will be traveling makes for the sun in one’s eyes at a few points along the course.

For more information visit https://race131.com/races/race-13-1-wilmington-nc/details?tabs=on

Celebration Half Marathon
We'd been wanting to run the Celebration half since its inaugural year, and thanks to its generous bib transfer policy, we were able to make it happen in 2016. After delaying registration so long that the race sold out (which it does every year) we thought we'd missed the opportunity to run. A desperate Internet search led us here http://www.celebrationmarathon.com/faqs.html and ultimately to the Celebration Marathon Facebook page where injured runners were looking to transfer their bibs to those in need. We gave into The Man, signed up for a Facebook account, and found bibs in less than 24 hours. Two weeks later we toed the starting line at Celebration.

Race Expo
The race expo was held at Celebration Town Hall from 5 pm to 8 pm on Friday and 10 am to 6 pm on the Saturday before the race. Parking was easily accomplished in the parking lot designated for the recreation fields just behind town hall. Packet pickup was wisely split into three places within the building complex. Bib pickup was held at tables outside, shirt pickup in one room inside, and beach towel pickup in another. The two indoor spots were filled with vendors like Bondi Band, Sparkle Skirts, The Running Sticker, Raw Threads, at least one vendor selling running supplies like gels and compression apparel, some local chiropractors, and more.

Upon entering the town of Celebration, we were shocked by the size of the place. It truly is a town, and it has traffic like just about everywhere else in Orlando. Be prepared to crawl down the main drag (Celebration Ave) to get to the expo.

Accommodations
We said this last month when we ran the Disney Marathon: accommodations in Orlando are practically limitless. Your options near Celebration are varied. Runners willing to stay for at least two nights can roll out of bed and to the starting line if they stay at the Grand Bohemian. Book early to reserve a room at one of the special marathon rates. The second closest option is the Melia Orlando which is located about one mile from the race start. Again, runners who can stay two nights should book early to reserve a room at marathon rate. Both these hotels are normally quite costly, and the special rate makes both very doable.

Being late registrants to the race, we could not stay on either of these properties. There are still numerous lodging options within five miles of the race start. We stayed at the Comfort Suites Maingate, which was nestled inside the mania of Old Town and its fun park. Be prepared for traffic congestion if you stay anywhere in this area. Fortunately, you won't encounter much traffic at 6 am on race morning, so arriving at race start should not be a problem.

While we were a little scared about finding parking a reasonable distance from the race start, we need not have worried. Our recommendation to everyone is to park on Golfpark. One side of the street is designated for runners, while the other side has parallel parking spots and is open to traffic. Runners who can park on Golfpark close to Sycamore will have a quick few blocks to walk down Sycamore directly to the starting line. This will also keep you and your car off Celebration Ave through the main part of town and away from all that congestion. Few runners were parked on Golfpark when we arrived about 35 minutes before the race began, leading us to conclude that this parking area is an overlooked gem.

Places to Eat
We said this a few weeks ago, as well. Dining options in Orlando are also limitless. To narrow things down here are some options. Your race packet will include a plethora of coupons with a few for use at Celebration dining establishments. One Italian restaurant was offering pasta plates for $10. Scared of possible throngs of people waiting to gorge themselves on inexpensive pasta, we met up with some local friends at Little Italy (2901 Parkway Blvd). Food was good (if service was a bit cool), the prices were reasonable, and the location was right across the street from Celebration's main entrance.

Course & Fan Support
The course began and ended in slightly different locations near Lakeside Park in Celebration. Both port-o-lets and the local pool restrooms were open for use before and after the race. Prior to the start, wait times for a toilet were about ten minutes, so plan accordingly. A bag drop was set up in front of the AMC theater on Front Street, mere steps from the starting line. We discovered later that the marathon collected clothes that were dropped near the start, and those were neatly folded and grouped by color for people to easily retrieve at bag drop upon finishing. One of us got back his boring gray thermal, while our other bright purple fleece must have been snatched up by a cold spectator.

The race began on time after a singing of the National Anthem. Runners were treated via the course to a tour of beautiful Celebration and its charming homes. Surfaces were varied and runners traversed sidewalks, road, and even boardwalks. While crowd support wasn't massive, it wasn't measly, either. (Keep in mind we ran Disney a few weeks ago, so our perspective is skewed.) The finish line in particular was packed with cheering fans against the backdrop of downtown Celebration and accompanied by a live band. Numerous intervals along the course kept runners entertained with signs like, "Always give 100%, except when giving blood," or, "Your pace or mine?" We chuckled regularly and were grateful to whoever took the time to stick all these signs in the ground. We were also grateful to the many volunteers who were doling out water and Gatorade, which were available every one to two miles. At some point along the course gels and orange slices were also available.

After running around one last lake, runners headed back around Front Street (passing bag drop) and to the finish line on Market Street. More gracious volunteers were on hand to distribute finisher medals, water, muffins, Clif Shots, Clif Bars, soda, oranges, and bananas. One delightful surprise at Celebration was the Heat Sheet alternative, a disposable, one size fits all Celebration jacket.

Post-Race Party
The post-race party was one of the most generous and entertaining we've attended. Each registered runner of drinking age received a bracelet, which opened up access to mimosas and beer. In order to partake in both beverages and food, runners needed to show their bibs in order to receive a card. The card listed all the vendors and allowed them to mark when a runner had visited their tent and used up their allotment of food or drink.

All this was set against the picturesque views of Lakeside Park. Spectators and finishers alike could not only view runners as they raced their final quarter mile around the lake, but they could also watch the finish on Market Street. Steps leading down to the lake made for good seating and stretching and offered up the aforementioned views, in addition to prime seating near the band.

Don't miss the chance for free photos in a little nook on Market Street. Taken against some Celebration "wallpaper," runners posed for three shots and received a printed photo within seconds.

Final Verdict
The Celebration course was flat, fast and pretty. In addition to a killer post-race party, the race has a generous bib transfer policy. This policy allows those unable to run to get their money back, and those who want to run the opportunity to do so. Celebration is a modestly sized race that provides runners with a big race experience (or even better than a big race, truth be told). There's no reason not to sign up and a zillion reasons to.

Tips for Running a Successful Celebration Half Marathon

1. Be somewhat cautious on the boardwalks while running. There were many turns and we had heard rumor of the boardwalks being slippery when wet with morning dew or frost.
2. Park on Golfpark. Easy in, easy out. Enough said.
3. Bring your appetite. The food and drink offerings offerings are plentiful.

Walt Disney World Marathon
This was not a half marathon, but if there are any readers of this blog out there, you should find the information contained within to be just as useful for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon as you do for the full.

We were once advised to never run a marathon that also included a half marathon starting at the same time. Because of this advice, and because of the allure of Disney, we registered for the culminating event at Disney's Marathon Weekend: the Walt Disney World Marathon. For anyone considering the event, it is a race to run a least once in a lifetime.

Race Expo
Because the marathon is the last of four days of events, the race expo was also held for four days. Although we arrived on the last day, and nearly in the final hours of the expo, the vendors were still well-stocked with merchandise and there was no sign that things were winding down.

The expo was held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from Wednesday to Saturday. Bibs were housed in the HP Field House's lower level, and from there runners were directed to the Josten's Center. At Josten's, runners could browse the plethora of vendors on their way to pick up their technical, long-sleeve, gender specific race shirts. While official race merchandise was pricey ($38 was the average price for a short sleeve shirt) there were some deals to be had. Sweaty Bands had their usual discount section of $5 and $10 items, marked down from the usual $15-$18.

The best deal to be had at the expo was the free photo op at the Cigna Insurance booth. For as crowded as the expo was, lines were minimal so there was little effort involved in obtaining a memorable 360 degree photo. How often does a runner have a chance to do this?

Accommodations
Hotel options in Orlando are limitless, so there are plenty of options for runners who need overnight accommodations. Because Disney offers a free shuttle to their races for all runners staying on Disney properties, this takes a lot of hassle out of race morning (or mornings). Roads were jam-packed with cars, and with enough to worry about on race day, it can be relief to take transportation off your plate. We took advantage of the shuttles and because buses were arriving every few minutes, there was no need to panic about availability. Disney staff tried to convince us to leave the property at the unspeakable hour of 3 am. After talking to some runners who participated in the half-marathon the day before, we discovered we would be safe leaving the hotel on the 4 am shuttle. This departure time was perfect. We arrived at the Epcot starting line with plenty of time to wait in line at the port-o-lets, stretch, and walk the fifteen minutes to the official starting line.

Another plus to an on-property hotel: Disney also offers accommodations at a variety of price points, so runners on a budget can stay at one of the All-Star resorts for about $100 a night. Since these rooms have refrigerators, it is easy enough to stock up on breakfast food to eat prior to your race's 5:30 am start. Any runner wishing for a hot tub post-race should consider going up a price point. Disney's budget hotels don't have them. Knowing what we know now, we would have opted for a stay at a resort like Port Orleans.

Places to Eat
Much like hotels, dining options in Orlando are also limitless. If you want to carb load on some high quality Italian food, try Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse. If quality isn't an issue, any of the Disney food courts will do just fine, just be prepared to spend more money on inferior food.

Course & Fan Support
The Walt Disney World Marathon course offers runners the chance to tour six Disney properties: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Hollywood Studios, Disney Yacht & Beach Club, and Epcot Center. Running through the parks is an experience like no other. While the sights at the parks offer runners unique marathon views, racing through Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom also offers runners the chance to race to the dramatic and moving sounds of Disney theme park music. If the views aren't enough to transport you, the sights in conjunction with the sounds of Disney make a runner feel like part of a Disney adventure.

Fan support was multitudinous on the six Disney properties, and still impressive in between. While throngs of spectators cheered runners on at park entrances and within, many die-hard friends and family members could be found on the roads between parks. This was no easy feat. According to our own friends (who arrived at Disney with a spectating plan) getting between parks was a challenge, and they were discouraged by employees from venturing out onto the roads. Note to future support crew: it can be done, you just have to outwit Disney. We hypothesized that there are so many repeat runners that tons of people have figured out how to make it happen. Here are our tips for spectators:

1. Arrive at the Epcot start with your runners. If you don't, you will be paralyzed by the road closings and shuttle limitations.
2. Don't plan on bringing a bike or being able to do much walking between cheering locations. The course isn't walker friendly unless you are walking the actual marathon.
3. Buy a park pass if you want more access points for cheering. This won't seem like such a hard hit if you and your runners are planning on hanging out at the parks anyway.

For runners, the course was plentifully stocked nearly every mile with thousands of cups of water and Powerade. Clif Shots, bananas, and chocolate were also provided after mile 11. Additionally, there were more medical support tents than either of us had ever seen at a race. Unlike other races, the Walt Disney World Marathon also provided runners with dozens of photo ops where they could pose with Disney characters ranging from Aladdin's Jafar to Sleeping Beauty's Aurora to Toy Story's army men. While we had heard rumors of lines to pose for photos with these characters being miles long, the slowest of the two of us (who finished in just over four hours) never saw a line more than five people long, and most were shorter than that. Kudos to all the runners and the employees manning these stations. Everyone was super quick, and the photo-snapping experience took no more than ten seconds once runners were in place next to their chosen characters.

The most magical fan experience of all was running through Hollywood Studios. This was the first park we reached that was open to the public. It was a great honor to see guests who had paid to visit the park, stop, and with genuine enthusiasm, cheer on all the runners. Many looked awed and inspired by the event, and at mile 23, this was just what many runners needed to see. Runners in later corrals may have reached other parks when they opened to the public, but for our corrals (A and D) Hollywood Studios was the sweet spot.

Post-Race Party
The course led runners in a giant circle, so we ended where we began: Epcot. A finisher chute led us past final stands of cheering fans and toward the finish line where Disney characters were high fiving runners in congratulations. An army of volunteers was on hand to award runners their impressive Mickey finisher medals. Massive quantities of Dasani and Powerade were available for rehydration, and each runner was provided with a banana and box of tortilla chips, dipping cheese, Oreo cookies, dried cranberries, and a protein bar.

Because the race ended where it began, runners could pick up their gear check bags in the same place that they were dropped off. The same stage that entertained us at the beginning was entertaining us post-race. A note to the post-race beer drinkers: though beer was not free, it was available for purchase.

The marathon's post-race event was held at Disney Springs later that day. Though it supposedly began at 2 pm, we didn't see anything resembling a party on the property. We did see plenty of runners wandering through Disney Springs wearing their finisher medals which earned them small discounts at a handful of stores.

Final Verdict
Disney has got the whole huge marathon experience figured out. From shuttles to gear drop to hydration stations, Disney has figured out how to deliver in an efficient and manageable way. While not overly generous, in terms of "stuff" (beer, food, swag, park admission) the entire experience is well worth the high registration cost. Running any marathon is glorious enough thanks to the hard work involved, but couple that with the magic of Disney and you've got the recipe for the ultimate runner's high.

Rock n Roll Las Vegas
If you’re the kind of runner that likes to celebrate life’s milestones by running half marathons, it doesn’t get any better than Rock n Roll Las Vegas. The Las Vegas strip shuts down only twice a year, and one of those times is for this race, making it a truly epic experience.  
 
Race Expo
Few races can host a packet pick-up like Rock n Roll, and the Las Vegas event did not disappoint. We had heard rumors of the madness that exists at the expo due to the sheer size of the race, and as a result had considered signing up (and paying extra money) for the VIP race experience. The VIP experience allowed certain runners an express packet pick-up of sorts, as well as access to their own port-o-lets post-race, and (depending on the level of VIP one registered for) post-race massage, VIP gear check, monorail passes, and more. (For more information on the VIP options, visit http://www.runrocknroll.com/las-vegas/the-weekend/vip/) Truth be told, there was no need, and we were glad we didn’t invest the extra cash as the race expo and the entire race experience were more than manageable.
 
We arrived at the Las Vegas Convention Center, site of packet pickup, via the monorail on the Saturday before the race. We were lucky to be staying at the Tropicana Resort, which is the first stop on the Las Vegas monorail. This meant we had no problems squeezing into a car, or even procuring a seat on the way to the expo. Runners staying at stops closer to the convention center may have had a more challenging time.
 
Packet pick-up followed Rock n Roll’s usual procedures. All runners needed to have a printed confirmation sheet in order to pick up their bibs and race shirts. We arrived at the expo with our half marathon confirmation sheets in hand, but due to an odd glitch, were unable to print our 5K confirmations. The aforementioned glitch was easily remedied in mere minutes at the resolution booth (in spite of a modest line).
 
We began by retrieving our half marathon bib numbers, and did not need to wait in line at either the 1,000’s table or the 7,000’s table. From there we retrieved our 5K bibs and proceeded to t-shirt pick-up. For any women running a Rock n Roll event for the first time, be sure to select a shirt one size larger than your usual size. One of us learned this lesson a half dozen Rock n Rolls ago, and now the shirts always fit. Runners who signed up for both the 5K and half marathon received a shirt for each race. Everyone was provided with a clear, drawstring, plastic Rock n Roll bag in which to carry goodies received throughout the expo.
 
The remainder of the expo housed hundreds of vendors selling their wares and offering free samples to the thousands of runners who passed through. The Brooks Run Happy Island was in attendance at this expo, offering runners a chance to win prizes and challenge themselves on the Brooks mechanical sneaker-bull. Travelers insurance had both a sign making station for friends and family acting as spectators, and a photo-op for anyone wanting to capture the experience.
 
In a rush to make it to a comedy show later that evening, we raced through the remainder of the expo, and managed to board the packed monorail back to our hotel.

 Accommodations
You can stay just about anywhere on the Las Vegas strip and easily get yourself to the race start. With that being said, we were partial to the Tropicana for a few reasons. First, Tropicana was an easy walk to the pre-race concert at the MGM Resorts Village. In fact, it was so close we needed only to open our hotel windows to hear the music. Second, with Tropicana being the first stop on the monorail, we never had trouble boarding when leaving our hotel. With the 5K the night before the half marathon starting at the SLS casino on the opposite end of the strip, we utilized the monorail, as the walk would have been miles long. Finally, the Trop was an enjoyable hotel. Our rooms were tastefully decorated and clean, and the staff was friendly and helpful. An added bonus was the free cookies provided to us care of this Hilton Doubletree property.  
 
Also within easy walking distance to the half marathon start were the MGM, New York New York, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay.
 
 Because the start and finish were separated by about a mile, Rock n Roll strongly urged runners to make use of the gear check at MGM Resorts Village. As the race weather was expected to be windy and cold, event organizers wanted to make sure all runners had a warm set of clothes to change into post-race.
 
For those runners who prefer to stay near the finish of a race, the Rock n Roll Las Vegas ended right in front of the Bellagio. A stay there, at Paris, or at Caesar’s would make it easy for a runner to return to her hotel room and change clothes before heading back out for the evening.  
 
Places to Eat
Trying to advise someone of where to eat in Las Vegas is like asking someone to choose a diamond at Tiffany. There are so many options you could make yourself crazy trying to choose.
 
Because of the race’s 4:30 start time, we needed a full lunch, but not one that would be overly filling. Additionally, we didn’t want to walk far to get it as we would be running 13.1 miles later. As such, we recommend eating a late lunch at whatever little sandwich shop you can find in your hotel. Post-race, we enjoyed eating at Maggiano’s, which was a short walk from the race finish, and allowed us to consume the carbs we desired after running a good race. With that being said, you have your pick of places to eat. It seems to us that because there are so many places to choose from, unless you want to eat at the hottest restaurant in town, getting a table in Las Vegas is relatively easy.

Pre-Race Party
Due to the later start of the Rock n Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon, the post-race party was actually a pre-race party. Held in MGM’s Resort Village an hour and a half before race start, the 2015 race concert featured Kid Rock. The Village was also the site of gear check and massive amounts of port-o-lets. Not wanting to stand around too much prior to running, we caught the tail end of the concert before heading out to begin our race.  While we worried about being able to get to our corrals (1 and 7) due to the massive size of the event, this was actually the easiest of all the Rock n Rolls we’ve done. As long as you stay on the sidewalk, you should have no problem walking from the very back (site of corral #42) to the very front. Gates located at regular intervals allowed runners easy access to their corrals before the official race began.
 
Course & Fan Support
The experience began on Las Vegas Blvd. with loud music, a talented MC pumping up the crowd, and fire rocketing from the top of the Rock n Roll banner. The starting line is just south of the MGM Resort Village, site of the pre-race concert. Runners initially head south on the strip, and then make a U-turn, allowing all a glance of the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. From there, the course heads north, and passes the starting line, allowing runners another chance to be cheered on by the crowds at the start. From there the course heads as far north as the Fremont area before turning around and finishing at the Bellagio. For those in the later corrals, this offers them another opportunity to be cheered on by massive crowds, as all will pass the finish line on their journey north to Fremont.
 
In a nutshell, this course is one of the best. In true Las Vegas style, there is something to see everywhere you look, and that makes for a quick 13.1 miles. In addition to the novelty of actually running on the Las Vegas strip, sans vehicles, the entertainment along this course was the best of any Rock n Roll event we’ve participated in.
 
Aid stations were located approximately every two miles, if not more. Gatorade and water were being distributed at all stations, and GU was out there somewhere, though we did not stop for any.
 
The finish area was epic. The same infinitely energetic MC, along with flashing lights, techno music, and massive crowds all greeted runners as they approached the finish line. The army of volunteers continued in the finisher chute where they presented runners with finisher medals and distributed water, Gatorade, pretzels, Snap Pea Crisps, PowerBars, and other goodies. We’ve never seen so many photographers on hand to snap photos. In addition to those stationed at frequent intervals along the course, at least a dozen photo-ops were set up with photographers begging runners to pose for one more picture. The chute emptied out to the caravan of UPS trucks that hauled all of the gear check bags from start to finish. Before grabbing our stuff, we stopped by the Remix Medal booth, where we picked up our third medal of the weekend. Anyone who ran both the 5K and half marathon earned a third Remix Challenge medal to add to their bling.

Final Verdict
Las Vegas is the crowing jewel of the Rock n Roll Marathon Series, and is certainly a race to add to your bucket list. Don’t be scared by the massive size of the event. Racer organizers know what they are doing and have magically found a way to make a race of this magnitude a really special experience for everyone who runs. If you have anything special to celebrate, and you plan on celebrating through running, work Rock n Roll Las Vegas into your plans.
 
Tips for Running a Successful Rock n Roll Las Vegas

1. Utilize the gear check. On the day of our race, winds were high. Because of the race’s late start, temperatures also dropped by the time we finished, so extra clothes are a must-have, even if they are just to get you back to your hotel or the monorail station.
2. Be well trained. Due to the out and back nature of this course and November being a windy season in Las Vegas, the weather may impact how you perform. A strong foundation will make any potential headwinds more manageable.
3. Stay in a hotel near the start, finish, or near a monorail station. Las Vegas can be a challenging place to drive under normal circumstances. Neither one of us would want to drive on the roads during the one of two times a year the Strip is close.

 
For more information visit http://www.runrocknroll.com/las-vegas/. 

Race 13.1 Charleston
We’ve traveled more than 800 miles to run a Race 13.1 event. Fortunately, we didn’t have to travel very far to this race as it was held in our hometown of Charleston, SC. The event took place on Halloween and had the added allure of a costume contest, where the top getup would earn a runner $1,000. While one of us would almost certainly earn glory via an age group award, the other one tried her hand at running in costume. Though we earned no cash prize at the event, we left with both the satisfaction of running a good race and the comradery of having joined other die-hard costumed racers.
 
Packet Pickup
Packet pickup was held at the SC Blue store in Mt. Pleasant, SC from 2:30-7:30 on the night before the race. Runners could also pick up packets on race morning between 6:30 and 7:30 am.  Race swag for this event included a reusable drawstring bag, gender-specific technical shirt, and some goodies from SC Blue. For those from out of town who are running this race, be aware that SC Blue store is more than 30 minutes from the site of the event start.
 
Accommodations
If you want to be able to walk to the race start, there is only one hotel option for you. Because the event was held in Middleton Woods, it is right across the street from Middleton Plantation and its Inn at Middleton Place. Rooms here will run you just under $200. For hotels easier on the wallet, stay somewhere in West Ashley. Because race parking was plentiful and easy, consider a stay Comfort Suites of West Ashley or Hampton Inn & Suites of Charleston/West Ashley. Both about 11 miles from the race start.
 
Places to Eat
Charlestonians love their local food, so do your best to eat at a local restaurant and experience the culinary delights the city has to offer. Downtown is overflowing with options for dining, and it would be nearly impossible to list all of the delicious places to eat in one moderately sized blog post (and Trip Advisor has already done it: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g54171-Charleston_South_Carolina.html).
 
If you are staying at either of the West Ashley hotels mentioned above, consider stopping off at Boxcar Betty’s, which serves up fried chicken sandwiches in ways that satisfy everyone's taste buds. If you are willing to travel a little further down Highway 17, consider heading to the trendy Avondale neighborhood where you’ll find a great selection of bars and restaurants, all within walking distance of each other. You can carb load at Al Di La, nourish yourself with the tastiest salad ever at Verde, or choose from a variety of appetizing menu items at Triangle Char-n-Bar. 

Course & Fan Support
This half marathon was a trail race that took runners on a mixture of grass, hard-packed trails (and some mildly muddy ones thanks to some rain earlier in the week) at Middleton Woods. The runners’ village was a short walk from parking, and contained plenty of pre-race port-o-lets, inspirational music, and costumed runners waiting for the race to begin. While the nature of this event made fan support along the course nearly impossible, the aid stations nearly made up for this. The Charleston chapter of Black Girls Run was manning a water station or two, and they were so enthusiastic and generous with their support, we were convinced at multiple points along the race that we were approaching the finish area.
 
The figure eight course eventually led us back to the runners’ village where the start was converted to a finish line. Because the 5k and 10K started about 15 minutes after the half marathon, many of these runners hung around to cheer on half marathoners at their finishes, making this area the most spirited and energetic part of the event. A photographer was on hand to capture the final moments of the race, while volunteers distributed water and finisher medals.
 
Post-Race Party
A Halloween race made for a particularly entertaining post-race party. In addition to the usual excitement over who would be receiving race awards, there was the added anticipation of the costume contest. In between cheering on 5K award winners and enjoying the half marathon awards ceremony about an hour later, there was much to entertain runners and spectators. Most entertaining was the people watching. The race brought out characters like Pinhead, Alan (from The Hangover movies), an entire deck of cards, Pac-Man, a WWE wrestler, a Roman gladiator, Alice Cooper for President, and a host of other memorable costumes.
 
Anyone with a race bib who was over 21 could partake in two beers from Sam Adams. All runners could chow down on post-race pizza, bananas, and snack bars. And, if the people-watching wasn’t enough entertainment, Blue Cross Blue Shield offered everyone the chance to play Plinko and win one of a variety of goodies. 

Final Verdict
Race 13.1 consistently delivers a big race experience in a smaller package. With this race, they managed to do it out on the trails, and in costume.
 
Tips for Running a Successful Race 13.1 Charleston

1. Do some training on trails to prepare you for the uneven terrain of this course.  
2. Wear shoes that aren’t new. Odds are, they will get a little muddy, even on a dry day.
3. Consider wearing a costume. While trail running can be difficult, it’s hard to feel too much pain when one is dressed like a minion or a character from The Hunger Games. 

Race 13.1 Little Rock
When we first heard Race 13.1 was hosting a race in Little Rock, Arkansas, we were eager to sign up. Registering for this event meant we’d check another state off our 50 states list, and we knew with Race 13.1 we’d experience a reliably great race.

Packet Pickup
Packet pickup was held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fleet Feet Easy Runner in Little Rock on the day before the race. Anyone unable to attend Saturday's session had the option of picking up on Sunday morning (race morning) from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. The customer service tent was located mere steps from the start, making it easy to acquire one's bib and shirt mere minutes before the race. With that being said, we recommend making every effort to visit Fleet Feet for packet pickup. In addition to a staff that was super knowledgeable and friendly, the store was offering some great deals in honor of the race. 

Accommodations
A number of hotels were located within one mile of the race start at the Clinton Presidential Library. We stayed at the Comfort Suites Presidential and could see the Holiday Inn Presidential just across the street. Be aware that while these hotels were located about a half mile from the start, that half mile leads to a dramatic difference between neighborhoods. We were advised only to walk to race start from the hotel as long as we were not alone. We did the walk with no problems. In spite of the questionable neighborhood, both hotels are rated excellent and/or outstanding on Trip Advisor. We were well cared for at the Comfort Suites, which offered a surprising number of amenities (including a shuttle to the downtown dining/bar area).

Once we arrived at the Clinton Presidential Park, we were greeted by a friendly, modernized part of town with pedestrian friendly bridges, and wide, expansive lawns. The starting line was set up mere steps from the Museum of Discovery, where giant animated dinosaurs witnessed both the race start and finish.

Places to Eat
Downtown Little Rock has a plethora of dining options within shuttle distance of the aforementioned hotels. Per the suggestion of hotel staff, we carb-loaded at Dizzy's Gypsy Cafe where we dined on some high quality pasta while watching football in conjunction with entertainment from live belly dancers. Many locals also recommended the Flying Fish. Both it and Dizzy's were two of the top-rated Trip Advisor restaurants in town.

Mere hours after the race we returned to Fleet Feet to spend some prize money and ate at the Panera Bread located just next door. Both Fleet Feet and Panera are a fifteen minute car ride from the Clinton Presidential Library and the race start.

Course & Fan Support
The race took runners along the paved and scenic Arkansas River Trail. Volunteers and police officers manned every intersection, directing runners along the right path. Because so much of the race occurred on the trail, we saw few cars and had no need to worry about traffic. The out-and-back course offered us multiple views of downtown Little Rock from across the Arkansas River, as well as some more natural scenery further from the city. Aid stations were located approximately every two miles and were well-manned with volunteers distributing Gatorade and water.

The course began and ended with the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, which led from the starting line to the trail, and the trail to the finish. After exiting the bridge on our return, we ran under the shadow of the two giant Museum of Discovery dinosaurs before rounding the park to the finish line. Runners were greeted by volunteers offering up water and finisher medals, while a personable DJ played all our favorite race music in the background.

While we've enjoyed all our Race 13.1 events, this one had the most scenic course of all. The ease of the trails and views from the course make it an event not to be missed. Additionally, Arkansas has some of the friendliest runners of all the states we raced in. So much so that runners at the back of the pack were still offering cheers and encouragement to middle-of-the-packers, halfway through the race. 

Post-Race Party
This was the first Race 13.1 event we'd run that offered beer to finishers. Victory Brewing Company was on hand to pour two craft beers to any finisher of legal drinking age. Papa Johns was serving up pizza if runners wished for more than the standard post-race banana, and Caveman Bars had a table strewn with offerings of their paleo-friendly fruit and nut bars.

At the 10 a.m. awards ceremony, beautiful age group and overall winner medals were gift to presented to runners who placed in the event, along with gift certificates to the local Fleet Feet running store (site of packet-pickup).

Final Verdict
While the Little Rock Marathon in March is famed for its dinner plate sized medals, we're glad our first Arkansas race was this Race 13.1 event. It offered us all the perks of a big race without all the crowds. Additionally, the late September race date meant the weather was just about perfect: low 60's at the start and upper 60's at the finish (making it perfect for racing and for perfect for hanging out at the post-race party). We thoroughly enjoyed the course's scenic views, which offered us a different sight of the city.

Tips for Running a Successful Race 13.1 Arkansas
There is very little one need's to do to successfully run this race. Race 13.1 makes it easy on runners to pick up packets, park at the race start, and enjoy the whole race experience. Our only suggestion is this: because there is no bag drop, make arrangements for your stuff (keys, extra clothes, etc.) We walked to the race start from our hotel simply because we would have nowhere to stash our giant rental car keys. If you have items to leave behind while you run, bring someone to hold them, or make sure none of the items are things you'd mind leaving laying around. We stashed some long sleeved shirts in a tree, and though they were there upon our return, we wouldn't have been heartbroken to lose them. Other than this, just enjoy a great race experience. 

Timpanogos Half Marathon
In an effort to run a half marathon in all 50 states, we signed up for Timpanogos as the second of two half marathons during a trip out west. We’re embarrassed to say we signed up almost as an afterthought, because the race turned out to be one of our favorites.

Packet Pickup
Packet pickup was held at The Outlets at Traverse Mountain from 10 am to 8 pm on the Friday before the race. While pickup was a modest size, we were jaw-droppingly impressed by the outlets… and we’re not mall people. If you run this race, be sure to visit the restrooms at Traverse Mountain. They’re so impressive you’ll want to sit in the lounge area with a cocktail. The actual packet pickup was staffed by a few vendors. KT Tape was taping runners up for free, RooSport was selling their fitness pouches (www.theroosport.com), and the usual running wares were being sold by a third vendor.

To pick up our actual race packet we looked up our names in a binder, located our bib numbers, and wrote them on the Timp Half card provided by race organizers. At a second table we handed over our cards and were given our bibs, gender specific technical shirts, and a drawstring Timp Half bag that included some generous coupons. For an extra four dollars, women had the option at this race to upgrade from their gender specific short sleeve t-shirts to a women’s running tank. One of us upgraded her shirt and was glad she did. Rumor has it that the women’s t-shirts were running extremely small and many participants needed to trade up a size on race day morning. 

Accommodations
Hotels are everywhere along I-15, the interstate that runs between Salt Lake City and American Fork. Since there are no hotel options within walking distance to either the start or the finish line, choose any option along I-15 in the American Fork/Lehi/Timpanogos area.

Places to Eat
Much like hotels, places to eat were nearly limitless. Runners can choose their food type (American? Thai? Southwestern? Fast? Local?) Its all there in American Fork. Our race swag bags included a free chicken biscuit from Chick-Fil-A. Runners looking to save a few dollars can always go where their race coupons take them.

Course and Fan Support
This was probably the earliest we’ve ever had to wake up for a race, and it was well worth it. Runners were bused from American Fork High School between 4 am and 5 am to Tibble Fork Reservoir, the race start. The 6 am start allowed for a few things. First, runners got to watch the sunrise over the canyon while still witnessing the giant blue moon hanging in the sky. Second, the early start kept us out of the heat that spiked during later hours in the day. Temperatures were an ideal fifty degrees at the top of the canyon at race start and rose gradually to sixty-five degrees as we descended to the bottom of the canyon. The course took us down American Fork Canyon along Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. The road was closed to traffic coming down the mountain, though open to cars going up.

We had nearly an hour to wait between being dropped off by the race shuttles and beginning the race, which left us plenty of time to stand in the manageable port-a-let lines and do some warming up before running. It was chilly at the top of the mountain (for just standing around) so we recommend taking advantage of the bag drop. Wear extra layers that you can remove a few minutes before race start; it will make for a more comfortable waiting period. Bag drop was super-easy, and required us only to toss our bags on a bus based on our bib number before walking a few steps to the starting line.

Timpanogos Half Marathon has a course for nature lovers. Between the sunrise, full moon, Tibble Fork Reservoir, American Fork River, and views of the canyon, there was always a view to appreciate while descending nearly 1800 feet from the race start to the finish. We found the descent to be manageable, especially compared to the race we completed the previous weekend, which dropped about 1400 feet in only five miles. While our quads and calves were still sore from racing seven days prior, we never felt like the descent at Timpanogos was impossible. Actually, we felt like it was downright enjoyable.

Because of the road closing, there were few spectators in the canyon. Once we exited, there were some super-enthusiastic friends and family members cheering runners on along the Cedar Hills trail system and Murdock Canal trail. The tiny rolling hills along both trails were a pleasant contrast to the constant downhill of the first eight miles of the race.

The race finished under an inflatable arch on the track at American Fork High School. Tons of spectators were here cheering on finishers as volunteers draped impressive finisher medals around the necks of those who had completed the race. 

Post-Race Party
The post-race festivities were held on the back corner of the track at American Fork High School. Because of the crowds, it was a challenge to pour a cup of water and grab a Creamies ice pop or some Chick-Fil-A before waiting in line for a photo-op. Photos for this race were free, so lines were appropriately long!

The awards ceremony began around 9 o’clock, with overall winners and age group winners of the 5K race called first. Age group winners received a second medal to complement their finisher medals.

Final Verdict
If we lived in the area, we would run this race every year simply for the stunning views offered by the race’s course. We would have loved to experience this race on fresh legs, rather than ones that were still sore from a half marathon the weekend before. A little pain in the quads and calves still did not detract from our enjoyment at Timpanogos. We say run this race if given the opportunity!

Tips for Running a Successful Timpanogos Half Marathon

1. Run hill repeats to prepare for the 1800 foot descent of this course. Run up a hill, then run race pace down, and repeat. 
   
2. Don’t worry about wearing sunglasses. Of the 13.1 miles, we only felt like we needed them for about a mile. 
   
3. Take advantage of the bag drop. It’s cold at Tibble Fork Reservoir (the race start) and you’ll be waiting for about an hour for the race to begin. Bring warm clothes and shed them shortly before the gun goes off. 
   

For more information visit http://timphalf.com/. 

Idaho Falls M.A.D. Half Marathon
We bundled the Idaho Falls M.A.D. Half Marathon into a summer vacation that included Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Salt Lake City. For anyone vacationing in the area, if you fly into Salt Lake City, Idaho Falls is a perfect stopover on the way to the Parks.

Packet Pickup
Packet Pickup was held at Bill's Bike and Run from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm on the Friday before the race. Runners were given Idaho Falls Marathon duffle bags which were stocked with some generous offerings: one Huma energy gel, a pen/stylus combo, multiple Jamba Juice coupons, a packet of Deep Blue Rub, and a unisex technical shirt in an appealing bright red.

Race organizers also allowed runners to choose their race numbers at packet pickup. We had a little fun with this. Since Idaho Falls was the last half marathon one of us would run before turning 40, bib #39 was one of our choices.

Accommodations
We usually like to stay as close to the start or finish of a race as possible, allowing us either to wake up late or have easy access to a change of clothes post-race. Our closest hotel option for Idaho Falls was the city's #1 Trip Advisor rated hotel, the Sleep Inn. In addition to being as clean as a whistle and offering both breakfast and dinner, the hotel was only two turns and a few miles to the start. We recommend staying here, but if you do, be sure to book in advance. Many without reservations were turned away after inquiring about rooms. The hotel was booked solid on the Friday night before the half marathon.

Places to Eat
On the night before the race we played it safe and carb-loaded at the local Olive Garden, which was a quick five minute drive from Bill's. With that being said, dining options were plentiful in town. The local Idaho Falls travel magazine listed award winners for categories like Mexican food (Jalisco's) and American Food (Snake Bite Restaurant). We stopped at a Trip Advisor favorite, Snow Eagle Brewery. This might be a great option if you are traveling with a large party. The menu was diverse, and runners could order healthier options like the delicious pear and walnut salad we enjoyed, or a tasty grilled chicken/avocado/pesto sandwich which we also happily scarfed down. Anyone wanting the more typical burger and fries would also be satisfied with Snow Eagle.

Course & Fan Support
The Idaho Falls M.A.D Half Marathon was a point to point course. Buses left Bill's Bike and Run promptly at 5:30 a.m to shuttle runners to the top of the mountain where the race began. The only things to be found at the top of this mountain were four port-a-lets, a road, and the 300 or so runners that were part of the event. Runners who weren't on the first shuttle bus spent their 30 minutes prior to the race waiting for one of the four aforementioned port-a-lets. Some bathroom users were lucky to arrive at the starting line in time, as it was a quick 1/4 mile walk from the bus drop-off. We recommend arriving at Bill's early so you can board one of the first buses, and therefore be one of the first in line for a bathroom once arriving at the start. This will save you some pre-race bathroom anxiety.

Fortunately race organizers offered a bag drop at the top of the mountain. Temperatures at race start were chilly, and we were glad to have warm clothes to wear before the race began. Bag drop was the easiest we've ever used. A truck with a trailer was located literally right next to the starting line, allowing us to shed layers, add our bag to the neat pile in the trailer, and begin the race within minutes.

This race began on a downhill, dropping nearly 1400 feet in elevation in just five miles. Views here were awesome, allowing runners to look down on Idaho Falls like kings surveying their kingdoms. After five miles, the course then leveled out and was relatively flat for the final eight miles. Be sure to train for this! A start like this one burned out our calves and quads quickly, leaving them too tired to hold our pace for what was left of the course.

Aid stations were located approximately every two to three miles. Multiple stations were stocked with Huma energy gels and Nuun in addition to water, but look closely for the gels as volunteers weren't always displaying them for speedier runners to see. Anyone not used to the lack of humidity and the gain in elevation in Idaho Falls should consider carrying their own water bottle. Luckily, water was given out in small plastic bottles, and one of us carried one of these offerings the whole race.

Because of the remote start of this race, fan support along the course was minimal. The few people out there were dedicated friends or family members of runners. We appreciated one small group dressed in cow costumes carrying signs like "U=Incredi-BULL." The finish line, on the other hand, was packed with spectators cheering on runners who crossed under the inflatable finish arch. Volunteers draped "the key to the city" finisher medals around runners' necks in acknowledgment of a race completed.

Post-Race Party
Post-race offerings were generous, and we took advantage of all the Idaho Falls M.A.D. Half Marathon had to offer us after 13.1 challenging miles. The typical post-race fare was available: bananas, oranges, and granola bars, in addition to some more atypical items. We devoured four Jamba Juice smoothies and a few pieces of dessert bread between us. Bill's Bike and Run, which was open to runners even before shuttles left more than two hours earlier, was once again allowing runners access to their facility. Runners were able to take advantage of indoor restrooms, and even the fitting rooms where we could change into dry clothes before the awards ceremony.

The awards ceremony began just before 10 a.m. Overall winners were awarded with limited edition prints of artwork created specifically for the event. Gift cards to Bill's Bike and Run were given out to age group award winners (age groups were organized into ten year increments). If you run this race, be sure to keep your bib on for the awards ceremony. After the age group awards, race organizers began raffling off prizes by bib, looking out at the audience to call numbers. Justin situated himself front and center, and when bib #39 was called, he was awarded with a gift bag that included some trail mix, specialty bread, jam, and bread knife from Great Harvest Bread Co. Bigger prizes included a Garmin Forerunner GPS watch and a jogging stroller.

Final Verdict
Local half marathoners should definitely run this race. Living in the foothills of Idaho and training in this area should better prepare you for the challenging downhill course. A modest entry fee gets you some beautiful views, a technical shirt, finisher medal, and access to a bounty of post-race food.

As runners from the Lowcountry of South Carolina, there was little we could do to prepare our quads and calves for the burn of the race's first five miles. If you are from out of town and stopping in to run this race before a trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons, be very aware of what a downhill course can do to your legs. We had to revise some of our vacation itinerary simply because our legs were not capable of walking us downhill or down stairs for two days following this race. With that being said, if we could do it all over again...we would; we would just come into the event better prepared.

Tips for Running a Successful Idaho Fall M.A.D. Half Marathon

1. Run hill repeats. Run to the top of a hill, sprint down, and repeat multiple times. Do this at least once a week in your training for this event.
2. Arrive early to Bill's Bike and Run, allowing you to board one of the first buses to the start. You'll be first in line at the port-a-lets and save yourself some stress.
3. Carry a water bottle. We were affected by the altitude and found ourselves wanting to hydrate more often than we usually do. The aid stations may not be situated in a place where you find yourself needing to hydrate, and a water bottle will ensure you have water or an electrolyte beverage when you need it.
4. Be aware of traffic. Many intersections were not manned with volunteers, and runners had to cross roads open to traffic.
5. Look down. Turns for this course were spray painted on the road.

For more information about the Idaho Falls M.A.D. Half Marathon visit http://www.idahofallsmarathon.com/#!half-marathon/c18w3.