A few months ago, I asked you guys what questions you’d like us to discuss on our Friday threads, and a subscriber named Maria offered up this excellent idea:
“Terrell, you do a great job recommending races, but maybe we could have a periodic (once a month) member suggested races. Races that members have actually participated in and that they recommend and why they do so.”
So, I’d love to throw this out there to you all — what’s a running event you’ve participated in and loved, and think everyone here might also? It can be anywhere on the planet, large or small, road or trail (or any other surface!). Don’t hold back — I love hearing about races and events I’ve never heard about before, no matter how obscure 😃 — Terrell
Runners on the course at New York’s Flower City Challenge, which runs next April.
The most fun race with the best medals is definitely the Shawshank Hustle. The race starts at the famous Shawshank Prison, where the movie was filmed, then runners run to other sites in town where the movie also took place (the halfway house where Brooks and Red stayed), the park where Brooks fed the birds). Entry comes with a free tour of the prison, which is definitely a highlight. They have a costume contest beforehand, and a guy that dresses up as the warden every year, with a competition to "beat" the warden. Plus, all the money raised is to help keep this historic prison from being torn down. It's a wild race for a good cause:
Camping all weekend, so a bit late, but shoutout to the Boilermaker in Utica, NY. A 15K that the entire city supports and which ends at the FX Matt’s Brewery for 3 hour party with live bands & sometimes a flyover. I’ve run it 20 times and I live in Virginia.
I’m super late to commenting. I have three half marathons that I’ve participated in two or more times because I love them. My favorite is the Wineglass in Corning, NY. Great in every way: organization, community support, and beautiful area. Plus, you get a small bottle of wine and a wineglass. For sheer silly fun and no pressure, I’ve enjoyed the Alamo 13.1 in San Antonio. Very cool finisher medals. Also lots of fun (but a couple of grueling hills) is the Outlaw half in Luckenbach, Texas (near Fredericksburg). Good fun and good beer at picnic tables afterwards.
Sorry to be late to the conversation. Have only run the half twice when I paid to do so. But I did the Kentucky History Half in Frankfort, KY yesterday and I can definitely recommend it. The course is very interesting from both a scenic and running perspective. ( yes I said running as I posted a 9:48 pace) Frankfort is the capital and the run starts downtown town takes you around the capital buildings and then UP to the historic Cemetery. Back down to the riverfront and along the paved path, out to the highway where they had shut down a complete lane for runners, past Bourbon Trace Distillery, then across the river and then around and back up to the starting point. Lots of safety personnel, volunteers and free parking within walking distance to the start/finish. Gun plus chip timing and the race has been going for a number of years so they have the event down. DJ, Awards and even period costumed persons. Daniel Boone gave me my race medal. History museum was open later with free admission for pace participants. If you like a hilly course with lots of fun people, its worth a try.
Gasparilla in Tampa. The event has 5K 15K half marathon and 8K. You can do one or some or all for different challenges. The weather can be scary hot or scary cold for a Floridian. In February in Florida you just never know what the weather is going to be.
Hood to Coast in Oregon, 190 mile relay race like the chosen (not sure how to spell it) race's they have in Japan. Jumping in and out of a van full of teammates, running your legs and finally seeing the ocean at the end.
As a retired Army officer, I really enjoy the runs on Army bases, especially the All-American at Fort Bragg, where this 72-year old paratrooper can challenge today’s airborne youngsters, and the Soldier’s half at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, where infantrymen old and young can show they’ve still got it.
Without a doubt the New York City Marathon is my very favorite. However just for fun there is a race where I live that is a team competition running around 35 miles. It’s goes all around the bay where I live in Florida. The team can have any number, each team is responsible for getting their team water etc...it has staggered starts so that everyone finishes in time for the after party!! Years ago each team had to bring an award and then there was an exchange! We took wine but got matched up with a team that brought old movies!! Just a super fun event!
Revel-Big Cottonwood Canyon. Marathon/Half in Salt Lake City, UT. We have talked about this one before, but it is one race that I always do every year. It is BEAUTIFUL scenery in the mountains and all down hill. You will definitely PR.
Orlando Half Marathon. You run through the streets just off the downtown area. It's well run and fun... only negative is that is some of the areas, you're running on the cobblestones... saw more than one person trip on the uneven pavement.
The Oktoberfest half at Oskar Blues in Brevard, NC. I ran this in 2019 when hosted by another brewery. Any race in western nc involves mountains..... but this course was awesome! There were hills but nothing like most near Asheville.
I'm still recovering from an injury from last spring but hope to do it again next year.
PS. Terrell, I'm at the beach, reading Breath, listening to U2....
Wabash Trace Nature Trail Half Marathon (also 26.2) each fall in southwest Iowa. Run over gentle rolling hills under a canopy of beautiful trees. Just plain nice.
I think Cleveland, Ohio is one of the best kept secrets in the running world. I am specifically referring to the “ emerald necklace” which includes a long, lean 56 mile greenway path that follows the Rocky River and Chagrin River Valleys. If you ever Grace our City, bring your running gear and explore the this legendary “Forest City” with beautiful running and hiking trails for all degrees of fitness as well as the incredible towpath which is now 93 miles long and extends from Cleveland to near New Philadelphia, Ohio. The Towpath Marathon and half marathon are two of many great running events in the Cleveland region.
The Leavenworth Washington Marathon/Half Marathon in October each year. A beautiful course and you used to get (I'm not sure if this is the case anymore) a free beer and handmade brat from the Munchin Haus in town. This was the first half marathon for both my husband and I.
My goal is to run a half in all 50 states. I started running with Mainly Marathons. They schedule 5 or 6 races in those 5 -6 states in a row. Great way to accomplish my goal
Pumpkin Holler 50k in Oct. It's mostly on a crushed gravel course through a wilderness preserve near Tahlequah, OK. The course runs near the IL river and a lot of the trees have turned. It has great aid stations and even a walker like me was able to finish well within time limits. They have a shorter distance too. It was my first ultra and it was awesome.
Parvins Park in Vineland NJ they host a Du Athalon in early October Trail runs are around the lake in the park bike ride is surrounding roads. Great little end of the year Du
The Red Top 50k in Cartersville, Ga was a good first-time 50k for me. It is a relatively flat loop course that we went around 8 times. Repeating the loops was good... knowing what to expect helped pace better and knowing where the drop area was each time did also. It was at Red Top Mountain State Park so it's a nice wooded and wide trail that goes along Lake Allatoona in places. Doing the 25k there this year in December.
I love doing big sir 21 miler and I'm doing marathon next year it is the most beautiful course as you run along a highway one you see the Pacific Ocean and it's just amazing And I love crater lake that was a really amazing race too you ran around the lake and it was so beautiful and so quiet
The races that A Better World Running stages on the Santa Monica (CA) beach path. There are an impressive number of distances, my favorite is the 15K which you don’t see everywhere. Going to do that one on Halloween morning.
Detroit-only Half Marathon. This is the lesser-known sibling of the International Half. Detroit-only runners join the marathoners at their halfway point, and both races finish at the same place. (The International Half racers go out with the marathoners at the beginning of the race, and peel off to finish their half.) I did it in 2018 and what a blast it was. Plus you get to see some beautiful and interesting places throughout Detroit. Lots of spectators all along the route, some offering refreshments, all cheering. My year there were about 1500 racers in the half, so much smaller than the International Half, but much easier to get a PR!
Hi! I have been doing the Texas Bridge series for six years now. I live near the coast and we have no hills to run, so we run bridges for hill training. There are three races in the series: the Toughest 10k Kemah (the steepest), the Toughest 10k Galveston (beautiful because it's by the ocean!) and the La Porte by the Bay Half Marathon (awesome because it's over a suspension bridge!). All challenging but fun! Our race director, Robby Saban is the best! The charity these races benefit is Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
so many. a standout was clydes in columbiamd who put on a 10k that went on for decades and had a great post race party. there was a huge hill halfway through the run and if you somehow didn't know about it, you would hear people turn the corner, look up and just....groan. LOL. clydes is no longer but the memories i cherish. so many good times.
The most fun race with the best medals is definitely the Shawshank Hustle. The race starts at the famous Shawshank Prison, where the movie was filmed, then runners run to other sites in town where the movie also took place (the halfway house where Brooks and Red stayed), the park where Brooks fed the birds). Entry comes with a free tour of the prison, which is definitely a highlight. They have a costume contest beforehand, and a guy that dresses up as the warden every year, with a competition to "beat" the warden. Plus, all the money raised is to help keep this historic prison from being torn down. It's a wild race for a good cause:
https://shawshanktrail.com/events/shawshank-hustle/
Any Ragnar that you can run, whether with friends or strangers. I have loved them all, even the trail Ragnars.
Camping all weekend, so a bit late, but shoutout to the Boilermaker in Utica, NY. A 15K that the entire city supports and which ends at the FX Matt’s Brewery for 3 hour party with live bands & sometimes a flyover. I’ve run it 20 times and I live in Virginia.
I’m super late to commenting. I have three half marathons that I’ve participated in two or more times because I love them. My favorite is the Wineglass in Corning, NY. Great in every way: organization, community support, and beautiful area. Plus, you get a small bottle of wine and a wineglass. For sheer silly fun and no pressure, I’ve enjoyed the Alamo 13.1 in San Antonio. Very cool finisher medals. Also lots of fun (but a couple of grueling hills) is the Outlaw half in Luckenbach, Texas (near Fredericksburg). Good fun and good beer at picnic tables afterwards.
Sorry to be late to the conversation. Have only run the half twice when I paid to do so. But I did the Kentucky History Half in Frankfort, KY yesterday and I can definitely recommend it. The course is very interesting from both a scenic and running perspective. ( yes I said running as I posted a 9:48 pace) Frankfort is the capital and the run starts downtown town takes you around the capital buildings and then UP to the historic Cemetery. Back down to the riverfront and along the paved path, out to the highway where they had shut down a complete lane for runners, past Bourbon Trace Distillery, then across the river and then around and back up to the starting point. Lots of safety personnel, volunteers and free parking within walking distance to the start/finish. Gun plus chip timing and the race has been going for a number of years so they have the event down. DJ, Awards and even period costumed persons. Daniel Boone gave me my race medal. History museum was open later with free admission for pace participants. If you like a hilly course with lots of fun people, its worth a try.
Gasparilla in Tampa. The event has 5K 15K half marathon and 8K. You can do one or some or all for different challenges. The weather can be scary hot or scary cold for a Floridian. In February in Florida you just never know what the weather is going to be.
Hood to Coast in Oregon, 190 mile relay race like the chosen (not sure how to spell it) race's they have in Japan. Jumping in and out of a van full of teammates, running your legs and finally seeing the ocean at the end.
Lake Tahoe.
AthHalf in Athens, GA, is one of my all time faves.
Flying Ping, Cincinnati, OH. I've done it four times.
As a retired Army officer, I really enjoy the runs on Army bases, especially the All-American at Fort Bragg, where this 72-year old paratrooper can challenge today’s airborne youngsters, and the Soldier’s half at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, where infantrymen old and young can show they’ve still got it.
Without a doubt the New York City Marathon is my very favorite. However just for fun there is a race where I live that is a team competition running around 35 miles. It’s goes all around the bay where I live in Florida. The team can have any number, each team is responsible for getting their team water etc...it has staggered starts so that everyone finishes in time for the after party!! Years ago each team had to bring an award and then there was an exchange! We took wine but got matched up with a team that brought old movies!! Just a super fun event!
Revel-Big Cottonwood Canyon. Marathon/Half in Salt Lake City, UT. We have talked about this one before, but it is one race that I always do every year. It is BEAUTIFUL scenery in the mountains and all down hill. You will definitely PR.
The Garmin Half Marathon in the Land of Oz, Olathe, KS, was one of my favorite races. Well run with convenient parking and venue.
Orlando Half Marathon. You run through the streets just off the downtown area. It's well run and fun... only negative is that is some of the areas, you're running on the cobblestones... saw more than one person trip on the uneven pavement.
You should do it
The Oktoberfest half at Oskar Blues in Brevard, NC. I ran this in 2019 when hosted by another brewery. Any race in western nc involves mountains..... but this course was awesome! There were hills but nothing like most near Asheville.
I'm still recovering from an injury from last spring but hope to do it again next year.
PS. Terrell, I'm at the beach, reading Breath, listening to U2....
Wabash Trace Nature Trail Half Marathon (also 26.2) each fall in southwest Iowa. Run over gentle rolling hills under a canopy of beautiful trees. Just plain nice.
I think Cleveland, Ohio is one of the best kept secrets in the running world. I am specifically referring to the “ emerald necklace” which includes a long, lean 56 mile greenway path that follows the Rocky River and Chagrin River Valleys. If you ever Grace our City, bring your running gear and explore the this legendary “Forest City” with beautiful running and hiking trails for all degrees of fitness as well as the incredible towpath which is now 93 miles long and extends from Cleveland to near New Philadelphia, Ohio. The Towpath Marathon and half marathon are two of many great running events in the Cleveland region.
The Monterey Bay Half Marathon is a gorgeous race. Probably my favorite I've run so far.
Yes! I'll be running the Galveston one tomorrow! You're welcome! :)
The Leavenworth Washington Marathon/Half Marathon in October each year. A beautiful course and you used to get (I'm not sure if this is the case anymore) a free beer and handmade brat from the Munchin Haus in town. This was the first half marathon for both my husband and I.
Just did the Long Beach, CA half last weekend. Highly recommend it. Well organized, route mostly on or near the shore/beach.
My goal is to run a half in all 50 states. I started running with Mainly Marathons. They schedule 5 or 6 races in those 5 -6 states in a row. Great way to accomplish my goal
Pumpkin Holler 50k in Oct. It's mostly on a crushed gravel course through a wilderness preserve near Tahlequah, OK. The course runs near the IL river and a lot of the trees have turned. It has great aid stations and even a walker like me was able to finish well within time limits. They have a shorter distance too. It was my first ultra and it was awesome.
Parvins Park in Vineland NJ they host a Du Athalon in early October Trail runs are around the lake in the park bike ride is surrounding roads. Great little end of the year Du
The Red Top 50k in Cartersville, Ga was a good first-time 50k for me. It is a relatively flat loop course that we went around 8 times. Repeating the loops was good... knowing what to expect helped pace better and knowing where the drop area was each time did also. It was at Red Top Mountain State Park so it's a nice wooded and wide trail that goes along Lake Allatoona in places. Doing the 25k there this year in December.
wulfman's14k cdt trail race in Butte, MT!!!!!!
I love doing big sir 21 miler and I'm doing marathon next year it is the most beautiful course as you run along a highway one you see the Pacific Ocean and it's just amazing And I love crater lake that was a really amazing race too you ran around the lake and it was so beautiful and so quiet
The races that A Better World Running stages on the Santa Monica (CA) beach path. There are an impressive number of distances, my favorite is the 15K which you don’t see everywhere. Going to do that one on Halloween morning.
Detroit-only Half Marathon. This is the lesser-known sibling of the International Half. Detroit-only runners join the marathoners at their halfway point, and both races finish at the same place. (The International Half racers go out with the marathoners at the beginning of the race, and peel off to finish their half.) I did it in 2018 and what a blast it was. Plus you get to see some beautiful and interesting places throughout Detroit. Lots of spectators all along the route, some offering refreshments, all cheering. My year there were about 1500 racers in the half, so much smaller than the International Half, but much easier to get a PR!
Hi! I have been doing the Texas Bridge series for six years now. I live near the coast and we have no hills to run, so we run bridges for hill training. There are three races in the series: the Toughest 10k Kemah (the steepest), the Toughest 10k Galveston (beautiful because it's by the ocean!) and the La Porte by the Bay Half Marathon (awesome because it's over a suspension bridge!). All challenging but fun! Our race director, Robby Saban is the best! The charity these races benefit is Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
so many. a standout was clydes in columbiamd who put on a 10k that went on for decades and had a great post race party. there was a huge hill halfway through the run and if you somehow didn't know about it, you would hear people turn the corner, look up and just....groan. LOL. clydes is no longer but the memories i cherish. so many good times.
Around the Crown in Charlotte, NC. It’s only a 10k but they shut down the inner loop of the highway and it’s a fast race and scenic one!