I signed up for the Bimbler's Bluff on a whim looking for a new challenge. When race day arrived, I had no idea the challenge that awaited me. The race had about 130 registered runners and started at a school in Guilford that was extremely easy to find and gave plenty of parking. With no pre-race day packet pickup, runners had to arrive a bit earlier than the 8am start to grab their gear, but pickup was quick and the volunteers were extremely enthusiastic given the early hour and cold temperatures.

Runners each received a bib personalized with their names, a great touch especially when volunteers out on the course took note of every runners' name to cheer them on. The race started promptly at 8 and a quick lap around the school's field took runners straight into the first of five land preserves we'd be running through on the course.

The course has an immediate bottleneck onto a single track heading into the trails, but this gave a good opportunity to slowly test the terrain. Rains earlier in the week had made for some slightly slippery terrain on top of the fallen leaves, so this was a good way to feel out the autumn track.

The course opened up just before hitting the second section and runners were able to quickly spread out and start finding their paces. The crossover to the second section of the course had spectators and volunteers cheering runners on as they set up what would be the last aid station on the lollipop course - a section that led out like the stick of a lollipop into a big looping section then back down the original stick section.

The views on the course were fantastic. The changing foliage surrounded runners as they blazed through the Connecticut trails. The first few sections were fairly comfortable to navigate, with one or two sections of steep climbs. Once runners hit the first aid station, they would then encounter the Bluff section for which the course was named. Here, running was nearly impossible as the steep climb required using your hands to navigate the rough terrain.

Once cleared off the Bluff, the overlook of the area below was breathtaking. The course then provided some rolling terrain through the gradual decline on the other side of the bluff.

Aid stations throughout the course were sparse, but the layout of the course didn't allow for them to be placed any closer together. But the aid stations when runners did get to them were packed with incredibly enthusiastic volunteers and tons of amazing supplies that included fresh soups, hot grilled cheese sandwiches, and other amazing snacks to help keep runners fueled.

The course distance is a bit deceiving, clocking in at nearly 33 miles, and can tend to play tricks with your mind. Course sections feel much longer than they actually are, so judging your exact location can be tricky at times. The course is extremely well marked, and any fears of getting lost do tend to ease themselves quickly, though falling off course can happen from time to time as runners accidentally overlook a marker.

This is an amazing race experience, though not one for the inexperienced runner. The race director recommends having at least a marathon under your belt before attempting this race which is definitely sound advice. If you're looking for a course with some amazing scenery with fantastic support, Bimbler's Bluff is definitely not to be missed.

The Hartford Marathon is iconic in Connecticut as one of the only real marathons the state has to offer. Luckily the race doesn’t rely on being the only one in the game as it’s only draw. The Hartford Marathon Foundation does a great job of working to improve this race year after year. This 20th Anniversary running was my third time running this race, and it definitely has its ups and downs.

For a fall marathon, you couldn’t ask for a more scenic course. Taking runners straight through downtown Hartford and out into neighboring East Hartford and South Windsor, these 26.2 miles are hugged by some amazing fall foliage, and some great and supportive crowds. The Hartford Marathon isn’t just a race – it’s an event.

The race starts off right in front of the capital building taking runners all through Hartford for the first seven miles before heading outside the city and into the quieter neighboring areas. During a long stretch of an out and back from miles 7-25, runners will see all kinds of Connecticut neighborhoods and farmlands all while being cheered on by the great crowd that camps out in front of their homes watching the event with great enthusiasm. The course can become a bit monotonous, especially when heading from the mile 14 to mile 20 section which is a direct out and back. Mile 17 is the turnaround and provides a sense of relief knowing you’re in the single digits on your way back to the finish line.

And the finish is truly spectacular. As runners re-enter Hartford, the crowds reemerge to energize them through the last mile. You’ll have to take on a gradual incline on the highways of Hartford, but when you come around the last turns and see the Arch at Bushnell Park in view, your amazing journey will be complete and it will all be worth it.

The course support is good, with water stations about every two miles. Medical aid is provided at both tents and by medical personnel on bikes. Some areas of the course are very inner-city feeling, but a lot of the course provides some beautiful scenic views. Being New England, the weather and temperatures can change drastically during the course of the race, so it’s best to bring disposable layers. The medals make this race, with some really unique designs.

Right off the bat I have to say, I loved this race!! I didn’t quite know what to expect going into this but everything about this race was an absolutely amazing time.

The course of the race is simply beautiful, starting and finishing right on the waterfront in Milford, and taking runners all along the Connecticut shoreline and through some really beautiful neighborhoods.

Being mid-September and starting early in the morning, the temperature was definitely cool, and the winds blowing off the ocean only made things colder. But once the race got underway, it was a perfect temperature.

The crowds for the race were ideal for the roads that the course took runners on. Crowding was definitely not an issue, except for one narrow passage through a small bridge overpass, but runners were very careful of one another.

Not enough can be said about how great this course was. If you’re looking for a fast, flat and scenic course, this is it! The course takes runners down through the beaches of Milford right on the boardwalk, which gives a great view of the water for a good portion of the course. Being an out-and-back, runners get to experience the view twice, which make the course twice as nice.

The finish line takes runners right on the beach, which was a bit unexpected especially when pushing a stroller, but still a really scenic and very original finish line. And the finisher’s medals leave nothing to be desired with their unique designs and themed rope ribbons. And the long sleeve tech shirts had a great design and were a really great quality.

Parking for this race can be a bit tough, so leave yourself plenty of time to make sure you don’t miss the start of the race.

This is definitely a race that is not to be missed!

The Falmouth Road Race is without question one of the most unique, scenic and fun races that I have been a part of lately. The entire race experience from start to finish was so overwhelmingly positive and this is a race that if given the opportunity, you should not pass up.

The race is a four-day extravaganza, filled with a fantastic expo, family fun runs, kids’ races, celebrities, and the big 7-mile race through the scenic streets of Falmouth. The expo was extremely well put together, making bib pickup easy. The swag bag itself was a great, heavy duty bag with the Falmouth Road Race logo on it, and was filled with some great stuff, including a beautiful Falmouth Road Race coffee mug. Unfortunately there was no shirt, but the mug itself was something I’ll definitely get more use out of.
The expo also featured some great speakers, such as Rick and Dick Hoyt.

Race day itself was an extremely organized event. Knowing that I’d have to take advantage of the shuttle, I had left extremely early to try and avoid traffic. Getting there a few hours early is very helpful as you’ll be able to use the facilities (of which there were a ton!) without any wait, and then take your shuttle over before making the walk to the starting line. The longer you wait, the more congested everything will become.

The shuttles were lined up and I was able to board without any wait. The walk from the shuttles to the starting line was beautiful in the calm Cape Cod morning. There were again plenty of facilities on the way to the starting line.

This year’s race used a new pulse start system rather than a corral system where runners self-seeded based on their anticipated paces. Like any self-seeding race, I saw a few complaints about people jumping in corrals with hopes of being faster than they were, which caused some of the faster runners to have more obstacles to avoid on the narrow roads.

The race was kicked off by running legends that included Joan Benoit-Samuelson, Bill Rodgers, and Meb Keflezighi. The running legends added to the excitement in the air as the countdown was on to the start of the race.

As we took off through Woods Hole, the crowd support was immediately tangible. Having run many big races, I was blown away by the level of crowd support. There were thousands upon thousands of people outside cheering the runners on and having as much fun, if not more fun, than the runners!

The course was extremely breathtaking, taking runners through beachfront, as well as through the beautiful community of Falmouth. And with the temperatures getting hotter as the morning pushed on, the community showed its awesome support as dozens of people grabbed their hoses to shower off the runners as they went past.

And as if being sprayed while running wasn’t enough, the aid stations on the course were fantastic. There was water and Gatorade what felt like every mile, as well as plenty of facilities on the course which is something I don’t even see on many half marathon courses.

The seven mile course was primarily fast and flat, with the exception of a smaller hills in the beginning and end. And the finish line…what a finish! A downhill stretch overlooking the ocean with a huge American flag hanging above, and a giant screen displaying runners as they crossed made for a truly memorable end to a memorable race.

The only one downside was that while there were shuttles to get runners to the starting line, I was told by a volunteer that there were no such shuttles back to our cars from the finish line. It meant a 1.5 mile walk back after the race, but it did give me a great opportunity to cheer runners on along the way back!

The Falmouth Road Race is definitely a race that should be on your to-do list, it’s a race you will not regret!