24 Hour Around the Lake

24 Hour Around the Lake

24 Hour Around the Lake

( 1 review )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Wakefield,
    Massachusetts,
    United States
  • July
  • 26.2 miles/Marathon, 50K, 50 miles, 100K, Other
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Andrea

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States
12 31
2016
"Great Ultra for Beginners, Training, or Stats"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Andrea 's thoughts:

I have done the 24 Hour Around the Lake race twice- first as a 24 hour participant in 2012 (had to drop out early due to illness) and then as a 12 hour participant in 2014.

The race is offered by the Somerville Road Runners and is typically on the last weekend of July. The race offers four events - 24 hour ultra, 12 hour ultra, 24 hour relay and marathon. The marathon and 24 hour race start at 9 pm on a Friday night, and then 12 hour starts at 9 am on the Saturday morning. All races end on the 9 pm on Saturday night. This is a change- the race used to start at 7 pm, and the 9 pm start made life a lot easier for everyone, especially in dealing with Boston area traffic.

Access is easy- the race site is very close to the Wakefield I 95 exit. There are hotels nearby for those who want to stay before or after. Parking is very convenient, and it is easy to set up your own tent/gear/aide station and be a stone's throw walk to your car. The race sets up two aide stations- the main one by the timing system, and a smaller station halfway on the course. The course loop is approximately 5.1 km (a tad over 3 miles). Eight loops is a marathon (there is a 1.34 loop run by everyone at the 24hr/marathon start and the 12 hour start to get the marathon distance).

This course is almost completely flat. Is a beautiful tour around the lake. There are some sections where the surface is hard cement/sidewalk. A small portion was on grass/dirt. A headlamp is recommended for overnight runners as some of the course is on uneven surfaces. With the marathon starting at night, the crowd thins out overnight, and it leaves the course more open when daylight hits and the 12 hour starts. If you are doing the 24 hour- plan for possible 20 degree temperature changes overnight into the morning. Pack sunscreen and bug spray. Put bug spray on before you start the night race (mosquitoes).

The walkways/areas for the race are open to the public (it is a park after all) so respect that the local community may be walking around or near you. There is a small portion where you cross an active road- watch for traffic.

The race organizers are excellent and the volunteers are amazing and super-friendly. They made everyone feel welcome and like they belonged, regardless of pace, distance or ability.

What's awesome about this (and most ultras)? If you need a break- sit down in your chair (that you brought), rest, eat some food, get back up, get going. If you're doing the 12 or 24 hour, it's you versus the clock, and you say when you are done. If you are a race walker this is a great marathon to do, as the cutoff is literally 24 hours. This race draws both first timers, regular ultra runners, and fast/competitive ultra runners, and overall everyone is very friendly.

I think the only downside (and I'm really reaching here for a "downside") is the medals are sub-average.

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