Flying Pirate Half Marathon

Flying Pirate Half Marathon

Flying Pirate Half Marathon

( 9 reviews )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • The Outer Banks,
    North Carolina,
    United States
  • April
  • 3 miles/5K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Kathy

Hampton, Virginia, United States
10 8
2015
"10 miles of Awesome and 3 miles of Suck"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Kathy 's thoughts:

Despite my title for this review - I do love this race. If you've never been to the Outter Banks of North Carolina you should stop reading and make plans now! The Outter Banks area is a large tourist area that has somehow managed to keep it's sleepy town vibe. There is lots to do and the area is full of history.

If you're looking for a big flashy race with a huge expo and bands on the course then this is not the race for you. To say the expo is small would be an understatement. There are a few tables around mostly peddling entries to other Outter Banks Series races and local doctors. The SWAG for the race is the usual t-shirt - but they are pretty good tech shirts. You can also buy other merchandise from past races or the current race. There are fun eye patches and pirate flags you can pick up here as well - they are all in on the theme!

Transportation to the start is very well organized. The race doesn't loop back to the start for the finish so you either have to get someone to shuttle you at the end or you can take park your car and take the shuttle to the start. The transportation was no issue at all. The start line is nothing special. It's efficient and there are plenty of porta-johns around the start line.

The course switches between roads through trails and neighborhoods. At some point you run past the Wright Brothers Memorial as well. All the streets are closed and well manned so you do not have to contend with any vehicles. The local course support is amazing. There are kegs, full service bars, children with water and lemonade stands. I ran across people with bananas, pretzels, candy, and tissues. Everyone cheering and having a ball.

Then comes the suck part. The last 5K is a trail run which would be ok but there are giant sized pieces of gravel over the terrain that make the run, at least for me, precarious. I'm not a huge trail run fan - but the rocks and the cracked dirt from rain make it easy to lose your footing. About the last 1/2 mile you take some pretty steep inclines through mulch only to arrive at a severe mulch covered downhill to the finish line. It's like a punch in the gut when you can see the finish and think you're probably going to bust your ass on the way down.

The medals are great and they do have a challenge medal for doing the 5K the day before.

The after party was fun and there was plenty of different kinds of beer to choose from for your 2 free post race beers. There are also plenty of food vendors and the party is in a grassy area so you can sit and hang out if you'd like,

Even with the terrible last 3 miles - I love this race and I'd encourage anyone to do it.

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