Last spring, after coming home from a trip and being the heaviest (and unhealthiest) that I have been, I set two goals for myself. One was to run every day, the other was to do a race each month for a year. Soon after I started, I found myself searching for half marathons that were relatively flat. I stumbled across the Smuttynose Rockfest Half, which claimed to be the flattest and most scenic course in New England. The race didn't disappoint on either claim.

The race starts one block from Hampton Beach. After a couple loops around the main strip, you continue to run along the beach for the first half of the race. Despite the clouds and drizzle, watching and hearing the waves crash a few hundred feet away was awesome. At about the halfway mark, you turn left away from the beach and start heading through a nice residential area. This is where you encounter the only elevation. For the next two and half miles there are small, gradual inclines. I hate hills, especially when they happen this many miles in, but honestly, these bumps made no difference to either my legs or my breathing. Some of my fastest splits came during this part of the race! If it were a sunny day, this tree lined area would have provided some great shade. The final 3 and a half miles are all flat run beside the beach again (the picture was taken right around mile 11/12). Perhaps the hardest part is that the food tent (with lobster rolls and clam chowder) is set up alongside the course with a tenth of a mile to go!

After the race there was a band playing, food, and beer being poured by Smuttynose. There was also plenty of vendors handing out food and beverages as well. I think that if it were a nice day (and if the Patriots had a bye) this would have been a great celebration with family and friends. Unfortunately it was just too dang cold for me.

Overall this was a great race that I will probably do again next year. It was definitely flat, and despite the bad weather, was extremely scenic. The views definitely helped the miles fly by.

Pros: Great course with a lot of aid stations. Not only were there stations set up through management, but also quite a few set up by families and other groups throughout the course. There was also a gel station right before you start the incline. The post race festivities could have only been better with nice weather. Parking was great, if you had the patience to drive to the start line. There is a huge lot right at the start line, which allowed me to stay in my car and warm right until it was time to start. Great support throughout the course from spectators.

Cons: Too many people at the start. There is also a 5k going on, and both races start at the same place at the same time. Despite the race management setting up corals for the start, this led to a very crowded and slow first two miles. The start was smooth, I just wonder why they decided to start both at the same place and time.