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Latest reviews by Mary Lee
(2018)
"Disappointed"
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This review really almost seems like a non issue since the race company has shut down. It was, frankly, a hot mess. I HATE leaving bad reviews, but this one deserves it. Communication was terrible and last minute. I traveled in from the midwest for this and so much changed last minute. Day before packet pickup was cancelled and you could only pick up a packet morning of the race. Ok. Fine. Leave enough time to do that though! The race was moved about 45 minutes outside of Boise (was supposed to be IN Boise) and they had buses for those of us in Boise to take. We took the bus, it stopped to pick up locals closer to the race, then went up to the top of the mountain. We had next to no time up there. There was not time to hit the porta potties AND pick up your bib. Luckily the race started a little late, but there still wasn't time to hit the porta pottie. I visited the first on I came across on the course. The scenery was beautiful. It really was. I need to spend more time in Idaho! The road was dirt and downhill, but not so much downhill that you had to constantly have the breaks on. That was good. But the road was open to traffic and I have athletic induced asthma. Not good. I thought I was going to die each time a car or truck blasted past. The people at the aid stations were super nice and they had plenty of supplies. That was also good. I was at the back of the pack and there was no trouble with aid stations staying open. It was all dirt road except the last mile. We were SOOOO happy to hit pavement and get out of the dust! Then we finish and....no medals. A friend of mine begged and they gave us last year's medal. Unfortunately, if you didn't get one of last year's medals, you didn't get a medal and won't. They won't be sending any since the company went under. Remember how we were back of the pack? No shuttle to take us the 45 minutes back to Boise. Um....can we say stranded???? Fortunately, a really nice volunteer offered to drive us back to Boise. I was SOOO thankful! We were out in the middle of no where! I will say....the volunteers were all super nice. That (along with the scenery) was the best part of the race. I do really like Idaho and I'd like to go back to have a better experience there. I've heard amazing things about the Onward Shay Marathon - so hope to complete their half!
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Mary Lee recommends this race
(2018)
"Love it!"
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This race has a half marathon, 10K and 5K. I've run the Half Marathon once (old course) and the 10K twice. I'm a turtle, and this is a fairly fast field, so I've run the 10K the last two years so that I can have more time to enjoy the party - which is SO MUCH FUN!!!! They've updated the course so a lot of it is on limestone trail - which means there aren't roads to keep open. This means it's gotten more "back of the pack" friendly. I said it earlier though, the post race party is so much fun that you'll want to do a distance that will ensure you have plenty of time to hang out when you are done with the race! This race is mostly women (one or two token men in 2018) and the post race party caters to that. Hula Hoops, great music, Skirt Sports apparel and ....drumroll......Kim and Jake Cakes!!!! If you are not familiar, that is gluten free deliciousness! The flavors are insanely inventive and you'll want to taste them all! This race is a super fun one with a lot of amazing, strong women and AMAZING views of the flat iron foothills & mountains! Highly Recommend!
Mary Lee recommends this race
(2018)
"Annual Race!"
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I have run the half marathon all five years and I'm already registered for #6 in 2019. I've always wanted to "streak" a race and this was my chance! It's also been great to watch the race evolve over the years. It's had some challenges with the construction going on at the Hall of Fame, but that should be mostly behind them as the stadium is now complete. In 2018, the expo was held at the county fairgrounds and that worked really well. Very easy to get to and lots of parking. They had a lot more vendors this year and I hope this continues to grow. This year, the start was also at the fairgrounds and the finish was at the Hall of Fame Football Stadium. There was some challenge shuttling people between the start and finish. This should be solved in 2019 as the start and finish will both be at the Stadium. They are also limiting the field for 2019, so it shouldn't be as crowded as in past years. They do plan to open the field back up in 2020 and the hope is that the NFL Draft will be in Canton the same weekend! That will be a weekend not to miss! The race does go through Canton. Canton is your normal mid-size midwestern town. Neighborhood streets aren't always that exciting to see, but there is a lot of support from the people in those neighborhoods! The course always goes through downtown Canton and the crowd support is especially high in this section. And the Drum Corps International (DCI) Canton Bluecoats are always represented on the course (usually downtown)! I haven't noticed any issues with aid stations. In fact, I've loved them! The course does go through a beautiful park and by the President McKinley monument - which is also beautiful. And it has a ton of stairs up to the top! Those are, fortunately, optional - although every year I see a lot of people tackling those stairs! After the monument, you wind your way back around to the museum and the stadium. In nearly every year that it's finished there, you run around the track then back up to the 50 yard line on the opposite side that you enter the stadium on. As a football fan, there is nothing better than a 50 Yard Line Finish! In 2018, the food was easy to find and plentiful. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the beer vendor (Canton Brewing Company) and they ran out of beer some time around 3 1/2 hours into the marathon. That left a lot of people that ran the full without beer. The RD was not happy and I don't think there will be a repeat of that mishap. The RD is very responsive and whenever issues have arisen, they have been quick to address them. The medals are different every year and always fun and unique! They also have a blanket. I love this blanket...I do have five of them! Some years the shirts turn out to be some of my favorite shirts, but there have been a few years where they weren't the best. And the last few years have had sponsored free photos! Score! Elevation is pretty easy, but this isn't Illinois, Iowa nor Kansas...there are hills. It's also Northeast Ohio. That means you need to keep an eye out for potholes. I know they try to get them all filled, but it's possible to miss some. The other thing about April in Northeast Ohio is that the weather can do literally ANYTHING. It can be freezing, cold, snowing, icy, rainy or even 90 degrees with a burning sun ahead! That's just Ohio. Do your diligence in training and weather stalking prior to the race and roll with it. Again, it's been great to watch this race evolve over the last 5 years and, God willing, I'm looking forward to the next 5!
Mary Lee recommends this race
(2017)
"So much fun!"
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I ran this race is 2017. I did the 10K on Saturday and then the 13.1 on Sunday. I learned that I can handle a 5K prior to a Half Marathon, but not a 10K. But this review is on the 10K! I had so much fun this entire weekend! The 10K was moderately difficult course wise, but loved every minute of it! The weather was warmer on Saturday for this race and my legs were still fresh. The theme (Candy) was super fun and the race is extremely well run. I would definitely consider this a walker friendly race.
Mary Lee recommends this race
(2017)
"Definitely Runalicious!"
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I have a few friends completing all 50 states. I'm not doing all 50 states, but I tag along periodically for the fun of it! This was my friend's "hometown" race, so was thrilled to meet her here. PLUS...I'd heard amazing things about this race and the medals are notoriously HUGE. This year the theme was Runalicious (basically candy!) and it was so much fun! I live in Northeast Ohio, so of course, training for a Half Marathon at the beginning of March was a bit challenging - so I was definitely under trained. I loved how they took us past the Governor's mansion and several other historic places like Central High School (where the Little Rock Nine attended school). The crowd support was great and everything just worked like clockwork. I would also call this a truly walker friendly race. We were pretty slow and when the full split off from the half (which was near the finish), there were still people heading off to complete the full! The race directors are amazing. In fact, I loved this race so much that I'm actually going back to run it again this year (2019)! Another friend is finishing her 50 states (full marathon) there and the race directors are giving her bib #50. Ready for another party in Little Rock!