This was my first full marathon and even though I had some serious blisters that lead to severe knee pain and a less than desired race, the event itself was well done.

Expo - The smaller sized expo had lots of offer without the crowds to fight or parking woes of others. Held at the local community center, there was plenty of parking and good deals to be had on running shoes.

Overnight - Hotel options were plentiful with choices near the start and finish. From the official race hotels you had to take a shuttle to the start and back from the finish. There was also an option to park your car at the finish and shuttle to the start only. Another option was to park at the start and find a ride back to fetch your car since a shuttle would not be provided for this. I chose to stay only a few miles from the start and get dropped off then picked up at the finish and it worked well for me since I'm big into routine and didn't want to get up extra early after loosing an hour of sleep to daylight savings to sit on a shuttle or in the park.

Start - The start in Newport New Park was great. Runner drop off was around a circle that kept traffic moving in and out the park's entrance. Short term parking was a little further in but right next to permanent restrooms with water fountains. With the race's small size, there were plenty of Port-a-Potties available and a variety of spaces to get warmed up. There had been some rain so the grass was a little muddy but pavement and paths worked out well. I didn't gear check but it looked under control without any back-ups for the single truck. Corrals were marked by estimated per mile time and we went off right on time after a solid national anthem. I will note the race was on the same day daylight savings started so we were all running an hour short on sleep. I'm not sure if this will occur regularly but it didn't bother me especially since it meant one less hour to fuel for!

Course - The course starts in the park with wide paths and lots of shade. You then head out onto the roads where you get the entire right side. Even though it's only one or two lanes wide, the small race size makes for little traffic over the entire course. There's some nice scenery as well as some regular old city stuff. You get to run through a second park on a paved road for about a mile (around 17) that's a little uneven and littered with gravel but at least it's not actually gravel. The first half has some small hills and the second is is flatter. This year was an overcast day but even if the sun had been out there are a few nice shady breaks. All in all, it's a solid one with lots of running room and plenty of opportunities to take the tangents at any corner or bend and I'm a big fan of point to point courses that don't have a serious headwind the whole way.

Course Support - Water stops every two miles each had Port-a-Potties, water, Gatorade and cheerful volunteers. Gels were available at Mile 14 and 20. Relay exchanges were the most enthusiastic spots aside from the finish but there were pockets of people out cheering scattered through the 26.2 miles. If you're one who needs or likes lots of crowd support or is used to training with a big group, you might get lonely. The long stretches of solo time make the marathon's mental challenges a bit tougher so be prepared to bring a buddy, portable music or, like me, just turn your mind off and keep moving.

Finish - The finish comes right around a corner and is packed with screaming supporters. It's a great way to wrap up a race. The chute sends you into a big runner only area that houses medical tents, medal and Gatorade bearing volunteers, pikes of bananas, protein bars, bottled waters and light weight finisher jackets to keep you warm.

After Party - I didn't make it to the after party with my mangled feet screaming in pain but it looked good. There were food trucks, free beers and like the race course, the small after party size meant there was lots of room to move around and plop down to stretch if you were in the mood. If you aren't parked in advance at the finish or have someone parking to come meet you as you cross, make sure they give enough lead time. Navigating to the parking lots can be tough with street closures and it might be a few blocks walk to reach the right spot afterwards.

Swag - Long sleeve tech shirts, big nice finisher medals and a surprise finisher jacket instead of a heat sheet are all great. If you're looking for a bunch of samples or free goodies at the expo, this isn't the one for you. If you're like me and just want to basics, it's perfect.

I definitely recommend the One City Marathon. The small size, great organization, nice swag and spacious course all make for one fun event.

The second half of a back to back weekend, the flat and fast First Light Half Marathon is a great compliment to the previous day's hills.

Location – I took the Blues Bus along with about 80 other runners making their way to Mobile from Jackson, MS. It was a roughly 3 hour drive but if you choose to fly in the airport isn't too far from the race location. A small, clean and friendly city Mobile has some New Orleans type flavors and it's clear from the history around you that the city's seen some excitement over the years.

Expo/Swag – The expo is small but well organized and easy to move through. Not only do you pick up your race number and some other goodies, the tech shirts are gender specific and comfortable. Along with tech shirts and numbers, runners who are participating in the Back2Back challenge receive their award plaques. I thought that was odd since I hadn't yet finished the second event but when you're awarded a second medal at the finish line, it makes sense. Less clutter in a traffic filled area.

Start – The start doesn't have corrals and it is kind of crowded with people sorting themselves out for the first few minutes. Everything went off right on time and gear check was clearly marked. There were Port-a-Potties somewhere because I heard someone talking about them but I didn't see or use one. Having walked from my hotel a few blocks away I was also unaware of the parking situation. There were several big lots that seemed to be filled with runners and since the race is fairly small, I can't imagine parking being too difficult.

Course – Flat with lots of long straightaways make this one a great chance to PR. That is, of course, if you haven't been beaten up by the hills of Mississippi the day before. Scenery is nice as you're taken through quiet neighborhood streets with plenty of running room after clearing out the traffic early on. Roads are not completely closed but the police did a great job of keeping the course clear of cars and cones clearly marked where we should and should not have been running.

Course Support – Mobile PD and lots of volunteers make for good course support on this one. Traffic was well controlled on the open roads. With the race's small size you have lots of peace and quiet along with lots of room to run, especially after the full splits off at Mile 8.5. Water stops are well stocked and GU was distributed by a bike rider between Miles 9 and 10.

Finish - A long straightaway with a slight downhill pours you into a single file chute to finish. The tag from your number is taken as you are awarded a handmade medal and, if finishing the Back2Back challenge, a medal for that as well. Heat sheets and bottled water a next with food right around the corner in Bienville Park. I was in a hurry to get back for a shower before returning to see if I had won an award so I didn't stick around immediately following my finish.

Post Race/Awards – After a quick shower and protein bar, I went back to the Park to check on results. The top ten are pulled out and given special recognition while age group awards are picked up. I ended up third in my age group and was awarded a second handmade plaque that immediately became one of my favorites. Created by residents of L'Arche Mobile, a community for those with intellectual disabilities, it's nice to be awarded something that wasn't made by a machine. After picking up my AG award, my three travel companions and I enjoyed a few complimentary bowls of rice and beans as well as a few adult beverages. Port-a-Potties were convenient and parking back at the start wasn't more than a few blocks away. The heat sheets were important on the cool morning and the park was a bit muddy but everyone was smiling.

A small, friendly and well run event, the First Light Half Marathon features a flat fast tour of Mobile that shouldn't be missed. With handmade medals and awards to top off the friendly course, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.

I ran the 2016 Mississippi Blues Half Marathon as the first part of a back to back weekend. Paired with the First Light Half Marathon, they make up the Back 2 Back Challenge. You can participate in any combination of half and full marathons with my option to do two halves. Here's what I thought of the weekend's first event.

There was a light rain race morning that gave way to humidity by Mile 3. The weather for this event has been very different from year to year and 2016 was actually pretty decent.

Location – Jackson, Mississippi is easy to get to by air and the airport isn't too far from downtown. I stayed at the Jackson Marriott. It was three blocks from the expo and the start with easy access to all race amenities. Several other hotels are equally as convenient.

Expo/Swag – The expo is small but well stocked with race themed merchandise and typical expo gear. Packet pick-up is quick and easy during the early afternoon. Along with your race guide and number, goodies received at the expo included a big reusable bag, a race logo-ed harmonica, a BB King CD, a tech half zip race shirt and several coupons for local dining outlets. The swag is outstanding and the small expo is certainly adequate.

Start – In spite of the rainy morning, the race went off right on time. There are no corrals which lead to some serious weaving around walkers and slower runners over the first few hundred meters. The national anthem was electric blues infused. Plenty of Port-a-Potties lined the road and it didn't look lines were incredibly long. Since I was walking distance from the start I didn't have to learn anything about parking but I never heard anyone complain about it being inadequate.

Course – HILLS! Over the 13.1 mile course you are constantly heading up or down with little to no relief in the form of a flat stretch. There were roughly 520 feet of elevation gain which isn't too bad if it comes in chunks. It doesn't. The scenery isn't always the best as you cover part of the highway and some more industrial areas but the last 5k go through a peaceful tree-filled neighborhood. The roads are also prone to potholes. This was a problem for me because it was hard to tell what was puddle and what was hole and I rolled my ankle a bit around Mile 4 thinking one was the other.

Course Support – Tons of water stops and Cliff Shots at Mile 8. The water stops were well stocked and all of the volunteers were cheering at each one. I was disappointed to not hear more music on the course, especially being in Jackson and wanting some blues to help me move along.

Finish - The finish is a straight shot for about 200 meters and the medals are huge. It gets crowded making it hard to find what you're looking for. I picked up a bottled water but missed any food that was right there. With travel to my next race and four ladies needing to shower I didn't hang out at the post race party at all but trotted back to my hotel room so we could catch the bus to Alabama.

Post Race – I didn't visit the post race area past the finish chute but it looked big and well stocked. Rain picked up again right as many of the marathoners were beginning to finish and it probably put a damper on things.

With great swag, easy access, solid support and a tough course, the 2016 Mississippi Blues Half Marathon was a fun event. In spite of not having my best run with a rolled ankle I really liked the variety of the challenging course even if the scenery wasn't always great. For those looking to check Mississippi off their list of states to run this is definitely a good choice.

The Baton Rouge Beach Half Marathon was a blast. It's a small race but the people are great and it attracts lots of Marathon Maniacs and others from all over the country. The flat(ish) half course is a big loop around a lake and LSU's campus while the marathon is a double loop.

Location – Easy to get to by air or land, Baton Rouge is a city full of friendly people and good food. A short trip from New Orleans, it's cleaner and safer without taking away your chance to drink a few hurricanes on Bourbon Street.

Expo – There is a small expo with two short rows of vendors from other races and local running stores. Packet pick up is a cinch and your race number is assigned to you right there. The race shirts are tech but they're also unisex and run very large. Throw away gloves were a nice surprise in the race packet and they ended up coming in handy on a very chilly race morning. The biggest attraction of the expo is the dinner that's included with your entry. They serve gumbo, jambalaya and pizza along with coolers full of bottled water and canned beer for runners to enjoy while listening to the speaker. This year is was Bart Yasso of Runner's World and he was great.

Accommodations - The Baton Rouge Marriott is home to the expo, dinner and the bigger of the two shuttle stops. Rooms are fairly inexpensive and they have a very nice fitness center for your shake out run. I didn't eat at the hotel restaurant but I was able to obtain a bagel for the morning and enjoy a local craft beer at the bar as the lobby filled with racers.

Start – The race starts at 7 and shuttles leave the Marriott at 5:45, 6 and 6:15. I climbed on the 5:45 still picking at my bagel and took the full bus a short way to the start. There was plenty of room to hang out and get warm before dropping my bag off at gear check. Coolers of water and Gatorade were nice to have right near the start though it was a little bit of a trek to the more than enough Port-A-Potties. There are no waves and we started right on time.

Course – The course is a 13.1 mile loop through some of LSU's campus and a few Baton Rouge neighborhoods. It's flat compared to Boston but not compared to Shamrock. The hills are all short little climbs and I netted about 120 feet of elevation gain according to my Garmin. Because of the race's small size, there is plenty of running room throughout and it's easy to take tangents even though the roads aren't closed (traffic was light early in the morning). It's definitely a good course to aim for a PR on.

Course Support – Even though the course wasn't packed with runners, aid stations about every 1.5 miles were enthusiastic and stocked with both Gatorade and water. The typical gel stop was replaced with a fruit stop so if you're into gels, make sure you pack them. Same thing goes for music, if you want it, bring it. There aren't any bands or DJs I can remember on course.

Finish - You finish under the same banner you started under, which is convenient but it's hard watching those marathoners keep going onto their second loop right past people who are finished. After crossing the line you get a cute finisher medal and more food than you know what to do with. There are the coolers full of beer, water and soda from the night before as well as more gumbo, jambalaya and fried goodies. Definitely not a granola bar and banana.

Post Race – Live results are available on a computer moments after you finish and awards for the half are given out roughly 15 minutes before the marathon leader will finish. The first shuttle returns to both parking locations right after the awards and then continues throughout the day. With tons of tasty food and lots of beer, hanging out in the park is a great way to spend an hour or two after the race even if there isn't a band.

I had a great time running the Baton Rouge Beach Half Marathon and for anyone trying to knock Louisiana off their list, it's a great choice. The people and management are friendly and do a wonderful job. There are adorable running chicken medals, lots of eats, lots of drinks and good weather. The course is open but very easy to navigate with good support to break up an often lonely run. I would definitely consider running this one again before some other races and hope it doesn't get too big!

2015 was the inaugural year for the Ocean State Rhode Race. It was competing with the Newport Marathon but had a solid turn out on a beautiful New England day to conquer a tough course. This was the second half of my back to back weekend and I was excited to see what the never-before run race had in store for my already worked out legs.

Location - Coming from my first race in Hartford, CT getting to Narragansett was a nice short scenic drive (~1.5 hrs). There are lots of places to stay within a short driving distance though they can get pricey. The small race didn't feature an expo. There was only packet pick-up that was easy to find with plenty of parking and quick to move through. You got your number, tech shirt and a goody bag filled with snacks for before or after the race.

Start - The start had tons of parking and plenty of Port-a-Potties. Race day number pick-up is available and the 7:30 marathon and 8am half start times make it a reasonable option. There's lots of room to run, stretch and warm-up with views of the beach and ocean. The race's smaller size made it easy for the marathon to go off while giving the half runners enough time to comfortably enter the starting chute and get ready to run. We went off right on time.

Course - HILLS! Rolling hills on the first half give way to some longer climbs with downhills that don't feel so downhill. My GPS watch claims I gained 509 feet of elevation of the race course. There are many soft turns as the race weaves through Narragansett past some gorgeous scenery and amazing homes. All of the hills do end with a slightly downhill finish that helps burning legs feel a bit lighter. The entire course was very well marked but many of the roads were not closed with only cones and the police department to help make drivers aware. Hopefully as the race grows there will be more full road closures.

Course Support - All aid stations were fully stocked and staffed. CarbBoom gels were given out around Mile 8 and each hydration station had both water and sports drink. The police department did a great job of keeping runners safe on a quiet morning without full or half road closures. Narragansett is sleepy during the off season and it's evident by the small number of people hanging outside to cheer runners on. It definitely helps to bring or find a run buddy for this challenging course.

Post Race - Food! Medals! I didn't stick around for long afterwards but after crossing the finish line I was really happy with what was there right away. The medals are nice and big with removable ribbons. I really liked it even before I noticed 10 days after the race it's also a bottle opener :). There were grapes, bananas, muffins, bottled waters, sports drinks and live results being posted just about every 5 minutes. Only the first place finisher in each age group was recognized but that, too, is probably due to the race's smaller size and will change as it grows.

The first running of the Ocean State Rhode Race was a big success. It was well done with great swag that's definitely deserved after powering through the tough course's 500 feet of elevation gain. I recommend checking this one out if you have the chance but make sure you get your hill repeats in first!