Latest reviews by Dana

(2016)
"Fantastic race for runners by runners"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Wow - what a race! I had heard good things about B2B but now that I've run it, I want to go back and run it every year for the foreseeable future! It's a gorgeous point-to-point with massive volunteer and spectator support, and a fantastic time overall.

Expo:
Bib pickup is held the 2 evenings before the race, and there is a small expo on-site as well. At the expo, each runner got a $10 gift card to LL Bean, a $10 gift card to Olympia Sports, and a $3 to Dunkin Donuts - awesome. There were also free swag bags, bananas, Clif Bars, pasta, etc. and several vendors and running clubs were there too. I haven't run many big races, so this was my first expo and I wasn't disappointed.

Pre-race:
Minimal parking near the start and finish, so runners are encouraged to park at designated areas that are served by shuttle buses. Shuttles run from 6am-7am for the 8am start, and were organized efficiently. Runners are strongly encouraged to pick up their bibs the days before the race, and must contact the race organizers to arrange for day-of pickup. The staging area at the starting line is great - a huge line of porta-potties; tables with water, Gatorade, coffee, and snacks; and bag-drop buses with helpful volunteers.

Race:
A point-to-point course that winds from the southern end of Cape Elizabeth up to Fort Williams and Portland Head Light in South Portland. Not spectacularly hilly, but the worst hills are cruelly at the end. Spectators lined almost the entire course, and were fantastic! It felt like the whole Cape had turned out in support, cheering for runners by name (names on bibs), ringing cowbells, and even offering trays of bacon (with a sign reading "Beach 2 Bacon"). I felt like a rockstar running this race, even at the back of the pack!

Swag:
A really nice Nike Dri-Fit short-sleeve tee and a car magnet were given out with bibs, and gift cards were given to each runner at the expo (see above). The post-race party had a giant food tent for runners, full of yogurt, fruit, crackers, cheese, etc. Vendors were giving out chocolate milk and four-packs of local soda, and the race sponsor, TD BankNorth, had a table with running reflector lights, body wipes, and other swag. You could walk away from this race fully loaded with stuff! Oh, and free race photos as well.

Aid stations:
There was a fantastically staffed water table on each side of the road at every mile marker... I've never seen so many volunteers at a race, unless it's the Boston Marathon. Each aid station had one porta-potty as well, though the lines for each were pretty long.

Course scenery:
Gorgeous. A mix of woodsy back roads, residential areas, small farms, and breath-taking ocean views near the end. (There were a bunch of race photographers set up near Mile 5, where the scenery opens up to an amazing view of the ocean... I can't wait to see these pics!) There were a few commercial areas as well, but they were so packed with cheering spectators that I hardly noticed what strip malls we were running by.

Post-race:
After hitting the final hills, you run past bleachers and even more cheering spectators across the finish line and into Fort Williams Park, where you get a view of Portland Head Light (the "beacon" in the race name). Runners, spectators, and press are all separated at this point, and runners are herded up a hill to a meetup point and, finally, volunteers handing out bottles of water. There are a bunch of porta-potties on hand as well. Across a small road is the food tent area, where most runners seemed to congregate. There are shuttle buses to take runners back to their cars, and the lines for these were long but very well organized. There's also a small beach for anyone who wants to cool off in the frigid Atlantic.

Bonus:
This is Joan Benoit Samuelson's race, and it follows her training route. I was surprised to bump into her after crossing the finish line and was star-struck for a few seconds!

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(2016)
"Hot and hilly half"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Overall:
A hilly, hot half marathon with minimal scenery but decent enough swag. Not the best race Worcester puts on, but from what I've heard they've been making improvements each year.

Pre-race:
There seemed to be plenty of street parking close to the Common, where the start/finish was (and since it was Sunday, meters were free!) There was plenty of space to warm up on the Common, and music was playing - decent atmosphere. One major hiccup - the porta-potties didn't arrive in time for the race start. Apparently there had been complaints of not enough porta-potties the previous year, so the race director ordered more, only to have the delivery guy get lost. Oops. They opened City Hall for runners to use, which was nice, but there were nowhere near enough stalls for all the runners. The start ended up being delayed about 10 minutes to let everyone have a chance to use the bathroom.

Race:
Half marathon was scheduled to start at 7am, with the 5K scheduled to start at 7:15 and the youth 1K at 9:30. The course started downtown, then went up one of Worcester's famous hills into a gorgeous, shaded residential neighborhood. After a bit of winding through the neighborhood, the course went out to a desolate industrial-esque road for a long, shade-free out-and-back that wasn't very pretty. The course was decently marked with cones, but was open to traffic and a few stretches of that industrial road were a little sketchy with cars speeding by quite close. The rest of the course was well-manned with road guards and police.

Swag:
First 1,000 to register got tech t-shirts, everyone else I believe got cotton. Runners of both the half and 5K got finishers' medals, which were sizable and pretty cool. If you were one of the first 500 to pick up your bib the night before, you got a free pair of running socks.

Aid stations:
Considering the temps were forecast to reach the upper 80s, I was initially dismayed to see how few aid stations were on the course map. However, there ended up being more aid stations than the map said, which was awesome. Every other station had Gatorade as well as water, and one stop around mile 8 was also giving out Honey Stinger gels. Several families set up unofficial aid stations with water, huge buckets of ice, and sprinklers, which was fantastic! On the down side, there was only 1 porta-potty along the course (unless you count the one that belonged to a small beach we ran by), whereas the map had said there would be several. However, I'm assuming this was due to the aforementioned hiccup re: porta-potties, and I can't really blame the race director.

Course scenery:
Meh. The first 4 miles or so had spots of loveliness - cool old buildings downtown, Elm Park, the giant houses on Salisbury Street. Then it was quiet residential neighborhoods, followed by a mixed residential-business street, and then a really long stretch on a bleak, semi-abandoned industrial road with nothing to look at. I didn't mind it *too* much as Worcester is my home city and I always find it fun to run the old streets, but objectively the scenery left quite a bit to be desired.

Post-race:
Medals and full bottles of water were handed to runners right after crossing the finish. There was a pizza party on the Common, but with the slow runners like me finishing around 10am, it felt a bit too early for pizza. There were also bananas and oranges, but I think that was it. I didn't stick around for long, so I don't know if there was an awards ceremony or any other festivities.

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(2016)
"A literature nerd's dream race"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Overall:
2016 was the 33rd running of the James Joyce Ramble, and it was clear to me that it's a much-loved race! Many runners I spoke with have been running the Ramble for years, and it's managed like a well-oiled machine. As a former English major and a huge literature nerd, the Joyce theme was right up my alley, and I had a blast on race day.

Pre-race:
Plenty of free (and very well-organized) parking on the grounds of the Endicott Estate, where the start/finish line and post-race party are, as well as free street parking nearby. Bib pickup was also well-organized and quick, and there were a few vendors handing out snacks and water. A sizeable line of porta-potties were available, as well as others sprinkled around the grounds.

Race:
The Ramble is also a USATF Masters Championship race, so runners and run clubs from all over the country come to compete. The Masters race started a few minutes before the "regular" runners, and our "starting gun" was actually a gong struck by Uta Pippig! The course is quite hilly in places, and the hills by the school feel like killers. Possibly my favorite unique feature of this race was the presence of actors along the course, dressed in period garb and reading selections from Joyce novels (see attached photo). There was decent spectator support too, with people cheering the runners on from their driveways and windows, and in some cases offering water and high fives.

Swag:
A cotton short-sleeved t-shirt was included with registration, or you could buy a long-sleeved tee for $15. They were also selling shirts from years past for $5. I also heard that winning runners got James Joyce novels along with their prize money, a detail that I loved.

Aid stations:
There were several well-stocked water tables along the course, as well as a few unofficial stations in front of people's houses. One house also had a sprinkler set up for us to run through - it was glorious and perfectly placed (right after the killer hills)!

Course scenery:
The course goes through the lovely historic center of Dedham twice, with a mix of woods, ponds, and suburban neighborhoods in the middle. Very New-Englandy.

Post-race:
Big post-race party on the grounds of the estate, with free beer and flavored seltzer for runners. There were also vendors giving away snacks (bananas, chips, pretzels, etc.) and a Dunkin Donuts truck giving away tiny iced coffees. It was a perfect day to stretch out on the grass with a beer alongside fellow runners.

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(2016)
"Fun lake-side race with a local feel"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

Overall:
Small, inexpensive race ($15 pre-registration, $20 day-of) with a local feel and great swag. My running club had a great time, and plans to run this race again next year!

Pre-race:
Plenty of free parking right at the start/finish line, and decent space to warm up with pleasant views of Lake Whalom. Bib pickup and registration were held at On the Rocks, a sports bar right next to the start/finish line. Pickup was easy and quick, and registration seemed just as well run. Bonus = real bathrooms in the bar!

Race:
5K walk started at 12:15, race started at 1. Not chip timed, but there were just over 100 runners so there wasn't much of a lag at the starting line. Out-and-back course by Lake Whalom (quite windy!) that winds through rural and woodsy residential neighborhoods. One killer hill right around the half-way point, but otherwise relatively flat. Course open to traffic, but the volunteers did a good job of slowing traffic down and keeping the runners to one side of the road.

Swag:
Cozy fleece hats, a choice of headband or running gloves, and a bag with sweatbands, chapstick, and coupons. The hats alone were worth more than the $15 registration!

Aid stations:
None.

Course scenery:
Lake Whalom is a pleasant sight to gaze upon, and a few rolling fields/woodsy vistas are pleasant as well. Feels very New-Englandy.

Post-race:
After you cross the finish line you have to wait in line in the chute to have your bib number and time recorded. Water was a serve-yourself station outside On the Rocks, which was maybe 50 yards from the finish; would have been a cluster if there had been more runners, as there were only 2 jugs of water and you had to squeeze through a narrow gate to get to it. Great post-race party in the bar with prizes for top 3 male and female finishers, raffle prizes, and cheap beer. The owner of the bar also owns a pizza joint next door, and they served quite a few pizzas to hungry runners as well. Very friendly atmosphere.

Room for Improvement:
I would have loved if the water was closer to the finish line at the end, and I did hear some grumblings about the lack of a water stop on the course (it was unseasonably warm and water would have been welcome!) Also, there is one dangerous part of the course - where faster runners have to cut across the path of runners farther back - that has the potential to be a safety issue, especially if people aren't paying close attention. If the course turned right to approach the big hill, rather than going straight and looping back down across the path, that would erase the potential for collisions.

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(2016)
"New Year's Conquest"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

*Note: Conquer Our Run hosts a series of races throughout the year, at either Dockweiler Beach or Manhattan Beach. This review is specifically about the New Year's Conquest race at Dockweiler on January 9, 2016.*

Overall:
A small, low-key race (<80 participants) with a fun, supportive atmosphere. Low registration fees ($21 for 5K, $27 for 10K, ~$33 for 15K (I forget the exact amount)), but unique swag and prizes included. Each race benefits charity; this one supported Lupus LA. Runners of all ages and abilities participated, and everyone was made to feel welcome and awesome. I'd run all of these races if I lived locally!

Pre-race:
Pre-race communications were friendly and informative. Parking was super easy - either free parking along the street above the beach or, for ~$10, you could park in the parking lot where the start/finish was. Bib pick-up was day-of only, starting at 6:30am. It was well organized and I got my stuff quickly. A coach from a local fitness center led all the runners in a group warmup which was surprisingly fun! The race director also spoke briefly before the race to explain the course, explain the race series, and pump us up.

Race:
Prompt 7am start. Course starts on a very short incline, then is flat as a pancake (except for the occasional speed bump) along the beach service road. Out and back in a straight line - once for 5K runners, twice for 10K, three times for 15K. Service road was open, so there were cyclists, other runners, and a few trucks sharing the course, as well as a closed gate to contend with. However, the obstacles weren't too bad at all (I managed to PR).

Swag:
Cotton t-shirts available for $6. Dog-tag medals for all finishers, and all runners got a goodie bag with their bibs that contained pretzels, protein powder, gummy vitamins, and a sports drink. There were also prizes for the top 15-20 finishers, and for this race those prizes were swag from the movie "13 Hours" (so "LA"!), including posters, hats, sweatshirts, and water bottles. I thought this was very unique and fun!

Aid stations:
Before the race the director mentioned that there would be water at the turnaround and at the finish line (the finish line was the other turnaround for runners doing the 10K or 15K), and that if we wanted some we should ask. I don't know if water at the first turnaround was only for the longer-distance runners, but when I got to that point I was going to ask for water, only I couldn't see any for the asking. (There might have been some, I just didn't see it.) There was a box with water bottles at the finish line.

Course scenery:
Maybe I'm biased because I consider Southern Californian beaches to be a bit of paradise, or maybe because I live in New England where it's dead and frigid this time of year, but the scenery was gorgeous to me. The beach, the waves crashing, the palm trees, the mountains in the distances... lovely. I suppose the scrub on the other side of the service road wasn't much to look at, but I just turned my head the other way and gaped at the view. Even the planes taking off from LAX directly overhead were a novelty and a cool distraction.

Post-race:
Volunteers call out your time as you cross the finish (race is manually timed, but the field was so small that there was no lag at the start; the official time matched my Garmin time exactly), and you get handed a dog tag as another volunteer double checks your name and bib number. With the three different distances the post-race area was sparse at first (I ran the 5K). The race director was handing out movie swag to finishers, and I think there was an official awards bit eventually, but I got too cold and left before it happened. The whole experience was very chill.

Room for Improvement:
Not much, to be honest. For a small, inexpensive, low-key race it was pretty perfect. The water availability at the turnaround could probably be a bit more obvious, but otherwise this was a very well run race.

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