I had a great day on the course! The weather was perfect, the course is beautiful, and the race is well run. Well-stocked water stations every two miles, gu at mile 7, a nice long-sleeve tech shirt. The community came out in droves to support the runners, and the course was just rolling enough to be interesting without so much gain that it was impossible. There were two live bands on the course (one of which was playing "Eye of the Tiger" which was AMAZING).

Oh and Darth Vader gave me water. It was awesome.

Best half I've ever run; doesn't hurt the I PRed either!

This was a great run!

Since it's in New Hampshire in late November, it can be difficult to predict the weather. This year was gray, rainy, and cold; not the best way to start a half. But the runners were all so nice! The pacers were lovely and the route was very scenic. It's twice around a loop through the park; which means that aid stations are plentiful and if you're really having trouble with the race, you can bail out halfway since you'll be right near the start.

The finisher's shirt and medal are my favorites from this year. The logo is pretty badass, and the wicking tee is high quality and soft. At the finish line, you'll be handed a cup of delicious soup (it was much appreciated this year since it was so cold and gross).

Running through the park is like running through middle earth. It's a quiet course, off-road so you don't have to worry about traffic. I wouldn't call these trails "technical" in the least; they're packed earth and nice and easy for a greenie. I would highly recommend this race as a first half marathon, or first long trail run to anybody. It's very manageable and friendly.

The only hitch is that at the end of the loop, there are a few pretty serious hills on what is otherwise a relatively flat course. Just save some in the tank to tackle those hills, and you'll be fine.

First of all: this race is to benefit Mystic Aquarium's efforts to bring back the endangered African Penguin. How can you lose when you're running for those adorable waddlers?

Secondly: the race is a mixed-terrain course with mostly roads and a small trail section. There are some pretty major hills on this out-and-back lollipop, so you have now been warned.

When you hit the finish line, prepare for awesomeness. There are all kinds of yummy snacks, your bib gets you in to the aquarium for the rest of the day, and (best of all) there are PENGUIN RACES afterwards. That's right; after the humans race, the penguins race. You can even bet on which penguin you think will win the penguin race. If your penguin wins, you are entered into a drawing for a piece of penguin art (that is art made by the penguins). It's pretty awesome. And don't worry, the birds are treated with every ounce of respect and are not harmed nor traumatized; remember that Mystic Aquarium is (above all) a conservation and education organization.

The only reason I would knock it down from five stars is lack of pre-organization. I never received a pre-race info packet, and the website isn't updated terribly frequently. Chip timing also seems to have been compromised since official chip times were never released (there are gun times circulating, but not chip times). Oh well; this was still an awesome race and everyone should totally do it.

Spartans make me feel strong, capable, brave, and powerful.

From the minute this race started (and that was pretty quick; we arrived JUST as our heat was departing so we literally hopped the four-foot wall into the corral and started heading straight up the mountain... oh, yea, you have to hop a four-foot wall to get into the starting corral because Spartans don't mess around), I was ON.

The elevations on this were insane. It took you up and down a ski slope, sometimes climbing and descending the same stretch of mountain several times. The day we ran it, it happened to be raining the whole day; so picture doing this in the driving rain as the trails (oh, yea, it's entirely trails) become so muddy that you're wading in puddles. It was intense.

The aid stations on Spartans could be improved in a single way: by having some kind of nutrition. When you run a Spartan Super (or Beast), you're going to need a camelbak for hydration, and water-proof race nutrition. I did Gu approximately every three miles and was mostly fine, but definitely needed some calories by the finish line. If they could have a banana station about halfway through, I think it would be such an improvement for the runners.

In terms of gear: don't wear anything on the mountain that you would be sad to lose. You will be muddy. You will be drenched in water head to toe. You will be climbing, crawling, and sprinting your way through rough terrain. You will get caught under barbed wire and rip your favorite pants. Don't wear your favorite pants. Also wear close-fitting garments that don't have any major pockets in which mud can collect because... it will. I've known many an unwary Spartan to be pantsed by the weight of mud collecting in their trousers. Wear gloves; batting gloves are perfect. You'll want them when you go to do your first set of burpees. Also wear knee protection; there's a lot of crawling to be done on that mountain and the rocks will tear up your knees and elbows pretty bad if you don't prep for it.

The best part about a Spartan race is the camaraderie. I've run them with large groups before, and I've run them with just one other person before. Every time, the other Spartans are there to give me a leg up when I need it. Make friends as you go and help others out; they will absolutely be there to give you a lift when you need it.