This was a hard one but the name should of told me that to begin with, it is on a freakin' mountain after all! Race Management says elevation gain is around 950 ft but my Garmin said 1150 and they also say the course is 13.1 but I got 13.58 when it was said and done. This is a trail/road race and they warn you ahead of time that tree cover will affect your GPS but they say it will make you run short...not long!

But I digress and time to get on to the review:

Overall - A fun little trail/road race with spectacular views and lookout points. This was my first trail so I don't have anything to compare it to but my road races so be forewarned as you read on!

SWAG - Race Management is all about making this race different from your typically halfs and fulls so SWAG is a duffle bag with the race logo on it. Also you get the choice of a coon skin hat or a coffee mug. I think first time half runners got the choice of a tech hat also! The race medal is definitely unique as it is a slice from a log with the raccoon logo burnt into it and a rope as a lanyard. These are all done by hand so not all are alike. I do wish they burnt the year and race distance into the wood also and some did but not all.

Aid Stations - Limited due to most of the course being on a narrow, technical train so definitely carry your own water pack. When you did come across an aid station, they had everything you could possible want or need from water and Gatorade to nutritional needs and medical needs. I think in total, I passed 5 aid stations and one was roughly a half mile from the finish after a 3-4 mile trail.

Course Scenery - Beautiful lookouts and scenery every turn you took! Some personal advice, check out the course layout, which I finally found today for my review purposes, before you start and make a mental note for race day. I did not and when we started heading back to the start/finish, I thought we were done but in reality we had another 3-4 miles of trail and I was already exhausted. Remember, they email you telling you to expect to run short on GPS distance but in reality, you run over.

Expo Quality - Small race so not much here to see but they do offer a pre-race pasta dinner for those out of town. Also they have more race items available for purchase like shirts and hats.

Elevation Difficulty - Hard! Like I previously stated, you are on a mountain and will get around 1,000 ft in gains for the half distance.

Parking/Access - Race Management does there best to give out directions, signs, and traffic directors ahead of time because there is not actual address, you just meet at a event area/trailhead. Parking is limited but available for all. My only suggestion would be that Race Management direct people where to park but it is not impossible to find something available.

Recommendation? - Yes, I would recommend this race to others but probably not to first time trail runners and definitely not for first time half runners. There is a relay opinion and that is probably the best for first timers. This race is more tailored to the avid trail and distance runner and definitely those who are independent runners and are use to running distance without support.

Claimed to be the "Prettiest Half Marathon", Run the Bluegrass does not disappoint! Great location, support, scenery, and post race festival, one would be hard-pressed to find something they do not enjoy about this race!

SWAG - I thought the swag could be better but was still nice even if it was different. I am simple, I really enjoy a new tech short or long sleeve shirt to sport while I'm running local or participating in another race to show where I've been and what I have accomplished. Run the Bluegrass gave us a cotton lightweight hoodie which is really nice but most would probably agree with me, cotton and running rarely mix well.

Aid Stations - Aid stations were every 2-2.5 miles which is further between then most races I have been a part of but worked out well! Each station had water and Sword, a sports drink that sponsored the race and was pretty good! I only recall 2-3 medical tents. Biggest thing I do not recall seeing was a Gu or nutrition station but that could of been supplemented by Sword (Similar to Tailwind maybe? Need to research more.).

Course Scenery - The Prettiest Half Marathon did not disappoint! The entire race was in rural horse country. You start and finish at Keeneland which is best known for holding the largest thoroughbred auction and also held the 2015 Breeder's Cup. From Keeneland you run country roads passing maybe 15-20 horse farms before circling back to the start/finish.

Expo - Great expo with all race sponsors, future race information tables, and local run shops. If you need last minute items for the race or a unique run item you have had your eye on for sometime, you should not have a problem finding it at the Expo. Post race festival is great too! Papa John's offers free Pizza, a local brewery offers free beer, and Thornton's gas station has free bourbon glazed donuts and that is with the typical fruits, chocolate milk, and carbs offered at post race events.

Elevation Difficulty - Very hilly! The course is up and down from start to finish with little to no flat areas. Over the entire length of the course, I gained almost 900 ft according to my Garmin.

Parking/Access - Extremely easy to find as Keeneland is well known in Lexington and across the street from the airport. Because of Keeneland's size, parking is extremely easy and you are directed by area police. Most importantly, parking is free!

Race Management - Very helpful by communicating via Facebook and email with all information one would need to know before race day. Also, they want to ensure your race weekend is more then just a run. They understand that many runners are from out of town and they offer guided tours for many attractions in the Lexington area such as horse farms, distillery and brewery tours, and course tours. Just FYI, these tours are extra and no part of the race package but only available to runners and support crews.

I would definitely recommend this race to others. This was my first race in the state of Kentucky and not my last but has definitely set the bar high for future Kentucky events.

In a nutshell, I loved this race! I first learned about it last year while down in Disney for the Princess Half with friends and saw pictures from groups back home that drove the 3 hrs down from Nashville and knew I had to check it out in 2016. First off, everyone complains of hills and yes, I am an exception to the fear because you cannot be a runner around Nashville without learning to overcome 15% grade hills over an extended trek of a course and yes there were hills but they were not bad and the couple that were steeper than preferred were very short. This was actually one of my favorite courses I have ran because it was all different to keep me engaged in my run and away from being bored.

Now into the specifics:

SWAG: This was the 15th anniversary so they really put extra effort into their shirts this year and after the race, we got a nice seat cover saying we were a Mercedes finisher and our distance.

Aid Stations: They had aid stations every mile to mile and a quarter and GU stations every 5K. My only complaint was trying to find the Powerade to get my electrolytes. Most races I have done use different cups, have signs, or people yelling what they had but I just had to grab a cup and hope for the best. There were also medical stations on the course have I cannot be sure because I try to avoid those but I think they were every 5K as well.

Course Scenery: As previously stated, a great course. You start downtown and head out and around downtown toward UAB. From UAB you head to the more modern, art district and then into the older, historic part of Birmingham before heading back to downtown and finishing in a park that is across the street from the starting line. Also, there are people at every section of the course, you will not go 100 yds without having a random stranger cheering you on.

Expo Quality: Pretty good, nothing fantastic like R'n'R or Disney puts on and you should be able to find everything you need. Make sure you pay attention to the signs because finding packet pickup can be frustrating when trying to find the small stairs in the corner to get on stage.

Elevation: Again, there are hills but they are not bad compared to Nashville or as a 50 States club member told me, she expected Cincinnati all over again but this was a cake walk compared to that. There is a 2-3 block hill to get up to the finish so save something for that. I was 2 minutes off a PR because I had nothing left to get me up that hill on pace. Also, there is a nice, long downhill around mile 9 or 10.

Parking: I was worried about parking when I tried to get to the Expo because there was a big car show happening at the Arena a block away but zero problems finding a spot Sunday morning, I actually got a spot on the street a block from the starting line an 1 hr before the gun.

Race Management: Great, helpful, very good at communicating.

There you have it, a must try race for all. Especially a must for people trying to do a half or full in all 50 states because while it was mid-30s for the race, next week could start summer in Alabama and it'll be in the 80s.

Nothing special here, just a simple local 5K to get Murfreesboro to start off the New Year right. Race management gives you the option to pay for just the run or for $10 more, run with a shirt which is a performance long sleeve race shirt. Course is in and around Barfield park and you do have to run up and down the steep hill on the wilderness trail but the route has you coming down the steepest side and going up the more gradual incline side. One problem with the route and while not a huge deal but something one would prefer to avoid; after you are done coming down the hill and started your final sprint to the finishline (with gravity's help), you have to come off a curb. Curbs obviously aren't a huge deal typically but this one is awkward being at the end, right at the base of the hill, and you will probably be giving it everything you got...last thing you want to think about is keeping your balance coming off a curb. There is an aid station on the course that you will pass twice; once going out to Hwy 231 on Volunteer Rd (about 1.25 miles in) and then when again when you turn around and head back into the park (about 2.5 miles in). I did not go to packet pickup the day before the race because the park a little out of my way and they offered race day packet pickup so no idea if any vendors were around New Years Eve but I doubt it and nobody was there on race day. Plenty parking available at the park's baseball field parking lots and traffic seemed to move nicely in and out of the race beforehand and afterwards. The race is put on by the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department and this is the first year so I would assume plenty will change and improve over the next few years. Communications is probably the biggest improvement I would suggest because after my race comfirmation receipt email, that was the last I heard from them and they seemed to rely information through the event's Facebook page which unfortunately I think is happening more often by race management nowadays, periodical emails would be nice.

Overall, not a bad 5K to start off the new year on the right foot for those in the Middle Tennessee, Greater Nashville area.

HF#11988

One of the few times I'm allowed at the Stones River Country Club, this is a fun family holiday race that 100% of proceeds go towards providing a Christmas to local kids and local businesses contribute a handful of raffle giveaways as well. As I said, this run is at the Stone River Country Club with distances of 2 or 4.4 miles as you run the golf course's cart path. Packet pickup is at Fleet Feet Murfreesboro and race shirt is a long sleeve Brooks tech shirt. Parking is pretty easy in the club's lot. Two aid stations on the course which is fine if it is truly a frosty day but it was 70 this year and I wish there was one more on the 4.4 mile course but who would of thought it would 70 in December! At the end of the race you can hangout with friends and family in the club's dining room for Waffle House waffles and coffee and see if you are one of the lucky ones to win a raffle that you are part of just for running.