The Missoula Marathon was my 9th overall full marathon and State number 7 on the (very long way to go) quest across the US! It was also my 3rd marathon in under 3 months to meet the qualifying criteria for the Marathon Maniacs and 2nd in 3 weeks after Rock ‘N Roll Seattle last month. With that perspective, I was never expecting a PR but I was hoping for a better experience than I had in Seattle in June.

I was looking forward to this trip and experiencing this event that was selected as the top marathon in the US by Runners World magazine in 2010 and a course that routinely ranks in the top 10-20 races to run. This was also our first trip to Montana and we were excited to be visiting a completely new area. It did not disappoint!

This was a road trip for us with Missoula being just over 500 miles from our home in Washington. Due to work schedules, we could not leave until late on Friday afternoon so drove out to Spokane for an overnight stop. It was quite a spectacular drive as we passed through Northern Idaho and Couer d’Alene which is simply beautiful and then into the Big Sky country that is Montana.

After a quick stop to check in at the host hotel we headed out right away to packet pickup, which was at a downtown park, a short stroll along the river trail. Packet pickup was simple and the expo was pretty small which was fine for both of us.

We headed back to the hotel and found no other than Jeff Galloway, who was just finishing a seminar! We sat in on the last 20-30 minutes, got to meet Jeff and even went on a very short training run along the river with his small group. He is a wonderful guy who made time for everyone that wanted to chat with him. It felt surreal talking casually with such a well-known name in the sport. An Olympian, former 10 mile US record holder, and a 2:15 marathoner.

Summertime temperatures in Missoula can get pretty warm, often well into the 80’s and 90’s…not pleasant for running of any kind let alone a marathon so race start was 6:00 am. This weekend, it was rainy, cloudy and cool with the temperature in the low-50’s as we waited to start. Running conditions were perfect for the entire race as we stayed dry while the temp never got much above 60.

This race was also somewhat unique in that the full and half-marathons had different start locations. So, as we headed out of the hotel into the very early Sunday morning darkness Wifey and I parted with a hug as she headed to the half-marathon shuttles, while I got in line for the long ride! And, it was a long ride too…I think this was the 3rd marathon that I’ve had to take a bus to the start line for a point to point course and every time, it seems like the ride is forever and all everyone is thinking is holy crap, we have to run all this way back!!

The start area was out in the middle of nowhere…according to my phone it was listed as Frenchtown, MT . But, the organization was excellent…an abundance of portables with NO lines upon arrival. Fireworks were shot every 15 minutes as we counted down to the start time. I found a step to sit on against a wall in my space blanket and chatted with Wifey over text as the sunrise appeared in the Big Sky. The only interruption to the pre-race calm was the bomb sniffing dog checking out my phone and the sandwich of the guy sitting next to me. At the 15 minute to go firework, I made the final assault on the portable and headed to the corral. Before we knew it, the military style cannon fired and a full fireworks show sent us off into the farmlands of Montana.

Here's the key points summary:

- Superbly well organized – packet pickup is easy and everything is catered to a smooth experience for the runner.

- Plenty of shuttles to the start with short wait times – just make sure if you are a half-marathon runner do not board the full marathon bus…a couple of runners on my shuttle came very close to making this mistake!

- Loads of portables…and I mean loads. First visit there were no lines at all – I mean had a choice of cabin…second tour I waited maybe 2 minutes.

- Firework display to start the race!

- Wonderful locals that are very welcoming and supporting to the runners that take over their town for the weekend.

- Great shirt and fabulous bling – it’s a monster, big bling for Big Sky! I also got me a great Run Wild Missoula race visor in powder blue and brown for my collection!

- Beautiful, mostly flat, course (though there is one brutal hill around mile 14)

- Post-race food and beer – nothing like a Moose Drool IPA from the Big Sky Brewing Company to lift the spirits after 26 miles!

- Park area with seating and tables to hang out post-race.

- Printed finisher picture (optional) – these were really nice!

- Free race pictures to download and use however you prefer.

I loved this race – it completely lived up to all our expectations in terms of organization, scenery, facilities, convenience and scale. A wonderful experience that I would highly recommend. Whether you are a 50 stater or you are looking for a destination race to work into a trip or vacation you won’t regret running Missoula. It is well worth the visit. The only downside to our visit was that we didn’t have another day or two to explore this beautiful town and area.

You can read my full review with pictures on my site http://www.50in50marathonquest.com/missoula-marathon-recap/

This was a “hometown” race for us and for me another commute to the city not far from my normal office destination. On race day however, Wifey and me were up at oh-stupid early to head down into Seattle and run 13.1 and 26.2 miles respectively.

Rock ‘N Roll events are generally a lot of fun and we have enjoyed several over the past couple years visiting Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC on our RnR “tour.” This was my third RnR Seattle but first time going the full distance. We signed up for this event a year ago way before we had any idea of what this year’s calendar would look like. For a week after a RnR event (or at least for this one) you can get a super cheap registration for the following year. So, I picked up a marathon entry at $55 and the half for $50, which as most of y’all RnR runners know is crazy cheap.

My logic was even if I didn’t want to run the full 26.2, dropping to the half would still be a great deal. And, that was my plan. Then, we heard about the Marathon Maniacs (and Half Fanatics) and a quick check revealed a qualifying criteria of 3 marathons in 90 days. With Salt Lake in April and Missoula in July both on the 2016 race calendar and just 85 days apart RnR Seattle became the middle piece of the Maniacs puzzle.

Logistics:

Expo – huge, Wifey couldn’t go so I stopped by after work on Friday as I work just a mile and a half from the stadiums and it was on my way to the station. The Expo was up to the normal RnR standards with loads of vendors and samples. Packet and shirt pickup was easy. As I've been to these many times I didn’t stick around – wasn’t much fun without Wifey and I missed all the Twitter meetups.

Race day – we bought parking pass at Century Link Garage from RnR website and we arrived super early. Just as well because traffic trying to get into the garage was horrendous and the shuttle drivers got lost taking runners to the start at Seattle Center. Hint - if you decide to buy a parking pass for this event, buy it online ahead of time. I just had to pick up my parking pass and there was no waiting. However, the line to purchase the passes at the expo was huge and full of some very annoyed looking people.

Plenty of bathroom options at Seattle Center. Portable lines were short – yes short, I said that…I mean like 5 minutes short, really!! Of course, runners had the entire facilities of the Center at their disposal, but hey a short portable line is akin to a modern day running miracle.

Race delayed – guessing due to shuttles getting lost and traffic.

Overall for us logistically, it was pretty tough…we got up at 3:30 am, left at 4:15 to get to parking by 5:15 for a 7:30 race start! And, it’s a local race for us. We got home just before 3:00 pm, so an almost 12 hour day.

Conditions:

Cool, damp, occasional showers. Temp mid-50’s to low-60’s. Perfect Seattle running weather, no complaints.

Course:

Seattle Center over waterfront viaduct for final time – it will be demolished next year. Through downtown Seattle, International District, Columbia City, Seward Park, Lake Washington, I-90 bridge to Mercer Island out and back to Seattle to finish at Century Link field.

Elevation profile – couple steep hills in places but compensated by some downhills. Otherwise mostly flat or lightly rolling. Any course in Seattle is going to have hills.

Race:

I was under no illusions that this was going to be a PR race but decided to run at 9:00 pace and see how long I could hold on. That lasted for about 8-9 miles. This was my worst marathon performance ever (8 marathons) in terms of time. Course was fine, no issues, great weather conditions. But, felt nauseous and had a headache for first 9-10 miles. Took some Glukos stuff they were handing out that I had never tried before and it actually worked – I started feeling better around mile 11.

Splits were deteriorating though from ~9 through first 10 miles or so, to 9:30, then 9:45 and into the 10:00’s. Split first half at 2:06, which is about 7-8 minutes behind my normal pace for the first 13.1. After Seward Park we headed along Lakeshore Drive on the west bank of Lake Washington…mile 16 was very powerful with tributes to cancer victims and fallen soldiers. Signs inspired me to keep going and run the entire section for those that couldn’t anymore.

From there, over to the I-90 bridge to Mercer. Worst part of the course for me. Honestly, I hated it…the I-90 tunnels and bridge risers sucked the life out of me and we had to hit them twice as the run went on an out and back to Mercer Island. On a clear day this bridge showcases spectacular views of Seattle and the mountains, which would be great for the out of town visitors. But, the noise from the surrounding traffic and the tunnels made this a slog for me and with the overcast conditions, there were no views…besides it’s not quite the same having seen them many times anyway!

Cramps started around mile 22 with the hamstrings threatening to completely derail my race. Walk breaks were far too frequent and much longer than I normally take. With about 1/2 mile to go, the hamstrings finally cramped and I couldn’t even finish strong.

The good

Weather – perfect running conditions.
Course – they have eliminated a lot of hills and we got to run on the viaduct for the final time before it is demolished.
Plenty of facilities at the Seattle Center start area which also showcases Seattle icons.
The medal – love the RnR bling.
My performance – I finished marathon number 8.

The bad

Course – the I-90 tunnels and the ramps to get up to I-90 sucked.
Driving logistics – we left our house at 4:15 for a 7:30 race start and got home around 3:00pm. Was tired and had a headache before the race even started.
Not much in the finish area in terms of food/drink. No tables or chairs to stage drink and food, or rest. Blankets were right at the end of the finisher area so runners were going all the way to the back to get blankets and then returning to pick up food/water etc.
My performance – slowest marathon ever.

The ugly

Shuttle drivers got lost getting to the start – apparently they changed the maps on the drivers at the last minute and were not clear on the route they were supposed to take. Felt bad for our driver but he managed to somehow get us to the start.
Nauseous and headache for 10 miles.
Hamstring cramping at miles 22-26.
My performance – the category stats are available on my website but hopefully you'll skip by them!

Overall

Real mixed feelings. First time running a full 26.2 at an RnR event which was nice but came with logistical headaches. Getting to and from downtown Seattle is awful – would have been easier to stay somewhere but would have needed a hotel for 2 nights to make it useful and timing was not going to work for us to take a weekend getaway in Seattle. Pretty light at the recovery area in terms of booths, handouts, things to do. Honestly, the bands are a bit over-hyped – nobody was watching the stage when I finished, and I was too cold to bother with the free beer.

This was my 3rd RnR Seattle having done the half in 2012 and 2014. Now I’ve done the full, I’m good for a while. I’ll never say never but this won’t be on my list again anytime soon. I think it is one that I’d recommend for out of town runners or for local runners that have yet to experience the event.

The full report and pictures can be found on my site http://www.50in50marathonquest.com/rock-n-roll-seattle-marathon-recap/

Salt Lake City, UT was marathon number 7 overall and state number 6 on the 50 state journey. We decided on this race several months ago when planning our 2016 calendar and took advantage of the early registration pricing. This was another racecation opportunity for us with my wife running the half.

Whenever possible we like to stay in the downtown areas of the city, and for this event, we elected to go with the Marriott City Center which was the host hotel for the event. After a (very bumpy) descent on the flight during which we were certain we were all going to die, thus sparing us the pain of running 26.2 miles, the incredible light-rail system took us from the airport right to the Gallivan Plaza, the location of our hotel.

We headed out for our traditional “48 hours before race day sampling of the local fine eating and drinking establishments” walking a couple of the massive downtown city blocks of Salt Lake City to Squatters, also known as the Salt Lake Brewing Company. We had a great evening, a couple of awesome burgers and brews and headed back to the room by 9 or so.

Friday, I headed out for a 2 mile shakeout run around the downtown area and despite the cold was really glad I did. The first thing that hit me (other than we left 70 degree Seattle to 32 degree Salt Lake City) was the effect of the altitude…just an easy couple miles seemed to elevate my heart rate far more than would be expected.

The expo was light to say the least. For the premier marathon event of the city, and I assume the state, the expo was almost a non-event. Packet pickup and a handful of vendors located out at the fairgrounds, which was also a bit odd for this type of event. I thought the Salt Palace convention center would have been the logical choice. Despite the rather low-key expo, the shirts were really nice. I also found a fabulous deal on a Camelback trail hydration system that I could not pass up.

With bagels and peanut butter cups on hand courtesy of the wonderful Beans and Brew coffee shop located right next to our hotel, the morning race day on the road routine was completed and we headed out for the 2 block walk to the light-rail train stop that would take us up to the University of Utah Hospital and the start of the race. The train ride was free to all participants and everything went as planned. Of course, there are never enough portables – why oh why can’t race directors recognize that this is always one of the biggest complaints among race participants, especially when there was ample room to have at least double the 24 blue cabins that were provided (for about 4,000 runners).

Portables done and we headed to our corrals – I squeezed my way into ‘D’ on the marathon side and Wifey took her spot in the half-marathon stalls. There was a great rendition of the national anthem as dawn transitioned to daylight, and we were off, straight into a steep hill as we exited the hospital campus…but the hill ended quickly and after a couple of rollers we enjoyed almost 5 miles of downhill and straight sections through a very scenic canyon as we made our way into the city.

I was hoping that maybe I had a shot at only my second sub-4 marathon, which would almost certainly be a PR given that my best time is 3:59:55, and it was relatively easy to stay at, or just below, the required 9 minute pace. Although I did notice the altitude, my splits while not super consistent, were right on track and overall I was feeling great as we reached the point of the race where the marathoners split from the half-marathon runners. This had a bit of a psychological impact as I gazed at the right side of the fence where the half course continued straight through mile 9 and into the final third. We took a sharp left and straight into a big hill.

This course had turned suddenly very hard and the extra effort of the altitude was starting to have an effect. Training at sea level and racing at almost a mile high (roughly 4,500-4,800 feet) was adding to the difficulty – not making excuses at all. I knew the challenge going in but there was nothing I could really do to prepare for it so went with it and adjusted. By mile 16, while still technically being on track for a PR (I was right around a 9:00 average) I was doubting my ability to hold the pace with 10 miles still to go.

At mile 17 or 18 I continued to feel the fatigue and despite running 8:56 at mile 18, I just accepted that this was most likely not going to be a PR race but I was going to finish and enjoy the event. If that meant my pace diminishing then I was ok with that. My fueling and hydration had been spot-on, I hadn’t hit the wall and at no time did I think I ever would. I slowed, I was passed, I passed others. I ran with a young man for 1/2 mile or so who was really struggling at mile 21 in his first ever marathon and assured him he would finish…he did. I ran by a pacer who had cramped up and was in bad shape and had to leave his group, I slowed to check on him but he insisted I continue and finish strong – the spirit of distance runners is undeniable.

The 4:15 pace group ran by me but after a nice downhill around mile 22 I caught them back up and managed to hang onto their tail for the next couple miles – this was huge for me. I was hurting and in the toughest part of the race.

I honestly don’t remember too much about the final couple miles. The crowds picked up and a few Seahawks fans high-fived me on the way in. The wonderful aid station crews were even more vocal and supportive. The volunteers at this race were amazing. From the cheer squad that greeted us as we entered a beautiful park around mile 19 or so, to the student sections, the police directing traffic, and the aid stations, everyone was cheering and supplies were plenty. I took a small sip of Gatorade at every station and chased it with water. I also consumed 5 gels and 5 S-Caps. The stations were well placed at about 1.3-1.7 miles apart, just perfect.

Wifey was waiting on the home stretch with high fives and kisses as I made the final turn into the longest city block I have ever seen…omg, the city blocks in SLC are insane – this was so long, I could see the blue banner of the finish line but it looked like it was a mile away (it wasn’t) and it seemed forever before I hit the finish chute. Having lost the 4:15 pacers a mile and half before the end, I was very happy when I clocked in at 4:15:43. Overall, a great race and my third best marathon time. Pretty respectable given the tough course – SLC is a challenging marathon with those brutal hills located in the mid to second part of the course – kinda like another race that same weekend, ‘cept at a mile high :)

Final thoughts:

* I loved this event. We had been looking forward to this racecation and it lived up to expectations. We had a great visit, loved the downtown Salt Lake area. We found great restaurants and breweries, the hotel was very nice and we enjoyed our stay.
* This is a tough course – the mid level hills are seemingly endless.
* The beginning of the course is wonderful – seriously the first 5-6 miles flew by, I felt I could run forever and the scenery in this section is breathtaking.
* Altitude – this was a pretty big factor for me but it goes with the territory. The effect was more than I anticipated but not sure there is much I could have done to prepare.
* We enjoyed the location of the host hotel - plenty of dining options.
* Transportation throughout Salt Lake is super easy thanks to the Traks light rail system.
* Full race recap with more pictures is available on my web site at http://www.50in50marathonquest.com/salt-lake-city-marathon-recap/

I recommend this race for locals, racecationers, and 50 state runners. Just beware of the altitude and prepare for the rollers through the mid-section.

This event was my first ever half-marathon back in 2012, with this year's edition being my third and the first for Wifey! We signed up several months ago at the super early pricing so got a pretty good deal. Also, this year the course has changed so that it begins from the Redmond Town Centre (with ample parking and facilities) before heading through Marymoor Park and then onto the Lake Sammamish trail. This is a huge improvement logistically that also eliminates the insanely annoying switchbacks through the parking lot of Lake Sammamish State Park that were needed in previous years to supplement the course to 13.1 miles.

We picked up our packets on race day and waited just 5-10 minutes as we got there plenty early - about 45 minutes before start time. There was also a gear drop that we took advantage of so that we would have some dry clothes and jackets at the finish in case of adverse weather. Gear drop was chaotic and too small but packet pickup was fine. There was also an option to pick up packets the day before at RoadRunner in Bellevue, but anyone that has been to that store knows it is in a horrendous location, with practically no parking, made even worse on a Friday afternoon. Same day pickup in the spacious Town Centre is by far the better option!

Overall, I was feeling good heading into this race - this was essentially my half-marathon tune up race in preperation for the Salt Lake City marathon in April. The race hosts a field of around 1,800 so it is a pretty decent sized event and there are no other distances offered. We had no issues of any kind prior to the race start and even the weather was cooperating with the heavy rain having just held off and temps in the high 40’s.

This course is wonderfully flat and scenic allowing runners to settle into a fast stride once the field spreads out after the first mile or so. The race is ran almost entirely on a 12′ wide trail – mostly paved, with some gravel and packed dirt sections. It was crowded in the first mile as we made our way through the Marymoor Park connector trail but once we reached the lake trail, there was plenty of room to run and being boxed in and held back was not an issue.

Despite the perfect conditions and awesome course, it wasn’t long before I was feeling that this was not going to be a PR type of day. The first mile I was a little behind my target pace as the crowd was packed, but I quickly made up time in the second mile, splitting at 7:33. That was going to be way too fast too early so I backed off to my just under 8:00 target pace for miles 3 and 4, but it was becoming ever increasingly difficult requiring too much effort to maintain my tempo.

By mile 8 or 9, I decided to just go with my target marathon pace the rest of the way and enjoy the scenic beauty of this race…and the very flat course! Late in the race, the 1:50 pacers passed me to add to my annoyance. I found some kick in the final couple miles to cross in 1:52:27 at an average pace of 8:38.

I have nothing bad to say about this race. It is a decent mid-size half-marathon. Flat, scenic, and fast. The "expo" for this race is held at the finish where there are a few booths that would be typically found - local race events, a running shoe sponsor, cliff bars, Nuun, Zico coconut milk etc. There was some food, but the line was too long as it was also filled with families and friends that didn't actually run the race. Shuttles took us back to Redmond to head back to the car.

My full race report with some commentary on my actual run and a few more pictures is also available on my website at: http://www.50in50marathonquest.com/lake-sammamish-half-marathon-recap/

If you are looking for a decent half-marathon in the Seattle/Eastside area for early spring, this one is definitely worth considering.

The Maui Oceanfront Marathon is truly a difficult race to evaluate. In essence this race is spectacular, cool, and unique. It has small event charm, is personable, and will appeal to many half and full marathon runners. There are also options at the 5K, 10K, and 15K if that is your preference and you happen to be vacationing at the same time. The scenic point-to-point course from Wailea to Lahaina is truly beautiful and as the sun rises over the view of the oceans and beaches, it is unlikely that I will encounter such a sight again during a marathon, or any race for that matter.

But, there is some hesitation, this race while fabulous on the surface comes with challenges. Notably, the heat and humidity is to be expected - this is Maui of course. But, the difficulty of the course is deceiving with a solid, almost 2 mile, climb early into the race that takes it's toll in the later stages. The main highway that comprises the final 18-19 miles is also rolling, with some steep sections as the road meanders the cliffs heading north to Lahaina. By mile 20-21 the course does flatten but not after some steep sections that combined with the intense sun, left me wanting to throw myself in the ocean by the time I got to the final 3 miles. By then, the beauty of the course was long gone as I focused everything I had on reaching the finish line.

The early stages leaving Wailea are fabulous. The race started after a traditional Hawaiian blessing in the darkness at 5:00 am, and the email prompts from the RD urging runners to bring headlamps were well founded. Once we left the small town, the darkness of the early morning was surreal with the sound of the ocean hitting the beaches. This was my favorite part of the race. Heading out into the still, warm air in what seemed like the middle of the night was a great experience and I don't mind admitting that I felt badass for a couple of miles!

After the long climb up to the main highway, it wasn't long before the sun rose as we headed into Maalaea Bay. The drop to the bay was much appreciated after the previous couple miles, but it was followed immediately by a steep climb out of the harbor to rejoin the highway. I thought I might have an hour or so before the sun really started having an affect - make that more like 15 minutes. The humidity continued to build and combined with the hills and the baking effect of the sun the race became exponentially more difficult after mile 15.

Another challenge was that this race is run on the shoulder, or bike lane, of the main highway 30 that is not closed to traffic. By the time we hit the middle miles, the oncoming traffic was building with vacationers heading to beaches and restaurants. Additionally, the 10K and half-marathon runners started from the finish line and headed into the marathon course for an out-and-back, so by mile 20.5 everyone is merged and at times heading in opposite directions. For the most part it was ok, but there were some spots where I felt traffic was dangerously close and in my fatigued state in the latter miles it would have been easy to sidestep into the road, especially when trying to make my way through the half-marathon walkers.

My final time of 4:28:54 was 29 minutes over my PR, but I never expected a PR on this course, especially with my training plan abbreviated by the cold dark winter and storms of the Pacific Northwest. I was disappointed with how I broke down in the final 5-6 miles; I truly had some horrendous splits in the final section, but overall, I'm happy with the effort given the course and conditions. I admit that I seriously under-estimated the difficulty of this course.

My wife ran the half and had a decent race but experienced some similar challenges. We chose this race because it coincided with a pre-paid vacation to Maui that we had to use by end of February. We are also on a 50-state running journey so everything aligned for us in terms of schedule.

If I had to do it again, to be honest, I wouldn't. I would look at Honolulu for a bigger event. Or maybe Kona or the other Maui Marathon that is hosted in October. To be fair though, I only ran the marathon because of my 50 state quest. If I race again in HI it will be at a shorter event. My advice for this race is if you happen to be there and want to squeeze in a running event, you will likely enjoy the experience if you pick one of the shorter distances. I gave this race as 'yes' for recommended - but for the shorter options.