Latest reviews by Jonathan

(2016)
"Inaugural Beat the Heat"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was the inaugural Beat the Heat 5k. This race is to benefit the Once Innocent Life charity. http://www.oneinnocentlife.org/ Access and parking to the race is very easy and plentiful. The race is situated around the town green and parking is in that area as well as the High School that is basically across the street. Just a short walk to the start area. There is no real shwag to speak of. You do receive a nice tech t-shirt for registering. The course has a slight uphill for the first 3/4 of a mile with a short increase in steepness just at the end. The course is otherwise flat with small rolling hills. Only right hand turns so it is pretty difficult to get lost. The race runs through a nice little town and is mostly tree lined however does run along what seemed to be one of their busier roads (though it was still not very busy. After you came through the finish it became a little confusing as the awards and food etc were a bit of a walk away, on the other side of the town buildings and completely out of sight of the finish. Once they made an announcement for everyone to head over to that location everyone finally began to shuffle away from the finish. That area was a nice grassy area behind some town buildings. There were a few vendors and a post race massage group if that is your thing. Also plenty of food. Lacking a little in the beverage department. Only jugs of water, but that is fine with me. They did have medals for the top in each age group. That is great as I know sometimes new races do not always have top 3 age group medals. Also did I mention that the race is free for kids 13 and under? Overall I would say the race was pretty nice with a good course. Just a couple loose ends to tie up with the confusion at the end, and the lack of fluid options. It is a pretty good race and I would run it again.

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(2013)
"Fun Race, Not a Real Race"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

So the Manchester Road Race has been this thing that happens on Thanksgiving for something like 40 years. I avoided it for years and finally decided one year to run it with my wife and a few friends. If you are interested in just going out for a jog and having fun. Getting dressed up in costume and running 5 miles, than this race is for you. Much like the Holyoke St Patricks day race this race is more about the festivities around the race than the actual race itself. Most people are partying, before, during, and after. There are thousands of runners, about a quarter to a half of which just show up and run. Do not go to this race if you are interested in actually running it for time. Unless you are an elite runner in the starting corral you are going to spend more of the race going sideways trying to get around people. I got stuck behind a bar on wheels for several hundred yards. Yes they had built a bar on wheels and were handing out beers. I totally don't have a problem with this, but this type of race isn't for me. Parking is a nightmare, there is no expo or swag. If there are aid stations, I never saw them. the course scenery is pretty nice, It runs down an old main street to start and finish. Then through some wooded neighborhoods. The course is packed with spectators throughout the entire course so that part is kind of nice. I think people should do this race once, just so they can say they did it and then make their own decision. I personally wont be back.

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