This race was awesome! I've run 15 halfs so far this year and this was my second favorite (nothing ever can beat Bird in Hand). First of all, race day packet pickup for a larger scale race is much appreciated. Traffic into the parking lot was well managed and it was extremely easy to access. There were tons of port-a-potties so lines were manageable. Everything was meticulously organized and went off without a hitch. Pre-race communication was very good.

The course was very good - it is challenging like people have said and the challenge starts around mile 6. The first six miles are mostly flat with a good downhill down Main Street. I do wish that there may have been a couple of more miles on the Annapolis side of the bridge because that is a little more scenic, but that view going down Main Street to the water is priceless! About the bridge - it's not easy, but I didn't find it as excruciating as people says. Remember, what goes up must come down. I didn't love the running on the other side of the bridge as much - it was difficult but not impossible. There is a steady stream of hills for those six miles - nothing too outrageous, but almost no flat ground on that side of the bridge. All in all, I loved running in Annapolis!

Now to the really great parts - the premium was on point! I love the zip-up jacket - it ties Frederick for the best premium I have gotten this year. The medal was substantial and distinctive, not the biggest medal but well designed and I liked it. The post-race party was rocking! To be able to grab a few beers with some good food and listen to an excellent band really made my day.

This race was a great deal for everything that they give you and I intend to run again next year!

Wow, I am writing this a month later and I am still giddy from this race that I ran. From start to finish, this was an incredible experience. I hate the concept of a bucket list, because it is too morbid, but if I had one this would be on it.

I arrived Friday night to pick up my packet (if I could change anything, I would hope for race day packet pickup so I would not have to get a hotel room) and immediately, there is a very strong community feel to this race. Everyone is friendly and everything is well organized. I love the race t-shirt, it is on the heavier side for a t-shirt, but definitely unique and a go-to t-shirt for spring and fall running.

Race morning was similarly wonderful. Access to the race was a breeze and parking is close to the finish line. It was just a gorgeous day, and the best weather you could hope for to run a September race. I was out of shape because a circulatory issue had knocked me off my feet for most of the summer and still injured, so I may not have finished if the weather was too hot. But there was no way I was missing this run under any circumstances because I had the Road Apple award waiting for me at the finish line.

The race itself was really cool, for lack of a better word. Running literally through farms is unique. The runners on the course were friendly and upbeat, which is why I love to run races. I even got to run with one of the Amish pacers for a mile or so, which was a treat. The course was cornfields, cows, more cornfields, a horse, more cornfields....It was beautiful. The elevation was manageable, there were some small steep hills around miles 7-8 and also at mile 11 when the race turned onto the gravel road literally through the middle of a farm. There were Amish people manning the water tables and for a time we were sharing the road with horses and buggies. Definitely unique and worth even a long journey here to run.

My race was tough, not going to lie. I was running with a painful varicose vein that was due to be yanked out later in the week, but I wanted the medal and award in the worst way. Most of my steps were uncomfortable and I was out of shape. I was running slower than usual due to the pain and being out of shape, but right when I was ready to give in, I starting talking with a really nice guy around my age who was run walking and we powered through the last two miles together, talking each other through it - was one of my best experiences in my short time as a runner.

It was the most awesome feeling getting my Road Apple Award, I felt like I had won an Oscar. The medal, a real horseshoe, was distinct and I loved it and the post-race picnic (free!) was great communal. I normally have at least one criticism of every race I run, because let's face it, I am an aging curmudgeon, but I have zero complaints here!

I should have some great memories of this race, it was well-run, easily accessible, well-stocked and decently scenic, but what I am going to remember is how tough it was for me and how it was the race where I had to walk most of the last four miles.

First, the weather was perfect at the start - low 60s and not so humid. It was easy for me to find parking not too far from packet pickup and everything was thoroughly organized. I loved that they were giving out GU packs before the race and said to take as much as I need. The race start was on time and I was inspired by the Grateful Dead version of the National Anthem that they played. It was awesome that a train was pulling up right as the race started.

I was extremely apprehensive before this race. I had barely run for six weeks because I had a vein issue in my leg arise after my last race, needed a procedure and just could not regain my fitness in the heat. The race was going swimmingly well and I ran the first three miles as fast as I have run any three miles (which was a mistake, but don't blame me, I was high on GU). The first 2-3 miles go through Ashland and it is pretty, I was enjoying the weather and the runs through the neighborhoods. After mile 3, it starts to go through farmland with some small rolling hills. I found the course pretty, but not magnificent. At most points after mile 4, there was not much shade and the sun was starting to come out hard. I started to struggle around mile 5 and slowed down dramatically as my lack of conditioning caught up to me. In the middle of a small hill at mile 9, I had to stop running because it was obvious that my leg was not healed and it hurt. I got the courage to have another go of it right before mile 11, until I saw the fact that the entire mile 11 is uphill and I admitted defeat. It was getting hotter and I was perturbed and done for. I walked most of the last four miles and finished in a disappointing 2:29.

The crowd and volunteer support on the course was tremendous. I am very glad I gave it a go. I wish the medal was a little bigger, but the train shape made it unique. Everyone was very encouraging and the race had a wonderful small town feel with people calling back when there were cars going down the other lane. It was the kind of race that made me grateful to be a runner (or a walker for the last four miles). Oh well, back at it in two weeks even if I have to crawl. Take my word for it that this is a very god race.

While up in New England for a vacation, I decided to get in a half marathon on my way through Massachusetts. Good call. I picked the right race too. This race was easy to reach, well organized with a moderately decent course and well stocked aid stations.

I arrived in plenty of time for the 7:30 race, a little afraid because the forecast was for humidity and I had taken a couple of tumbles while running a 10 mile trail race the Sunday before. The parking situation was really good, no problems reaching parking, there was plenty of it and it was close to check in, which was easy and quick moving. My only beef with the setup was that they needed more port a potties - the lines moved slowly, I'm not sure if there were not enough or people were just taking forever, but I unwisely elected to not make a second stop pre-race because of the lines.

The course itself was pretty nice. It was a little tight in the early going because the race goes through a narrow meadow lane before the course spreads out - that means you are almost directly on someone's heels. I really liked running through the local neighborhoods since I am not from New England. I thought the parts of the course around the pond were very pretty. I also really appreciated the fact that not only did the race have a bunch of water tables, but also local families also set up tables of their own and some very nice people even set up their sprinklers.

The course was not tree lined and when it started warming up, it got pretty darned hot. There were about two miles of the course that had tree cover (which coincided with where some minor hills were) and the rest of it was out in the open. I had been apprehensive of this race for a while since I don't run well in the heat, but I gutted it out. There were some very friendly people running the race and I had a few nice conversations during the race which I always enjoy. I also really appreciated that they had GU at two different tables which helped when the heat was sapping my strength.

The course was not as great when it re-entered the college grounds, there was not a tree to be found and by that time it was really hot, so the last couple of miles were a gut check. My second beef was also port a potty related - there were not any at the finish line and nobody could tell me where a bathroom was which got a little dicey but once that situation was resolved I got to enjoy the post race festival with some delicious beers - I am normally not a finish line drinker, but I downed my two beers with gusto. The swag was great - I loved the medal and the t-shirt is one of my favorites. I can't see myself running this race again since I live about eight hours away, but I recommend this strongly.

I'm not sure what to say after this one - toughest course I have ever run (and walked) by a wide margin and if you are not a veteran runner, I would think twice. If you are a skilled runner, have at it. This was my second half in two weeks and I was no worse for the wear after having taken the week off from run running to do back to backs. I had been dreading this race since the moment I signed up for it because I knew it would be hot and I had an inkling that it would be difficult. But we don't only run the easy ones.

First, let me say that Travis, the race director, is very good at what he does and is exceptional at communication. He knew I was interested in running so he messaged me directly to let me know when he had set up registration. I do plan on running other Bishop Events in the future, just not this particular race unless I get a head full of steam, due to the difficulty.

The forecast for the day was not the greatest for running, the race started at 7:30 so there was enough time before it got to the mid-90s to get the race finished. There were plenty of water stations on the course.

The course itself started as a really great run, the beginning had gentle rolling hills - relatively continuous but not unbearable. The course flattened out at mile 3 and then there was a 1 1/2 detour into the woods to run off road. The rocks on the trail made running in my featherweight shoes very tough, but shade on a hot sunny day was a good respite. Back onto the road at mile 5 1/2 for some tranquil, tree lined running - I can't say how much the tree cover made the race more doable, without it I would have been sunk. This was just a very pretty nice run - if it were a little flatter, this would have been one of my all-time favorites.

I was feeling good for most of the race. As worried as I was, I was putting down the miles without too much difficulty. When I got to mile 7 with some gas left in the tank, I knew I was going to finish. Mile 8 to 9 had a steepish downhill that helped me save energy (to be paid for later) And then mile 10.5 happened......

The hills made me want to practically cry. I fought through the first two - they were one after the other after the other with almost no respite - and all uphill. The third one was a monster and for the first time ever in a half marathon, I stopped to walk - I just had to because of the hills and the heat. I decided to walk the uphills and run the flat/downhills, only there were practically none of the later for the last two and a half miles. Some of the uphills, it was a challenge to even walk. I did manage to finish in 2:28, four and a half minutes slower than my slowest race ever, but finishing this one in this heat was a win. This course had me beat, it's a very difficult configuration to finish with those hills. They really needed more water at the finish, I was given a small cup and did not see any other water/Gatorade unless I was looking in the wrong place. Looking forward to some flatter races from this company in the future.