This was my second Vacation Races half. Both races were incredibly well run. The Shenandoah Half was close to my hometown and original stomping grounds, so I appreciated that they were showcasing an incredibly beautiful part of central Virginia that is near and dear to my heart. The course itself was fairly challenging with some nice hills, but the landscape, cows, and horses. The race was well run and aid stations were plentiful most with gels and some with fruit. The course was mostly quiet and partially closed off. I would have loved it if it were easier for runners to dropped off at the startline - although prohibited, we gamed the system by having our driver schlep us over and then wait until the race began before heading home. Overall, nicely run race in a beautiful location.

I'll start with my one and only complaint – the finish line announcer sounded like he's never run a half marathon before, and had a patronizing tone when asked Clydesdales were rolling into the finish approaching the three hour mark.
Registration for the Covered Bridges Half sold out in minutes in December… I was hoping that I would be fit enough to compete and I injured in June. The fervor, enthusiasm, and cult following this half has attracted are not misplaced. After two decades, the day-of packet pick up and bussing are seamless for this fast and flat point to point race. During June, the weather is perfect for running even though it's a little chilly first thing in the morning. The surrounding area is both beautiful countryside and adorable new England towns. It's perfect for a weekend away! We managed to miss the last bus to the parking area, and one of the race volunteers was kind enough to offer us a ride back. It made my day!
I loved the race course, the kind and cheerful folks at the aid stations, the live music along the course, and the fantastic spectators. I highly recommend this race, but please don't take my spot for next year!

Parking was very slow, inefficient and backed up...in spite of ample parking. I was one of the few to pick up my race bib the morning of the race. It was unclear to me - and to the race staff where I should go to get it. I'd been told the start line...turned out to be in the tents with the shirts. Overall quite confusing.

The race itself is through the Amish country of Pennsylvania - and it is beautiful countryside. It was quite hot but there were many water stations - and good numbers of stations with ice to hang out. It made all the difference in the world. The race winds its way over rolling hills along roads adjacent to farms with minimal powerlines visible, and part of the final stretch was through grass mowed fields and dirt paths.

After the race, the huge notable finisher medal is quite the ball and chain to carry around! There were ample and varied post-race snacks and beverages.

Nicely run race but approach race-day parking with caution and pick your bib up in advance.

I ran the 2016 Island Girl Half Marathon - which unsurprisingly - is just for women. The views running around the Toronto Islands were lovely and picturesque. I have family in Toronto and it was a great time of year to make a trip to enjoy the city and explore the Islands.

Parking/Race Access - This race requires a little more planning ahead than most. To access the start line, you have to take a ferry over to the Island. It's a little daunting to find parking in the downtown area and poor weather didn't make it any easier.

Start Line - Once on the Island, we had ample time to wander around in advance of the start. Unfortunately, there were a minimum number of rest rooms available and the lines were VERY long. Race start was pretty slow and less prompt than I would've liked.

Course - The Island and the views were outstanding. The course itself was comprised of a large loop and some out and backs. Overall, it wasn't quite what I normally enjoy in a race.

Post-Race - The post-race food was completely uninspiring, but there were massages, a steel drum band, and thankfully, with good weather, there were many nice places to lounge around and sun yourself.

Overall, I'm a little on the fence about the race. Beforehand, I heard nothing about the race for many months after registering - I reached out to see if I'd missed anything or mistyped my email address. I never heard back. Afterwards, it was super slow to locate results It was enjoyable, but I wouldn't do it again - and I probably wouldn't recommend it to a friend.