I have created a running website named www.askrunguy.com based on having run over 100 half marathons, including all fifty US states and several other countries; and several full marathons, with a goal of running all six World Major marathons. Below is a template for comments for my rating each race:

Race: Grandma’s Half Marathon 2018 Duluth, MN
Race Type / Terrain (road, trail): paved roads along Lake Superior and in Duluth, MN
Organization (Expo, volunteers, start / finish): Excellent. Well organized. Very large race (largest in MN)
Support (fans, music on course): Good support on the course especially once in the city
Course Scenery: Nice scenery of Lake Superior
Course Difficulty: Moderate. Some rolling hills in the city
Weather / Temperature: Varies a lot from cool to very warm. Usually quite humid, can be windy
Course location recreation (sights, things to do): Some good tourist attractions, Lake Superior, nice areas to see (parks, lake, etc)
Logistics (Getting to the race site): Not too challenging – Duluth airport or 2 hour drive from Minneapolis
Swag (medal, t-shirt, other items for finishers): Very nice medal and shirt
Food and drink (on course and after finish): Food and drink on course is fine, and refreshments provided afterward were good

I provide running and racing resources for all levels of runners at www.askrunguy.com. I also share information that I believe is interesting and helpful to the running community. I encourage you to visit www.askrunguy.com

I have created a running website named www.askrunguy.com based on having run over 100 half marathons, including all fifty US states and several other countries; and several full marathons, with a goal of running all six World Major marathons. Below is a template for comments for my rating each race:

Race: Maple Grove Half Marathon 2018 Minneapolis, MN
Race Type / Terrain (road, trail): paved roads and trails through woods and neighborhoods in suburban Minneapolis, MN
Organization (Expo, volunteers, start / finish): Excellent. Well organized. Nice sponsors and vendors at beginning
Support (fans, music on course): fairly good, but limited, support on the course.
Course Scenery: Very pretty and peaceful
Course Difficulty: Moderate. Some challenging rolling hills
Weather / Temperature: Usually pretty cool to cold (April in Minnesota)
Course location recreation (sights, things to do): Some fun things to do and see around Minneapolis and St Paul
Logistics (Getting to the race site): Close to Minneapolis airport
Swag (medal, t-shirt, other items for finishers): nice medal and finisher shirt
Food and drink (on course and after finish): Food and drink on course is fine, and refreshments provided afterward were quite good

I provide running and racing resources for all levels of runners at www.askrunguy.com. I also share information that I believe is interesting and helpful to the running community. I encourage you to visit www.askrunguy.com

I have run over 100 half marathons, including all fifty US states and several other countries; and several full marathons, with a goal of running all six World Major marathons. Below is a template for comments for my rating each race:

Race: Boston Marathon 2018
Race Type / Terrain (road, trail): road – from Hopkinton to downtown Boston
Organization (Expo, volunteers, start / finish): Excellent. This is truly the best organized, and best overall marathon in the world. Getting to start line and waiting can be long.
Support (fans, music on course): No other race compares to the fan support you receive on literally every part of the course, but especially on Boylston heading to finish line
Course Scenery: Nice scenery in little rural towns winding into Boston, and of Boston downtown
Course Difficulty: point to point, net downhill, but the hills from mile 16-22 are challenging (including Heartbreak Hill)
Weather / Temperature: in 2018 weather was worst in 30 years. About 35 degrees F, constant pouring rain, 20-30 MPH winds.
Course location recreation (sights, things to do): There are so many historical and cultural things to do and see around Boston and New England. Great food and drink places too.
Logistics (Getting to the race site): Getting to Boston is easy with major airports, roads, etc.
Swag (medal, t-shirt, other items for finishers): Finisher shirts and jackets are sure collector’s items. Mush haves. Same for the unchanging iconic unicorn medal
Food and drink (on course and after finish): Food and drink on course is fine, and standard bags provided afterward are efficient and convenient.

I provide running and racing resources for all levels of runners at www.askrunguy.com. I also share information that I believe is interesting and helpful to the running community I encourage you to visit www.askrunguy.com

I have created a running website named www.askrunguy.com based on having run over 100 half marathons, including all fifty US states and several other countries; and several full marathons, with a goal of running all six World Major marathons. Below is a template for comments for my rating each race:

Race: Key West Half Marathon 2018 Key West, FL
Race Type / Terrain (road, trail): paved roads around Key West
Organization (Size, Expo, volunteers, start / finish): Very small expo for picking up numbers. Good group of volunteers on course and at end
Support (fans, music on course): Good fan support on the course
Course Scenery: Wonderful scenery of the ocean
Course Difficulty: Very flat, not difficult
Weather / Temperature: fairly warm and humid
Course location recreation (sights, things to do): a lot of fun tourist things to do in Key West, and historical items. Great place for a race and vacation
Logistics (Getting to the race site): Drive from southern FL airports
Swag (medal, t-shirt, other items for finishers): nice medal, great finisher shirt
Food and drink (on course and after finish): Decent food and drink on course and after race.

I provide running and racing resources for all levels of runners at www.askrunguy.com. I also share information that I believe is interesting and helpful to the running community. I encourage you to visit www.askrunguy.com

I have created a running website named www.askrunguy.com based on having run over 100 half marathons, including all fifty US states and several other countries; and several full marathons, with a goal of running all six World Major marathons. Below is a template for comments for my rating each race:

Race: Chicago Marathon 2017
Race Type / Terrain (road, trail): road throughout downtown Chicago
Organization (Expo, volunteers, start / finish): Excellent. Very well organized, and very worthy of a world major marathon. Great expo and great volunteers. Plenty of aid stations.
Support (fans, music on course): Course allows for fans to see runners at multiple locations. Super crowd support, bands on course, etc
Course Scenery: Nice scenery of many neighborhoods throughout Chicago
Course Difficulty: quite easy. Very flat and fast course, but several turns.
Weather / Temperature: in 2017 weather was pretty warm. Started at about 60 degrees, rising to mid-70s F by finish. Lots of sun. Little shade for last 20 miles.
Course location recreation (sights, things to do): There are so many historical and cultural things to do and see around Chicago. Great food and drink places too.
Logistics (Getting to the race site): Getting to Chicago is easy with major airports, roads, etc.
Swag (medal, t-shirt, other items for finishers): Finisher shirts are OK, not great. Would be nice if they had finisher jackets like other majors. This was 40th anniversary of Chicago Marathon so the medal was very nice.
Food and drink (on course and after finish): Food and drink on course is fine, and standard bags provided afterward are efficient and convenient.

I provide running and racing resources for all levels of runners at www.askrunguy.com. I also share information that I believe is interesting and helpful to the running community. I encourage you to visit www.askrunguy.com