Latest reviews by Adam Fleisher

(2018)
"Phantom Trail Half Marathon- Must Run"
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Phantom Half Trail Marathon is a must run for runners with limited trail experience and a fast run for those with experience. You run a double loop. There is some elevation but nothing that bad. You are on some wide and some single trails. The scenery is great. Most of the trail is cleared. Some leaves. Yes there are rocks and roots but nothing bad.
There are limited port-a-potties on the course. If you can plan properly there are regular restrooms near the start, and around mile 6.8, that you may use. And they are heated. The aid stations had water (I did not need to stop so I did not check the aid stations out. I had on my Orange Mud HydroQuiver Vest Pack 2).
The race entry fee was very reasonable, you got a baseball style hat, and a unique experience.
Oh...the race director did a fantastic job. A storm occurred the night before the race. She was out clearing blocked paths, making sure the course was well marked, and left some suprises for us.

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(2018)
"Macedonia Trail Race- 7.25 mile challenge"
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Macedonia Trail Race is a challenging 7.25 mile mainly single trail race. There is 1600 feet of elevation, climbing up and down rocks, running near the sides of cliffs, beautiful scenery, and friendly runners.
Macedonia Trail Race starts on Macedonia Brook Rd., near the pavilion/ranger station. Runners will proceed south until reaching the blue-blazed trail entrance on the left. The first 4/10 of a mile is on the road to help spread out the runners before entering the singletrack. Runners will then run the blue trail in the counter-clockwise direction. The first section of singletrack is not super steep, but it’s a grinding climb until the first major descent just over 2 miles into the race. From there it’s rolling with some pretty technical sections of singletrack with a few short road crossings. A little before mile 5, runners are faced with the challenging climb up Cobble Mountain and it’s amazing viewpoint to the west, where on a clear day, you can see the Catskill Mountains in NY. From there it’s a long technical descent back down to a left hand turn onto Macedonia Brook Rd. and a quick sprint finish on the grass near the pavilion.
Bring a hydration pack or hand held. There is one aid station and no restrooms on the course. You will be challenged.
The race is put on by Steep Endurance. The RD did a fantastic job. Lots of food and drinks after you finish the race.

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(2018)
"John and Jessie Kelley Half Marathon- free race"
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What would you say if I told you that you could run a half marathon and receive a finisher's medal for free. What's the catch? A food donation. Yes donate food, or money, and you run the race.
This is from the race website:
Measured half marathon on paved roads, well supported, and marked, featuring panoramic vistas of Long Island Sound, rural and commercial roads. SNERRO Race Officials, overhead arch and finish clock. Awards three deep in std. age categories, team comp, huge raffle. Ice cold Coca-Cola Products, famous Port & Starboard Clam Chowder, Crystal Rock Water, plus a lot more. Live music performed by 'Run for Cover" on the boardwalk. New England Magazine "2012 Race of the Year", Top 80 "Best of the Best Races" 2006-2017, Connecticut Cup Championship 2016. Mile long boardwalk with a sugar sand beach, don't forget your swimsuit! This race is free, NO ENTRY FEE! Course officially closes at noon.
The race has some elevation, several aid stations, no restrooms (no port-a-potties), great scenery, competitive runners, and food and drinks after the race. Lots of parking. The race is popular so get there early to ensure you get a good spot.

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(2018)
"Loon Mountain-if you are up for a challenge"
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If you are up for a challenge this race is for you. 6.6 miles...3,165 feet of elevation, and a 48% slope. There are 2 aid stations, bring your own electrolytes. There are no port-a-potties on the course.
Why did I give this 5 starts? Great course, elevation changes, terrain changes (dirt, rocks, gravel, grass, trails), unbelievable scenery, and the "Upper Walking Boss". Yes the Upper Walking Boss lives up to it's name and then some. 1k leaving you questioning why you did this. And once you climb this 48% slope you will be wanting to go back next year.
Great price, a scenic gondla ride down the mountain, and food and drinks post race.
$35 to enter and if you want a shirt it's $15. I recommend you purchase the shirt.
If you have people who want to watch you run it's $10 per person to ride the gondola.
You catch the gondola near mile 5. So there is some walking (both up and down hill).
This was my first trail run (never ran a trail before this). Average slope 14%. I hope to see you next year.

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(2018)
"Jack Bristol Ultra Marathon- Let's get Loopy"
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I have walk/run this race the past 2 years. As far as I know it is the only road race ultra in the Northeast USA. In 2017 I walked the 50K and in 2018 I attempted to run the 50 miler. (My knee locked up at mile 28 so I dropped back to the 50K. And yes I did hobble across the finish line). What is great about this race is once you start you have the ability to increase or decrease the distance you want to accomplish. All you need to do is talk with the race director and he will modify your standing.
This is a small ultra marathon event. I would say between 190-300 runners. The 50 milers and 100K start before the 50K group. You have about 13 hours to complete your ultra. You run loops around the scenic Lake Waramaug. Everyone runs out 2.2 miles (hits the cone) and comes back to the start. From there the 50K group runs 3 loops around the lake and a 1.9 mile out and back loop (marked on the course). The 50 milers run 6 loops around the lake. While the 100k group runs 7 loops and a 2.3 mile out and back loop. Needless to say everyone gets a little loopy.
There are 3 aid stations around the lake. The foods change from aid station to aid station. Soups, sandwiches, fruits, homemade cookies, breads, treats, flat soda, water, Gatorade, candy, chips, pretzels, peanuts, etc. Before the race there was breakfast sandwiches. After the race they had hamburgers and veggie burgers.
Every participant received a long-sleeved tech shirt (green in 2017 and blue in 2018) and a finisher's medal or belt buckle. In 2017 parts of the roads where chewed up and I sprained my ankle at mile 21. Not fun. In 2018 most (90%) of the roads were repaved so it was nice and even for 2018.
In 2017 the weather was perfect. This was amazing since April in New England you never know what the weather will be. In 2018 the weather was for an hour of rain and then clearing up. It rained for the first 3 and a half hours of the event. There was rain on and off for many more hours. It was cold, raining, and windy. This is what occurs in the northeast.
The volunteers are polite and cheer for you. There are silly signs on one side of the course. There are ample port-a-potties along the loop. There is more than enough parking spaces. The views along the course are incredible so have your camera ready.
I enjoyed this ultra the past 2 years and look forward to running the 50 miler in 2019. I hope to see you there.

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