This was an incredibly challenging and beautiful half-marathon. A MUST-DO RACE! The race is pretty much all hills, you are either going up or you are going down, but honestly, all I did was look up at the beautiful red rocks and said to myself over and over "Wow, I am just so blessed to be running here..." The aid stations were excellent and plentiful, providing water, gels, and bananas. Plus the volunteers were super encouraging. Coming from the Midwest, I was worried about running at altitude, but I really didn't notice any difference (I probably would have been breathing super hard running up those steep hills regardless of altitude!) The race director kept us well informed and in the loop, and everything ran smoothly. There were food vendors at the finish line. The t-shirt was just okay, no freebies in our race packets, and the medal was the same for all distances, so that is why I dinged the score on swag a little bit. However, this half marathon was super cheap ($40) in a beautiful place, so I didn't really care too much about the swag. If you are debating this race, YOU NEED TO DO IT! You will never run a race like it and the energy throughout the course was unreal. Only we runners would have crazy smiles on our faces charging up these whopper hills. Sedona, thank you for an unforgettable experience!

I really enjoyed this race. Everything was simple...no expo, small number of participants, and we picked up our bibs the morning of the race. This was a loop course (2 loops), which normally I am not a fan of, however running along the shoreline was just so beautiful I loved taking in the views twice! The scenery was stunning....as a Midwest runner, I really appreciated running along the shore. The medals were awesome! It was also the host of the RI half-marathon state championships, so there were lots of fast people there! Not every race needs to be super flashy with tons of crowd support, in my opinion. I enjoyed this simple and beautiful race; everything was put on super well. I would happily recommend this race to anyone!

Is there really a negative to the Chicago Marathon? Not in my opinion. This race was amazing. The expo is huge, and with all the vendors, gear, and photo ops...it only fueled my excitement even more. Security was a breeze to get through at the corrals. There were ample porta potties and the race organizers made it very clear which corral we were to start in and how to access that location. The race was obviously crowded, running with >50,000 runners, however I never felt trapped or stuck unless I was in the middle of a pack with a pacer. Chicago really shows up. It rained for the majority of the race, but we had crowd support the entire time. Running the streets of Chicago felt unreal; I love city races because touring on foot is just the best. I soaked in all the energy from the crowd and let it propel me faster. The walk from the finish line to the family meet up area was a little bit brutal, but totally necessary to prevent congestion from all the runners. Everyone's cheery attitudes and the awesome Chicago Marathon medal around my neck made the walk to the family meet up area better. This is a must-do, bucket-list race for marathon runners. Chicago, I love you!

This is a hidden gem of a race...I feel like it is not well known in running world, but it should be because it is amazing! This is an all women's race, which definitely gives it a girly and empowering vibe. This course is a beautiful on foot tour of downtown Indy...and very flat! Now let's talk about the swag...the medal is by far the biggest running medal I own, and doubles as a locket. Also included is a shirt, bag, Balega socks, bracelet, and a rose! I ran this race in torrential downpour, but still had a blast and would totally do it all over again in a heart beat. If I didn't have a 50 states running quest, I would totally be back to run this race. Ladies, this race is a must-do.

Living in Michigan, this is a race people always say "YOU NEED TO DO" so I signed up to see what all the hype was about. I definitely understand the hype after running it! Packet pick up was quick and easy...swag included a tech shirt and a pair of running socks, which was a nice touch. The event was extremely well organized. The mile marks were very clear and the aid stations were well stocked and plentiful. Running along the grand traverse bay was just beautiful. It was a very hot day, but the cool breezes coming off the bay felt very refreshing. The finish line was on the high school's track, which was pretty cool. At the finish line there were plenty of refreshments, food, and Moomer's ice cream! The medals were super sweet. Traverse City has lots of options for celebratory drinks to celebrate a marathon well run! I am hopeful to run this marathon again one day!