Latest reviews by Patrick O’Hagan

(2020)
"Awesome Super Hero Race and Swag"
Overall
Race Management
SWAG
Virtual Support

The DC Batman Virtual Run 5K/10K was my first ever virtual race. At first I was hesitant to do any virtual “racing,' but was pleasantly surprised by the entire process!

Let’s start with registration. The DC Batman Virtual Run 5k/10k registration was identical to any other race I’ve signed up for online in the past. It was quick and easy. To make things more realistic, the race organizers put together a great swag bag that was mailed directly to me.

The race swag actually had a lot to do with the decision to register, to be perfectly honest. All participants who signed up for the race received their own race bib, technical racing hat, quarter-zip jacket, and finisher’s medal. Not a bad deal! And if you’re a Batman fan, you’ll love it.

All racers had the choice of selecting their distance between the two options – 5k and 10k. For this race, I decided on the 5K option. This was the perfect way for me to get back into racing after coming back from a long injury.

I received my race swag in plenty of time before I planned on running the actual event. That’s another beauty of the virtual race scene – you can choose when and where you do the race. The quarter zip and technical racing hat are high-quality and were great for my training runs.

I chose my local park for the race location and hat a lot of fun doing it. When I crossed the virtual finish line (i.e. stopped my Garmin at the 3.1 mile distance) I officially become a virtual racer. I even took a “finish line” photo with my cool Batman Run medal. While I was hesitant about the virtual race experience, I can now say it’s definitely worth trying! And the DC Batman Run Series is the perfect one to do!

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(2020)
"Great Hometown Marathon"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

The Chattanooga Marathon has become an annual event for me and I highly recommend it. It was the very first full marathon I completed, and later became my first marathon to run as a pacer too! I know the race has a bad name for some due to their distance being short several years ago. I started running the race after that issue, so can't speak to that. I can say that for the last few years that I've participated, it has been a highlight of my spring racing season.

The expo of the race is held in a covered pavilion next to the football stadium and always has some great vendors. For those that go to larger races, the number of vendors is fairly small. But, they have everything you could want or need at a race expo. It's laid out well and easy to get through packet pickup, etc. The race shirts that come with your registration are really nice as well. Parking for the expo and race day are very easy and convenient to the start/finish line.

The full marathon route is a double loop. This could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. There are a few really steep hills along the course that make it challenging. The worst part is having to tackle these a second time during the last half of the race. On the bright side, you get a good lay of the land and know what to expect for the second half of the race. The course is well marked and the volunteers at the aid stations are great. You can expect water and sports drinks at each station. There are also several spots along the course with live music and entertainment.

The race finishes at the same place it starts and there is always a nice after race celebration with drinks and snacks. You also get a beer ticket with your bib. Friends and family have several places along the course to cheer you on and to hangout as well. The VIP viewing area is another great option that has extra amenities. The race also provides free race photos which is a nice plus. Overall, this is a fun race experience that is sure to challenge you, but leave you with good memories.

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(2020)
"Awesome PR Opportunity "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

I've ran this half marathon two years in a row so far, and plan to keep it as an annual tradition. It is a fast and flat course and runs right along the beach. It is held in January and has been pretty chilly both times I've ran it. The course is an out and back and is a great race to try and PR. I've been able to PR my half marathon time each year I've done this race!

Packet pickup can be done at the local running store the day before the pace or at the start line on the day of. There's not really a race expo, but that's not a big deal for me. The shirts are good quality long-sleeve tech shirts, and the medals are nice as well. There is a huge parking lot right at the start/finish, so it's a very accessible race. It is a straight out and back course though, so there aren't really many spectator areas expect for at the finish line corral. The race directors and volunteers are super nice and helpful and the race even provides pacers, which has been super helpful for me in getting my PRs. There's always a free after party at a nearby bar that has lots of beer, pizza, and even free massages!

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(2017)
"Tough, but Scenic "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was my very first half marathon, and it kicked my butt. The race is a 13.1 mile loop on paved road that starts and ends at the Little River Canyon Center. I did packet pickup on the morning of race day and parking was very convenient with a short walk to the Center and start line. The t-shirt and medal were fine; nothing fancy, but nice.

I was totally unprepared for how hilly the course was! There are many large and steep hills along the route. You definitely want to make sure you train for hills before hand. The race is a small operation and for charity, so keep that in mind. It's not a big commercial event. There were not too many aid stations, but they were well stocked and manned. This is a nice low-key race with beautiful mountain scenery. It's held in October too, so you can get some great fall weather views of the canyon at the overlooks.

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