Latest reviews by SHERRY BOESCH

(2022)
"Challenging course with incredible views!"
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Big Sur is without a doubt the most beautiful, scenic race I've ever run, but also the most challenging. Everyone said to train for the hills, but I definitely underestimated how many there were, how steep and long they would be, and the road camber. But like I said, the views of the Pacific Ocean on my left and the mountains on my right were breathtaking and made everything worth it. And of course, you can't beat running across Bixby Bridge while hearing Michael Martinez play the piano.

The expo was well organized. After picking up my bib, I got in line for my bus ticket. Based on communications, I expected them to tell me what bus I would be on, but the volunteer asked me if I had a preference. Luckily, I was able to get a ticket for the bus pickup right next to my hotel. There was a lot of merchandise available, though I was hoping for more finisher gear and sizes. Regardless, I still bought a ton of stuff!

The morning of the race, there were plenty of volunteers directing me to the busses. The start village was fine, although I stood in line for a porta potty for 15 minutes without moving. That's really the only negative thing I can say - all the porta potties were grouped together in one spot, and the lines were a little confusing. It wasn't until I moved further back that I found a line that was actually moving.

The volunteers along the course were fantastic. There were aid stations about every two miles that offered water, Gatorade, apples, and oranges, as well as medical tents and porta potties. I made sure to thank all the volunteers, and many of them thanked me for running and cheered for me by name (it was on my bib).

The finish area was well organized. After receiving my medal, I stood in line for a photo, and then was given a box of food and chocolate milk. They promoted a free beer at the end, but I was tired and ready to leave so I skipped it.

I absolutely recommend this race to everyone. Just make sure you hill train!

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(2021)
"Small, fun and friendly!"
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This race absolutely delighted me. I've run some small races before, but this takes the cake. I think there were maybe 30 participants? It was unlike anything I've participated in before. I assumed there weren't even bib since it was so small, but we actually received an email the morning of the race with information about bibs. I ranked the expo low simply because there wasn't one. But this race didn't need one. The proceeds go toward the Glenn town square. I had never been to Glenn before, but my husband is from the next town over. Holiday attire was encouraged, so we obliged. You could tell what a small, close-knit community this was - everyone else seemed to know each other.

The race took place the day after Thanksgiving, and there was a little ice on the roads, but nothing terrible. They had actually sanded the roads so it wasn't as bad as I expected. This wasn't a timed race - it was truly a run fun - but they had a timer set up at the finish line. With your registration, you received a coffee mug, a breakfast (breakfast burritos and donuts), and a beer (it finished at a brewery). It was a point-to-point race, and one of the participants had actually donated their 16-passenger van to be used as a shuttle back to our cars.

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(2021)
"Fast, flat, great crowd support!"
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I was so pleasantly surprised by this race! I'm not sure why, because I know plenty of people who have run it multiple times.

Packet pickup was a breeze. This was the first bigger expo I've been to in awhile, and there was a great mix of vendors there.

I think the thing that most surprised me about this race was the amount of crowd support that came out. Much of the race goes through neighborhoods, and there were so many families and friends out cheering us on. And when you're running a marathon, that's so important! The aid stations seemed to be spaced out pretty well, though I always carry my own nutrition, so I wasn't super concerned with them. I did stop around mile 20 to supplement with their nutrition (Nuun) because I had run out of mine. All the aid station volunteers were super friendly.

I ended up getting a 16 minute PR here. I had heard people talk about how flat the course was, and they weren't kidding! However, I will say that the road itself was in bad shape - lots of potholes and uneven surfaces. You really had to keep your eyes focused on the road to make sure you didn't hurt yourself.

I didn't stick around for long at the finish line, so I can't really speak to what they offered there.

My only real complaints are things that the race directors can't fix. In addition to the potholes, I was extremely disappointed in my finisher photo that I stopped and stood in line for after I finished. I reached out to the photographer several times and when they finally responded, didn't bother to offer a discount on my photo package and said they didn't have the RAW file to send me so I could see about getting it fixed.

That aside, I really enjoyed this race! You can check out my race report here: https://iwasrunningdotblog.wordpress.com/2021/11/08/race-review-indianapolis-monumental-marathon/

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(2021)
"My favorite local half marathon!"
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Packet pickup was super easy and held at Louisville Slugger Field. There weren't many vendors there this year which was a little disappointing, but I'm chalking it up to another COVID thing. One other change this year is that instead of shirts, participants received Boco branded neck gaiters. I personally prefer a race shirt, but again, I can understand why this change was made during COVID times.

The course also changed this year (I'm assuming COVID related). I love the old course so this was a little disappointing, and there were a few things I definitely didn't like. First, the new course was promoted as flat (HA!). Second, part of the new course went on the Butchertown Greenway, which was in extremely poor condition. You really had to watch where you were going.

All that aside, this is still my favorite race! The after party is amazing with live music, bourbon tastings (included with your registration), and pizza. We legit stay for about two hours and have a blast.

You also get free race photos, which is an awesome benefit!

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(2021)
"Great local race that supports an awesome cause"
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This is the fourth year in a row that I've run this race, which supports the Colon Cancer Prevention Project. My sister-in-law, Audrey Rusin Cook, passed away from colon cancer is 2017, and so my husband I run this race every year as a way to honor her memory.

This year, the race returned to in-person. Packet pick-up was a breeze - you simply drove up, rolled down your window, and they handed you your packet.

One thing I really like about this race is that it starts later than most - 9am. Now, if it had been summer time and really hot, I would have appreciated an earlier start. But since fall weather is just now hitting Louisville, I was more thankful for the extra time to sleep!

This race may be pretty small, but it's well-run. The course was marked was marked well, which I appreciated because the group of guys ahead of me kept getting further away and I'm always nervous I'll take a wrong turn. Luckily, the signage was perfect and they had a couple of volunteers in spots to ensure participants knew where to go. There was one water stop, but I didn't utilize it.

This year in particular was a special year because I ended up winning 1st Female Overall, and my husband got 2nd Male Overall.

My only complaint about this race is that the shirts aren't great (I usually donate mine), and this year, only the winners received medals. But other than that, it's a great race.

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