Latest reviews by Amy

(2018)
"Great President's Day Weekend Getaway Race"
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In February, I ran the Run Oak Island 5K in Oak Island, NC. Although I ran the 5K, the race also offered a half and full marathon. It is a part of the BAM (Big Ass Medals) series, which includes three other races on the NC coast. This was my first time running a race in that series, and I was very impressed. The medals and swag are great- the medals are beautiful, and even the 5K has a finisher's medal. The 5K finisher's medal is not as big as the half marathon, but it is better and more colorful than many of my marathon medals. The shirts are colorful and soft cotton.

The 5K course itself was great- fairly no frills, but we had two aid stations. It was well marked and had plenty of volunteers. The starting times were staggered that people did not run into each other, which I liked, and all the races started on time. The after party had pizza and barbeque for refreshments, along with post-race beer.

This race was on President's Day weekend, and with many people having that Monday off work, it's a great destination race to visit North Carolina for. The weather during that time of year is perfect for a half or full marathon and great if you are coming from a colder climate and want a break from the weather.

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(2017)
"Great destination race- flat and fast and beautiful"
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As a Charleston resident, I've always heard about the Kiawah Island Marathon but was never able to run it in years past. In 2017, I ran the half and saw what the fuss was about. It was 100% worth it!

The Kiawah Island Marathon is one of the best organized races I've run. I signed up early and got a great rate. Since so many locals run this, Kiawah Island Marathon hosted an early packet pick up in Mt. Pleasant, which I took advantage of, so I didn't have to drive to the island the days before the race. You can pick up your packet the day of the race, though, which is great if you are travelling into town on a late flight or morning of. The shirt is excellent- gender specific and hooded.

Race day brought an early wake-up call. If you're not staying on the island, you must take a shuttle. We had to park in a muddy field, but the shuttles were the best of any race I've run- chartered bus instead of school buses. I did have to go to the car wash and spend $6 after the race to wash my car. When you get off the shuttle, it is about 1/4 mile walk to the conference center, where you can stretch and stay warm until time for the race. If you pick your packet up on race day, this is where you'll do it.

The course was great. The half and full run together. If you are a faster runner, you can submit a time to enter the high performance corral, too. There are pacers for popular distances and adequate aid stations with very cheerful volunteers. Aside from a short sandy area of the course that were slightly damp/muddy from the rain, the course is all paved and flat and fast.

The race calls your name as you finish, which is a fun touch, and the after party and medal were wonderful. The after party had some of the best post-race food, not just bananas and water. There was coffee, hot chocolate, tons of desserts, and warm soup and cornbread, as well as pastas. Awards were beer growlers for the age groupers and Patagonia backpacks for overall placing finishers. The staff kept the food and beer stocked up so that no one missed out no matter what time they finished.

While I ran the half this year, I plan to return next year. If I do run a full marathon, I would probably opt for this one because of its proximity to my home and how well organized the race was.

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(2017)
"Beautiful and well managed destination race"
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2017 was my first year running the Savannah Women's Half Marathon races, but hopefully it won't be the last. This race is in its third year and did a great job. I hoped to run the half, but due to an injury had to switch to the 5K in the weeks before the race. I like that two distances are offered because that makes this race perfect no matter what your goals are. Both races included the same swag and finisher's medals.

This was my first women's race and a great experience. The race environment was very supportive of ladies of all ability levels. Men could also run, but were not eligible for awards. The men who did run were very respectful and the ladies were respectful back. At one point on the half course, there is an out and back section and the runners cheer for each other.

The course is beautiful and perfect for your first race or for a PR. It's flat and fast and runs through some beautiful areas of Savannah. The finish is in Forsyth Park in front of the fountain, which is a perfect backdrop for photos- and a fun place to hang out post race.

The Savannah Women's Half would be perfect for a girl's weekend in Savannah, or if you're a local looking for a well-organized race.

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(2017)
"Great Girl's Weekend"
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2017 was my first year running the Savannah Women’s Half Marathon races, but hopefully it won’t be the last. This race is in its third year and did a great job. I hoped to run the half, but due to an injury had to switch to the 5K in the weeks before the race. I like that two distances are offered because that makes this race perfect no matter what your goals are. Both races included the same swag and finisher’s medals.

This was my first women’s race and a great experience. The race environment was very supportive of ladies of all ability levels. Men could also run, but were not eligible for awards. The men who did run were very respectful and the ladies were respectful back. At one point on the half course, there is an out and back section and the runners cheer for each other.

The course is beautiful and perfect for your first race or for a PR. It’s flat and fast and runs through some beautiful areas of Savannah. The finish is in Forsyth Park in front of the fountain, which is a perfect backdrop for photos- and a fun place to hang out post race.

The Savannah Women’s Half would be perfect for a girl’s weekend in Savannah, or if you’re a local looking for a well-organized race.

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(2014)
"Great way to kick off St Pat's"
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Catch the Leprechaun is a 5K held on Thursday night around St. Patrick's Day each year. The proceeds benefit a local school for special needs children, and the race is at Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant. The course is flat and very fast, with lots of parking (you can park in the surrounding lots of the doctor's offices as well as in a large field).

This is a very large race for a 5K, with almost 1,000 registrants this past year and a very competitive field. The prizes are great, as there are cash prizes for the winners (in the form of a "pot of gold"- it's gold dollar coins!). Age groupers get medals and there is a team category for largest team.

A leprechaun runs the course and talks to people, and everyone who finishes ahead of him gets a small plastic mug. I like this concept because it helps mid-packers set a goal for the race and they get an award because it's very hard to place with such a competitive field. This year, the leprechuan's pace was approximately a 9 min/mile.

The after party has lots of beer as well as sandwiches. I do wish the party had more vegetarian options for food, or something healthier (the only vegetarian options were fruit, potato chips, and cookies). I don't think that's a concern for most people and I'm used to it. The beer was unlimited and there was a band playing too. Overall I would highly recommend this race- just be sure to get there early as it is an evening race and traffic can get backed up coming over the Cooper River Bridge.

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