Ocean State Rhode Marathon–Narragansett, RI

Posted on November 2, 2020 by tootallfritz

After the trail marathon in CT, we headed over to Narragansett, RI to run the Ocean State Rhode Marathon on Sunday, October 25th. It was a short 50 minute trip, which made this a great double without too much driving between venues. Since we had walked/hiked a majority of the CT race, we were hoping for a great day in Rhode Island!

It was dark by the time we arrived in Narragansett so we didn’t see the town, just checked into the hotel, ate, prepped for the race & went to bed. We woke with the sun to the sound of waves crashing. That’s always a good start to the day. It was cool and crisp in the low 40s and a perfect day for running!

We were less than 2 miles from the start/finish. Quick trip along the ocean to the Narragansett Town Beach. Even though it was cool, there were quite a few surfer’s out trying to catch some early morning waves. Now that seemed crazy! Smile

This was one of the first races to occur in Rhode Island since the pandemic started. The organizers worked hard to provide a safe atmosphere for everyone. This included some new precautions including: shortened packet pick up windows, no race day packet pickup, staggered start times for each race, limited participants, no bag check, no stretching/warm ups by the start area, as well as the mandated masks at the start/finish & aid stations. They also asked all runners to carry their own hydration in an attempt to limit or minimize the use of aid stations, and then cut down the number of aid stations available on course.

I was thinking the event had 666 “in person” registered participants according to a prerace email; however, only 423 recorded finishers. Marathon finishers = 185, Half finishers = 169 & 5K finishers = 69. Each race started separately. The marathon started the 6+ hour marathoners at 6:30am. The 2-4 hr marathon runners at 7:30a & the 4-6 hr runners at 7:50a. The half and 5K were staggered starting at 8am.

Julie & I masked up and were ready to stand on our respective “dots”. The road was marked with red dots that were separated in each direction by 6 feet. Very easy, just stand on a dot and get ready to run!

They asked that we keep our masks on until the runners spread out from the start area. We were happy to oblige and most other runners did great and ran with their mask until the crowd started to thin.

The first 10K of the course was the most scenic. We did not run thru the town of Narrangansett but we had ocean views, and that’s a win!

Nice neighborhoods. Nice roads. Perfect weather. A few hills & about 1200 ft of climbing.

Even as we turned away from the water, the course was still great. We did run along some busier highways but had plenty of room to run and the overall condition of the roads was impressive. Where I’m from, the roads are not smooth, or flat, so this was noticeable. Especially since my feet felt pulverized from the rocks of the Pachaug Trail, the day previous. Lots of great neighborhoods, and then long scenic roads. A lot of the course had out & back sections, so we saw the runners in front and behind us. Everyone was super friendly, runners, aid station volunteers & the police that were helping direct traffic & keep runners safe. Rhode Island, you were impressive!

But all good things must come to an end and well, I was ready to be finished!

We ran from Narragansett, to Bonnet Shores which was definitely the most scenic area. Then to Saunderstown, North Kingstown which was the “turnaround” point. Back thru Annaquatucket, past the Narrow River & to the finish at Narragansett Town Beach.

Great course. Great race. I’d definitely go back to do this one again! Thanks to the organizers of the Rhode Races & Events. We know this wasn’t easy getting this approved and letting us run thru several areas/towns. But we appreciate it and would definitely come back to run and hang out when Covid is a long and distant memory. Thank you!

SWAG – Buff, anyone? And the medal is a tribute to the local Narragansett Indian Tribe which inhabited this area long before it was known as Rhode Island.

Rhode Island was my 35th state & 59th marathon. Getting closer to that 50 state goal!

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Charleston Marathon (2019) Race Review

Posted on January 31, 2019 by tootallfritz

I’ve had the Charleston Marathon on my list for years! The race always falls on the second Saturday of January. That’s a popular weekend for many races in the southern states. Since my long term goal is to run a marathon in every state, I try to pick races that fit into my schedule AND are also in a new state. I finally made it to Charleston this year to check off South Carolina, my 31st state.

I was really looking forward to this race. Charleston is one of my favorite places. I love the location, the weather, the town and the people. The city never disappoints and I basically begged my friends to go run the marathon with me because of those reasons. Thanks, Tamyra & Julie for making the trip with me!

We rolled into town on Friday for the Saturday (1/12/19) race. The expo was in downtown Charleston at the Gaillard Center. Easy in/out. Small expo. Metered parking. Cool SWAG. A long sleeve tech tee, which is about the only type race tee that I actually wear, plus a buff & gloves! All very useful.

The race was on Saturday morning at 7:15am. We stayed in a hotel that was close to the start and were able to walk over. It was about 40 degrees with a cool breeze. The start area was at a local high school. Runners and spectators were able to wait inside & even use the school bathrooms, if they had time. Race started on time and we began our 26.2 mile tour of the area. First up, Hampton Park, the Citadel & the Battery (my favorite area).

Then we turned down King Street, which is known as the art & shopping area. New and old mixed together. I loved this old pharmacy sign.

Once we got thru the shopping district, we headed out of Charleston toward North Charleston. I’ll be honest, the sightseeing kinda stopped when we left Charleston between mile 7 & 8. It was a long way up to North Charleston, we did run thru some sort of Government area that allowed us to see some of the swampy areas but it was a lot of time with just us, the road & our fellow runners. We made fast friends with those around us to pass the time. There were a couple spots with live entertainment. Aid stations (and potties) were every 2 miles or so. Lots of water, Gatorade & GU brand gels. The volunteers & police support were great.

The skies were overcast most of the day and the temps were 40s to low 50s. Great weather for those of us who came from the northern states!

Once we got up to Riverfront Park in North Charleston, it was around mile 18. The half marathon runners turned off to finish, the full marathon runners went out and looped North Charleston. This is the map from my watch, if you want to see the course.

We could hear the finish line music and fun during a lot of the 8 mile loop around North Charleston and it was a welcoming return as we headed back to Riverfront Park. Cute area & a great place for the finish line festival.

The finish festival greeted us with music, food & several varieties of Sam Adams beer, plus mimosa’s. Plenty of space to hang out with the family. But the temps were cool and it was windy so we headed for the buses to shuttle us back to Charleston as soon as all of us finished. No lines for the buses! Huge win! And just like that marathon #52 was in the books.

I was a bit disappointed that the race didn’t showcase more of the great city of Charleston. Especially the bridges that go over the Coopers River. So we got up early and went to run the Arthur Ravenel Bridge on Sunday morning before starting the drive home. This bridge goes from Charleston to Mount Pleasant. There is a walking/running/biking section on the bridge and it’s a popular spot, any day of the week. My favorite time of day is always sunrise, so we started early enough to catch the sun coming up.

If you want more information on Charleston, the bridge, or would like to see more photos, check out my previous post from a visit in 2015: Charleston SC, I Ran That Town.

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Tobacco Road Marathon Race Review

Posted on April 27, 2018 by tootallfritz

Its been six weeks since the Tobacco Road Marathon but I still want to review the race for those who might be interested in putting this on their future calendar.

The Tobacco Road Marathon was on March 18, 2018 in Cary, NC. Close to Durham & Chapel Hill. The race venue is the Thomas Brooks Park & USA Baseball Fields. Race is traditionally held on a Sunday and requires travel to the area on Friday or Saturday to pick up race packets. Small expo at a local hotel. Easy & fast, in and out. A few vendors, like my favorite girl, Gypsy Runner.

If your traveling with the family, there isn’t a lot to do in this area (or maybe we just didn’t know where to look?). Beautiful area though. New neighborhoods. Nice homes. Cute boutique like shopping areas. Nice.

Race day started bright and early ~~like always~~. Getting to the race site required some planning. There was a local pick up area in Cary called NetApp, where people could park & get shuttled to/from the race site. There were a few onsite parking spots that required pre-purchased parking passes. Then there was runner drop off at the venue. Fortunately, my daughter now has her license. GASP! She was able to drop me off, then drive back to the hotel with her little brother, then return to pick me up. This race would have been challenging, logistics wise (as a mom with kids & no other adult to supervise), had she not been able to drive. I’ve taken them to a lot of races & I usually pick a hotel on the race course or close to the start/finish so they can sleep in at the hotel, then come to the race when they are ready. This race started at the park, then ran to the American Tobacco Trail, stayed on the American Tobacco Trail, then ran back to the park for the finish. You need access to a car to get to packet pick up and to/from the race. No shuttles for local hotels. No way to spectate without access to a car.

On to the race! The important part, right? Please note that the majority of these photos are courtesy of Amy at Gypsy Runner. I wanted to ring the PR bell, so knew I couldn’t waste time with photos. Thanks, Amy for always helping me out! I love seeing your smiling face at expos and out on the marathon courses!

We got to the race early. The race started at 7am but the parking areas shut down at a certain time. I think they wanted everyone in the parking area by 5:30 so that the shuttle buses could come/go without issue. It was cool. Probably upper 40s at the start and while we were waiting. I rarely take throw away clothes but did this time because I wasn’t planning to check a bag. The plan was to run the race, finds the kids, leave. We were headed to Disney World for Spring Break & this was just a pit stop for momma to grab another state!

The race started promptly at 7am. Start/Finish area was easy to find, just down from the row of port-o-potties. It was still dark when we started the race but the area was well lit around the bathrooms & the start/finish area. Photo courtesy of the Tobacco Road Marathon Facebook page:

We left Thomas Park with an incline to get out of the park and onto the road. Key to remember because that’s a downhill to the finish line! Couple other rolling hills in the 2.5 miles from the park to the American Tobacco Trail. Then the marathoners had 21 miles on the ATT. Very few turns. If you are ever afraid of getting lost, this is the type of race for you. There was never any question as to where to go or where to turn. It was very well ran, volunteers were great. All road crossings were patrolled.

The race was advertised as fast & flat. As a Midwest gal, I know flat. Any race that claims to be flat, will probably have more hills than I can get when I make an effort to FIND hills to run. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this race. I will say that it was pretty flat. There were a few rollers to/from the ATT. Once on the ATT (where we ran 21 of the 26.2 miles), it was pretty flat. This was an old rail trail. So the inclines/declines were not visible, you’d just feel it in your legs. On a slight decline, you could feel the load lighten and the pace got easier. On the incline, you couldn’t really “see” it but you could tell you were going up because it took more effort to hold the pace. But honestly, I heard some people complain post race about the elevation, Garmin showed 735 ft of gain, Strava showed 819 ft for the entire race. Small gains & losses over time.

The ATT was a mix of crushed limestone and asphalt. Mostly tree lined with giant pines which provided a break from the wind and the sun. Temps started in the upper 40s but climbed to the 60s while we ran. Humidity was low to non-existent. I don’t do well in heat & humidity so while I did notice that it was getting warmer toward the end, it didn’t effect my performance.

There were 9 aid stations on course, most of which we hit 2x since the trail was an out and back. All stations were well stocked with fluids, food items & there were port-o-potties!

On the ATT, we headed out to the north initially, then flipped between mile 8 & 9. Then headed back south, past our point of entry until another turn around between mile 18 & 19. As always, that last turn around always feels great. I also am a huge fan of out and backs, particularly when I know people running. Watching the other runners makes me happy. I like to encourage them, cheer for the fast people at the front & it distracts me from the task at hand.

Not a ton of spectators. Logistics put most spectators at a trail head that intersected with a road we were crossing. Some dogs. A few signs. But everyone was enthusiastic & encouraging.

I really liked this race. I picked it for a few reason. Fast, flattish, few turns, smaller number of runners & the fact that most of it was on a rail trail which would feel a lot like my old training runs. Some people run better on Saturday mornings with their friends than at big venues with long waits & a bazillion spectators. I’m probably more of the Saturday morning girl than the “wait & shiver for 2 hours before the major marathon” girl.

I knew I wanted to try to run faster since I’m not allowed many races this year. I’m in the midst of training for Ironman Lake Placid. When I run less races, I’m faster. No brainer there. And my back is feeling the best it has in several years. I’m not 100% but to be honest, this is probably as good as its going to get. Also, it was important to plan and execute a race strategy, just to know that I can do it. After Lake Placid, I’m going to take a break and then see if I can qualify for Boston. This race time was not anywhere what I need to run a BQ but it was all about planning & executing.

I did have a snafu leading up to the race (pulled something in my foot) so went with Plan B vs Plan A, in the name of being smart & facing down a lot more training for Lake Placid in the next few months. I started with the 4:10 pacers with the plan of running away from them before the finish. I figured I could easily gain a couple minutes and drop into a 4:08 before I hit the line, if I was smart. That’s really the hardest part, being smart. And patient. The first half of the race feels so easy, its hard not to just go with it and run faster. Well, take my advice, going faster than the plan is a good way to blow up. I used to run less races & try to go faster but I always blew up. I would go out too fast! Every time. That’s really how I started running more races. I decided that I worked too hard for ONE race, for it not to end in the result I wanted. I decided I could run A LOT of races and have a A LOT of fun, and really my times weren’t any slower than going out too fast & blowing up.

Anyhow, shout out to the 4:10 pacers. They did a great job. I even dropped back 2 different times to get something out of my FlipBelt. The one pacer checked on me both times & basically “yelled at me” to close the gap & regain contact. I will say that the added pressure that someone was waiting on me did help to make sure I didn’t fall off pace. They even told the runners to start floating away from them as we got close to the finish, that a pacers job was to finish alone, on time, with all their runners ahead of them. Smile I had already started moving ahead after we got off the ATT in the last 2.5 miles. That was the last thing I heard them say as I was pulling away. And I was able to ring the PR Bell at the finish! 4:08:09 was my chip time. Good day!

Overall a great race. There were 1088 full marathoners that started the day, 884 finishers. The half started 2277 runners & 2202 finished. Great race, if you are looking for a fast run. Since most of the race is on the trail, the camber of the road is not as much of an issue as in other races. Not too crowded. Just enough aid & support. Low entry fee! Definitely a good one.

This was my 27th state, 49th marathon. My 50th marathon will be at the end of Ironman Lake Placid. Now that’s going to hurt. LOL!

** Hope you are all healthy & running happy ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon – 2017 Edition

Posted on November 9, 2017 by tootallfritz

This was my 4th time running the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. I ran the inaugural race in 2008, then also 2015, 2016, & 2017. This is somewhat counterproductive to my goal of running a marathon in every state; however, Indy provides a race that is worth repeating. Plus, Aby is at the age where she likes to run this race with her friends, after Cross Country season, so I go because it’s a huge affair between my friends & Aby’s. In my world running is about fun. I try not to have such a singular focus on a long term goal that I forget the core reason for my running. So I’ll probably run Indy at least one more time, next year. Aby is a senior next year and who knows where the world will take her after that. If she wants to go back to Indy, we’ll be there.

Expo was easy and fast, although crowded in the early evening. We were in and out pretty quickly. There were lines to verify the timing chips and lines to get pre-ordered race items, but otherwise pretty smooth. Lots of vendors. Everything looked busy but everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Outside the expo the city was bustling and Indy really shines at night. View from our hotel.

The race didn’t’ start until 8am on Saturday morning. This was sleeping in for me! The hotels surrounding the Capitol Building are within a 5 minute walk. We stayed inside until 7:30, then walked over to greet friends & get ready to run.

A few things about 2017 that were different from previous years. One, it was the last year of a 4 year medal series. The race sold medal holders to include the medals for all 4 years, then there was a special star that 4 year runners picked up at the finish. I was missing 2014, no star for me. But it was cool. And Indy has just announced that they will be starting a new 4 year series next year with a slightly different set-up. Here is a picture of the display for the 2014-2017 medals from the Indy Monumental Facebook page.

The second change for 2017 was the implementation of a corral system, in an attempt to ease congestion at the start. Start below. Photo courtesy of Gypsy Runner.

The start was congested. Not a lot of signage as to where the corrals started & stopped. I’m guessing the majority of runners had no idea which corral they were in when the race started. Some races stagger the start to ease congestion, allowing a slight pause of maybe a couple of minutes between corrals. This was a rolling start. No breaks between corrals. Gun went off, we all started moving. First mile was slow. First aid station turned into a total standstill.

The half marathon runners turned off around 7.25 miles. The majority of the runners do the half, which is common at most races. I actually like the first part with the half runners because it forces me to go slower than I might if the road were wide open. Smile But after they turn off, usually I start pushing the pace. Indy traditionally has great weather. This year was no different. It was in the upper 40s at the start, in the 50s with a breeze when we finished. No sun. Perfect conditions for a great race. Indy is usually one of my fastest races of the year, this year it was my fastest. It’s the weather and the flat course that helps me out each year. Makes it easy to keep coming back, right?

Lots of aid stations. Donuts, beer shots, pretzels, cliff gels, bananas, orange slices. Indy takes care of their runners. Course is flat with a few slight inclines. Lots of volunteers and police to help keep everyone on course. I do think they changed the course slightly this year. I don’t know that for a fact but there were a few times that I felt the course was different or we were running in a different direction than we had in years past.

Not a lot of pictures. I had been sick earlier in the week and wasn’t feeling awesome during the race. I was just following my friends, Julie M & Amy (Gypsy Runner) and just ran all the way to the finish with those lovely ladies. Yes, I let them pull me the majority of the race. Sometimes we feel good. Sometimes we don’t. Gotta roll with whatever the day brings. And it brought me a finish in 4:24 with 2 great friends by my side. #Thankful

That’s it for the 2017 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. SWAG below. Side panel of shirt in the last pic.

By the numbers. The race just seemed so much larger this year! Maybe because I wasn’t feeling great. Maybe because there were 3 of us running together. Maybe because the roads weren’t in great shape this year and I was floating around a lot. But here are the stats. In 2016 there were 4237 marathon finishers, 4679 this year. In 2016 there were 8154 half marathon finishers, 7972 this year. In 2016 there were 2762 5K runners, 2727 this year. So the only race that showed a significant increase in numbers was the marathon distance. But only 400 more runners. Not a huge increase. I think I just felt “off” and was more protective of my personal space this year. Smile Regardless, I love the race & I plan to run again in 2018.

2008 race report HERE. You’ll find more of an insight into the emotional aspect of my second marathon rather than a review of the race. Oldie but goodie.

2015 report HERE. 2016 report HERE.

This was my 46th lifetime marathon if you’re counting.

** Happy Running, All ** Amanda – TooTall Fritz

Atlantic City Marathon, Atlantic City, NJ

Posted on October 27, 2017 by tootallfritz

The Atlantic City Marathon in New Jersey was Day 2. The second marathon for our double marathon weekend. 2 Marathons. 2 Days. 2 States. Totally normal, right? Maybe not, but this was an easy double if you ever want to try one. We picked Atlantic City because it was a short 2 hour drive from Dover, DE where we ran the Monster Mash Marathon the day previous. The drive was so short that we even detoured thru Philadelphia to fulfill a childhood fantasy of running up the Art Museum steps like Rocky Balboa! Super exciting. Then hey, stopped over to see the Liberty Bell too!

Some people thought we were crazy for actually running up the steps. It was fun! There were only 72 steps and it probably loosened us up after running the Monster Mash Marathon! Good news, we weren’t the only crazy people, some even had the Rocky Theme song playing. Obviously, we weren’t too serious about this double. Its not our first. We just go, run, have fun and keep things light. As for the steps, had to do it. Who knows if I’ll ever get that close to Philadelphia again. No regrets, right? I would have regretted not running up those steps!

On to Atlantic City. Packet pickup was at Ballys. We parked in the garage. Posted parking fee was $22; however, they reduced the fee for runners to $5. Thank you!! Small expo. Easy in and out once we figured out where to go inside the hotel/casino. Dinner in the hotel/casino. Checked into our hotel by 8pm. Tip: We stayed at the Sheraton by the Convention Center. It was about a 10 min walk to/from the race start/finish. No smoke. No gambling. No hoopla. Less $$.

Race started at 8am so we got to see the sun come up while we were waiting to start. It was steamy. Humid. Warm.

As we awaited the race start, it was different than most races I’ve ran. There was a start line and a gated corral. The pacers were inside the corral. Alone. We were all crowded outside the corral wondering what was going on and when they would open the gates. They opened the gates right at 8am. It was a mad rush for some to get in where they wanted to be, others were climbing over the fence. Most just lined up as they entered the corral. Somewhat chaotic. Not an issue for us since we were planning a leisurely race but I certainly see that it could have been an issue for some. Eventually, we were all in and ready to run.

We started the race heading north on the Boardwalk for a short distance, then a quick left on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, then a quick left on Bachrach Boulevard. Mile one. Decent sized race. Some spectators. Decent Streets. Views of the water at every glance. First the Atlantic, then various bays & channels. So many that it was hard to keep up with which body of water we were crossing and/or passing at any given time. Foggy morning due to the heat and humidity but not so hot that we were miserable. Just warmer than most prefer. But it was beautiful.

Soon we entered a long tunnel. There were lights so it wasn’t dark. Runners were whooping and yelling to hear themselves in the tunnel. Kinda cool. Thru some neighborhoods, up a couple highway ramps, then back to the Boardwalk, this time heading south around mile 7.75, passing the strip of casinos.

Aid stations were spaced about every 1.5 miles. Lots of volunteers. Police. Bicycle escorts for the winners. Well marked course with plenty of course marshals enthusiastically directing runners.

We ran south on the Boardwalk til approximately mile 13, then turned off heading South for an out and back on Atlantic Avenue. Busier road on the inner side of the Casinos. Sloped because we were running on the side. Lots of shops and restaurants and beautiful homes. Took Atlantic Ave until it ended in Longport at the Great Egg Harbor. Awesome aid station in that area that had mini Swedish Fish. Yes!

What I can’t stress enough about this race are the water views. Even when we were running in neighborhoods down seemingly normal streets. If you look to either side at a cross street, you’ll see water. I enjoyed it. Not beach front running per say but the area is surrounded by water. Atlantic Ocean to the left in the pic below.

Beautiful homes, buildings, churches.

Thru the streets and neighborhoods until mile 23 when we hit the Northbound Boardwalk to finish the race. Start and finish were both in front of Ballys. By the end, I didn’t love running on the Boardwalk. Softer surface, yes. But the lines of the various boards made my dizzy. I tend to put my head down and “just run” when I’ve had enough. And yes, I was ready to be done by mile 22 and in the head down mode. Once I hit the Boardwalk, too many lines. Too much motion. Too much heat. And I was “almost” tired. We had more traffic on the Boardwalk to dodge since more people were out and about. I was happy to finally see the finish!

Great after party. I saw lots of beer flowing if you like a beer post race. There was a band. Gender specific, long sleeve tech shirt! My favorite!! Great medal.

Good race. More runners thank the day previous but still small. 832 half marathon finishers. 609 marathon finishers. Flat other than a few bridges. Good double with Monster Mash because both were flat and not to physically taxing, other than the mileage. Bling from both days is below.

Next Up, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on November 4th. My 4th appearance at this event. Its definitely one of my favorites. Crossing my fingers for cool, crisp weather and a fast race!

** Happy Running, All ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Monster Mash Marathon – Dover, DE

Posted on October 26, 2017 by tootallfritz

I’ve been recovering this week after coming off a big weekend. 2 marathons. 2 states. 2 days. Plus maybe a side trip thru Philly to run up the steps of the Art Museum and relive the glory days of Rocky Balboa. Maybe. Just maybe. Smile Anyhow, back to the marathons! First up, the Monster Mash Marathon in Dover, Delaware. Start and finish is at the Dover International Speedway way. If you are a NASCAR fan, then no other explanation is needed. If not, this monster seems to be track mascot.

I used to be a bit of a NASCAR fan but that ended with the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Therefore, I didn’t know about the monster, or that it was the mascot. I didn’t know that this was a short track. 1 mile. Shorter than a lot of NASCAR tracks on the circuit. I sign up to run races based upon what fits my schedule. As a result, not a lot of research goes into each race. That’s part of the fun for me, the surprise of a new race, new course, new town, new state. Fun!

We arrived at the track on Friday evening to grab our packets. Packet pick up was fast & easy. Free parking. Less than a 100m walk to the tent. Halloween Candy scattered throughout the tent for snacking. We were in and out in less than 10 minutes & that’s with Julie talking to a lady about her doodle puppy. Julie loves her doodles!

Our hotel was a couple miles away. Comfort Inn Suites. Awesome beds that were so comfy! Then back to the track for race day on Saturday morning. Unlike big marathons, you can arrive within 30 minutes of the start for this race. You can pick up your packet race morning, if you like. And you can use the indoor bathrooms at the track before you hit the start line on the race track by pit row.

I liked that the start was on the race track. Kinda cool. Very sloped though. I definitely don’t envy the NASCAR drivers who have to get up to such high speeds on this steep and short track!

One lap around the track = 1 mile & we were off to tour Dover and the surrounding areas. My favorite part of the course came early as we passed thru the Government buildings around Legislative Avenue, mile 3.5 to 4.5.

Aid stations were very frequent, especially in the first half of the course. Hammer gels were offered. Water. Gatorade. I’ve never seen as many gel stations on course than at this race. Very impressive.

We ran a lot of country roads. But they either let us run the entire road, or had cones separating us from vehicular traffic. We had plenty of room and cars were not too much of an issue. We did have one motorcyclist yell at us to get over but for the most part there was very little traffic and everyone seemed to be in good spirits throughout the race. Course wasn’t super exciting. But it was flat. Well marked. Volunteers and aid stations were plentiful. If you were in need of a bathroom, those were harder to find but probably spaced every 5ish miles or so.

Overall a good race. I was pretty excited about it coming in as I had heard positive things. However, I wasn’t feeling great at this race, so my experience was not amazing. No fault of the organizers. Loved the race shirt & the medal! Plus they gave us a buff and magnet. Nice theme. Some people dressed up for the holiday. Overall, small race so not a lot of people. 177 marathon finishers. 237 half marathon finishers. If you need spectator support and big crowds, this isn’t the race for you. If you just want to run without a lot of hassle, then you’ll love this one.

State #26 – Delaware – DONE

Next up, the Atlantic City Marathon race review!

** Happy Running** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Hatfield McCoy Marathon Race Review/Report

Posted on June 14, 2017 by tootallfritz

At this point, I feel like its fair to say that I’ve ran a few marathons. The Hatfield McCoy Marathon was my 43rd marathon. I know a good one from a bad one. I know that each of us has personal preferences but there are a few things that we all want in a good race: community support, great aid stations, frequent aid stations & a great course that keeps our mind off the miles. Hatfield McCoy delivered all that and much more at a very low cost.

The expo was easy & fast. Not a lot of booths but Gypsy Runner was there and she always has fun things for those who are looking for great gear! The registration, which was very reasonable ($65 for early birds) also included a free pasta dinner at the expo location for each registrant.

The race started in Williamson, WV and ran into KY. The half way point was Matewan, KY. Therefore, we were able to use this race for either KY or WV for those of us who are trying to run the 50 states. As a result, there were lots of 50 Staters, Marathon Maniacs & Half Fanatics who were trying to grab a new state. The race also offered 2 half marathons, one for each state, so the half runners could actually run both to capture 2 states in one day, if they were so inclined.

This race was really a great mix of terrain from main highways that were partially closed to traffic, thru neighborhoods where residents were out sitting on their front porches, on trails (paved, gravel & mud). We saw a little bit of everything but what was consistent were the aid stations and the amazing volunteers who were super friendly and welcoming.

A bit of the course.

A few hills. Otherwise know as mountains. Some up. Some down. Some steep. Some gently sloping. I actually didn’t even get a picture of any good “ups”. Boo! Third photo below courtesy of Amy from Gypsy Runner.

Varied terrain, bridges & river views. 1st & 2nd photo below courtesy of Amy from Gypsy Runner.

We loved the wobbly bridge!

And friends. That’s what I love about marathons the most. The people I meet along the way. The stories I hear. The places we go. Extra person in pink. Amy in yellow (back), Lainey (white & red – left) & Julie in green. A little blurry but still a fun shot.

And some history about the Hatfield’s & McCoy’s thrown in along the way.

This was a great race. One of my favorites thus far. The first half was shaded, which is a total win in my book! There were hills but it seemed manageable even though this race took over the #1 spot for the most elevation gain (1,544 ft) of any road marathon that we’ve done to date. We had steep accents & descents but a lot of flat ground in between. Better for me than the continuous up and down rollers! In case you’re keeping track of my road race elevation gain list, #2 is now Mississippi Blues Marathon (1,319), #3 is the Georgia Marathon (1,265), #4 the Rock N Roll Nashville Marathon (1,121), and that bumps Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon (1,020) to #5.

The second half of the race was full sun. Not ideal but the aid stations were close together, about every mile. They had cold water, ice, bananas, oranges, watermelon, gels, electrolyte tabs, pickle juice & other random goodies. We even had a volunteer or random stranger (who can really tell?) drive by at some point handing out Twizzlers. Smile We definitely felt welcomed into the various communities and even though the race shut down a lot of roads, everyone seemed content to help out or sit on their front porches & wave as we ran past.

SWAG? Unisex tech shirt & a mason jar with the race logo. I love unique SWAG!

Smaller race. 256 full marathon finishers. Then another 400ish runners between the 2 half marathons offered. Great day. Great race. Great area. Loved it. I’d highly recommend this race and anticipate it being the best “bang for my buck” for this year. Registration was low ($65) and the hotel was reasonable ($115 with tax), plus there were much cheaper options for those traveling on a budget. Put this one on your “must do” list!

** Run the Hatfield McCoy Marathon ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Georgia Marathon–Atlanta, GA

Posted on March 28, 2017 by tootallfritz

On the way south for Spring Break, the kids & I stopped off in Atlanta, GA for the Publix Georgia Marathon on March 19, 2017.

This was my 40th marathon & my 23rd state. I haven’t been to Atlanta for a long time so was excited to go back. A few new additions to Atlanta include a huge Ferris Wheel beside Centennial Olympic Park (pic below) and the College Football Hall of Fame that used to be in South Bend, Indiana. Noticeably missing was the old vibe from the Underground shopping area that is in the process of changing owners. I was sad to see it so empty and hope that its revitalized by my next trip to Atlanta! I loved the Underground!

Photo Credit: Laura Snead

The expo was small but hopping. Music. Giveaways. Fun atmosphere. Local businesses. We were in and out in a short amount of time & I even bought a shirt, which is unusual.

We spent Saturday walking around town, riding the Ferris Wheel & just clowning around.

Sunday was race day and the city came alive. A quick meet up pre-race with one of the awesome ladies from the Best TRI Club Ever. Laura S, Me & Julie M. Yes, I had to stand in the middle because I’m a giant.

Once the crowds rolled in on marathon day, Atlanta hosted 1463 marathon runners & 5227 half marathon runners. Race day was charged. It was a bit chilly at the start. Dark. But everyone was excited and ready to run. We had heard the race was hilly but had no idea what to expect. As Midwestern runners, we don’t have a lot of hills so honestly, a ramp or slight incline is a hill for me! But we soon found the hills. And lots of beautiful neighborhoods. Plus we caught a great view of the city as the sun was coming up.

This race really made me fall in love with the various Atlanta neighborhoods. They shut down a lot of their town to let us run their streets on a Sunday morning. The amount of volunteer & police support was off the charts. I’d like to send a shout out to all the WOMEN on the Atlanta PD who were working the marathon route. I’ve never seen that many women officers and I LOVED it.

But the theme of the day was definitely hills. Small ones. Long ones. Steep ones. Long, slow graded hills. Rolling hills. And then more and more hills. We walked quite a few hills but tried to just keep moving. The hills didn’t stop but neither did we!

Both Julie & I were thinking this was the hilliest marathon we had ever ran. It inspired me to go back over my garmin data for previous races. We were wrong, this was NOT the hilliest road race we had ever ran. That award goes to the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson, MS with 1,319 feet of elevation gain. Atlanta (the Georgia Marathon) ranked #2 at 1,265 feet of elevation gain. #3 is Flying Pig in Cincinnati, OH with 1,020 feet of elevation gain, just cuz I knew you’d want to know. Smile And of course, this only pertains to road races that we have ran to date.

But even with the hills, the entire race was just fun. Great atmosphere. Lots of crowd support. Plenty of aid stations with both fluids & food. Candy. Pretzels. Oranges. Happy volunteers. Plus we ran thru 3 colleges which is always great. Anges Scott College for Women (first photo below), Emory University (second photo below) & Georgia Tech.

The finish line finally came into sight & we not only received a medal but a cool, thin jacket! We got to pick our color & size. I think they had red, black & aqua jackets. Nice perk! Race shirt was a pale green, unisex, long sleeve tech tee, which I like. It doesn’t fit me great but I do like the color and style!

Loved the Georgia Marathon! Great town, great crowds & so many beautiful neighborhoods.

** Run Atlanta ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Little Rock Marathon – 2017

Posted on March 15, 2017 by tootallfritz

2017 has been all about preparing Aby & Annika to run their first marathon. I must admit when they said they wanted to run a marathon, I tried to talk them out of it. Marathons are long. And hard. And tough mentally & physically. The distance will frequently break experienced runners. The girls are young. Aby is 15 & Annika just turned 17. Yet they wanted to run a marathon. It was really hard to wrap my brain around. Its not something I would recommend for any teen, let alone those I know & care about! Initially I wasn’t sure how to react but I put on the “mom hat” and explained to them that an early spring marathon would require them to be running outside, all winter long, in the early a.m. when I was running. No sleeping in, I wanted them out there with me for every long run so I could monitor their progress, fueling & how they were tolerating the distance. They would not be deterred. In fact their first “long run” was the Huff 10 Mile Trail Race which was hilly, hard, snowy, cold, with freezing rain. Absolutely miserable conditions.

I asked them after Huff, do you still want to run a marathon that requires winter training? Yes. So we signed up for the Little Rock Marathon. The 2017 theme was “Runalicious” featuring candy, bright colors and lots of fun.

An abbreviated training plan & a somewhat mild winter delivered us to Little Rock mostly healthy & ready to run. The girls were slightly nervous but mostly calm. I heard them say many times “we trained for this, we can do it”. But they were notably tired from the travel so we tried to keep things pretty low key & not do much. The Expo was a great size for a small town race. There were 2181 marathon & 3699 half marathon finishers on Sunday, plus a 5K & 10K on Saturday. Lots to do Marathon weekend . Something for everyone.

We hit the expo, picked up our bibs, walked around town, found ice cream, took some pics & then had take out for dinner. I think we were all asleep by 9pm.

We woke up to rain. Heavy but steady rain with a “feels like” temp of 43 as we headed to our corrals. We were none too early either because I didn’t want the girls out in the cold rain for too long before we started to run. I was a bit surprised to see how busy the streets were & the back up getting into the corrals. Pace wasn’t an issue for us but I really wanted to be around the 4:30 pace group because that was the pace where we would start out. I didn’t want to waste too much energy weaving around people in the early miles. We were on the “just finish it” plan but we wanted to stay together & I wanted to try to keep a consistent pace. I knew that I would have to be paying attention in order to keep them slow & steady. They are XC runners and they just want to GO!

Pre Race:

In the corral, headed to the start. What are they thinking?

And we are off! Let’s Run! #Runalicious

The beginning is crowded. Normal for most races & a great time to ease into a pace rather than take off and regret it later. Also a great time for pics. But apparently my selfie game was OFF cuz I couldn’t get all three of in a pic for anything.

The course had changed since I had ran in 2014. I didn’t really know what to expect and was kinda okay with that. This was my 39th marathon, 2nd time at Little Rock. I kinda enjoy just running the course and enjoying it for what it presents. We headed over to North Little Rock first, looped around. Ran over a few bridges (steep inclines & declines, yes, please!).

The girls were calm. We all agreed that we didn’t feel awesome but we didn’t feel horrible and that’s a pretty sweet spot to be in on marathon day. It curbs expectation but also delivers a bit of hope. Patience is the name of the game. You must be patient in the marathon or you’ll have a very bad day.

The rain continued. Light but steady. People were complaining. We just ran past them & pulled our hats/visors a little lower to block out the rain & wind. Back over the bridge into downtown Little Rock. Over the trolley tracks. I tripped but didn’t fall. We laughed. Down Market Street, along the Arkansas River, around the Heifer International campus. And then back thru town, up a few hills. Then I recognized a street from last time and knew the Governor’s Mansion was coming up. Aby had asked me ~~100~~ several times by this point if the Governor would be out. I didn’t know but was hoping so & sure enough, I could see his guards flanking him from pretty far down the street. I pointed out who he was (verses the guards) and the girls ran right up to him for a photo. Thanks for standing out in the rain, Governor Hutchinson, you made their day!

Then Little Rock Central HS:

The Capital Building:

My favorite part of the course – Miles 14-17: Hillcrest area, Kavanaugh Boulevard, North Lookout Road & Alsopp Park. Breathtaking area. Aby & Annika running relaxed & easy between mile 16 & 17.

After we left Alsopp Park, reality hit as we entered an out and back loop along Riverfront Drive. The out & back covers miles 18-23. I knew if something were going to go wrong, it would be in this section. Not only is it boring but very windy because its along the river & a little daunting because you can see the runners in front of you coming back while you have seemingly “forever” until the turnaround. This section is mentally exhausting but the girls looked strong. Aby was starting to get antsy. The 4:30 pacer crept up on us and we ran with her for awhile. Aby was not happy. She wanted to be IN FRONT of the 4:30 pacer. Annika said, “who cares!”. LOL! But Aby really did not want to let her pass. The pacer was only running with one other person so we ran with her for a while. It was entertaining because everyone had something to say as she passed them. Many, like Aby, were not happy. “Oh no!” was the common remark as she passed. I told her it was like running with the Angel of Death. Nobody was happy to see her that late in the game. I asked if she was on pace, and she was ahead of pace. She was planning to stop & walk at mile 20 to get back on track. We stayed in her vicinity until she walked. I didn’t want to stop at mile 20 but rather push on to mile 22 for our last “pit stop”. Then I knew that we would be pushing to the finish.

After 22, it was heads down. The pace was getting progressively faster but I knew there was a hill at mile 24 that was super ugly & would probably slow us down. So I just let it go. They looked good, hadn’t blown up, were well fueled, looking to run faster & well, I figured I had done my job at that point. If something happened in the last 4 miles, we’d just deal with it. And I’m happy to report, no blow ups. They killed it!!! The Lipstick Station at mile 26 was on the opposite side of the road this time, so I almost missed it. I went back to grab lipstick for us, sending the girls on and it was a sprint to the finish for them. Great job, ladies. 1 & 2 in their age group (15-19).

Awesome race. Lots of crowd support. Volunteers, police & everyone seemed happy that we were there. Sometimes when a marathon rolls into a town, the residents aren’t happy because it’s a huge inconvenience for them. I genuinely feel welcome each time I go to Little Rock. If you are looking for a smaller race that feels like home, this is a great one. Elevation is much greater on the 2nd half, so save something for the bigger hills. There were 3 hills that were bad enough that we walked part of them but otherwise, we ran the entire race other than potty stops (2) and the photos we took. It was a great day in Little Rock & I’d be happy to go back.

SWAG was a unisex race shirt & lipstick (if you grabbed it at mile 26) and a medal that’s heavy and bigger than your head. For those of you who ran 2014, I’ve added the two medals together for comparison. They are both over 2#s and I can’t hang them with my other medals for fear of pulling down the rack/rod.

Details on the 2014 Little Rock Marathon HERE.

** Hope Your Run was Runalicious ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Rock N Roll Las Vegas Marathon … Strip At Night … Race Review + RNR Discount Codes

Posted on November 16, 2016 by tootallfritz

This weekend I was at the Rock N Roll Marathon Series Las Vegas event. Otherwise known as “ The Strip At Night”. This was my first time at Rock N Roll Las Vegas and I was pleasantly surprised. I haven’t been to Vegas for a long time but its relatively easy to navigate by using the monorail, cabs/uber or walking. The expo is just steps from the monorail at the Las Vegas Convention Center and was open from Thursday thru Saturday. This is one of the largest RnR events with over 40,000 registered runners! They offered several races throughout the weekend: 5K (8249 finishers), 10K (5498 finishers), Half (22,052 finishers) & Full marathon (2655 finishers). PLUS there were 230+ people who participated in the Run Thru Wedding during the half & full marathon.

Packet pick up was quick & easy. However, if you wanted to purchase race gear, the lines were long, unless you were a Tour Pass Holder or a VIP. Medium sized expo that could definitely cover you for anything you needed or left behind. I was in and out because I had hubby in tow and didn’t want to thoroughly bore him but the expo looked fun!

Las Vegas to hubby & I is all about the sights. We spend a lot of time walking around the strip, downtown, various casinos & checking out exhibits. So by race time on Sunday night, I already had 70+ miles of walking on my legs. If you want fresh legs for your race, I’d recommend getting to Vegas right before the race, then staying afterward to see the sights. The Vegas event has some additional obstacles too. It’s a “must do” race because the course features the legendary Las Vegas “Strip”, at night, when all the casinos are lit up. They only shut the strip down to vehicular traffic 2x per year. For New Years Eve & Rock N Roll Las Vegas. Its something to see and a huge event for runners, visitors & locals alike. But do be careful of what you eat & drink leading up to this late afternoon race so that you have fun running & not running to the potties!

The half & full marathon started at 4:30pm on Sunday night. Four different wave starts. Numerous corrals in each wave. I started in the first wave since I was a marathon runner. Each wave started with a burst of fireworks.

This event is definitely crowded off the start but thinned out quickly. It seemed like everyone was very excited and many people wanted to run fast. Like really fast. The sun was just starting to set when we began to run & it was cooling off. Kinda nice. The first thing to be seen on course was the Vegas sign. Welcome to Las Vegas.

After passing the Vegas sign we were headed toward the more well known parts of the strip with lots of casinos and flashing neon lights. This is only about 1.5 miles into the race & you can see that I already have plenty of road to run. I didn’t feel hindered by the crowds and could run the pace I wanted.

2 miles into the marathon & half, the Luxor & Excalibur.

Mile 3 – Planet Hollywood & Paris

Mile 4-5, Mirage & Treasurer Island

There was definitely an excitement in the air. I think this race was about so much more than running to many of the participants. I heard a lot of chatter about this being the first time at a particular distance. So many spectators. So much energy. It was dark. It was cool without the sun beating down on us. It was beautiful. The night was lit up with all the beautiful lights of Vegas. It was an experience like no other. This was my 36th marathon and I must say, it will stand out in my memory for a long time to come.

At mile 6, near the Stratosphere, we were welcomed to Downtown Las Vegas.

Around mile 8, Meb passed me. Fast. I heard someone shouting that Meb was passing & to say “hey”. And then he was gone. No pic for me. Boooo! Mile 9-10 down Freemont Street for a peak at the lights.

And as the lights of Freemont Street faded behind me, I knew that the “fun” was almost over for the marathoners. As the half runners were joyful & close to their finish, we turned off around mile 11 into the darkness. Away from the lights. Away from the crowds. Away from the “fun”. Some streets were lit with streetlights. Some not lit at all. Random bands were out on the marathon route and since we were weaving in and out of parallel streets, in a very close vicinity, I could hear a band multiple times at various places on the course. We still had a clear path, no question as to where we were headed or where to run. It looked really confusing on paper but the route was well marked and there was never a question as to the direction we were headed. I was impressed with the volunteers & the volume of Las Vegas PD Officers who were out on course helping us. I can’t imagine the number of people it took, all working together, to make this a successful event.

Miles 13-18 were all in and around the World Market Center. Getting in and out of this area is where you will find the only “hills” on the course. It was kinda nice for some varied terrain. I really loved this section. Looking at it on paper looks insane & confusing. I couldn’t picture it in my head at all. But we ran around the World Market Center several times in roped off “pathways” created by organizers. There were a lot of lights & music that could be heard throughout the complex. Cool area.

Miles 19 & 20 were non-eventful. Then we hit the strip for a millisecond at mile 21 near the Stratosphere. We were on the strip for maybe 3/10ths of a mile before being directed off, toward the back lots of Circus Circus. I now understand that this was the 5K route. So if you ran the 5K, then you know the route of which I speak. There was loud music & a huge display of fireworks with lots of neon lights. By this time, I was not having fun. My stomach was upset & I had some abnormal aches & pains. I was ready to be finished. Headed out of the back lots & back to the strip for 3/4 of a mile, then we were once again directed off strip for our final detour before the finish. Mile 25 & we were about to return to the Strip for our final 1.2 & what we were all awaiting: the finish.

And the finish was sweet. I was so happy to see it. #36 was in the DONE column.

We received a spinning, glow in the dark Finisher’s Medal!

And a gender specific Finishers Jacket with reflective accents. I used my New Orleans Finisher Jacket on the left (below) so you can see both the back & the front; however, I only received one jacket for finishing the Las Vegas race. The race tee is in the middle. Gender specific.

I really loved the first 18 miles of this race. I’m sure the miles that I had logged walking around Vegas the days prior to the race didn’t help me get thru the last 8 miles swiftly. But I ran conservatively and tried to enjoy it. Just kept moving toward the finish. It doesn’t matter how many marathons I run, it still all about patience & surviving whatever the day & conditions bring me. And trying to enjoy it, no matter what. Smile

This race had 14 aid stations on the marathon course, 18 music stations (many which you could hear from multiple locations), and 3 medical stations. They also handed out Glukos gels & gummies 3-4x. It was a well supported race. Clear direction as to the race course. Members of the community, even in less populated areas were out and cheering on runners. Great race but if you came for the party, stick to the half marathon because you’ll see everything & maybe still get back to hubby before he breaks the bank.

Sound fun? They are doing a early pre-sale for 2017 RnR Las Vegas HERE. You can register thru Sunday, 11/20/16 for $99 for either the half or the full.

If you loved Vegas and/or are trying to squeeze in a couple more RNR events, feel free to use my $15 off discount code (TTF2016) for these upcoming events: RnR San Antonio (12/4 – I’ll be at this one!!), RnR DC (3/11/17), RnR Dallas (3/19/17) & RnR Nashville (4/29/17).

** As always, Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

TooTallFritz

Running Toward: Health, Wellness & PEACE …………………………………….. Running From: Insanity, Screaming Children, Housework & a Big Ass

Tag Archives: Marathon

Ocean State Rhode Marathon–Narragansett, RI

Charleston Marathon (2019) Race Review

Tobacco Road Marathon Race Review

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon – 2017 Edition

Atlantic City Marathon, Atlantic City, NJ

Monster Mash Marathon – Dover, DE

Hatfield McCoy Marathon Race Review/Report

Georgia Marathon–Atlanta, GA

Little Rock Marathon – 2017

Rock N Roll Las Vegas Marathon … Strip At Night … Race Review + RNR Discount Codes

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: