What is your favorite NON Disney Half Marathon

[mickeysgal]

Looking for some other races to run this year. What have been your favorite halfs outside of Disney that you'd recommend?

 

[goofeygirl]

Newport Rhode Island Half.

Gorgeous scenery all around! Not boring. You are either running by the seaside or mansions.

The cons is that Newport is THE most expensive place I have been to in the USA. One weekend there cost more than Disney overall.

 

[FFigawi]

As much as I dislike RnR races, I have to admit that RnR Virginia Beach is a great race. Maybe that's because it's one of the older ones that was established well before RnR became a make-tons-of-money-with-no-regard-for-runners organization. In any case, it's well organized, you get into the weekend's music festival as part of your entry, and because the finish is right on the beach, you can go cool your legs off in the ocean while enjoying your post-race beer.

 

[goofeygirl]

As much as I dislike RnR races, I have to admit that RnR Virginia Beach is a great race. Maybe that's because it's one of the older ones that was established well before RnR became a make-tons-of-money-with-no-regard-for-runners organization. In any case, it's well organized, you get into the weekend's music festival as part of your entry, and because the finish is right on the beach, you can go cool your legs off in the ocean while enjoying your post-race beer.

My brother and his wife do that every year and love it. I would love to do it but it seems to fall on Labor Day weekend which is not a good time for me. Last year though he said it was painfully humid.

 

[Bephus]

As much as I dislike RnR races, I have to admit that RnR Virginia Beach is a great race. Maybe that's because it's one of the older ones that was established well before RnR became a make-tons-of-money-with-no-regard-for-runners organization. In any case, it's well organized, you get into the weekend's music festival as part of your entry, and because the finish is right on the beach, you can go cool your legs off in the ocean while enjoying your post-race beer.

I have run this race and it is great. Would do it again in a heartbeat. I agree that I think it may be due to it being established before the hype of the RnR franchise.
I love running local halfs. It is so much fun to hang with running buddies, meet up with your peeps, know the course because you've run it so many Sunday's you can't keep track. It is great to wake up in my own bed and drive to the start. I am so lucky because my city hosts several half marathons each year so I get to run right here. By the end of this year I will have run every half marathon in Jacksonville and in St. Augustine and then I am going to start spreading out my radius to the rest of North Florida to enjoy all of my local races.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[goofeygirl]

I have run this race and it is great. Would do it again in a heartbeat. I agree that I think it may be due to it being established before the hype of the RnR franchise.
I love running local halfs. It is so much fun to hang with running buddies, meet up with your peeps, know the course because you've run it so many Sunday's you can't keep track. It is great to wake up in my own bed and drive to the start. I am so lucky because my city hosts several half marathons each year so I get to run right here. By the end of this year I will have run every half marathon in Jacksonville and in St. Augustine and then I am going to start spreading out my radius to the rest of North Florida to enjoy all of my local races.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

On that note...there is something to be said about local races. No hotels, no planes and no planing your trips weeks or perhaps a year ahead.
Perhaps the OP should check into local races. It saves money and time.
My local halfs are plenty and I can even ride my bicycle to one! They are not the cheapest nor the prettiest but they are the closest and at the end of the day they will all serve the purpose of prepping me for next January.

 

[mickeysgal]

On that note...there is something to be said about local races. No hotels, no planes and no planing your trips weeks or perhaps a year ahead.
Perhaps the OP should check into local races. It saves money and time.
My local halfs are plenty and I can even ride my bicycle to one! They are not the cheapest nor the prettiest but they are the closest and at the end of the day they will all serve the purpose of prepping me for next January.

I am looking at the locals as well

We do like to travel and are looking to do some outside of our local area so we can possibly travel to places we haven't been before.

 

[cobbler]

Of the ones that I have done. I found the Illinois Marathon to be the best one I have done outside of Disney. I've also enjoyed the Sleeping Bear half marathon and the Park2Park half - both of these are in MI.

 

[cewait]

we have a low-key race in our local area put on by the USA Fit folks. It came about as the Houston Marathon started an ill-fated lotto program. The fees are small, the crowds small, the layout flat and the organization great.

We also have a nice half in LaPorte that runs back and forth across the Hartman bridge. The race seems all up hill - a great primer for longer races.

 

[disney_runner]

What? You mean there are races that are not at WDW or DL?

 

[cewait]

What? You mean there are races that are not at WDW or DL?

Fortunately there are a few out there where you can gut out a great time allowing a B corral placement.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Local races are great. I live near Charlotte, NC and we have lots of half and full marathons to choose from. I have done the Thunder Road 1/2 and a Ramblin' Rose 1/2. The Ramblin' Rose is great because it is a women's race. I am also doing the NC 1/2 at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the end of the month. Myrtle Beach also has a 1/2 and full in February and it is nice and flat! Find something nearby and give it a try!

 

[Bephus]

Local races are great. I live near Charlotte, NC and we have lots of half and full marathons to choose from. I have done the Thunder Road 1/2 and a Ramblin' Rose 1/2. The Ramblin' Rose is great because it is a women's race. I am also doing the NC 1/2 at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the end of the month. Myrtle Beach also has a 1/2 and full in February and it is nice and flat! Find something nearby and give it a try!

I may be doing the NC 1/2 this month too. Love the medal!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[fashionista311]

Fortunately there are a few out there where you can gut out a great time allowing a B corral placement.

completely off topic, but coach I feel like you would know this - approx what half time (to support the marathon corral time) do you need to support a "a" and "b" placement for goofy?

 

[jimandami]

We really enjoy the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon....it's the largest HM in the country and is just fun. You get to run around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there is entertainment the entire course, and it's just cool to see 35,000 runners completing a race! Plus, Indy is a nice city for a weekend getaway and is very family friendly!

 

[jimandami]

completely off topic, but coach I feel like you would know this - approx what half time (to support the marathon corral time) do you need to support a "a" and "b" placement for goofy?

Not entirely sure about Goofy, but DH and I have HM times of 1:51 and 1:54 and were in A for the full so probably something similar?

 

[mickeysgal]

We really enjoy the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon....it's the largest HM in the country and is just fun. You get to run around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there is entertainment the entire course, and it's just cool to see 35,000 runners completing a race! Plus, Indy is a nice city for a weekend getaway and is very family friendly!

We'll be at this one! It was a tough choice between this one and Flying Pig the next day.

 

[Bephus]

completely off topic, but coach I feel like you would know this - approx what half time (to support the marathon corral time) do you need to support a "a" and "b" placement for goofy?

I think conservatively you can bet on anything sub 2:00 getting you in A corral for Goofy. You may get in with 2:15 but if they have a fast year you may be in B. I would estimate anything sub 2:30 being in B unless again there is a super fast group registering.

ETA: these are obviously 1/2 times.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[fashionista311]

Not entirely sure about Goofy, but DH and I have HM times of 1:51 and 1:54 and were in A for the full so probably something similar?

Oh great, that's exactly what I was hoping to hear too...thanks! My PR is 1:59 on a pretty hilly course (with only a mini taper), so one would think I would be able to knock a few minutes off of that. Thinking about 2015, but have some Disney withdrawal, so trying to cheer myself up by planning ahead

As far as non-Disney races...the past few years I've really enjoyed the BAA half in Boston, NYC Runs Central Park Marathon/Half (inaugural race), NYC Half (but not worth the pain to get into if you don't get lucky with the lotto), and, surprisingly, RNR New Orleans.

 

[jimandami]

We'll be at this one! It was a tough choice between this one and Flying Pig the next day.

Awesome!! It's getting close! We are doing the 10K Training Series (on part of the HM course) next weekend...I am HOPING for sub 48 so I can move up a seeding level!