Races worth the trip!

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rduhlir
rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
You know, I haven't seen a thread on races that are worth road trips for. So do you know of a race that is totally worth a trip to do? Or if someone happens to be in town to do? Where? How far? Pictures (if available). Post your stuff! Help support race trips for all!

Navy 10 Nautical Miler

This race is fairly new to the racing world. It is the Navy's equivelant to the Marine Corp Marathon or the Air Force Marathon. It is the only race right now that is measured in nautical miles, which for those who don't know is 2,000 yards. The distance comes out to about 11.6 miles and is ran in Millington, TN. It is put on yearly by the NSA Mid South, and has been going on for 5 years now. This year they had their largest turn out of 800 people. It is still a fairly new race, so they are working out kinks in the system. This year the only complaint I would give would be parking preparation.

Navy_2010CourseMap_resized.jpg

There is a photo of the course. Here is a photo of the bling:

e0ba111f6d3471044a45655441785baa72c2.jpg

Okay that is me wearing the bling. Here is a closer pic of the bling:

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCZokS_g92lMonamvQmNtKGmjRTF5ljoyVdQ1u6p3pCxVNwuUw

The race is held during the first week of June.

http://www.thenavy10nm.com/
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Replies

  • woodml1
    woodml1 Posts: 199 Member
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    The Bird-In-Hand Half-Marathon in Intercourse, PA (seriously, you can't make that up).

    The race is put on by the Amish community as a fundraiser for the fire department. Amish food and smores at the pre-race party in the middle of a corn field. A lot of the Amish run the course with you in their suspenders or dresses... just be careful of the 'road apples'! On top of all that, you get to make jokes all weekend about being "in Intercourse." TOTALLY worth the trip and a super-unique running experience!
  • runner475
    runner475 Posts: 1,236 Member
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    I second - Bird In Hand Half Marathon @ Intercourse PA.

    Gettysburgh Blue Gray Half Marathon

    Directly from event info
    "Blue vs. Gray Competition
    An integral part of this event is the competition between runners from the North (Blue) and the South (Gray). Every runner is free to select the side they wish to represent based on their current state of residence, where they grew up, where their ancestors lived during the Civil War, or any other reason they choose. The map below shows how the current U.S. was separated during the Civil War at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863."

    http://www.bluegrayhalf.com/bluegray.html
  • saskie78
    saskie78 Posts: 237 Member
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    Run Woodstock! Three Days of Peace, Love, and Running! (along with yoga, a hula hoop contest, live music...). Options from a 5k to 100 miles. And a Hippie Hike to Hell, Michigan. It's good stuff.

    http://www.runwoodstock.com/
  • smarionette
    smarionette Posts: 260 Member
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    Okay that is me wearing the bling. Here is a closer pic of the bling:

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCZokS_g92lMonamvQmNtKGmjRTF5ljoyVdQ1u6p3pCxVNwuUw

    The race is held during the first week of June.

    http://www.thenavy10nm.com/

    I totally want this medal to add to my collection.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
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    Okay that is me wearing the bling. Here is a closer pic of the bling:

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCZokS_g92lMonamvQmNtKGmjRTF5ljoyVdQ1u6p3pCxVNwuUw

    The race is held during the first week of June.

    http://www.thenavy10nm.com/

    I totally want this medal to add to my collection.

    That thing is A LOT heavier than it looks, btw.

    OH! And the awards are specially made captain's coins. They would trump an ordinary command coin...if anyone is wondering where it would fall in.
  • sinister2014
    sinister2014 Posts: 92 Member
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    Sinister 7 Ultra - Crowsnest Pass, AB
    http://www.sinister7.com/main.php

    this is a 100 mile ultra that's split into 7 stages. it can be run solo or as a team of up to 7 people. i volunteered last year so i could sign a team up early this year as the race usually sells out in a matter of hours.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
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    The Bird-In-Hand Half-Marathon in Intercourse, PA (seriously, you can't make that up).

    The race is put on by the Amish community as a fundraiser for the fire department. Amish food and smores at the pre-race party in the middle of a corn field. A lot of the Amish run the course with you in their suspenders or dresses... just be careful of the 'road apples'! On top of all that, you get to make jokes all weekend about being "in Intercourse." TOTALLY worth the trip and a super-unique running experience!
    I second - Bird In Hand Half Marathon @ Intercourse PA.

    I third it. Best homemade after race cookies ever. Take as many as you want and they are HUGE!

    Also, the hot air balloon festival is really cool to see.
  • daj150
    daj150 Posts: 815 Member
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    WARNING: This is a geek alert...so if hate anything geeky or awesome...do not read further.... :tongue:

    So, the Disney Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend for sure. http://www.rundisney.com/star-wars-half-marathon/

    I mean...Star Wars!!!! Come on...not even sure this needs more explanation. And if Star Wars somehow isn't enough, it's in California in JANUARY!!! Perfect running weather. And if that still isn't enough, Disney Land.

    Personally I will be doing the Rebel Challenge (10k Sat then Half Sun).

    From what I have heard from others, all of the Disney races are insanely fun. My wife and I plan on Dopey Challenge for 2016 or 2017. 4 Days of Racing....a 5k, 10k, Half, then Full marathon. You get a total of SIX MEDALS!!! Booyah!
  • Lard_Vader
    Lard_Vader Posts: 138 Member
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    You wore a Coast Guard shirt to a Navy race??? Being a Navy vet myself, I take offense!!! J/k ;-)

    Cool event and good idea for a thread.

    PS - A Star Wars half is a rad idea!!!
  • wombat94
    wombat94 Posts: 352 Member
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    The Bird-In-Hand Half-Marathon in Intercourse, PA (seriously, you can't make that up).

    The race is put on by the Amish community as a fundraiser for the fire department. Amish food and smores at the pre-race party in the middle of a corn field. A lot of the Amish run the course with you in their suspenders or dresses... just be careful of the 'road apples'! On top of all that, you get to make jokes all weekend about being "in Intercourse." TOTALLY worth the trip and a super-unique running experience!
    I second - Bird In Hand Half Marathon @ Intercourse PA.

    I third it. Best homemade after race cookies ever. Take as many as you want and they are HUGE!

    Also, the hot air balloon festival is really cool to see.

    I'll fourth it. The B-I-H Half in 2012 was my first HM (little did I know just how challenging the course was for a first timer)... and I ran it again last year. I'm a bit bummed I won't be running it this year (though I plan to do the 5K the night before and the bike ride the day of the HM)... but it doesn't fit well with my marathon training plan.

    I'll have to dig up a picture of the medal from last year... they hand-made all of the medals from real, used horseshoes!

    Easily my favorite race medal to date.
  • sammyneb
    sammyneb Posts: 257
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    Grandma's Marathon or half in Duluth Minnesota. June 21st this year. You run along side Lake Superior for either 26.2 or 13.1 miles :) Straight (until the last mile or so when you get into Duluth) But it is fairly flat and you get the lake breeze. I ran in last year and am doing it again this year. The weather is typically cool, but I have heard there have been a few hot races.
    http://grandmasmarathon.com/site/
  • Rindy12
    Rindy12 Posts: 215 Member
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    There's a race up here in my neck of the woods (far north Chicago suburbs) that's a 10 nautical mile race. It's called Fort 2 Base. Basically it goes from Fort Sheridan to Great Lakes Navy Base. It's August 24th and this is the 4th year they are doing it (my first year). A lot of people from my running club have done this one every year and they say it's a great race. More info can be found at www.fort2base.com or on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fort2base. The facebook page has a picture of both sides of the medal.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
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    I ran the Lexington half: http://www.runthebluegrass.org/

    Definitely a race for horse lovers. Gosh, it was beautiful. A half where you really have to earn the medal though...the course is very hilly. The people were just fabulous, and the scenery and the barns we ran past were amazing. If you're looking for a crowd to support you though, definitely not the race for you. It's totally rural, but the views are worth it.

    Last year, Run the Bluegrass partnered with the Derby mini marathon in Louisville: http://derbyfestivalmarathon.com/. If you ran both, you got an extra medal. I LOVED Louisville. Favorite race so far. City race, with lots of people along the course. You enter Churchill Downs, run a lap around the in field, and then exit. They had horses up on the track exercising when we were there. It was SO COOL.
  • southerndream24
    southerndream24 Posts: 303 Member
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    I'll just go ahead and post a major obvious. The Paris Marathon. You just can't beat running the streets of Paris or the city in general. There's just something magical and charming about the place. Plus, what better place to post marathon indulge.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
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    I'll just go ahead and post a major obvious. The Paris Marathon. You just can't beat running the streets of Paris or the city in general. There's just something magical and charming about the place. Plus, what better place to post marathon indulge.

    True! But for someone whose favorite dessert in the whole world is a Napoleon, Paris would be a very dangerous place! Lol
  • trail_rnr
    trail_rnr Posts: 337 Member
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    Imogene Pass Run in Colorado. Run from Ouray to Telluride over a 13,000' pass. Best event I have ever done, hands down (and I have done many beautiful runs). Better than Pike's Peak, even.
  • thepetiterunner
    thepetiterunner Posts: 1,238 Member
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    I'll just go ahead and post a major obvious. The Paris Marathon. You just can't beat running the streets of Paris or the city in general. There's just something magical and charming about the place. Plus, what better place to post marathon indulge.

    This race is totally on my To Run List. And of course, the one in Athens.
  • atsteele
    atsteele Posts: 1,359 Member
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    My favorites:

    Steamtown marathon (mostly downhill, scenic, great time of year to run in PA, great support): http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/

    Marine Corps marathon (emotional marathon for me being from family of military men, run past several monuments in DC area, great course, lots of support from crowd, a Marine puts the finisher's medal on your neck): http://www.marinemarathon.com/

    Run for the Red marathon (scenic, smaller marathon, mostly downhill): http://www.poconomarathon.org/marathon.html

    Races that I would LIKE to run because I have heard good things about them:

    Army 10-Miler (October)
    Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon (June)
    Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon (September)
    Niantic Bay Half Marathon (September)
    Ocean City Marathon (April)
    And of course, I'd love to qualify for Boston Marathon... like every other runner on this planet. :)
  • Justkeepswimmin
    Justkeepswimmin Posts: 777 Member
    Options
    WARNING: This is a geek alert...so if hate anything geeky or awesome...do not read further.... :tongue:

    So, the Disney Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend for sure. http://www.rundisney.com/star-wars-half-marathon/

    I mean...Star Wars!!!! Come on...not even sure this needs more explanation. And if Star Wars somehow isn't enough, it's in California in JANUARY!!! Perfect running weather. And if that still isn't enough, Disney Land.

    Personally I will be doing the Rebel Challenge (10k Sat then Half Sun).

    From what I have heard from others, all of the Disney races are insanely fun. My wife and I plan on Dopey Challenge for 2016 or 2017. 4 Days of Racing....a 5k, 10k, Half, then Full marathon. You get a total of SIX MEDALS!!! Booyah!

    Hi!! My hubby and I plan on Dopey Challenge for 2016 or 2017 alsooo!!! I'm so excited I can't believe how much I think of something so far in the future! We didn't sign up for Star Wars - I'm still mad that's supposed to be Tinks w/e so I'll do RnR Phoenix/Scottsdale instead. We are signed up for the Avengers 1/2 marathon in Nov and I've done 2 Tinks and 1 Princess and I LOVE RUNDISNEY! Tip always sign up for the 5k for pic ops so you don't have to keep stopping during the 1/2.
  • mlogantra76
    mlogantra76 Posts: 334 Member
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    I did the navy ten nautical miler as well. It was a great race and my first time running it. The medal is awesome!