Newport Marathon (RI) - Race Reviews

In 2022, we had great, cool temps. The breeze off the ocean got pretty stiff in the second half, but it was not terrible. The first half - as many have observed - is a perfect tour of Newport mansions and Ocean Drive, just stunning. The second half is scenic, but sparse as it winds through a wildlife refuge and some tony neighborhoods overlooking the ocean. Rolling hills in this race are not major, but they are consistent. I have to say that the organization and volunteers were superb. Aid stations were well-stocked, and the volunteers friendly and very encouraging. The half is the marquis event, but the full marathon is really good too. Overall, well organized, phenomenal way to see this stunning coastal town!!

You would be hard pressed to find a route that provides as many elements as this one: running through downtown Newport, by the mansions along the Cliff Walk, along the ocean, through Sachuest Point National Wildlife refuge, and then the rural streets of Middleton. I very much enjoyed the variability. The location of the expo, race start, and finish is right on the beach, beautiful. We thought the vendors were on the light side. You need to get a bus to the start, but an impressive fleet of free, non-stop shuttles transported both runners and spectators back forth all day, so there were no delays. They have wave starts, which is always helpful. The course has rolling hills mainly on the back half, but nothing too steep. After party was pretty good, but we couldn't stay long so can't say too much about that. I really liked the medal, a ship in a bottle that hung horizontal, a nice little change. Newport is a beautiful place to visit. Between the beaches, the mansions and the harbor, it is hard to find a more picturesque city. The center of town has a variety of shopping districts with great bars, shops and restaurants; the whole place is very walkable (once you find a parking spot that is). So this is a super destination race. You can get a feel for the race and the place at our YouTube channel Race The Nation.

Who knew you could find the house of your dreams -- or maybe 50 houses of your dreams -- while running 26.2 miles? Now if I can just win the lottery maybe I could buy one. What a cool course, not only for the mansions of the 'other half' but also the scenic ocean views and yes, the rural areas of the second half. The hills were indeed tough for this flatlander, but I'm way past the days when I was looking for PRs and BQs so not a big deal. If those things are a big deal for you, maybe this isn't your race, but I can't think of any other reason to not recommend it. It was my first visit to Rhode Island and I loved hanging around an extra day to check out Newport. Wonderful restaurants, too.

The first half of the marathon was very scenic and had good fan support plus you were with a lot of half marathon runners. The second half was a different story, a lot fewer runners, a lot hillier, less scenic route, and very few fans. There were also sections where we were running on the shoulder of the road with a lot of traffic going by, especially miles 14 and 26. It really felt like a half marathon with the second half added as an afterthought. As much as I hate saying it, two laps of the first would have been better. The course aside, the organization was top notch. Aid stations were well spaced and stocked. Packet pick up was great, and the shuttles to and from parking were excellent. The food at the finish was good, especially the soup.

Loved the race. It has hills starting at mile 1 and continued to have rollers throughout. Aid stations were plentiful and cheerful. Several great cheer crowds were present as well. We went through the charming streets of Newport, RI and along the scenic ocean, through more rural and suburban areas in the 2nd half. My watch reported 26.49 when I ran across the finish line.

OMG! What a beautiful city Newport is! However, this was one of the toughest and hilliest marathons I have ever run (out of 64 marathons)! They said the second half had all the hills, but forgot to mention that the first half was just as tough with lots of hills, hairpin turns and out and back sections. Not to mention 30-40 mph winds during pretty much the entire day and high humidity. Of course no marathon should end without a major downpour during the last few miles!! At least the sun was not shining and temps were decent = The expo was more or less non-existent and crowd support was about the same. This course, however, is one of the most scenic marathons I have ever participated in. So, if you like scenery, running along the water and past multi-million dollar mansions, this marathon is a must. But, if you're looking for a fast marathon, a PR or a BQ, look elsewhere.

This course was fantastic. Running along Ocean Drive and Bellevue Avenue was awesome. What a cool thing to have the waves breaking along the cliffs while running by. The first half was clearly the most scenic, though the 2nd half was still a pretty solid experience. Watching the sunrise pre-race was also really nice. T-shirt, medal, and post-race food were all great. Packet pick up was easy and at a fun place. Overall, the organization was top notch. Plenty of port-o potties, lots of water stops, and plenty of GU/banana stops. One minor enhancement: half of the GU stops only had strawberry banana or banana, and I have an allergy, so it was a huge disappointment when reaching for a GU only to find out I couldn't eat them. Other stops had good choices like vanilla and caramel, so I would just recommend that all flavors would be available at all of the stops.

This was my 27th marathon and the prettiest. There were miles of coastline (breakers, cliffs, beaches, dunes, boats), and the non-coastline bits were attractive, too. Road is wide enough and the field is small enough that you quickly have room to run your pace without having to slow because of runners in front of you. The race was under new management this year, and the new people did a fantastic job. Packet pickup could not have been quicker or easier. On race day, there was drinking water available at the start, and there were plenty of port-o-lets. The aid stations were abundant, and gu was available at multiple places. Mile markers were easy to spot. The race started on time. An emailed question to the race address received a quick and friendly answer. This is not a PR course; there are hills, especially in the second half. But I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a terrific running experience and a beautiful place to spend a weekend.

The race started late, again. Pretty sure we stood there for fifteen minutes waiting for people to show up. Hey, I guess if they wanted a PR they should show up early. Parking was good, buses were good. The first half was gorgeous, going past the mansions. The second half was very boring because there aren't many runners or spectators for the second half. It's basically an out-and-back. Aid stations were decent. Good fans. No music to speak of. Food at the end was just pizza, ok I guess.

This was my 37th different marathon. True, the first half is more spectacular than the second half, but the second half is far from 'ho-hum'. Beautiful scenery from beginning to end! It is quite hilly, so be prepared. We stayed within walking distance to the start-finish, which I highly recommend. My complaints are few. Really, my only issue is that once again this race started 15 minutes late. Everything else seemed to run smoothly along the course. Sometimes the water stops were confusing (not always water first, Gatorade second), but there were plenty of stops and they seemed well staffed. The expo tent wasn't much, but I didn't expect much for a race of this size. We were able to purchase extra race shirts and\or trade in our official race shirts for others. The finisher's medal is gorgeous. The finish line on the beach was beautiful! Overall, this marathon experience was one of my favorites! Newport is so much more beautiful than I imagined!

One of the most beautiful courses in the US with ocean views and spectacular estates of the rich and famous. The 'expo' had maybe 5 poorly stocked vendors in a tent which was set up to create a bottleneck with everyone trying to pick up their race packets. 90% of the roads were open to traffic with cars passing within a few feet of the runners, but most intersections have police officers holding traffic as needed. The start was delayed for about 20 minutes while waiting on confirmation that intersections were controlled.

This was only my second 1/2, but this course was not walker friendly, when we got to the water stops, they were already packing up, At the Fort Adams stop, there was a ryder truck blocking a clear path for us and we were very much an after thought, and there were people still walking behind us. There was beauty but no excitement. If we had gotten hurt no one would have known. Only one water stop on Ocean Rd was excited to see us. The start of the race was very unorganized, just a crowd of people waiting to trample their way across the start line. the finish line was great and our families were able to be there when we crossed. I liked the medal. Never found the expo store. Maybe my expectations were too high being my first 1/2 was Disney.

By far the best aspect of this marathon is its scenic course. Beautiful Rhode Island coast line makes the miles go by faster. Overall a small event but still crowded packet pick up and registration. There was a long slow moving line for the half marathoners on Saturday but no wait for the full runners. Definitely register ahead on time on line. Aid stations seemed too spread out but were stocked with bananas and gels along with water and Gatorade. Not much spectator support but those who came out were enthusiastic. Drive to marathon start was a bit of challenge. Be prepared to use GPS to take alternative routes. I did not take shuttle service but seemed to run well. Post race food included pizza and bananas. Medal was nice and doubles as a bottle opener. Would recommend especially for 50 staters.

Agree with most of the other comments. The course is very good and beautiful. The first half is spectacular, but I won't complaint about the second half. Running around those residential neighborhood is nice. Actually the second half spectators are more than I expected and they are very cheerful. Being not talking this race very seriously, the hilly course in the second half is challenging for a guy training in the midwest flat plain. It is even a bigger mental challenge as when enjoying the downhill, back in your mind you know that you need to run as long an uphill when return. No date or year on the T-shirt is a big minus. The food is not great, but with the low entry price, will take whatever I get. There really a problem in the gear check. The volunteer write down my bib# incorrectly, but lucky I can spot my bag and point it out. Really need to print the tag and hand out with the bib. The end of the half race is so nice that friend and family can easily cheer you near the end. Not sure will run it again, but really an above average race (and a good alternative to the Chicago Marathon as race on the same date)

I flew in from Dallas to run Hartford on Saturday then Newport on Sunday. I'm glad I didn't fly in only for Newport because I wasn't impressed with the expo organization and traffic situation near the end of the 26-mile race. It gets little dangerous after mile 24 with so many cars in town unaware that a foot race is in progress. The medal was small but I appreciate it is shaped like Rhode Island and is finely inscripted. The second half of the course isn't well monitored. I observed two runners cheating blatantly by turning around early, and now I don't recall a timing mat at the half point. The race site solicited volunteers but didn't announce volunteer positions, times, days, etc. I would have volunteered at the expo if the website had described what was required or offered. Other: 1. Scenery is worth running the race at least once. 2. Shuttle organization is okay if arriving early, but not advisable if arriving late. 3. Area hotels are pricey. 4. Humid conditions; pack and carry vaseline or lubricant.

I was vacationing in the area and decided to run the half. Newport is a beautiful town and the race was no exception. The weather was great but you run along the coast so that should always be considered when running this race. The packet pick up was a mess, took me 45 minutes standing in line outside a tent, that has to get better! After race food was nothing to talk about. The shuttle service worked well even if the race did start late. Spectators were able to take the bus both ways with no problems. Traffic to get to the parking lots was backed up so plan accordingly. If you are in the military or have government ID stay at the Naval Station, very close and the rates are great. Liked the race, but if you need lots of 'stuff' probably not the race for you.

As already noted, this is a half-marathon with another 13.1 miles tacked on as an afterthought. The 13.1ers dominate. The first half has scenery and town, while the second half consists of two ho-hum out-and-backs on the fringes of Newport. POSITIVES: beautiful ocean, park, town scenery, course variety. Enthusiastic volunteers and spectators. Reliable shuttle service between parking lots and race start/finish (except a 10-minute delay at race start). Minestrone soup, pizza, beer after the race. NEGATIVES: at race start I was on the edge of the road and ran directly in front of a speaker when the announcer screamed HEATHER!!!!, almost popping my left eardrum. Listening to bad pop music before the race is bad enough, but either move the speakers back, or don't scream& we all can hear you. Also, don't put cones in the middle of the road where there's little, if any, car traffic. The runners, at least during the crowded first half, inhabit both lanes anyway. The cones just offer opportunities to stumble. Which I did, at mile 6. Use the cones in town, or at intersections. You don't need them everywhere. Miscellaneous: disorganized, cramped expo tent (need signs identifying separate lines for half and full marathon registrants). Some difficult hills toward the end. Goofy-looking finishers medal (the ribbon is wider than the medal - it looks like they wanted to impress, but didn't want to spend the money). In summation: a good but not-great marathon.

I have run over 100 marathons, and rarely make comments on this site. Unfortunately, the world needs to know what a mess they made of this race. First, the positive - This is one of the most beautiful courses you will ever run. I am afraid to report, that, without this beauty, this race would disappear. Every step of the organization was an adventure. The packet check-in was a mess. I heard some people waited over an hour. They ran out of large shirts about an hour into the check in. Lot's of XL for those 400+ pound runners you see every day. The race started late...of course. No food at the end. Worst medal I have ever seen. Other than that, it was a great time. Run Providence for the states.

This course, particularly the first half, is one of the most beautiful I have run, easily as scenic as Big Sur. The second half is scenic too, just not as spectacular as the first. As for those of you complaining about the absence of musicians, cheering sections, or complaining about the small expo, what were you expecting? This is not a Rock 'n Roll race, and thank goodness. You want those things? Go run a big-city race. And as for the wind, the Race Director does not control the weather. This course runs along Ocean Avenue and past Brenton Point State Park which is spectacular but exposed to the wind. It wasn't a factor this year (2013). They could have run it along a more sheltered route but that would have been pretty boring, wouldn't it? Kudos to the RD for designing a beautiful course, and don't change a thing. I have a few gripes. The race started late due to the buses bringing runners from the parking spots. The first few miles were a bit crowded and one idiot was riding his bike alongside his girlfriend, adding to the congestion. Since they already have chip timing, they might consider start corrals or wave starts to alleviate some of the early-mile crowding. And yes, the post-race food could have been better, they had some cold pizza but I don't expect a gourmet meal at that point. Overall a really beautiful and well-done course with rolling hills but nothing too hard, and very nice scenery! Aid stations were great.

I ran in the inaugural Breaker's Marathon. It was a race designed by a 50-Stater to help other 50-Staters get a marathon in Rhode Island. I also ran the race in 2007. And now in 2013. It has since grown into a much larger race and is now plagued by large race issues. First, packet pick up had 2 people handling number pickup for each race. There were over 2500 1/2 marathoners and 1500 marathoners. That meant huge lines and waits to get your number. That is inexcusable. Further, packet pickup was in a large tent incapable of handling the number of runners participating. Packet pickup needs to be moved to an indoor venue with much more space. Second, on race day, the shuttle service delayed the start of the race by 15 minutes. That also is inexcusable. As soon as they made the decision to use a shuttle service they should have been able to figure out potential traffic issues and plan accordingly. When the race started in downtown Newport and finished at the beach, there was ample parking near the start meaning people could stay warm in their cars until it was time to line up. If that is no longer possible and they continue to use a shuttle service, they need to ensure the race starts on time. They can do so by having a hard cut-off time for the last shuttle. If you miss the shuttle, you miss the race. Third, they had no first aid along the course. It was a mild and humid day. I can't count how many runners I saw with blood splotches on their shirts from chafing. I was one of them. I caked on the body glide before hand, but no amount will do with humid conditions. There wasn't one single first aid tent along the course and none of the water stations had Vaseline. That was a complete miss. Every third water station should be stocked with a couple tubs of Vaseline. Some of the positives. First, Newport is a beautiful town in a beautiful state. The people there are great! The volunteers were excellent. Second, I was worried that the shuttle service after the race would be a huge fiasco. However, it worked out pretty well, for me. I was on the first marathon bus, however, so I don't know if it continued to go well for others. Third, the water stations were spaced pretty well and were well stocked. But again, those big issues were disappointing as my first two experiences with the race were great. If they fix those big issues, it can once again be a great race.

The Newport Marathon has so much going for it - big name sponsor, great weather, stunning location; but I was really somewhat disappointed in it's execution. Many of the problems are well documented in previous posts and I didn't see any effort in improving things in 2013. Basic lapses in planning and execution were sad to see. The course IS THE Reason to run this event and as long as you know it going in - it should be a great event for you. Expect little race support and minimal organization and you'll be fine. I do have to give props to the female 'race announcer' in 2013. She was genuine and enthusiastic and thankfully didn't feel compelled to talk ad nauseum like so many other 'race announcers'. I plan on running next year, just making sure I'm carrying everything I need or can grab it from my family as I run by.

This is a great race and it is highly recommended. The course is lovely and runs along the ocean, through wetlands, into a wildlife preserve, into lovely neighborhoods, and along the famous Newport millionaires cottages. It is two out and back loop half-marathons. The first is run with the half marathoners and they outnumbered the marathoners 4x1. The second half is an out and back loop in the opposite direction with just the marathoners. The hills are moderate. I have no criticisms of this race. The EXPO was congested and they needed are larger tent. The race has a very low entry fee, but hotels in Newport are very pricey. I would recommend staying near the start/finish/expo. Hotels in the Providence area are half the Newport costs. This year you could pick up the package on race morning. A second cost saving thought is to take the RIPTA bus form the Providence Airport to Newport for $2.00 ($1.00 for seniors). This eliminates a rental car. Any shortcoming of this race is ofset by the lovely course.

This was my 6th marathon. I walked from my hotel room to the start line so I cannot comment on the shuttle service. The race started 15 minutes late and the volunteers at the first water stop were overwhelmed by the amount of runners coming in and were unable to keep up. Those are my only complaints. The half marathon was beautiful, the second half of the marathon was less scenic but still enjoyable. The residents were encouraging and even had a candy stop at the last turn around point. I don't usually run a marathon more than once but if I did, I would do this one again

An absolutely beautiful course. Newport RI is gorgeous. Very challenging course though not only because of the rolling terrain but it was extremely windy. Right on the ocean and you just get blasted. Not a race if you are looking to run a fast time. Organization is poor. The focus is really on the half marathon. The transition were the half ends and the marathon continues was poorly marked and confusing. There were spectators literally on the marathon course getting in the way. And while I thought the second half of the course was really nice they do not shut the roads and sometimes you are literally running around cars and are running on the side of the road. Recommended for beautiful scenery but not to run a fast time.

No marathon will have 26.2 miles of perfect scenery, but Newport provides more than its fair share. Unfortunately, the roads beyond a few major intersections were poorly patrolled and the traffic cones were inadequate for keeping the volume of runners on one side of the street. Cars were making their way through the stream of runners and some drivers appeared fairly impatient. This is a disaster waiting to happen. The aid stations in the first half seemed unprepared for the runners, pouring water as we arrived. Newport has the potential to be a great marathon; they just aren't there yet.

Really well organized & FINALLY a race with enough Port-a-Johns. Sunday packet-pick up, bag check, shuttles, aid stations - ALL WELL DONE! Slightly disorganized start (10 min late, not really sure how to access the shoots) but that was all soon forgotten. What it lacks in spectators, it MORE than makes up for in views!

This is absolutely a half marathon race with a full added on as an after thought. It's a beautiful half marathon. The 2nd half course is ugly with several out and backs that seem to make no sense and were just created to get an additional 13 miles. I ran 4:00 and absolutely no food of any kind and only bottled water at end. That was a disgrace. Great race for a half, terrible for a full.

This was my eleventh marathon and I was disappointed overall with this race. First of all, the race was delayed for 10 minutes and the buses (from the parking lot to start) were running behind schedule. Second, the race course is hilly and, as it is along the ocean, extremely windy. This year (2012) the weather conditions were bad, it was extremely windy the entire race. The race course is virtually unprotected, I expended an incredible amount of energy fighting the wind and was covered in sand from head to toe by the finish. Also, the course could have been more scenic, the back half of the course is boring(and I live in Newport, there are better routes to showcase this city). This is also a half marathon race - marathon runners run within 20 feet of the half marathon finish. After finishing, half marathoners were crossing the race course (on the way out of the finish area) getting in the way of the marathon runners. Additionally, there is no crowd support for this race - no musicians and no organized cheering sections. Finally, the race expo was the worst expo I have ever been too. There was essentially only a packet pick-up with maybe 5 vendors at most. There also was no additional 'marathon gear' to purchase.

I ran the 2012 race for my Rhode Island marathon. For the most part I really enjoyed the experience. The expo was in beautiful Historic Newport. I got in and out effortlessly. There were a few booths, enough that you could get gels and any other last minute supplies. I spent some time in Newport. There was a seafood festival going on and lot's of shops. I've read some complaints about the shuttle system but it worked smoothly for me. I arrived there around 6:15 (8:00 start) and had no issues. I suspect the problems were with folks who got there late. The race began almost 15 minutes late and seeing buses still arriving one can only guess the delay was for that. The website did encourage folks to arrive early for the shuttles. After the race the shuttle worked just as efficiently for me. The course is the most scenic I have ever run, especially the first half. You see beaches, marinas, stunning mansions, an historic army base and a wildlife refuge. When the views are beautiful and diverse that's the ideal. This year we had overcast skies and blustery wind. So windy that I saw some of the sandwich sign mile markers blown over. I'm sure the wind was worse than usual but running along the water I suspect some wind is always an issue. There are lot's of rolling hills along the course. Only one or two can really be called steep and most are very short but collectively they do take a toll. You do hit a tough short but steep hill around 24.3 that was unappreciated. :( I've read some complaints that this race is a half marathon with a full just thrown in. I'm not sure I completly agree with that but I can see why folks say that. The first half is the most scenic (altho the second half is quite nice) and its one of those races where you run with the halfers for the whole first half and suddenly feel lonely as you pass the finish line and head out for the second half. The roads are closed the first half but are open the second half. I experienced no issues with cars and I don't think the second half needs closed roads but others may disagree. My only complaint is I felt the second half didn't have enough water stops. There were seven and even though it was cool (around 60) and overcast it was humid and I didn't feel like 7 was enough. I believe marathons need more water stops the second half than the first. The second half stops did all have gels and the volunteers were great. One stop (that we passed multiple times) we were greeted by folks in costume claiming to be the zombie stop. To the person who ran a 2:28 and said they were out of food. I ran a 4:37 and there was plenty of food for me. They had soup, pizza and lot's of smaller bars and banannas. I can't eat pizza after a marathon but I saw lot's of folks who obviously can. You get a nice short sleeve tech shirt and the medal is also nice. In short I think this is a very good marathon.

A very beautiful but challenging course. Along with a persistent wind that always seemed to be in our faces, there was blowing sand and lots of moderate hills. None of the hills were too bad, except the killer hill in the final miles. I thought that the organization was very good. I arrived early and had no problems parking and the shuttle system worked very well. I didn't like that cars were allowed onto the course and were mixing in with the runners. The aid stations were excellent and I was offered gels more often than at any other race. The shirt and medal are both first rate. I imagine that I will wear the short sleeve shirt often. Overall, many more areas to praise than criticize. It is a great way of getting Rhode Island for fellow 50 staters.

Packet-Pickup: Quick and easy, not much to see but that's what I expect from a small marathon Tshirt: design and quality were average, but it would be nice if they had my size. Parking: Fine for me as I got there 1.5 hours early, but I know it was a nightmare for many. Course: nice course with great ocean views was pretty flat in the beginning and some some harder rolling hills in the second half. The course should have been cleared of parked cars. The half-way part where the half finished needed course marshals because it was clogged with spectators. I was dodging spectators who were standing in the middle of the marathon course with baby strollers. They weren't crossing, just standing there in a small crowd. Start: They started 15 minutes late without any warning, communication, loudspeaker, etc. This was poorly executed. Also, the fact that the pre-race area (packet-pickup, gear check, bathrooms, etc.) is in FRONT of the start it's challenging for people to make their way around the back of the start corral. If I was the RD I'd consider moving the start location to the west or reversing the course. Volunteers: On-course volunteers were nice, but some of the early stations were poorly organized. At one point I came to a table with 4-6 people, dozens of large bottles of Gatorade, and ONE guy pouring it into cups so people had to wait in line. it's not tragic, but with a bit of coaching it could have been much better.Volunteers I encountered after the race were disappointing. Post-race volunteers handling food seemed like the local high school football/wrestling team without a chaperone. Instead of handing out food (much of which was still in boxes on a palette) they were eating the food and goofing off with their buddies. Good volunteers can make up for a lot of weaknesses in a race, but this crew needs some coaching and oversight. Post-race food: Okay. I got water, gatorade, and a banana. The soup was awesome and the woman serving it was working harder than every teenage boy combined! Post-race shuttle: I got back to my car quickly without a hassle.

Pros: -Staying at the hotel down the street made it extremely easy - 3 minute walk. So, I can't comment on getting to the event. It started 15 minutes late and saw buses coming in the whole time. -Beautiful run! I grew up in RI but if from out of New England, I recommend this race for scenery alone. Challenging run - especially if there is wind like we had. -Medal, shirt and 'swag' were very nice. -Support was light along the route but some people made up for that with enthusiasm. Cons: -NO food at end of race!! :( For me that was 2:28. I saw people walking away with boxes of pizza! They should NOT let non-runners into the food/beer area nor let runners take whatever they want.

If you're looking for a very scenic race with rolling hills, then this marathon is for you. The volunteers were plentiful and the water stops were terrific and each included energy drinks and bathrooms.

Positives: Extremely beautiful course. Bus transportation between remote parking was efficient. Negatives: Absolutely awful traffic control getting to marathon parking even following their instructions to the letter. No gatorade the first couple of aid stations. Parked cars along the crowded early miles and very little course protection from vehicles. Another race that highly favors the half marathoners to the detriment of the marathoners.

This is the worst organized race I have the misfortune to participate. There are about 4000 or more runners in the marathon and half marathon all trying to get into parking spaces on long lines. At the start no one seem to be in charge or could direct us to the start line. The race started 15 mins late and no one announced this.

The course is absolutely breathtaking in the first half. Challenging but not over the top in terms of difficulty. The views and vantage points are just amazing. The second half is very rural and it is an out and back. Nothing to write home about but the first half makes up for it! My opinion was that the post race setup was great, but I would like to see more runners being a bit less selfish when it comes to taking WHOLE PIZZAS for their friends and filling their bags with Gatorade bottles. Not sure if that became an issue for the later finishers. The t-shirt and medal were nice, if that is important to you. Crowd support was OK. Relatively speaking this is not a huge race, and many areas are not prone to crowd support. In the later half, the scenery is not as great but the crowd support is better. So choose your poison... Only complaint is that the expo was pretty light on information and was also very difficult to get to. I recommend that they hold the expo on the Middletown side where there may be more adequate parking and less tourist congestion. This was my 'RI' on the 50 states, but as an NJ resident, I would run this again because it is fun and Newport is beautiful!

PRO's: This was my 49th marathon and I have told everyone that it was probably the 2nd most beautiful run. The medal was awesome (very different from others in my collection)and the shirt had a nice design. The shuttle system worked very well. They ran non-stop and allowed 'pedestrian' riders which enabled my husband to see me several times without having to stand in the cold for the entire race. CON's: The expo can only be described as CHAOTIC including getting to the expo site with all the traffic, parking and finding out where to park on race morning. I ran CT on Saturday and by the time I got to expo all marathon parking flyers were gone. The volunteer gave me 1/2 marathon parking and said, 'it's probably the same.' It took 3 volunteers to finally get handed over to race director who blurted something out. (Course map only showed 1/2 marathon parking.) I'm running the 50 states and assembling a scrapbook of all my runs. I ALWAYS order race photos. Unfortunately, someone hired a German-based company. Seriously...we don't have photographers in the US??? As a result, the extra-tax (not quite 25%) and the shipping is costing a ridiculous amt. The Germany company was very nice and recommended I purchase the 'download' version. This way there would be no shipping cost. OK, but the download prices completely exceeded shipping costs.