Drake Well Marathon - Race Reviews

The Drake Well race is a small field race with a great community and course support that adequately supports runners of all ability levels. The course itself is never harsh, and support stations are every two miles. Plus, every volunteer and staff express excitement for the runners and enjoyment in the event.

This marathon is worth running especially if you're looking for a tune-up for a fall marathon. The packet pick-up and start were organized with adequate restrooms. The first 7 miles are mostly through the town with no big hills. Most of the roads are not closed, but traffic was very light. There was one time where a pick-up truck came speeding up right behind myself and a small pack of runners. He was annoyed that he could not pass us right away and yelled obscenities before turning off the course. Around mile 8 you enter the state park and run on an asphalt trail. You run noticeably downhill for 9 miles and then noticeably uphill for 9 miles. It's a gradual decent/ascent but you definitely notice it. My only gripe with this race was that it was very humid for race day and they gave out very little water or Gatorade. I'm sure it's not easy to set up water stops deep into the forest, but the few water stops gave out small cups with like a sip of water or Gatorade. I've done over 40 marathons and I've never finished so dehydrated.

Course was a good mix of challenge with a steady incline on the way back and great scenery to keep you distracted by the river and surrounding forest. Spectators are sparse, but from my experience runners who choose these smaller races do so for other reasons and don't care about this. Organization I would've given a 5 if there would've been a map for spectators to know where they could easily watch and if the race map was more complete and included elevation. Side note. Book your hotel well in advance and whatever you do, DO NOT BOOK at the Days Inn Oil City, awful experience.

A very small marathon. It was relatively flat. I ended our family vacation with this run. The Allegheny National Forest, and river are in the area. We went on some epic kayak, hiking, and biking trips. It was a very scenic shaded run. It was a little hot today but I'm not holding that against the race. I would highly recommend. I liked this race was a fundraiser for the museum.

Titusville is about 40 minutes south of Erie, PA and about 35 minutes north of Pittsburgh. It is an interesting place with a large Amish population and many hand crafted Trump signs on lawns. The runners are very friendly - I got a hug at mile 10 from two first time half marathoners when the split occurred. The race director is super nice and the weather was perfect. The course has rolling hills for the first 7 miles and weirdly to downhill loops to the finish. Aid stations every couple of miles. The scenery is great. You can park right at the start line for free! A well done race and easy to get to for runners in the GTA and ohio and Western PA. BTW - at mile 18 I asked a volunteer at an aid station to do a hand stand and she did! How cool is that!

Pros - Well organized, especially for a small marathon. Being able to pick up your packet on race morning is a great perk (I did it on Saturday to get it over with) - The course is extremely well-marked with both consistent mile markers (this makes a big difference!) and arrows along the ground pointing at every intersection. Volunteers were stopping the small amount of traffic and pointing for any turns. - The race director clearly cares a lot about putting on a great race and it shows - Cool awards - I got a blue barrel mug (the overall top finishers got $200 cash & a mug & a bag of some kind) - Course was much easier than I expected - I would call it one of the easier marathon courses I've run (this was my 26th different course). Easier than Boston or NYC but not as easy as Houston or Virginia Beach. Almost all of the uphill is either gentle or very short (there are a couple of small uphills in the first couple miles and on the bike path) - the only notable hill is at mile 6.5 and it really wasn't bad. - Low-stress from a parking/departing/spectator perspective. Very relaxed atmosphere and away from crowds. - Start & finish are in the same place - you can use the "real" bathrooms that are at the museum - convenient and much better than port-a-potties - Race medal and t-shirt were nice. I'd prefer the actual date (it only says 2017) to be on the medal but not a big deal. Cons - The bike path can be a little slippery with moss in parts but it didn't affect my race - I'm not a huge fan of "out and back" courses with a point turnaround (only 1 during the race and I'm picking nits) - This wasn't a negative for me but there is very sparse cheering throughout. I don't mind quieter courses, but for someone who needs a lot of crowd support - be forewarned this isn't a great one for that. - I think the water stops were plentiful & well-placed except for between miles 20 & 24 or so (I'm estimating from memory) - felt like a long time without any water stops in that few mile stretch - It's in Pennsylvania in August so the weather could be a bit warm for the race - was my biggest concern. However for our actual race day, the weather was perfect - 50s the whole race and overcast. The last 20 miles or so are on a mostly shaded bike path which I'm sure mitigates warm weather if that does in fact happen - Our hotel was pretty old and run-down and I couldn't find any that seemed better in the area (not the race's fault but there definitely aren't the hotel options you may be used to in larger areas) Tag-ends - There were some complaints about the port-a-potties in previous comments and I saw several on the course - at miles 1.5, 5, 7, and a couple in later miles too I think. I've never used one for a race so not something I focus on but figured I'd add this. - I researched pretty extensively and was very pleased with how the whole race went - from a weather, course, and organizational perspective.

The city is about thirty minutes south of Erie and a bit more than an hour north of Pittsburgh. It is a small town with some cool restaurants like the Retro Diner and Blue Canoe. The course is well planned but the first port a potty is at mile 5 and water stations are spaced out further than my liking. One of them ran out of cups. I liked the shade of the last 19 miles and the views were beautiful - a lot like the 2 Rivers race outside of Scranton in March. The hotel was very good and offered late check out for free!

I ran this race mostly as a training race/BQ race - my goal race was in October. It was my first marathon ever & it was amazing. Titusville was a cute & quirky town w/historic significance and I really enjoyed my visit to the area. Never would have been there if not for the race. The race was small & very low-key/friendly  perfect for a first time race. No trouble at all w/access to portopotties. I've heard they changed the course, but when I ran it we had two super big hills within the first few miles which I actually liked - really weeded out the field & since I was trained for hills, this wasn't an issue for me. The course otherwise was a great variety of rural roads, 'downtown' Titusville, & gorgeous state park. Not too many spectators but impressive for the small town location. Weather was great. The course wasn't well-marked near the end & I ran past a point where I was supposed to turn off the trail, but fortunately I had read a blog about the race & realized my mistake before I had gone far. The race finished on a track which was fun & exciting, and the course directors (?) were very excited about & supportive of my race  which added to my own excitement about having run and win first female!  My first marathon. Since then, I've run a few other marathons, and this one remains special for me. My prize was a unique and interesting commemorative metal plaque featuring the Drake Well, and that was awesome, too. All in all, I had a great race and a great experience here & would love to return sometime.  We had great pre-race lunch at the Blue Canoe, too,and I would return to eat there again. Organization and volunteers were great, but if you expect 'fancy' you will be disappointed. So glad I ran this and that it was my 'first.' Totally recommend.

You run through Titusville for the first 7 miles then on a tree shaded bike path for the other 19 miles. Well organized but could have used a few more portajohns at the start. The marathon field is small so I ran by myself for several miles. No spectators but well staffed and positioned water stations. Beautiful course. The early start and running in the shade for the last 19 miles made this a very doable August marathon. Book your hotel early as there are not many nearby options.

I grew up in the area and visit Titusville regularly but I won't run this again. The race website is difficult to navigate with info from 2011 still on it. Packet pick-up was slow as 1 person was handing out the 'stuff' as well as giving directions around the town and answering numerous questions. She needed help so she could get her job done. Race day parking was very good. The parking lot had plenty of porta-potties and parking was very close to the start. The course was NOT set up to be easy or to give someone a PR. The hills at the start of the race are long uphills on some dirt/gravel roads you should train for as they will hurt your chances of having a decent time. Enjoy the downhills as they are on a similar surface with some washed-out spots and plenty of potholes. The rest of the course was uneventful. Running on the tree covered bike path was at least cool for this mid-August marathon. The finish was ok at best - had to come off a paved path and run on an uneven grass field, enter the hs track, then finally finish. At the finish the '5k quality' medals were given out. The post race food was slim - fruit, cut up bagels, and water or gatorade. If they want to make this marathon bigger they need to invest in it. What was put on is not going to cause many return customers.

I would describe the Drake Well Marathon as a small community marathon. If you come looking for a big city marathon you will be disappointed. That being said I enjoyed running Drake Well more than any other road race I have run. Packet pick up was at the Titusville community center. Had to park about a block away, but it was no big deal. I highly recommend the pasta dinner. Only $6, and it was delicious. I think I was at the same table as S.F. (another reviewer). The course is hilly for the first 7 miles, more so than other marathon courses, but after getting back into town it flattens out. After passing though town you start on a ~16 mile out and back section on paved rail trail. You go downhill on the rail trail first. I didn't notice the downhill on the way out, but I noticed the uphill on the way back. In fact, I felt the return section of the rail trail was worse than the hills in the first 7 miles. When you get off the rail trail near the finish there is a short section of grass (<.25 miles), before reaching and running one lap of the track. Aids stations were every ~2 miles and had water and gatorade. No gels, so bring your own. Water, bagels and bananas at the finish. Would I run the Drake Well Marathon again? YES!!! Fun course, small field, and price was right. If you want to stay in Titusville, reserve your hotel room early as they sell out. I stayed in Cranberry, which was a 30-25 minutes drive.

We had beautiful weather this year, and the course was really nice - spectators almost nowhere, but aid station volunteers awesome and supportive. Miles 1-7 are hilly, with three or four steepish climbs and a couple of good descents. Then miles 8-the end are flat, through the town and then mostly on a wooded path next to the river. (see the very thorough review here from 2011). Shady, peaceful, lovely. Titusville is a really friendly town - the Comfort Inn put out its free and plentiful breakfast (even the waffle batter!) at 4:30 am to accommodate the marathoners (race started at 7). It's easy to get to the start and to the end, plenty of parking. Chip timed, but only one mat (at the end). Track finish. Oranges, water, and bagels were the food at the finish. Pasta dinner on Saturday night was only $6, and was delicious! All of the staff of the community center were lovely and helpful. Neither the t-shirt nor the medals have the date on them, but they both look great otherwise (and organizers allowed runners to exchange for different shirt sizes). If you're training for a fall marathon and it looks like the weather will be good in August, I would recommend keeping an eye on Drake Well. I BQed by more than 4 minutes after failing to do so both in the Boston heat and in the Poconos in May.

Ok, this is a very positive review. I loved this marathon. Course was very tricky for the first seven miles with some doody hills, but starting on mile 10, all bike trail well kept and flat. Great friendly volunteers. Not many supporters but those that were out, are great.

This is detailed for those who really want to get a feel for this race. The personal attention, friendliness and helpfulness of all involved were just fantastic, even though the number of spectators was low - that didn't bother me. I went away very happy. The course is well organized and reasonably well marked. Be sure to drive the first 8-9 miles in advance though, so you are not surprised (there were some sections that you will NOT expect to be in a marathon because of gravel/grade/narrow path, etc., and you don't want to be questioning that during the race). For those who want the context of my comments, see section called BACKDROP. NOTE: The posted course is slightly different from actual. See the USATF certification map (http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=PA11025WB)... The out & back is not to scale, but the map is accurate. OVERALL COMMENTS: Much of the course is shady, which was great. Even when the sun was out it rarely hit us for any length of time. This is a tough course. This course strikes me as a little tougher than Boston. The water stops were reasonable (~every 2 miles), but I prefer them to be slightly more frequent. In response, I took 2 cups at most stations and walked while drinking (which may not have hurt my time because it was refreshing to my muscles). PROS: I met family RIGHT AT THE FINISH LINE; Staff allowed my 5-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER to put the medal over my head!! Try that at other marathons! I treasure those pictures! At Boston, family can't even see you cross the finish line! Family met me at spots along the course; we got plenty of our own photos. Most of the course is very shady! VERY helpful staff before, during and after the race. Most of the course was absolutely beautiful and to me, encouraged one to just Zen out while running at a consistent effort. Expenses can be kept very low if one is careful (e.g. Super 8 in Franklin, PA Breakfast not so great, but nice people and less expensive than others). This is timed very well for Boston qualification. CONS: Gravel (but it didn't seem to affect performance - further, I was wearing very light 8 oz Asics DS and the gravel still didn't hurt as I had expected), cars were on some parts of the course (but they were very aware of runners and crawled by cautiously). GOOD OR BAD DEPENDING ON YOU: Tough yet rewarding course, can recover after first 7 miles, lots of solo running, friendly small-town feel. THE FIRST 7 MILES include two long stretches of gravel and choppy pavement, including the steepest downgrades. I was able to make good time down these (I do downhill well) but had to be more focused than usual to avoid any slips/ruts, etc. The first uphill (miles 0.5-1.5) was gradual. The related downhill is gravely and steep. The second uphill (~mile 3.5) is very steep (pavement), but only 0.3 miles long& after that, it's very gradual and I could make good time. There is a second short uphill (~mile 5.5) that is steep (paved) and then a paved steep downhill (ending around mile 6), followed by a dark gravel (or chopped asphalt) downhill (a little steep). After some smaller ups and downs, you hit a very short VERY steep downhill (0.10 of a mile or less?). I'm glad it was short because I was in survival mode there (to prevent out of control downhill running). After this, you can recover while progressing in the flat streets of the town. MILES 8-25 are relatively flat, but make no mistake, the run out to the mile 17.5 turnaround is slightly downhill overall, and the return (to mile 24.5 or so) is slightly uphill. By that time, the slight incline was quite noticeable. The shade here is FANTASTIC! And the gentle grades and beauty made it a great run. I usually train alone so the solitude did not bother me. If a person relies on crowds or other runners for motivation, this section will be lonely. I loved it here. MILE 26 and the 0.2 were mostly level, but had some uphill grades (I wouldn't normally think of them, but after 25 miles of my best running, even level seemed uphill). The run across the grass, while not long, was irritating because it was uneven and I was so tired that watching my step was a slowdown. I liked finishing on the track, but would like a way to remove the grass part. BACKDROP: Some may want the CONTEXT of my comments. I train on hills, and had reasonable training up to April 2011, then from May to this marathon had exceptional training (Pfitzinger schedule in Advanced Marathoning). This is my 5th marathon (1 in Nashville 2008 and 3 in Boston 2009-11). My history has been about 3:30:00 with a prior best of 3:28:11 (Boston 2010). My Drake Well time was about 3:26. I believe this PR is because of my training before this marathon rather than any lower level of course difficulty & I think Drake Well is slightly more difficult. The Drake Well hills are clearly more intense, yet they are at the start (for some that's better).

A small town race that is just going to get They had the best aid stations I have seen. Ice cold water and very efficient. The course is challenging in the first 7 miles but easy for the rest of the course. It finishes on a track which is always fun.

There are hills, there are steeper downhills too, and then there is an asphalt trail under canopy. But more importantly, what this marathon offers is a friendly community of runners who respect, support, and greet each other on the way (quite amazing); very effective and helpful volunteers staffing the water stations; and a solid running challenge. The finish on the track is a very nice finale.

First I'd like to say that I enjoyed this marathon. The first seven miles were in town and on some back roads. Yes, it was very hilly, but not too tough. Then this course has a fault, in my opinion. You get on a bike path and run an out-and-back for about 17-18 miles. Very few (NO) spectators. I understand the race director - a very nice guy, by the way - did this because it was flat and contrasted the hills early on. I say go for more atmosphere even if it comes with some hills. Maybe I'm nuts but I think this would improve the overall experience. Otherwise it was an awesome event. Friendly people. Well organized. Neat little town. Good job, Titusville. Cool shirt also!

Since the course hasn't changed since last year, I won't spend keystrokes describing it again. I will say that it makes one work, and work hard. Temps at the start were a lot more comfortable than last year, but the humidity level was again high. We should expect that to be the norm from now on. So try to get acclimated ahead of time. I thought I was well prepared, but a net time of +9 minutes from last year indicates otherwise. An unscheduled pit stop at the 10-mile point cost a couple of minutes, but you can't fool the body. You've got to take care of business so you can get on with taking care of the racing business. I regained my position in the standings, but could do no better. I have no complaints. It is what it is. Forrest Gump put it best when he said, "It happens." Train for the hills, which come early. Spend whatever time it takes to get acclimated to the summer heat and humidity, because it is a safe bet you will contend with one or both. Know your strengths, and run accordingly. If you need energy gels, carry them. It works for me. Pin them inside your waistband so they don't flop around, and they will be very fluid when you need them. Super easy to get down. Bottom line is to prepare well and control what you can and you should fare well. The organization crew did a stand-up job again. No complaints will be heard from me. This is put on by runners for runners. Enjoy the experience, and make the most of the opportunity.

Pretty much the whole thing is peaceful and wooded. You'll never see a car. Maybe cars haven't been invented yet out on this course. I've run lots of marathons. This course is one-of-a-kind, and a nice one.

I was impressed with the organizers of the course, who were very helpful and friendly. However, the 14+ miles run on the towpath were, in my opinion, very boring. There were virtually no scenic views and the humidity was very high. The rest stops did not have any power gels or ice. I had major problems with cramping because of the high humidity and the killer hills early in the race. I think that this race has great potential, but the course should be re-routed.

Great race. I'm not sure, but I swear the bike path inclines outbound and inbound. How did you do that?

So this is a very nice marathon. The two uphills are challenging, but a marathon should not be 100% pancake-flat, in my humble opinion. That being said, we started a little late (10-15 minutes or so) due to them clearing a tree from the course that had blown over the night before. As commented about below, the downhills were really the hardest part. I was hoping to run just about a 3-hour marathon, but jammed my knee really hard on the second major downhill. Pulled my calf a few steps later. The downhill (particularly the second one) is a borderline sprint/or your knees take a beating. But like I said, I hurt myself so I am a bit biased. This was my first marathon and the water station staff and fans were wonderful. Trainers helped me as soon as i finished. I hobbled in at the end, but that was largely my own darn fault. I would really like to run this again, this time with a much better result.

I enjoyed the race and the town very much. I have run smaller races that were still a lot less friendly and larger ones that were a lot less well organized. Dane did a great job and obviously poured his heart into this. I would recommend the race without reservation. The course was tough and different, with easy sections too.

The climbs are long, but the degree of slope is not brutal. The descents, on the other hand, are steep. Some folks can bank time on them, but the impact is more than I care to absorb. My advice is simply to do your own thing. The hills come early, and there is a lot of great running left to do. Exercise patience. Titusville was a very clean town. Litter-free streets are a pleasure to run on. Traffic was light on a Sunday morning, and everybody was pleasant. I love running in small-town, USA-races for that reason. There's too much apathy in big cities. Atmospheric conditions were tough today, but we have all run in tougher at one time or another. We play the hand Mother Nature deals us. It's mid-summer in northwest PA. We should expect tough conditions and pace accordingly. The out-and-back through Oil Creek State Park was very enjoyable, under a sprawling canopy of greenery. The sound of water flowing over rocks was the only sound I could hear at times. "Soothing" is how I would describe it. I have always loved a track field finish, and this one was sweet for two reasons. First, it was similar to an Olympic Marathon finish, where runners enter the oval and run a full lap to the finish. And secondly, my lap brought back some fond memories of the 105.5 laps I ran with 20 other souls in the 2006 DWM. While that version was unique and memorable, this one is more palatable for most of us. I'm hoping this one takes root and becomes an annual tradition. If it comes back next year, so will I. Check out the museum equipment while you're there: Prime examples of industrial revolution-era man-eater gadgetry. No OSHA back then. Workers used common sense and good judgment or they lost body parts.

As I get older I still want to run fast, but the entire weekend experience is also important to the family, too. Packet pick-up was easy, but there was no real expo (no big deal - I just drove to the supermarket to get PowerBars). Pros: - great small-town atmosphere - nice start on the bridge - miles 9 - 26 on a beautiful bike path - track finish - great Drake Well oil museum visit afterward - kids loved the local pool with slide ($4) - great to have an August marathon (shaded bike path will help on REALLY hot days - we got lucky with just humidity) Cons: - 2nd mile was steep (my slowest of the whole race) - some uphills are fair game, BUT these corresponding downhills were NOT any compensation as they were too steep to run smoothly AND with poor footing (mile 6-7 should be rerouted directly into town) - the water stations were plentiful and they will solve this problem easily in the future but THOSE RIDICULOUSLY SMALL DENTAL HYGIENE CUPS CONTAINED ALMOST NO WATER. A race in August HAS TO HAVE ADEQUATE WATER (and people hoping to run a certain time should not have to stop to get it). Overall: GREAT potential with a few small course changes in the first 6 miles and larger cups. Special note: you MUST eat at the BLUE CANOE after the race. That meal and the beer samples alone made the trip worth it.

This was my first marathon, so I have nothing to compare this to, but I'm glad I made this one my first. I have a love/hate relationship with this course. The course had two decent-sized hills at the beginning. Once those were out of the way, the rest of it was flat. Along the way you ran on asphalt, cobblestone, gravel, dirt, and through a field; and you ended on the high school track. The volunteers were all very pleasant and eager to help. Many of the locals were out cheering, set up sprinklers for us to run through and even set up their own tables with water pitchers on them. It was a very nice race, well organized, and had a little bit of everything in it.

The course was just as described: Challenging! Those hills were great for coming down. Those are what I call God's gifts. Volunteers were very helpful, from packet pickup and dinner on through to the end. Being last wasn't so bad. I had two men in a truck who gave me water to pour over myself when I finally reached the top of that second hill and found out that I was still alive! They were always nearby, making sure that I was OK. Then the run along Main St. seeing those gorgeous old homes and beautiful flowers was a very nice treat. I took pictures. The bike trail afterward was a welcome change, and the trees saved us from some of the steaming heat. Other runners heading to the finish were generous with their motivational comments. One man, who I had met the evening before, Nate Skipper, stopped and chatted a bit and he still came in first in his age group! Another Marathon Maniac informed me that the riverside was cooler. I moved to it! A lady with a dog was there for the beginning and I saw her along Main St. also. At nice, friendly, small races, these kind of nice things happen. There were plenty port-o-potties at the beginning and end, and there was a sign along the trail for others. Miles were clearly marked. Volunteers had water and Gatorade. There was plenty food at the end of the race, a rarity for me. All of this was just as had been advertised. The shirt is gold, with Drake Well and Road ID logos on the front (and a blank back). NICE. I didn't get the toe socks that I read about, but I did get a big pill box that had a space for morning, noon, evening and bedtime meds. I think someone figured out what would be better for me. And I appreciate it. The finisher's medal is very nice, with purple ribbon and the logo. I finished with a water bottle in one hand, my hat in the other. (I always wear my hat.) I also had my shoes over my shoulder, since leg cramps at mile 19 resisted all of my attempts to make them go away, so I simply took the shoes off and ran the rest of the way barefoot. I haven't done that since I was a kid and it worked out fine. I may be able to save some money on shoes now...???? I would highly recommend this race to anyone who likes a challenge, a peaceful place to run, and friendly, helpful volunteers. I just want them to know: I was serious about that cup of coffee at mile 20. Next time, OK? Dane and company did a great job. If they could just cut those hills into three instead of two....

It took me a while to convince my wife to allow me to run this event. My final plea was, "I only get one chance to run a marathon on the day of my 60th birthday." When I called to make my hotel reservation, they didn't know anything about the event. I burned a lot of frequent flyer miles to go on the spur of the moment so close to Christmas (12/22 and 12/23). The pre-race meal was good. It's not often that everyone running is fed around one large table. Before the race, the DJ played "Happy Birthday" for me and all of the runners and spectators sang. My daughter had alerted Dane to my birthday. The goody bags and fleece blankets were great. The water and bathrooms every lap were a great plus for this event. As I said to someone at the run, running that many laps on the track reminded me of the joke about sled dogs: "If you're not the lead dog, the scenery never changes." I had to leave before everyone else had finished, as I had a plane to catch back to Minneapolis, MN. I was home by 10:30 p.m. the day of the event. There was still time to celebrate my birthday at home. It's not very often I finish in the top 20 or 1st in my age group. Thank you to Dane and family!!!

For a small-town marathon, Drake Well exceeded my expectations: Positives: Small field, water and Gatorade at each stop, lovely last 16 miles of the course, nice shirt and medal, friendly volunteers, and an enthusiastic race director that really wants to make this race succeed. Negatives: The first 7+ miles of the course are very hard and had many people walking by mile 3 up the hills. If you like running alone on a nice bike trail in the state park system, this is a good race for you - just pace yourself early. I am glad I ran this marathon.

I ran the half and we started the run at the marathon course's mile 10. The half course was changed at the last minute, and the hills at the beginning were eliminated. This was an asphalt trail running along side of Oil Creek. The trail is beautiful and I didn't notice any type of incline, if there was one. The trail is tree-lined, with a covering, so it would protect you from the weather. It was 75, with max humidity at the start. Although it was humid, you couldn't ask for a better day in August, as it was overcast. Parking couldn't get much easier. There is a lot right next to the start. And a lot at the finish. The start and finish are about a quarter mile apart. Every mile was marked. There were no spectators on the trail except for the volunteers. There is a turn-around, and you will pass the other participants, which is motivating. It looked like the water stops were about 2 miles apart, so you may want to consider carrying your own fluids. You finish on a track, with music and enough goodies to eat.

In this first year of the road marathon, the race went off with only minor glitches. Cups at some of the (mostly early) water stops were extremely small and flimsy. Dane promised that would be rectified. The course is challenging, especially the first seven miles, with two 300-foot climbs and another climb for good measure. The drops were just as extreme, to the point that I had to hold back rather than letting it go. Nevertheless, before the end of the marathon, both my quads and hamstrings were exhausted from these early efforts. The course is quite pretty, with several early miles of gravel road in the climbs through wooded areas, about three miles running through Titusville, and about 16 miles out and back on a paved bike trail along Oil Creek (about 99% shaded). The scenery is great, although it was hard to appreciate the creek with the humidity so high that it created fog in places. The humidity made it difficult to feel like I was getting enough air, but this was apparently not the norm for the weather. On the plus side, the sky stayed covered with clouds, so the temperature rose no more than to 72 by 11:30. If you go, the best place to eat, other than the pasta dinner, is the Blue Canoe Brewery. Sleeping accommodations are a problem. There's a small Comfort Inn in Titusville and a golf resort about five miles out of town. Reserve those early. I tried about two months out and had to stay in the Arlington Hotel in Oil City, 15 miles away. That has a lot of rooms, but if you go, don't stay on the fourth floor. There is a ballroom on the fifth floor and a wedding party was playing pulsating music, culminating, unbelievably, in 10 minutes of FIREWORKS! Not so good for people attempting to rest and arise by five a.m.

This was only my second marathon, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. Yes, a track can get a little boring. But as one person said, I'm one of about 20 people who can say I ran a marathon on one. One real benefit was that my recovery time was so much faster than when I ran the roads of Cleveland. My legs felt perfectly fine within 3 days due to the forgiving surface of a track designed for distance runners. And it was nice to be able to keep track of my pace. The race organization and volunteers were superb! I loved the individually gift-wrapped aid boxes. They really added to the holiday spirit. Even though it got colder as the race went on, I couldn't have asked for better weather for the location. I was breaking a path through snow on the track two weeks before the race, so I was pleasantly surprised by the mild temperatures. The greatest part of the race was the support of the other runners. It was wonderful to be able to see the whole field during the entire race. How many people can say that about any race? There were no problems when people were passing each other or going to aid stations. And I can honestly say that I have never gotten so many encouraging comments from other runners during a race! Everyone was so nice, and you would hear cheers from around the track when a finisher was announced. As one of the last runners, I was surprised at how many people stuck around to cheer the other runners on or to run a lap or two with them. One runner was actually apologizing to me because he was freezing and had to leave before I finished. This was probably about an hour after his race had ended! And Dane was such a great cheerleader to everyone both during and after his race. In all, this was an experience that was not to be missed and in no way the worst course imaginable! If it is offered again, I would run it!

Judging any race course is a very subjective thing, purely an opinion. So here goes. When Dane first conceived the idea of a Titusville marathon, he simply described it as "unique and challenging." He most certainly delivered. It was perfect for me. Family, friends and even the other runners were able to see the entire race and support all of the runners in a way that would be impossible with a point-to-point or an out-and-back course. Another runner commented that he had never before competed in AND witnessed someone win a marathon. My eight year-old daughter and two nieces were even allowed to run some laps (probably a dozen or so). They had a ball and everyone cheered them, too! For a "small town" race, the amenities were wonderful. We were all treated like elites. Every runner had a personalized "Christmas wrapped" box on a table with everthing you needed to replenish yourself during the race. A DJ was set up by the track and the music never stopped - what a blessing. After the race, everyone received a fleece blanket and there was plenty of hot chocolate, pizza and homemade Christmas cookies to go around. My finisher's medal even had my name engraved on it. Definitely a nice touch. Is a race like this for everyone? No. The great thing is that a group of 20 runners accepted the challenge of trying something truly different. Isn't that a big part of what running is all about? It is for me. Five stars all around!

I thoroughly enjoyed the 105.5 lap format of the Drake Well Marathon. It provided a DJ, aid station, time splits, and a port-o-john every quarter mile. What more could you ask for? The organization and pre-race meal and fellowship the night before was also great. Thanks for putting on a first-rate race in Titusville!

This race rocked! Very unconventional, but a unique and fun experience. Having had the chance to see the way 50 other races were run this year, Dane knew what he was doing. The race was ideal for setting a PR since it was flat and the official time clock was almost always visible. The amenities were awesome, and the DJ throughout the race and fleece blankets at the finish added a nice touch. I felt that the organizers made a great effort to make every runner feel special. There were several spectators who were very enthusiastic, plus the runners encouraged each other as well. I hope there is a second Drake Well Marathon, and I hope it's on the track. The only thing I would change is I will train for it next time. ;)

First of all, the race itself provided more fun and inspiration that I had imagined. Running nearly 106 laps around a high school track may sound "boring" or "odd" to those who don't "get it" but I found it intriguing. And the humor woven into "aid stations and a port-a-john every quarter mile" or "the finish line is always in sight" was greatly appreciated. Getting a chance to run "with" the leaders and those being lead - all the while running my own race - is priceless. You can't imagine how fulfilling that is. And to have the rest of my family there to watch and cheer, and two of my daughters (Catherine and Josephine) joining me on the track throughout the race (and they knew and understood what and who we were running for) - I was delighted and grateful, to say the least. The race amenities were one-of-a-kind. I felt like an elite - my very own Gatorades and Gu, all gift-wrapped in a festive, personalized box. A small race in a small town, with first-class, high-roller treatment. The fruits of the race director's labor (and his family's) put the big-ticket races to shame. The cookies and finisher's treats were delicious (I would know!). The fleece blanket was great. The finishers' medals were awesome. And the race director's family is beautiful. I am humbled and honored to have been able to participate in this event. And last but not least, the pasta dinner was 5-star as well.

I ran L.A. and Disney earlier this year, but this race was just as well organized and more friendly than either of those. Dane was not only a great organizer and host but also an excellent cheerleader. The crowd of spectators was small but that only emphasized the uniqueness of the event. Running 105+ laps on a quarter-mile track originally sounded like a nightmare. Fortunately, the 21 runner-field was full of great people. As far as I know, I was the only one to almost hit someone with a water cup (again, sorry about that). There were more water and food stations per mile than anywhere else (every 1/8 mile). The support was excellent. The post-race carb re-load of homemade muffins, pizza, and cookies was more than enough and more than expected. Hand-carved finisher's medals, fleece - not Mylar - blankets, no snow, no rain, no sunburn. What's not to like? Sure there were no conga drums or Disney characters, but you know, they weren't missed at all. The people were great, the music was great and appropriate runners songs went on all race. Ultimately this was organized for a very special charity (L'Arch Mobile) and that should not be forgotten. Next year I will have run a race a few weeks earlier and will still be hobbled, but I will attempt to be available to volunteer. Thank you to Dane, Dane's parents, Dane's family, Dane's coach, all of the volunteers, and all of my fellow runners for making this a time to remember.