Half at the Hamptons—Great New Seaside Half Marathon at a Famous Coastal Resort
Run a half marathon along the serene seashore in late winter, beginning and ending at a terrific resort hotel; it includes great awards and a super post race party with taps flowing.

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By Skip Cleaver
Posted Monday, 31 December, 2007

A new half marathon will be run in February of 2008 on a terrific New England course. You must be a part of this inaugural celebration—and it is perfectly timed for mid winter long runs. New England distance running can be tremendously enjoyable, especially if you have the right combination of a scenic course, great organization, historic sea-side resort, post race party, and rewards for all—perhaps even free running shoes. Check out the race Website to see where 1,000 to 1,200 of your closest friends will be running the Sunday after Super Bowl XLII!

This half marathon will be a national and regional magnet because of the course, the amenities, the facilities, and the placement on the calendar. This is a quiet time at an otherwise bustling resort—a time to enjoy the serenity of the quiet beach and really take in the natural beauty and rhythm of the New England shore.

This race is for all who want to experience a half marathon, whether as a goal in itself, or as a marathon trainer. It will include a running division with an 11:00 a.m. start, and a walking division, which will step off at 10:30 a.m. along a clockwise loop that is as flat as it is scenic. The course includes rural roads, elegant homes, historic farms, as well as memorable miles along the Atlantic surf. Race headquarters will be a famous, historic, landmark grand hotel where the race will start and finish—and where the inaugural post race party will begin, including a runners’ favorite--beer.

This race will be rewarding. Be the early bird. The first 100 to register will get FREE LOCO Bandito running shoes. Everyone who registers will receive a technical wicking shirt. The course is beautiful, and nearly all of it will be rural roads with nearly five miles immediately along the ocean and famous beaches. There are five-year age group awards, special awards for first time half marathoners and first-time racers, and 10-year awards for walkers. They will also have special awards for top Hampton finishers. Everyone will receive a memorable finisher’s medal. You will love running along these roads—historic Victorian and Edwardian homes, New England stone walls and fields, beaches with panoramic ocean views—including famous islands off shore, weather permitting.

And speaking of weather, a typical day in this location—the sun will be getting higher and spring will be right around the corner—shows a high of 37 degrees, light winds, sunny to mostly sunny 75% of the time, with February having the least precipitation of any month.

The Course
We normally discuss the course in detail, and this is a really good one—very enjoyable. But frankly, I don’t want to give it away. But I can tell you it is quiet, relatively flat, mostly rural, and very scenic, with historic farms and fields in the Hamptons. And the miles along the beach are among the most enjoyable in the northeast. There is a lot of history in the region, with gardens and picturesque sights at every turn. With Great Boars Head, Little Boars Head, and miles of beach it is easy to imagine why this area has been such a tourist destination ever since the railroad came in the 1850’s. The hotel that serves as race headquarters was built in 1910, and has had its share of luminaries as guests. A famous statue guards the beach and overlooks the waves adjacent to the start and finish.

Grand Hotel
How about your race headquarters—and/or destination lodging—that is a grand, historic hotel? This one has a beautiful beach-front view, three floors with 105 rooms, an indoor pool, several dining facilities, a deck overlooking the Atlantic, and a wonderful reputation (serving guests for nearly 100 years). It is very close to major transportation hubs—less than an hour from major airports.

Third in a Successful Series
This race is the third in a series of Half Marathons brought to you by the folks at LOCO Running—a company for runners, by runners. This one follows the tremendously successful Great Bay Half Marathon of last April and the women’s Maine Coast Half Marathon in September. Anyone participating in either of those events will tell you that all the details were covered and planning and administration were top notch. They were among the most successful first-time events in New England. LOCO Running has shown that when you do it right, runners appreciate the effort and respond. The Half at the Hamptons will be one terrific race.

Check out the details at the race Website, www.locorunning.com/hamptonhalf.php, e-mail inquiries to info@locorunning.com, or call 603-659-2824.

Hamptons
There are many Hamptons, including and most famously those in New York (eastern Long Island) and Virginia, as well as New Hampshire. There is a Hampton in nearly every state. There are islands, and rivers, and estuaries, and counties named Hampton. Nearly all trace the name to Hampton England.

Now there will be a reason for runners to associate the name with an outstanding race. Interestingly, in New Hampshire alone there are towns of Hampton, North Hampton, South Hampton, Hampton Falls, and Hampton Beach.

Be a Part of the Inaugural Half at the Hamptons
Keep your training schedule on track, and keep focus with this important February training goal. Experience the well-chosen course and the camaraderie, and enjoy the terrific post race party. Enjoy running in New England with a scenic, historic, and spectacular setting. The Half at the Hamptons is a half marathon for anyone; everyone is welcome. Awards and rewards won’t get any better at any other event. They have planned really well to make your experience a very special one.

Check the race Website for details, including registration, course map, lodging options, LOCO Running shoes, and directions. But definitely be there in February and help make running history—enjoy a great run at a popular destination. Enjoy the Hamptons—they are far more than a summer destination.

Related info:
Event Website

Event Registration

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