She Runs by the Seashore

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Freedom’s Run as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

Since I like to run about two marathons a year, I’m thinking about which ones I’d like to do pretty far in advance. I’m already considering which marathons I might want to run in 2019.

I noticed Freedom’s Run last year, but I already had a fall marathon on the schedule, and 26.2 miles is too long of a distance for me to do too regularly.  However, I kept following the race’s posts on social media, and I kind of mentally decided that it would be my fall 2018 race.

Now, it’s official! I will be running the Freedom’s Run marathon for BibRave on Oct. 6, 2018. Read on for a discount code!

One thing I remember seeing that stood out to me about this race was the handmade finisher medallion. I love unique things like this and I also really enjoy small-town, community races. (Here’s a link to the artist’s website with some medallions from the 2015 event.)

I’ve never run a race in West Virginia and I am excited to add another marathon state to the list. Even though a lot of the race is in my home state of Maryland, it does start and finish in West Virginia. After the Vermont City Marathon in May, Freedom’s Run will be my seventh marathon state! I think it would be fun to slowly make my way through all 50 states — but by the time I finish that feat, I could be 50 or 60 (I’m 27).

Past runners had some great things to say about Freedom’s Run — you can read the BibRave reviews here.

One thing I know I will need to prepare for is the hills. I have heard this race is hilly, and the elevation map shows the steep hills, as well. Hills are scarce where I live. However, I don’t run all of my races for time — I also run for the experience.

I think it’s awesome that the race takes runners through three national parks — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal rail trail, and Antietam National Battlefield. The rail trail runs alongside the Potomac River. You can see a video featuring the course map here. It looks very scenic, and it received a 5-out-of-5-star rating for course scenery on all five BibRave reviews that have been posted.

I also like point-to-point courses like this one because you get to see more.

I booked some unique accommodations for my trip — a refurbished school bus! I found it on Airbnb and ended up deciding there was probably no other time I would have the opportunity to stay in a school bus. The place had great reviews — I will report back!

Harpers Ferry, where the race starts, also made this TIME list titled “The 20 Best Places to Go in 2018.”  I found a restaurant in Shepherdstown called The Press Room — which used to be home to a newspaper. As a former newspaper reporter, I’m kind of a sucker for places like that, so I’ll have to check it out.

Runners will also get a shirt, water bottle and beer mug, according to the race website. On that link, I saw there will be local coffee, as well — I’m excited to try Black Dog Coffee.

I’ve added myself to the start list for Freedom’s Run on Athlinks. You can find the start list here. Hills certainly seem to affect my performance — particularly since I live in a flat area — but for now, I put a goal of 4:45. I can always change it later. Follow me on Athlinks here.

So, would you like to join me this fall?

Freedom’s Run

Events: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018

Time: Marathon – 7:30 a.m., with shuttles starting at 5:30 a.m.; Half Marathon – 8:30 a.m.; 10K – 8:50 a.m.; 5K – 9 a.m.; Kids Run – 11 a.m.

Location: Marathon starts in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and finishes in Shepherdstown, West Virginia; other events start and finish in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Registration Fees: 

Costs through March 31

Marathon: $90

Half Marathon: $60 (or $50 for under 18)

10K: $30 (or $25 for under 18)

5K: $25 (or $20 for under 18)

Use code “BIBRAVE5” to save $5 on race registration!

The prices increase by $5 on April 1, and there are other price increases as well (you can see the schedule here), so get your registration in today!

Visit www.FreedomsRun.org to learn more and register.

Have you run this race before? What did you think? Or, will you be joining me in 2018? 

Like She Runs by the Seashore on Facebook here.