This is an excellent marathon and half marathon experience. Both courses are relatively flat, though there are rolling hills in the middle of the full. It's a fast course, lots of BQers, but it has a 7hr time limit so there are plenty of later finishers. Crowd support is terrific, many of the pacers use run/walk intervals, and medals are handmade by the race charity recipients. Food post-race is some of the best we've ever seen. Beans and rice, hot broth, cornbread, pasta salad and the obligatory cheap beer. Really well done, Mobile. We've recommended this race to all of our running friends! read more

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Just finished the 2014 First Light Marathon in Mobile, AL. This was lifetime #67 and state #44 in my quest to run a marathon in each of the 50 States from Hawaii. I doubled up with the 2014 Mississippi Blues marathon, which was held the day before this one. Race morning was Sunday, 01/12/2014. It was a thrill to be in Alabama, but like running Fargo, North Dakota, we just crossed state lines and it was a city that just hugged the state line and called itself Mobile. I "doubled up" with the 2014 Mississippi Blues marathon, which was held the day before on Saturday, 01/11/2014, so it was a nice 3 hour drive on rural US highways in between Jackson, MS and Mobile, AL. Yes, it is a crazy proposal, but if you are traveling and the financial costs are high, it would behoove you to do "doubles" to offset the cost of travel and you can network with other marathoners to share hotel rooms and car rides in between races. Friendships are made this way. It's pretty awesome! The 2014 First Light Marathon is a small race that benefits local charity in the Mobile community. I discovered this when I read up on race information. The race cap was about 2,000 runners for both the marathon and half marathon. It was a small race, but a lot of Marathon Maniacs and 50 State marathon club members do this double, since you can pick up 2 states in a weekend, which is great for those who are travel budget friendly. The expo was held at the Government Plaza building on Joachim Street. It was a small expo with bib # pick up. A lot of us stayed at the Quality Inn on Church Street, which was basically across the street from the expo. Last thing you need is to fight traffic after running MS Blues marathon hours earlier and you're tired from driving. The race was 26.2 miles (includes a half marathon) and it basically weaved in and out of residential and commercial sections of Mobile, although it was basically mostly residential, if anything. The weather was about 37 degrees at the start, but gradually warmed up to about 67 degrees when the sun came out. All good though. Most of the course was residential, so we got a good taste of what living in southern Alabama was like. There was strategically placed hills that just deflated you, but that didn't matter, since it was a new state for me. The financial Investment motivated me to stay focused and allowed me to get to the finish line in one piece - more or less. The only highlight of the course was passing through Springhill College, which I thought was University of Alabama - Mobile for some reason. The start and finish line was near the expo, so that was cute. The finisher's medals were made by members of the charity that the First Light marathon benefits from, L'arche Mobile - an organization that is dedicated to the support of people with intellectual disabilities. First I thought that the medals were styrofoam, but later learned that it was a small piece of wood with a sticker glued onto them. It was a creative way of making a medallion without increasing the cost of the race entry fees. While this marathon is a small race in the southwestern tip of Alabama, its a great little race that showcases the town of Mobile. While the hills may get you, it was a good day for a marathon. Course is well marked and the aid stations were stocked with enthusiastic volunteers and aid for participants: water and Gatorade. Run more! Support local! B read more

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