This is part of a series of posts from my quest to run a half marathon in all 50 states. Indiana was my 13th state.
Evansville, Indiana is a place many people have never even heard of or at least that’s my impression of it. It is the third largest city in Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival is a street fair held in the area west of downtown Evansville. It is held on the first full week of October and draws nearly 150,000 people. That, in a nutshell is why I chose this race (pun intended). I had no idea I would enjoy the race as much as I did. My family and I also had a fun time in Evansville before and after the race.
The race began at the top of a hill, which we got to run down, giving us a bit of a boost from the beginning. Parts of the course went along the Ohio River, which was scenic. We also ran the bases of a baseball field, which I found unique and loads of fun. The volunteers were outstanding and there was good crowd support. I thoroughly enjoyed this race from beginning to end and it was my fastest finish to date, at 1:56:16. The vibe along the course was very fun and uplifting. If you’re looking for a fun, fast half marathon, I recommend this one.
If you’re looking for things to do before or after the race, there are several options. We went to the Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden and had a blast. If you have young children, you should check out the Children’s Museum of Evansville. If you’re a car enthusiast, there’s the Dream Car Museum. For something unique to the area, there’s Angel Mounds, a historical site of the largest settlement of the time. As far as accommodations go, check the race website for hotels near the course that offer discounts. They are the usual Hampton, Hilton, Holiday Inn, and Marriott hotels. There aren’t any large airports nearby, but Nashville International Airport is about 2 1/2 hours away and Louisville International Airport is about 2 hours away.
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