The Gansett Marathon, with its scenic vistas and course along the fresh ocean air, is the clear winner amongst Rhode Island road races.
The 26.2-mile course was hailed at the state's "Uber Marathon" in Rhode Island Monthly's annual "Best of Rhode Island competition.
This marathon is elite not only because of its oceanside views, but also because it is the only marathon in the U.S. that you can only compete in if you qualify - other than the Olympic Trials, of course.
URI Physics Professor Mike Tammaro started the race in Exeter in 2010 after he reportedly missed out on the application deadline for the Boston Marathon. Instead of hanging up his shoes until next year, Tammaro organized his own race - enticing racers who could run marathons in just five hours or less. The race moved to Narragansett in 2011.
This year's race date is Saturday, Oct. 26 and registration is still open. The registration fee costs $85. Participants must run a qualifying race in order to register for the Gansett Marathon. See the qualifying section for details. Registration closes on Sunday, Oct. 20 or when the registration reaches 500 runners.
For more information, visit the Gansett Marathon website.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
