Trip Report Highlights-- Wilmington, Brandywine

I felt compelled to provide a little more volume to the Delaware forums. I was there May 18-20, mainly to run the Delaware Marathon. Some of my impressions:

Restaurants-- all recommended-- Nirvana Fine Indian Cuisine (1601 Concord Pike # 5-13; nirvanaindiancuisine.com); Golden Castle Diner (2722 Concord Pike); Mrs. Robino%26#39;s (Italian-- 520 N Union St. [in Little Italy section]; mrsrobinos.com). The last two also had very reasonable prices.

Lodging-- Doubletree on Concord Pike-- not bad Priceline stay, downgraded by unruly teen girls running, shouting, and slamming doors on the second night of my stay

Did typical tourist stuff, such as visiting Brandywine Battlefield Park and Brandywine art museum.

The Delaware Marathon (running race of 26.2 mi, plus team relay over that distance, 10-mile race, and kids%26#39; run), was held at the riverfront. Great event that showed off the riverfront and the creek/zoo area.

Post-marathon calorie binge was at the Claymont Steak Shop-- great cheesesteaks.

I must say I was left with favorable impression of everyone there-- everyone was friendly and engaging.

Trip Report Highlights-- Wilmington, Brandywine

Karras,

How nice of you to post! I live just over the DE line in PA (maybe 25 min. from the Riverfront, 10 min. from Brandywine Battlefield and Brandywine River Museum) and gosh, saw nothing about the marathon, either before or after.

I know your neck of the woods just a little -- have visited my brother in Medina a few times in the past several years.

So glad you had a good experience. You found at least one of the true dining gems, Mrs. Robino%26#39;s. If you decide to come back for next year%26#39;s run, post here a while before and we can make other recommendations.

BTW, how%26#39;d you do? I%26#39;m in awe of anyone who can *finish* a marathon.

Trip Report Highlights-- Wilmington, Brandywine

Thanks for the response, wythany. I want to run marathons in all 50 states: this was marathon state #47 (IN,CO,AK remain). The Wilmington marathon was established primarily to provide a Delaware road marathon for people with such a goal. I ran the 26.22 mi in just under 3 hr, 27 min (7:54 per mi average). Many nowadays are into completing marathons, rather than racing them; I tend more toward the latter approach, which prevailed during the first running boom in which I learned the activity. I%26#39;m all for fitness and grinding through 26.2 mi, but I want more than a hike/shuffle with aid stations and a finish line.

Re: my dining choices this trip-- particularly before a marathon, when I need to avoid lots of spice, fat, bulk, and dairy, I%26#39;ll look for places that are nearby/en route and passable... not necessarily the best representatives or most highly recommended restaurants. The race-sponsored pre-race spaghetti feeds are often too chaotic and cheap for my liking. I%26#39;ve felt that even pizza/fast-food pasta (a la Grotto or Seasons Pizza chain) does the fueling job just as well. Glad I stumbled into Mrs. Robino%26#39;s/Little Italy section-- I got lost trying to find Gallucio%26#39;s, which was closer to my lodging.

Again, I was impressed with the friendliness of everyone I met, the density of history, art, culture, and sporting activities (was able to catch the Phillies game before my PHL evening flight) in an hour%26#39;s drive radius, and the organization of the Delaware Marathon.