Briana Butler's Staging Area

Not the easiest place to get to if you’re from out of state, but so worth it! We actually flew into Green Bay and drove up from there and the drive was easy and plenty of hotels nearby the race. We stayed at the Hampton right there on the lake and it was super easy to walk right to the start. Packet pick up was a breeze. The shirts were Brooks tech type tees available in men’s and women’s sizing. Had some places on the course where you pass 5k participants running in the opposite direction as well as the other half marathoners which I actually like as it gives runners the opportunity to high five and encourage each other- love that about the running community. There are a few hills but I liked that the finish is gradual downhill. There are some stretches with some good shade and I was grateful for some cloud cover in other open areas even though the weather really was as good as it gets for the middle of the summer. There were pacers starting with 1:40 goal time I believe. Running along the lake and through the park was super scenic. Even the finish line was great on the quaint downtown street (should add chocolate milk to the spread to make it even better🙂). It’s not a huge race yet- so can’t expect massive crowds cheering you on nor a huge expo or anything – but it seems to be growing quickly and the blueberry festival is the same day as packet pick up so live music and lots of vendors and booths to visit there if interested. Awards ceremony and raffle wasn’t til a little later so we went back and showered beforehand, but wish we would have come back sooner as there was awesome live music and super fun environment leading up to it. Medals were nice and we got a rose at the finish as well. Race photos available to purchase. Overall impressed and would love to do this one again if we make it back up to that part of the country.

I got “lucky” with one of the hottest years on record. . .and wasn’t prepared for the hills, but the race is run smoothly. Cool start and finish line festivities. Unique medals and shirt design is good even if not best quality shirt. Bigger small race with some okay scenery- but sure glad I did the half and not the full- would not have wanted to repeat that loop twice.

Disclaimer that it was freezing cold, windy and pouring rain for almost the entire race this year . .put a real damper on finish line festivities and I couldn’t feel my hands-but other than that . . it may have been good? I picked this one for the date and I liked the name- seemed fitting for Iowa. The medals are nice- the t-shirts okay. Packet pick was easy, no frills. Bus ride to the start was smooth. The scenery is meh- it’s the middle of winter and you run along the paved trail so it doesn’t change much . .but it was slightly downhill or flat so potential to run a great time. Can’t speak on the finish line as I just wanted to get in a hot shower and defrost. . .but the race volunteers were all out there doing job and all deserve medals for sticking it out in brutal conditions! Looking for a small race in Iowa? This one will do.

I ran this back in 2010 as my first half ever and again in 2022 on the new course so it’s special to me. The new course is flatter and faster and perhaps a little less scenic all through downtown areas. The expo is pretty good sized with a variety of booths with giveaways and things for sale. The tech shirts were not my favorite in ‘22, but medal is good quality. There are some really good spots with people cheering on the course including the finish and others that are more sparse. Finish line festivities are great with lots of post race food and drinks, giveaways, photo ops, etc. It is a bit if a walk back to hotel and parking if from out of town. Kentucky countryside is beautiful so worth visiting while you’re in town. They do cool handmade pottery mint julep cup from Louisville stoneware for age group and top 100 finishers if you’re fast 🙂

Revel specializes in downhill races and they’ve been doing it for a while so things will run smoothly. You get on a bus in the wee hours of the morning and ride to the start where it can get cold and you have to wait for a while, but they’ll have food, drinks, plenty of portable toilets and they provide you with gloves and mylar blankets at packet pick up to use race morning until you warm up. Course has plenty of aid stations/toilets and they provide free race photos from the start to the finish! The shirts are designed well and you’ve got options to pay extra for a different kind of your liking (tanks, long sleeves, etc). Medals are heavy duty. Expo and finish line festivities do not disappoint and this course in particular definitely has PR potential for the half.