Chris VandeZande's Staging Area

Expo was normal for the covid era we are in, yet not impressed being slightly badgered by the water filter guy. I don’t want someone selling me something for my home at a sporting event expo. I wish he actually had water to pass out. Course was actually prettier than I expected although more rolling hills than I expected on the paved trail between mile 8-15 out and back. All the aid stations were well placed and great volunteers. I dressed up in a Dorothy costume so I got great fellow runner feedback and race volunteer motivation. I was pretty slow, but I did have Toto in a basket in tow. Due to covid this was postponed from April and I don’t know what the Emerald City celebration was suppose to be like as they felt they needed to cancel the after party. The finish was lack luster with minimal post race food and NO chocolate milk. I compared this to a very successful after party recently at Hartford CT with prepared food bags, beer tent, live music in a very spread out environment. I was a little more hopeful there would be a little more “hoopla” at the finish. It is a solid race for my 50 state endeavor. Oh and a helpful man at the expo entrance names Kelly suggested I go to the ymca for a shower, since I needed to check out of my hotel. It was perfect!!!

Although this course was to be downhill and fast and for most of the runners that was the case. I’m a slower runner to begin with and the downhill on the 2nd half caught up to me. But it was absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed the support of the Race director, and his volunteers were wonderful! Well organized small town race!!! We had perfect weather and even the post race chocolate milk and grilled cheese sandwiches!! (And a lot more!) you’ll love this race and it can count as either Wyoming or South Dakota if you are a 50 state hopeful!

Very well organized! Clever marathon mask in swag. Did well with safety measures. Had to adapt the course to 2 loops of out and backs but they did great with bottled water & Gatorade. Great local people supportive and just all around excited to actually hold a race!!!

So glad I choose this for my Tennessee, I became a hero and raised money. The organization was top notch!! Expo was nice and everyone is friendly! The entire city embraces this race. So many even who were not volunteers would thank us for running.
My only complaint, is they ran out of things at the post race party (how can you run out of chocolate milk, and there were still many runners coming in) and offered only beer.
The course is not all that pretty. The riverfront is not very clean and many areas looked run down.😞 Beale Street was suppose to be a cool place to go, but we were very uncomfortable when we went on a Friday, approached by homeless, and beggars following us for an entire block. It was sad but have us a bad taste of Memphis.

We were lucky with the weather, early start helped. Volunteers at all water stations were awesome! Nice medal! Tech shirt is a little heavy. Post party was awesome. I was not thrilled with the expo however. Not that there was not enough there, but it was too small of a venue! No parking! People were angry with each other trying to get to the event. I was going to do the beer run, but it was so congested, I about had it. Caras park was fine for the post race, but I think an inside with large parking lot would’ve been better for the expo.

Well run course! The multitude of community spectator beer stop..WOW! I don’t drink beer but there were a few Fireball stops.❤️ 2018 was very cold, I thought traveling 1100 miles south it would be warm, but no! The extra bling for the shortest ultra was fun and with Jell-O shots! I did not like the post race. They made very regimented, could not return to the finish line, shuttled you out like cattle and then I couldn’t find the special tents or certain food they said would be there. Everything was so far apart.

This would’ve been a great race for me. I’m a slow runner & would’ve appreciated the flat course. But that wind got me. I was exhausted & very frustrated with the wind. It almost blew me over twice. I didn’t look around at scenery because I had to keep my head down. I did not have my usual pains (back, hip or feet), but my upper back was so tired from pushing myself. Ha Ha.
The organization was great, expo small but good things happening. Swag was nice. The after party was very good with plenty of food even for us slow marathoners. Best: Finally options at an Expo & post race other than beer for us non beer drinkers. Yum!

It wasn’t an exciting course, but for some reason I enjoyed it. Not much to do in Fargo, but I was able to concentrate on the race. The organization was superb!!! The swag bag was awesome!