Jada Freer's Staging Area

EXPO: I was a late registrant so my bib wasn’t available in the general pickup line and I was directed to the info/services tent. I expected to wait but they set me up with my bib in less than a minute and I was quickly off to get my shirt (in a separate area). I then set out to enjoy the expo…but it was TINY and I had basically walked across it already. There were only a few vendors present. I was very underwhelmed and wondered if this was any indication of how the overall race would be (spoiler -it wasn’t).

PARKING/TRANSPORTATION: There is ample parking at the event center where the buses pick-up. Alternatively, one can park downtown and walk the few minutes to the event center in order to have their vehicle close to the finish. Either option works. The bus transportation was like a well-oiled machine and the worry I had felt from the expo dissipated. The full and half runners were very clearly separated so there is no chance of getting on the wrong bus. Lines were orderly and buses loaded quickly and left immediately so new buses could roll in. The drive to the start was quick and uneventful.

START: The start area is large and, while the layout is a little odd, it is organized. Tons of port-o-pottys and gear drop is really simple and moves fast. Water is available but nothing else. Fireworks and a canon start the race!

COURSE: The course is gorgeous and flat with just a couple of teeny gentle hills. . The first half is countryside and beautiful, the second half starts working through residential areas into town, but it is still scenic and pleasant. Aid stations are well placed but can get a little crowded if you are running with a pack as the stations are on the smaller side. There is a small but decent amount of spectator support along the way including a lot of pop-up aid stations by residents.

FINISH: The announcers try very hard to say every single person’s name as they cross. A very nice touch. Immediately after finishing, you get a medal and there are giant containers of water, Powerade, and cola so runners can get something in them straight away. After the fluids, there is medical, then portable toilets, a mist/shower to cool off, then baggage claim. All this is ‘runners only’ so it isn’t overcrowded with family and friends. After exiting the finish chute, there is a short walk to the finish area where there is food, pictures, and beer. The runner’s food tent had lemon pasta salad and spicy bean/quinoa salad plus other things like fruit chunks and bagel pieces. It was tasty albeit pretty small in portion size and you are only allowed one serving and no reentry. The beer was provided by Big Sky Brewing and they offered a variety to choose from which was incredible. Additional vendors were at the finish area with food available for purchase.

SWAG: The race shirt is really great and I’m so in love with the medal. I give these two thumbs up. Pictures are included and photographers are all along the course, not just the finish. I never received the virtual swag bag email so can’t comment on it’s contents, although, in my experience, those are just coupons and not really swag at all.

Overall impressions = this race is fabulous. I’ll be back for sure!