Melissa Hendrix's Staging Area

It was well organized, communication was flawless, signs led you to the start line (quite an remote location) with ample parking. Check in was a breeze. There were not near enough porta-potties and the race official stated that this happens every year with this race. Swag was great except the shirts don’t have the year printed on them. You have to wear a headlamp for 4 miles of the course which makes for a sweaty forehead and you run with a bit of fear in the dark. Aid stations were spread a bit far (every 2.5 miles or so), but this was outlined in the 17 page participant information pdf. And I am not sure how an out and back could be uphill and into the wind both ways, but there you have it. Late start so if you travel in, book an extra hotel night or it will be a long, stinky trip home.

The good: Great weather, great start and finish line, great communication leading up to the race and they announce your name at the finish. Scenic city run and a downhill straight shot from 13 to 13.1.

The bad: I paid a $75 registration fee and all I got was a lousy cotton T-shirt and a medal. The finish line had cold drinks, pulled pork sandwiches, and pasta salad and packaged fruit (looked like peaches). No bananas for fresh fruit to be found. No pacers, and no time signals in the self serve start corral. Packet pick up was at a very small and very over priced running store. Don’t expect to stock up for race day. They didn’t give out safety pins at packet pick up and were stingy with them on race morning. I was persistent and was able to get 4 so I wasn’t running 13.1 with my bib flopping around. One water stop around mile 8 was out of water.

The course: First 5k was really fast and then the hills started. Very pretty run around town and down greek row.

Even though it was raining and cold, it was a great race. Plentiful parking, well organized, cheap price included a sweatshirt, scenic and fun run. I will be back next year!

I wasn’t exactly looking forward to this race, it has gotten mixed reviews. It was great. I wasn’t adequately trained and the hills (who put the big one at mile 10) were horrible. The Air Force did logistics well. Expo, start line, course, and finish line area were all exceptional. There was a blue mile which is always a moving tribute. Post race refreshments and seating were abundant. I will run this one again.

Running over the bridge was the least impressive part. Most beautiful run I have ever had. Swag, expo, and finish line refreshments are an American phenomenon, don’t expect the same here. Only down side was that I was enjoying the scenery so much I was on an easy run. Could have run faster and the finish line was a surprise with plenty of gas still in the tank.