Michael T's Staging Area

After reading the 2025 reviews, very little has changed. I ran this race 4 years ago for the first time, and from reading the reviews, it seems like this race keeps going downhill. The medals are well done. They did give out a coupon for a free hamburger from Habit Burger which was appreciated.

The race no longer gives out nice wicking shirts, but cheap throw away cotton t-shirts.

The race started as 6:35 AM. It was dark when the race began, but within 15 minutes the sun was coming up. Good to start early and keep the temperature cool.

Very windy day, and historically, this isn’t unusual along the Colorado River area. The wind was strong enough to blow over the mileage signs. Since wind is a common factor at this race, you would think they would get a brick and hang from the signs to keep them from blowing over. That is to say for the signs they bothered putting up. Directional and mileage signs were minimal. If you couldn’t see the runner in front of you, it would be easy to get lost.

The biggest issue with the signs is that the turn around sign disappeared. According to race officials, someone from the City Public Works thought the sign was in the way, so it was removed. But the race officials didn’t bother putting a volunteer at the turn around point–the most critical place to have a volunteer. So of course, all the runners kept going until they ran out of trail, then turned around. This half marathon turned into a solid 14 miles. The lack of volunteers is a significant issue in this race. Not just this year, but last year also.

Most aid stations on the course had one volunteer and water was available, but no Gatorade. There were fewer water stations and bathrooms than I normally see for a half marathon. At the end of the race they provided warm water bottles, bananas and granola bars.

I don’t know where the profits go, but if they contributed more to the community to benefit local charities, they might actually get some community support. This race appears to spend as little as possible, lacks in volunteers, and is poorly managed. There are so many other races to choose from that understand how a race should be organized.

A good run through Arizona vegetable farmland that feeds a lot of America, and through the small town of Somerton. An out and back run with a good downhill drop at about mile 2 and uphill again at mile 11. The Cocopah Casino had great rates for racers, and you walk 100 yards out of the hotel to the starting line! They only provide goody bags for the first 300 that check in. I got there 2 hours after check in started on Friday and the goody bags were gone and they also ran out of T-shirts. Very disappointed in the race organizers. They knew well in advance how many runners would attend and the sizes they needed to order. The race itself was great, the organizers don’t deserve a finishers medal.

The race used to finish with the Gilbert Parade, but was changed to a new course this year. While some loved to finish in the parade, it took over an hour to get out of the traffic to go home. The new location away from the parade is a huge improvement in my opinion (others would disagree). The course is flat, with pretty much normal city street scenery. The race is well organized with people posted at turn arounds, and other critical areas, emails with accurate information, and an announcer at the start/finish line. The water stops were barely adequate, there should be a couple more added in the last half of the race. At the conclusion of the race there is no fruit, goodies, treats. Nothing, except a water bottle that wasn’t even cold. The vendors/tents are located 1/4 mile away, hidden back in the middle of some buildings. One of the vendors had oranges or bananas, provided at the expense of the vendor, not the race. The shirt and medal are uncreative and the same every year, only the color and date on the shirt changes.