Julie Whitbeck's Staging Area

Great swag! I completed the Cowtown Challenge running the 5k and marathon and got 4 shirts (5k, marathon, marathon finisher, challenge) and 3 medals (5k, marathon, and challenge.) The challenge is a cowbell! The expo was large. Sunday was unusually hot with temps rising to mid 80s. We were under a heat advisory – not a good day for anyone looking to PR. Lots of spectators offered water and support in addition to race production support being excellent. In short there was water almost every 1/2 mile and we needed it!! Thank you to race producion and the Fort Worth police for keeping us safe and keeping the finish open for all the runners walking in their finish!!!

Downhill almost all the way. If you’re looking to PR in a gorgeous location, this is it. Small race, small production, but suitable for the size. The biggest challenge is the slope of the road. Race difficulty would be a 1 if it wasn’t for that. You run on the shoulder in the canyon while traffic continues, but traffic is minimal and people are really considerate of runners. The slant can be hard on the feet though and I had some pretty painful blisters to show for it. Race swag is a t-shirt (cotton) and medal is small, but this is not a race you run for swag. It truly is the beauty of Spearfish Canyon and the surrounding communities that make this an exceptional race.

The race was well organized. I enjoyed the scenery and running through the Capitol area. It was 2 years ago so my memory is fuzzy but I highly recommend.

As a repeat runner, I’m still awed by the view as we run up, across and over the Ambassador Bridge at dawn. That really is a sight to see. The tunnel is a hot can of sweaty runners, but that first breath of cool fresh air as you emerge is like nothing else. The production is ok – they could label, stretch out and organize aid stations better so you know where water and gatorade are. Those turn into congestion nightmares. The Detroit swag is the best I have experienced so far, especially if you run the Saturday and Sunday races. Still lots of fun!

Easy, flat course. Great production, aid stations, security. Tons of crowd participation! So much fun!! Make sure your bib is showing and smile a lot. They take great pictures. And they hand you a beer at the finish line. Thanks Goose Island!

Awesome crowd participation and aid stations. The scenery was great! Cincinnati is a lovely city and the motivational signs along the way were appreciated. The hills snuck up on me though, and I ended up tweaking my knee and having to walk after mile 19. The free pizza at the end was great! Salty gooey cheese hit the spot after that loooong walk.

The international aspect of this race is a lot of fun, but the hills of the bridge and tunnel can be tough. Luckily they are in the first half. Stay towards the walls in the tunnel – there’s cool air coming from the lower vents there.