Jordan Stick's Staging Area

Expo was better than expected; a few running stores with any last minute supplies you may have forgot.

The race.

Pros:
– Marathon start was 2 hours earlier than the half, so less crowded in the corrals and along the course.
– plenty of aid stations for water and power-aid
– Down hill finish, last ~2-3mi if you’re feeling good.
– Finishes indoors and they have plenty of warm food and drinks to warm you up

Cons:
– Lots of hills and turns. First half was looping back and forth through neighborhood roads, moving up or down the whole time.
– There is an early start for marathon walkers, and they tended to block the course walking 4 wide when you are passing.
– Course isn’t marked well in the space and rocket center; I added a few hundred yards back tracking.

The wind and cold this year were brutal, but if you caught good conditions it would be a much better day.

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Course is mostly flat and fast. However, since its loops and certain points are crossed multiple times (out and backs) it does get congested. If your a front of pack runner be prepared to shout to get runners starting their 2nd loop to move over from miles 22-24. Also, there’s a section on gravel which if removed would greatly improve the course.

Starting with the good.
The course was fast downhill race with a few rollers in the middle. Very scenic along a river or reservoir the entire run. Some unique sections mile 15-21 though the gorge.
Ample aid stations and plenty of volunteers.

The negatives
If you’re a faster runner be prepared to dodge half marathon walkers during the later miles of the marathon. It is always a struggle with a point to point race no matter how much volunteers try to prevent it, walkers never stay on one side and always walk 4 wide holding hands. Probably lost close to a minute in the last 2 miles weaving all over the road.

Also, bathrooms lines at the start were crazy long, +30min.

fast mostly downhill course with a decent ~2mi hill at mile 6. The first ~8 miles are scenic ins the desert but its dark so you can’t see much. After that’s is running through commercial and residential areas.

Parking was really bad. Poorly communicated and no signage. Give yourself plenty of time to park.

Lastly, having to run though the half-ers for the last ~6miles was very annoying as they often blocked the entire road.

extremely flat (under 100 ft of elevation) course through Oregon farm land. some mountains in the distance but no scenery other than that.

Aid station every ~2 miles with water, gatorade, banana and oranges. One con was the plastic cups which couldn’t fold so had to stop and drink or you spill all over yourself. Hopefully they fix that before next time.

Volunteers were very nice, as you run up they’d ask if what you needed and cheered loudly.

Expo was minimal.

Post race had plenty of food and drinks. Finisher medal was a piece of wood on a string, so if you chasing bling look elsewhere.

I don’t believe there was a flat section on this course. The first half was much nicer than the back half. Seems like they tried close as few streets as possible on the back half.

Little communication from the race director. Expo was tiny and disappointing. I would recommend will call to avoid the traffic and parking at the aquarium.

Race shirt is nice quality

Most scenic race yet. First half has great views of the grand tetons then nice double track trail along the river.

Cons: no bathrooms at the start and not one until mile 9. Cheap finisher “medal” (wood).