This race gets hard when it's hot and muggy, but this year was pretty nice and smooth. Big hill right at the start in the first 200 meters or so. … MORE
This race gets hard when it’s hot and muggy, but this year was pretty nice and smooth. Big hill right at the start in the first 200 meters or so. After cresting there’s a dip and another incline, then it flattens out, save a little hill on the way back into town. Great little town (and town festival that afternoon) that’s worth hanging around for if you like small town charm. Very back of the pack friendly.
Only gripe (aside from arduous signup and results issues because they use someone other than the big names to register, is that the medal really is the lowest tier you can offer. It’s the generic premade medal that you can buy at the medal store for a buck and some change including the engraving on the way out the door. More appropriate to a grade school track meet or something. The shirt was a nice thick cotton T, but I have to deduct at least one point from “average” for the medal that can’t even generously be considered mid.
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A tale of two races...
This race gets hard when it's hot and muggy, but this year was pretty nice and smooth. Big hill right at the start in the first 200 meters or so. … MORE
This race gets hard when it’s hot and muggy, but this year was pretty nice and smooth. Big hill right at the start in the first 200 meters or so. After cresting there’s a dip and another incline, then it flattens out, save a little hill on the way back into town. Great little town (and town festival that afternoon) that’s worth hanging around for if you like small town charm. Very back of the pack friendly.
Only gripe (aside from arduous signup and results issues because they use someone other than the big names to register, is that the medal really is the lowest tier you can offer. It’s the generic premade medal that you can buy at the medal store for a buck and some change including the engraving on the way out the door. More appropriate to a grade school track meet or something. The shirt was a nice thick cotton T, but I have to deduct at least one point from “average” for the medal that can’t even generously be considered mid.
Excellent small-town race @ a hidden gem
Where to start. I love small towns that put on races like this because you get to travel and find little gems like this one. Plus, they have an actual … MORE
Where to start. I love small towns that put on races like this because you get to travel and find little gems like this one. Plus, they have an actual ruck option (for those interested it’s 20lbs and 5k), but I was doing 10k in the normal division. I appreciate that the option exists even if I don’t get to take it since all my races are wearing weight and I’m trying to promote the community.
Great rolling hills. Beautiful scenery. There aren’t many (offhand I can’t remember ever) races where I actually stop to take a picture of the scenery. The rolling hills of the family farms interspersed amongst the groves of trees looked like I had stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting. Not the fastest course to be sure, but a great place to get some hill work in at a place where it’s scenic enough to distract you. The other nice thing is at the halfway point it’s pretty much flat from there on out, so you have time to recover and get your second wind. The last couple miles are on paved road along the river headed back to town and it really gives you a sense of serenity as well as movement and it’s easy to find your pace after the hills here. The 5k, from what I understand, is pretty much entirely flat. The folks were all incredibly friendly and seeing the weight I was wearing they all encouraged me along when I turned off at the 5-10 split for the longer race. It was not a cool day so that was appreciated greatly. I hope to have more time to stick around and hang out in town next year after the race, but I had prior commitments this year that I had to return to address.