I ran this race in 2016 as my first half marathon and came back again in 2021. I will say that it's very possible that COVID and bad weather had a huge impact but I noticed a drastic downgrade in race quality from 2017 to 2021. In 2021 the aid stations were awful - often there weren't any cups of water poured, nobody to hand you a cup, no water, or a pitcher to pour from yourself. I also thought the expo and swag was extremely cheap and lacking.

I ran this race as my Iowa race for my 50 states half marathon challenge and it did not disappoint. It is very hilly but you run up to a park with a view and a castle! The end is also downhill and flat which is a huge treat. Everything was extremely well organized and I had a ton of fun. The after party was also very well done with food, drinks, beer, and music.

This race was a ton of fun. It is known for the net downhill course which allows for a fast run. You definitely feel like you're flying and the slightly chilly weather is a bonus. The scenery isn't anything to get too excited about at the beginning and middle parts but the end is gorgeous. I would highly recommend this race!

I used this race as a workout opposed to racing all out. It was perfect because I signed up really early for a super affordable price and it was a fun way to get in a long run. The race definitely has a small town feel and there isn’t a ton to look at it. You can see the lake some of the race but you also see a lot of corn fields and country roads. However, it is extremely well organized, the swag rocked and for 2018 the weather was extraordinarily nice. They also do the post race beers at a nearby bar/restaurant. The finisher area is on a beautiful part of the lake by a lighthouse which makes for awesome pictures. I would definitely do this race again especially for the price I paid ($30) but I did sign up almost a year in advance.

The course is not challenging and there is PLENTY to look at while you run. The course balanced downtown views with more scenic views along the river. There were a lot of runners but I never found myself in any bottleneck situations or traffic jams where I couldn’t get around people. I really like Rock n’ Roll marathons new gel (SIS). They had 2 available on the course which was awesome!