After a very successful 2013 season, I wanted to join the "2-hour Club" at the 5/3 River Bank Run. Had everything gone perfectly - I may have achieved this feat. However, the odds were NOT in my favor.

Great entry fee - $35. You get a cotton logoed Tshirt. You can pay extra to get the "official" tech tee. I have too many of those already, so I just saved my cash. The expo was easy to get to and fairly quiet. I didn't have to wait in the lines for anything. The SWAG bag was nothing special - but did include a sample packet of Vegetable (or Soy) Oil that expired in 2012 - WTF!

I woke up feeling un-motivated and a little dehydrated, but that isn't the race's fault. We got to the race start with ease and hung out in the DeVos place until 8:10ish when we reported to the corral. It was seriously the most laid back system ever. I lined up with the "Official 2-hour Pacing Group"..and at 8:20, we were off. The first couple miles were ripped off in 7:30s (Note: we should have been cruising at 7:43 pace) - so obviously the pacers needed to learn a lesson on pacing. DON'T BUILD A CUSHION, PEOPLE.

I had to pee, I stopped at one of the port-o-potties (first EVER potty break in a race). The doors opened up INTO the flow of the race, which doesn't make any sense and it is the first time I'd seen that happen in such tight quarters.

After I decided to not go for 2-hours anymore, I heard some girls chatting and they said their 8:00min/mile paces were ripping off 7:45s for the first half of the race. Seems like they need to hire better pacers - ones that run even splits, not building a cushion for the hills later, because you don't loose too much time on them.

Crowd is minimal except for a few key spots around mile 6.5 and the finish. I will admit the course scenery is nice - along a river, some of it shaded, the second-half is pretty much in the sun and hilly. Oh the sun - that came out and made things HOT. The aid stations were nothing to brag about, unprepared people trying to give you cups with a TABLESPOON of water or gatorade. Fill 'em half way, people.

The medal was just a small little thing with a green ribbon and the Runner Refresh food was nothing special.

Overall, I like the distance of the race. You don't get to race 25k very often. However, I think it could use a few upgrades for next year including a "waved" start, better/more consistent pacers, better runner refresh area, etc.