Registration:
Pretty straightforward, not difficult or terribly confusing even though there is clearly a translation gap.
Everything is extra though.
You pay for the chip (a rental fee if you give it back at the end of the race.
You pay for the shirt (if you want it).
You can pre pay for a massage if you need / want it which is cool.

The Expo:
Holy masses of people batman. I couldn't tell if i was at a race expo or the launch of the new iPhone! There were soooo many people lined up AN HOUR before the doors opened!!! Whaaaat???
The expo was in an airplane hanger....well in 3 of them. This expo puts anything RnR puta on to shame ( sorry comp group.🙍)
It was laid out pretty well too. You were routed from the front to the back to get your bib/chip and then you were free to do whatever you wanted. Leave, look at the vendors, eat at the food trucks
Yes, I said food trucks!
It was insane, but in a good way!
A map of thw vendors would have been helpful but not necessary.

Communication leading up to the race:
Really good. I think it was just enough. There were not too many or too few. I felt like I had ample information. 1 or 2 more wouldn't have been bad, but I was good.

The course.
Amazing. I am former student of German history so i was geeking out a bit, but there were so many churches and neighborhoods and and just all around interesting things to see!
Its a super fast course and there are so many peopke so there is a real danger of goinf out too fast (guilty)
There are race pacers and if you keep with them you will be good!
Its also really flat which helps you be fast!
There was never really a lull in the crowd either. There was always someone on the side of the road rooting you on.

A few things to note:
1. there is very little shade. Wear sun screen.
2. This is NOT an American Race. There is not water every mile, there is not nuun or gu at every stop. If you have a nutrition strategy pack it with you!
I made the mistake of only packing 3 gels assuming i would have a reprieve on the course.
I didn't
The one spot for gel was after the half. Maybe even further...
And it was gross.
The sample i had was NOT what they gave out on the course

The aid stations.
Well staffed plenty of water. Not enough of the "sport drink" early on.
But they had banana slices and apple slices and beer and tea and sport drink.

The finish line:
Super well organized. TONs of massage tables.
Tons of alcohol free beer. Lots of water and helpers. And really spread out so youre not on top of one a other.

The medal.
Okay.

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