I originally signed up to run the John Beishline Memorial 5k to use as a shake out run the morning before the half marathon but an injury led me to throw my plans out the window. Instead, I went to Buffalo with thoughts that I would only run the 5k and run/walk it with my cousin as a fun run.

Registration: Registration was online and super easy. I emailed the race about changing shirt sizes and they responded quickly and said it was no big deal. The 5k was limited to 1,200 participants and the race filled up a few days before the event.

Expo/Number Pick Up: There was no expo before the 5k—it opened up at 9am, a half hour after the 5k started so we walked through after the race. The vendors were mostly local road races but I got a cool “7 Run 6” shirt from Fleet Feet. Number pick up for the 5k was the morning of the race and very organized. We hardly had to wait at all.

Swag: The only thing you got for the 5k was a nice moisture wicking t-shirt and a medal. The medal was ehh but I will definitely wear the shirt.

Start Line: With 1,200 runners, there was no real organization to the 5k start line other than fast runners up front and walkers in the back. We were fun running so it didn’t really matter that we were back of the pack to start.

Course: The course was ok. Pretty flat, a few hills. One aid station with water at about mile 2. The route went through neighborhoods before looping around Niagara Square and finishing in front of the convention center—the same finish line as the half marathon and marathon.

Food: After the race all the food was inside the convention center. Oreo cookies, popcorn, Cheetos (!!), cold pizza, etc. We had to wait until after the half marathon and marathon for the Mile 27 beer brewed by the Flying Bison for the Buffalo Marathon.

You can read my 2017 Buffalo Half Marathon Race Recap on my personal blog Run Jen Run: http://www.jenrunsfastblog.com/2017/05/race-report-buffalo-half-marathon-2017.html

Link to this review