Packet pickup was in Dick's Sporting Goods at the mall. I've picked up here before so I knew to go upstairs, however for anyone that hasn't, the signage could've been a little better. Raceday parking was easy, as you used the mall parking lot. Not many vendors out, maybe 4 or 5, plenty of porta-potties and the line moved fairly quickly. Line up was more or less all together- 10k was on the left side of the median, half marathoners on the right- but we all started together at the same time.
Down hill in the first mile, which was probably the biggest hill- so this was going to be a big uphill at the end coming back. There were police at each road/ intersection to hold or block traffic since we were on the road. Good water stops, but I don't remember seeing any porte-potties on the 10k course. At mile 3 the course split off for the half runners. 10k runners continued on the road and into a neighborhood which had less signage and cones. Luckily you could see far enough ahead to the next police officer in the road so you could kind of keep your bearings and know which way to go. The half runners merged back in with the 10k around this area as well. The course wound through the neighborhood and came back out on the original road we started on and then back up the initial hill before turning and heading toward the mall and the finish. The last mile was a slight incline back up into the parking lot of the mall and once rounding the last corner you could see the finish line.
Lots of spectators cheering you in. Run through the chute, medals were being handed out based on your bib color (10k white/ 13.1 yellow). Far as I could tell, the medals were basically the same, the 10k said 10k finisher and was blue while the half said half and was green, but same design. Banana halves, orange quarters, water & gatorade out on tables, then you could go over to the few expo tents for a beer. Since the race started at 730 am, that beer could be breakfast depending on what time you finish. There was a band there playing 80's music in the background.
Over all, good race, but was somewhat hilly in places. Definitely a challenge if you're not used to hills.