I only did this race to add a state and because hey, who doesn't like the bling. The medals are pretty spectacular. Large, glittery, and a cute little "scene" of Wizard of Oz. The shirts on the other hand, while being super soft and nice, if you are long waisted or heck even normally waisted, it may be a little short for you. We stayed at a hotel just a few miles form the start. Knowing there was construction we wanted to ride one of the shuttles the race provided to runners and spectators.
The expo was nothing more than 2-3 people in the lobby of the Hilton. I can remember the pick up for your bag and shirt, the place that can engrave your medal and outside they had some t-shirt sales. We weren't there more than 5 minutes. Our emails that we received about the expo and race morning had said the shuttles pick up riders at the Hilton and the Hampton Inn. We stayed at the Hampton and upon check in I asked where we meet the shuttle at. The receptionist had no idea what I was talking about. A group of people had walked over from the Holiday Inn and had asked the same question. Receptionist again, looking stunned, said she had no idea. No effort made to find out. I told the group what info I had in my email.
Day of the race...again the morning receptionist had no idea there was a shuttle. Many runners had waited in the lobby and since the receptionist had no clue, they walked over to the Hilton. I asked her to call someone to find out, as I had company with me that would be taking the shuttle later (was to be offered until 9am for guests and until 2 pm for returns from the race) She seemed displeased I asked her to do that. She called Hilton and from the conversation I heard no one was for sure. Then she told me I had to walk over there. So I did, only to get on the bus to be shuttled back over to my hotel, in which you could hear all the groans from the runners who had just walked over! I blame that snafu on the race directors. Apparently someone forgot to get the info out to the hotels on what was going on.
Race...was not as flat as advertised, but nothing major. It was windy that day and of course being in April and in Kansas, storms started to occur. Course was o.k. It ran through a residential neighborhood, a long a few busy streets, and a paved trail. The trail seemed nice, unless you were doing the marathon or a back of the packer when the rain hit. The course was marked, however there were several questionable spots that someone could have gotten off course. Being you are running at Garmin head quarters, you would have thought marking the course would have been a no brainer...maybe they could have even made it fun. I finished while it was sprinkling. Right after my finish, I met up with my husband who of course couldn't get a ride on the shuttle and had to drive and park far away. The rain gushed! It got windy. I wanted to grab my goodies and go. My husband just wanted us to go. We headed into the tent with the food and my husband was told he could not enter the tent because he wasn't a runner. He told them he wasn't taking anything, but he had his expensive camera and didn't want to be forced to stand in the rain. They told him sorry, but you can't come in the tent. He got mad, went to the car. I grabbed my food and snagged my 2 beers and ran to the car as well. It truly was pretty crappy, because if you were not a runner, apparently you were suppose to stand in the rain/storm while waiting, even though they had tents. Ridiculous! I can say I probably won't be back, unless its just to improve my 2:03 whatever time. Not a pr, but not far off. Oh and I don't suggest the Hampton Inn if you choose to go and stay. You will hear every word coming from people outside the building, or in the hall, or even in the next room. I did not get much sleep... Overall, it was a cool medal and the finish food and what they had planned would have been great (except for weather and how they treated nonrunners). I wish they had a neutral for recommending a race on this page. I wouldn't recommend it, but I'm not going to say it was a complete bad race either. My experience from this one was tarnished from the hotel staff, not knowing anything, and the staff at the race on how my husband was treated. My picture is right after my finish and right before it gushed! (my husbands fish-eye lens is not recommended for runners lol) HF#11286