Registration: I registered online months before the race. There were updates about the race via email (e.g. packet pick-up and race day reminders) that were helpful. I had a question regarding the race and person I contacted responded quickly and was very helpful.

Packet Pick Up: This could be done the night day before but I did it the morning of the race about 30 minutes before the start and I got in and out quickly.

SWAG: For participating you received a shirt, coupons to a couple of local stores including Iowa Running Company (a local running store in CR), a personalized race bib and a finishers medal. When I went to packet pickup they were out of my shirt size and told me they would mail it to me at a later date.

Pre-Race: The race is in downtown CR where there is plenty of parking both on the street and in parking garages. I arrived approximately 45 minutes before the race and was able to park a couple of blocks away from the starting line. Because of the 4th of July festivities in downtown CR there were a lot of streets that were blocked off. This made it a little more difficult than normal to navigate, but still not too bad. There were a bunch of port-o-potties very close to the starting line so if you had to go, the lines went quickly.

Course / Race: The course was an out and back. There was an 8K and a 5K (which started about 15 minutes after the 8K). You start in downtown CR, run through some nearby neighborhoods and end up at Bever Park and "Old MacDonald's Farm", a small petting zoo. This is where you turnaround and head back to downtown. Throughout the course there were many families that set up chairs and have coffee/breakfast out on their front yard and cheer you on. A few people had sprinklers going that you could run through (it was a hot and humid day). Overall, the course is pretty flat with a couple of very small inclines. When you arrived in the park there were a few speed humps you had to look out for but otherwise the roads were in good condition.

Aid-Stations: There were aid stations throughout the race. I can't remember exactly how many, but on a hot and humid day I felt like there were plenty. There was water at each stop as well as sponges near the turnaround to help you cool down. There were lots of volunteers so getting a drink went smoothly at all of the stops.

Post Race: As you crossed the finish line you were given your medal. In addition there was water, chocolate milk, watermelon, bananas, bomb pops and granola bars available at nearby tables. I did not stay for the award ceremony.

Final Thoughts: I live in Iowa City (about 20 miles away) and have never run an 8K so I wanted to try it out. I am still relatively new to the racing scene but I think this was a well run event that went very smoothly. You can tell that the race organizers were thorough as everything was very much in order, which I appreciated.

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