This is my review for the Half Marathon race part of the series; half and full runners start together. Also, note: this year's race was the first weekend in October. I registered a week before the race, so this was quite an expensive race entry for me. Pro tip: register early! This race starts near the river in downtown at Lewis & Clark landing; the expo was not in downtown, so there was a drive to the OTHER convention center in Omaha (host hotel) to pick up packets. If you stayed at the host hotel, they offered shuttle service to the start line (uncertain if shuttle service was provided back).

It was a typical small race expo that had a few vendors; there was no race day packet pick-up. Very cool that Olympic runner Frank Shorter was a guest speaker at the Expo! Race registration included a long-sleeve tech tee and a beer koozie (!!!) with the race logo on it (the joke was that you carry it on the course, and that was how they knew to give you beer instead of water).

The start time on race day was 7am, it was DARK! Thankfully, the race director thought ahead and provided plenty of lighting, and I LOVED the pre-race mini festival at the start line (there was fresh hot coffee, hello!). There was also a bag check at the start line, but it wasn't referenced in the race day communication or on the website.

The course navigates two states (Nebraska and Iowa), which is a very cool race highlight! Pacers were also provided through the Running Club. The first three miles of the course had a few unexpected hills; after you cross into Iowa, there is a lot of time spent on the trails, but it was flat and tolerable. The coolest experience, of course, is running across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge — where you cross the border from Iowa back to Nebraska — and is the last mile approach to the finish line (though running along the river makes that finish line feel like it's MILES away).

Chocolate milk at the finish line sealed the deal for me — this was one of my favorite races this year. The post-race party had a TON of food: bananas, orange wedges, snack bars, cookies, pastries, chips, coffee. I would take a road trip back to run this race again next year.