HF#11988

February in Tennessee is always cold and brutal as it is our snow...well, ice season and in my 18 years in the area that part has never changed so you have been warned! This race is decent but not great. I think it is perfect for a checkup run to see how you fared over the holidays and what you need to do before half marathons really pick up in the spring. The expo is decent for it's size but the location is lousy because there is no parking within a block of the arena and it is hidden under the arena with the entrance around the back so it looks like a service area. Swag is pretty unique as a nice cotton jacket and you have the opportunity to register early for more freebies and they have race specific items for sale at the expo also. Parking access for the race is easy...if you are familiar with the area. Well, at least it was this year as they had empty construction lots while building the baseball stadium. I have not seen the area much since it opened this summer but it is important to highlight that you cannot park at the farmers market. We were lucky having known the area and parked very close to the starting line which was perfect because the starting line was unbelievably cold just standing in the low teens wind chill. The course is not flat but the worse hill is the very beginning, after that it is mostly gradual inclines and declines and maybe one or two more hills but they are short. Aid stations are every mile and a half or so and they have plenty of sweets on the course if that is your thing. Sweets and running do not mix well with me so I bypassed but they have flavored marshmallows, chocolate covered pretzels, and if you are lucky, the light will be on at the Krispy Kreme where they have been known to hand out free fresh glazed donuts. The medal at the end was pretty unique and custom for Nashville and there is lots of hot chocolate and chocolate fondue available at the end. Again, sweets not my thing when running and when I did try some of the stuff in the car later it was super rich which isn't my thing is general.

So there you have it, a sweet race in hot chocolate weather that is nice to see where you stand going into half and full season.