This race offers amazing views, fantastic volunteers, an awesome weekend running festival for friends and family of all ages! The course scenery is breathtaking. I loved every second of it! I totally forgot I was in a race because I was taking it all in! The start line was well organized and I loved the 5:30 am start. The volunteers and spectators were awesome and I loved the energy. My only issue was the water. Of all things, water on the course. They served Qure Alkaline water with a pH of 10. I carried my electrolyte drink and relied on the course for water. I have never had alkaline water and at mile 16 began throwing up out of nowhere. I am an experienced long course athlete and nothing like that has every happened-ever. I felt amazing. Then boom. I kept going for a couple miles while getting sick. Then finally slowed and a man in a golf cart came over to check on me and handed me tissues to clean my self up. He must have radioed ahead to people on the next corner that a sick girl was coming through because two men flagged me down to make sure I was ok. I have never gotten sick on a course like that and I am so thankful for the awesome people and their communication! I was like wow! They were checking on me! I kept sipping the water and finally at mile 23 called it a day. An awesome volunteer captain took great care of me. He handed me a bottle of Qure and I was like...ummm have I been drinking this all day? The water was the only outlier and the only thing different about my routine. I registered on the fly and did not think to check the water on the course, only the electrolyte drink. I cannot thank the staff and organizers enough for having such great people out there.
Summary:
Gorgeous course!
Loved the early start!
AMAZING views!
Incredible volunteers!
Loved the weekend festival for all ages and distances!
Fantastic destination race weekend!
So well organized!
Just bring your own water or don't try it new on race day!
I will be back to finish what I started!