I ran this race as part of my marathon training plan and was ecstatic to have PRed in it! I loved the course. It started at my alma mater, Arizona State University, which made for a a very happy start. We ran right past my dorm and it definitely prompted me to throw up the pitchfork whenever I saw a photographer. The course went across Tempe Town Lake and through a part of Scottsdale I used to live in with several of my sorority sisters. About midway through we had a hill to climb. Luckily, it was one of my favorite roads in the Phoenix area, up McDowell in between two bluffs with a gorgeous view of Phoenix. We dropped back and the rest of the course was downhill! The final part of the run was through Papago Park with beautiful desert views and over the Mill Ave Bridge across Tempe Town Lake. It was a fun course with moments down memory lane for me and scenic desert views. For those of us who didn't go to ASU, it's still cool to run through the canals, up McDowell Road for a spectacular view of Phoenix and see Sun Devil Stadium in the distance.

The volunteers and crowd support were great! I was thankful to have both Gatorade and water at most aid stations and the rock bands were a nice touch. My favorite was the drum group at Mile 9. It was right in the middle of the hill and their beat was so motivating and powerful! They also gave Salted Watermelon Gu at Mile 7 which was actually pretty tasty!

The medal was awesome. The colors looked like ASU and it resembled the shape of the state. I liked the shirt, it was a red tech shirt and the women’s shape fit well.

Post race was pretty solid. We were give chocolate milk, snacks, gatorade and a free Michelob Ultra. There were a few concerts post race, including one from the Wallflowers which was pretty cool! Rock N Roll races a bit a pricey and much more crowded than races like the Phoenix Marathon, but I would do it again!