This course is not to be taken lightly. It is a challenge but with the right training and attitude it is a lot of fun. This is my favorite RNR race I've done (this year marked my third go at it). Besides simply loving Nashville, I love the challenge the course offers. There are hills, but not so many that it is unachievable.

Other aspects I enjoyed this year.... number of bands and energy on the course, the fact that the course ventures through multiple Nashville neighborhoods, great expo (easy to get to, plenty of downtown [paid] parking), loved the medal (the record spins), plenty of course aid stations and volunteers.

What I thought could have gone better.... the start line was a challenge to maneuver. There were corral entrances only on one side (because the race wraps back around and runs by the corrals around mile 1) and the walkway was pretty narrow. I did identify that if I walked a block over and then cut up it moved much faster. There were a couple lightening strikes shortly before the scheduled start requiring them to push the start time back. I had signed up for event notifications, the notification I got said a 7:30 start time, but they were announcing 7:50 on the PA. When I asked solutions, they didn't know the right answer. I'd say improving communication would have been helpful (note the race ended up starting at 7:45, I had a 5 minute warning to get back to my corral). The tech-tee, the design was cool... but I have so many tech-tees, that any race that gives me another automatically gets a 3 for swag :-p!

Other notes, the start and finish are not at the same spot. The start is in downtown Nashville (Broadway area) and the finish is at the Titan's stadium. This means you have to choose your walk. I opted to park at the stadium which with traffic did take a bit of time to get situated and then you have to walk probably 10 - 15 minutes to the start over the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Cumberland. So arrive early! Do not be the arrive 10 minutes before the start person (unless you are in corral 20+).