If you’re looking for a Seattle Half or Full, I’d actually look for a different race. I’ve lived in Washington State for 3 years and this is my first time doing RnR Seattle, and likely my last. I had signed up last year during their Global Running Day sale, which was the only saving grace.

Price: I registered early for something like $50. Race weekend sign up was insane ($75 for the 5K, $175 for the half and $189 for the full)

Packet Pick Up is at Century Link Field and I had no issues getting my bibs or shirts (I did the 5K as well). I browsed some, but wasn’t all that impressed with the expo. The shirts were meh and mine’s probably going in the donation bin when I get home. I arrived at 3 pm and had no shirt issues, but by the end of FRIDAY pick up, the S/M shirts were already out. How does this even happen?

Start/Finish: at the Seattle Center. I walked to the start from my hotel and took the Monorail back into town before walking to my hotel

The Course: oh the course. I don’t know how you get excited over a new course and it’s less than desirable. The first 1.5 miles was in town, but then the next 3.5 and change were on I-5. Yes, that I-5 that is a highway. They had some of it shut down for runners and I began having some flashbacks that was the HC 15K disaster of DC about 10 years ago. You had a few good views, but I still don’t understand how you’re seeing Seattle from I-5. After we got off the highway, we had about 2 miles around Lake Union before running by the ship canal which was meh. We crossed over Ballard Bridge and I saw a few people wipe out and fall because of running on uneven surfaces. Be prepared for some major incline from about mile 10.25-11, where most people were hiking up the hills rather than running. Afterwards, you passed the Gray’s Anatomy House, decent views of downtown at Kerry Park before heading down the steepness of hills you just ran up towards the finish. If the goal was to see Seattle, sure we got some views, but there could have been a lot better job at course design to see the city.

Water Stations: every 1 mile +. Some with Gatorade and water, some just water, some had gels

Finish: met with medals, water, chocolate milk and food, nothing special. Forgot about my remix medal until after I got back to the hotel and didn’t even care or want to go back for it.

Overall, something’s got to be done about the course, the shirt situations and just overall organization of the race....