The half marathon was part 2 of the weekend.There was also a quarter marathon at the same time.
Bib pickup started on Friday, but I picked mine up on Saturday before the 5k. Half marathoners got a tech shirt, cap, buff, and magnet with a Charlie Brown theme.
The race began on time after the anthem and a moment of silence for 9-11.
The race course is a double loop. You start by circling the entire parking lot, and then you enter the park through tbe main entrance. You run through the park, the water park and past the dinosaurs. You exit the park, run through the camping area, and then back to the parking lot. After a short out and back, you start all over again.
The course is hilly and well marked. The water stations are well manned.
Here is what I didn't like:
The pacers. The 3 hour pacer ran too fast at the beginning, because she said she puts time in the bank for later. This is not pacing. She lost several runners and freaked out many more with her erratic pace. The 2:45 pacer went out so fast that he walked the last several miles so he would finish on pace. The 2:15 pacer finished several minutes early.
There were no photographers anywhere on the course. There was one at the finish, but photos haven't been posted yet so I don't know if I have a photo. She missed me yesterday so I'm not optimistic.
No characters on the course for most of the race.I managed to snag them on their way to the finish but many were not so lucky.
No one was keeping park goers off of the course. A large group of girls were walking on the course even though there was plenty of room outside of the cones. It slowed me down, and many others, on an uphill at the end of 13 miles.
oh wait. 12.9 miles.
The course was short. After mile 4 it was off at every mile, anywhere between a quarter to a tenth of a mile, it varied from mile to mile.
Ok
Rant over.
Plenty of food and drink at the finish, which was nice. Bagels, cream cheese, apples, bananas, water and Powerade.
Water stations had gels at some stops.
Overall I'm not a fan of the series, but the course is so amazing that I'll probably be back.