Registration: Available online and at the expo, with increasing prices as the race neared. Included was a bib with your name, finisher's medal, timing chip, post race beer, gender specific short sleeve tech shirt, and free race pictures.

*you could also register for the Conquer the Capital Challenge, which would earn you an additional medal and hoodie, if you ran the 10k the night before.

Expo/Packet pick up: The expo was held at the Monona Terrace. Parking was on-site in a ramp for a $5 or on the street at a meter. There were also other events going on here. With the proper paper work someone else could grab your packet. There was a place to check that the timing chip worked on the bib.
*Will call or race day packet pick up was available for a fee.

The expo was small. There were area running stores, local race booths and places to make signs. There was race specific merchandise and information. There were even water coolers provided. The expo was the day before the event, you could register too.

Pre race: Plenty of FREE on street parking blocks away. Port-o-potties lined up on the street. The race started and ended at the State Capitol. The National Anthem was sung before the events. Corrals were self seeding, and pacers were available.

Race/Course: A tour of Madison.
-Terrain: all paved streets.
-Elevation: There are hills, especially a surprise after you leave the arboretum.
-Aid stations: There were many on the course, all with water and lemon lime Gatorade. There was a stop with bananas.
-Scenery: The course was back to touring around Camp Randall, The Kohl Center and the Arboretum where I spotted many turkeys.
-Photographers: FREE pictures from various locations on course
-Course markers: each mile was marked, course easy to navigate
-Volunteers: intersections with marshals or police, very upbeat at aid stations . There were some side streets with no one, so had to be alert for cars.
-Spectators: There were a great spattering of them along the course with lots of fun signs
-Tracking: there was an app 'Race Day Events" that you could download to track runners and find race day information.

Finish/Post race: The finish line was under the starting arch. Photographers there to snap a memory. A volunteer placed a medal around your neck. Then you were given a bottle of water. There were orange slices and bananas and more food which was already bagged up from Panera - a sandwich (meat or veggie) chips and a cookie and chocolate milk.

Once out of this area, you could take photos with the back drop and if you did the challenge, grab your Conquer the Capitol Challenge medal. From here you could go to the beer area to redeem your free Michelob Ultra, where there was also a massage / sports therapy tent. You could also just camp out on the Capitol grounds.

Overall: I liked that the course went back to the arboretum this spring. It's just a more scenic route. Madison offers a great event for the price.

My Race: I am no where close to racing a half marathon, so with the 10k the night before I was using the combination as training for my next marathon. I wasn't necessarily on the struggle bus, but I wasn't having the best race ever. I had to stop after mile 4 for the bathroom, I had to walk the steep hill. However, I found a friend from Iowa in the last mile and we chatted to the finish. I had a time near 2:30.

I will be back for more medals in November as this challenge and that event will give be the Conquer the Capital half and half title!

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