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 soft 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.

The expo was small. There were area running stores, local race booths and places to make signs. There was race specific merchandise, information and plenty of photo opps. There were even water coolers provided. The expo was the day before the event, you could register too. There was no race day bib pickup.

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: The course seemed different from the year I ran, it was on the western side through more residential neighborhoods.
-Terrain: all paved, some spots with potholes. There was one area near the finish under construction. Small section of limestone trail
-Elevation: There are hills, longest climb was near mile 9
-Aid stations: It was announced there were to be 10 stops. They all had water, and some had lemon-lime Gatorade. All were in paper cups, and each liquid a different cup. However, each stop was laid out different, wasn't sure which liquid was first. bananas. I don't use gels, so I can't recall if there were any. No food.
-Scenery: The course was lacking the usual Madison sights like the sports arenas and arboretum. There were views of the lake, and residential areas.
-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
-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 proceed to grab one of the coldest post race chocolate milks ever! 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: The event is always well organized, I wish aid stations would be uniform, but other than that, I would definitely recommend this event. Madison is a fun place to hang out when the Hawks are not in town.

My Race: I just had a goal to finish, it was hot. I finished with a time near 2:24, not my best and not my worst. I didn't struggle, but I also didn't push too hard.

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