This was my second time running the half, and it turns out that it is just as challenging as I remembered from the previous year, but also just as beautiful.

If you don't like miles of cowbells and cheering, or pancake flat courses, this one is for you! It's lovely scenery through horse farms, but you have to have your own mental game ready, as there are not many people other than volunteers at aid stations to offer encouragement for the relentless hills.

The Expo is quick and easy with free parking just outside. There are a lot of add-ons for tours of farms and distilleries if you choose to do so. Day-of parking is straightforward and free, but get there really early and hang out indoors to avoid the bottlenecks.

Swag was a nice shirt, or jacket if you select the premium option. In fact, there are a lot of opportunities for adding premium merchandise if you really love the race/region.

If you select the VIP option, you get almost no waiting for real indoor toilets; however, the nice VIP lunch afterwards didn't have enough seating available. People would throw their things over chairs and go walk through the expo that was open afterwards, and leave no space available for mid or back of the pack finishers. The last thing I wanted was to stand and eat while balancing a plate and gear bag after all those hills. Fortunately, my pass was free from a contest, so I wasn't as upset as I would have been as a paying VIP member.

Overall, I enjoyed course, and recommend it as a spring race in KY for those who want a rural road race.