Another great, energetic and fun run put on by the Giant Race!
If you want to avoid long lines and headaches, take advantage of the prior day packet pickup. I noticed on race morning you were only allowed to pick up your bib and instructed to get your t-shirt after the race. This was put in place to allow the line in the morning to move quickly for the 8am race start. However, the line to receive your t-shirt after the race was excruciatingly long. Some people waited 45 mins to an hour just to get their t-shirt.

The actual race course was fun, we ran the 5k this year. The course was ran in the opposite direction as last year which was fun as it allowed you to get a different perspective and view. The course begins at the entrance of the Raley Field baseball stadium, runs through a few small neighborhoods before turning and running approx 1 mile along the riverfront. After this you turn back towards the stadium, run around the run again and through the back gate where you finish on the dirt warning track in left field.

The parking to get in and out of the race was absolutely horrendous this year.I would recommend parking across the Tower bridge and walking to the stadium to avoid all of the long lines but there is otherwise no way to get around the long lines to park in the stadium parking lot. We waiting over 30 minutes just to park and over an hour to leave.

The stadium concession stands were all open for runners, so maybe next year we will relax, have a beer and eat some garlic fries before heading back to the car!