Course: GORGEOUS. Salem Lake is really pretty, some hills, and hugs the lake the entire way around. On a rainy day, it's probably muddy, but the paths were clear and dry. There was a weird out and back to make mileage towards the end, but then you went up a steep incline, across an overlook of the lake, and banked into a hard downhill at the finish. For just about every uphill, you are rewarded with equally pleasant flat stretches and downhills.

T-shirts/Swag: handstamped clay medals for each finisher. Gender specific tech shirts, and they are so comfy (it's a new favorite). For the registration, you can't beat it.

Aid stations: I can't speak for those doing the longer distances, but there was ample water and gatorade when I visited the station (at about mile 3.5). At the finish area, there was ample sustenance (PB&J, hot broth, Gatorade, jelly beans, bagels & cream cheese, etc.).

Parking/access: if you arrive SUPER early (at least an hour ahead of time), there's parking right at the start by the lake. If not, you're about half a mile down the road. It's not terrible, but since it's an ultra and a lot of folks are bringing gear, changes of clothes, or fuel, it means a lot of back and forth or carrying your things a ways.

Relay option: The relay was great, and lots of fun to watch. The chip bracelets though were a bit of a pain. They were slap bracelets, and our group had a timing issue with our first leg, then another runner lost it because they didn't clasp well.

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