A friend of mine was an ambassador for this race, so I thought I'd go run it. It turns out this is a relatively small race (no corrals, no wave start--neither was necessary) but a really excellent one. Personally, I would find it worth travelling for this low-key, friendly race and would likely go back in 2017.

Packet pickup is held at the running store. I didn't attend, because you were allowed to have someone else get your packet if you'd like. (I know a lot of races don't allow that now, but I appreciated it.) Race swag consisted of a very soft cotton t-shirt with vintage-inspired/retro race design. Personally, I love it. All runners also got a knit hat suitable for winter wear in real winter (which Scottsdale doesn't have, even if it does get chilly at night). It's nice to get a packet that isn't overstuffed with race ads and knick-knacks. Many people, including the friend I convinced to join me, picked up their packets on race day. There was pretty much no line, and there was a small army of volunteers ready to get everything to you quickly. Gear check was right across the street, which also made it easy to check your shirt and hat if you picked up on race day.

Parking was easy, as there were multiple large parking lots and structures nearby. Free parking is always a bonus! It seemed like everyone parked within a few blocks of the start,

The course was pretty flat, and while it was chilly when we started it warmed up during the course of the run. The race course is essentially a giant rectangle, down one main road (only partially closed, but there was plenty of room for runners), turn right, turn right, run through a park/golf course, run through a little bit of residential, and then turn right back to the finish (which was maybe a dozen yards from the start). This was my first visit to Scottsdale, which I only associated with golf courses, so I thought it was fun that the course did run around the edge of a golf course.

There were pace group leaders all the way to a 3:00 finish, which I thought was pretty cool. I wasn't out to nail this course, but until I developed a weird blister bad enough to make me not want to run much, I was on my way to a PR using a run/walk. Each intersection had police and volunteers to keep the runners safe, and everyone was very upbeat. The aid stations were well-stocked and had enthusiastic volunteers (I'm sure you've seen the races where all the volunteers are watching their phones with one hand--this was NOT that).

I was among the last dozen runners to finish the race, and was still greeted with fanfare and hoopla (and a medal) at the finish line. The medals are large and colorful, with the premium fat ribbon. When I finished it was sunny and gorgeous outside. There were a variety of tents for vendors, sponsors, etc. and I know some had snacks, but i pretty much ignored most of that and made a beeline to the mimosa garden!

The mimosa garden was a fenced off area (you know, state laws about alcohol and all) with some shade and some tall tables (so you could stand, or lounge on the grass). There were multiple kinds of sparkling wine, including a pink, and orange juice. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

If you're looking for a low-key race with useful swag, a flat and fast course, and a great after-race atmosphere, I recommend this one.

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