I have to admit, when a friend invited me to join her on this event, I was a little aprehensive. I am not a big obsticle course fan, but this race advertises itself to be all abilites friendly so I jumped in.

The was it sets up is simple. You are given a map at the start with the direction to your first station somewhere in Downtown Vancouver. This might be my only big complaint about the race in general, to get the map one person from your team had to get in a circle and they threw the maps in the air. It caused for a little too much chaos (and me taking an elbow in the head)

There are 15 stations in all and you have two hours to get to as many of them as you can. At each station there was a physical and mental challenge you had to complete before you had been told which station was next to go to. Because my friend and I agreed to walk the whole thing for both of our sakes, we managed 8 of them. Zero regrets in not making them all, the one thing we figured out quickly is this is an event you make your own.

The stations varried. Our faviorte station by far was the mini-obsticle course and it wins based on the volunteers. The group who ran this station had been so energetic and supportive, they really did want to see you get over the walls, walk the balance beams, and do everything involved. Even if you didnt think you could (I was not sure I could handle the walls and they had been small).

Our least favorite had been the apple eating. You had to eat an apple to its core without your hands, which is impossible when you think I have jaw problems and I don't even remember the last time I tried a whole apple. But if you knew you could not make it (and this one we both knew we couldn't do) you just stayed at that location for five mins.

It does look like there might of been a log jam at a couple spots (we did not make rock climbing but it looks like it was jammed up) so this does take some patience.

As your two hours winds down, you return to the finish where you are given a medal and a chance to win some great door prizes. There was a lot of door prize options all away down to past years race shirts so there was a good chance of winning something for your efforts.

I really did enjoy this event a lot. It is small, very family friendly, and it goes to benefit a local food bank. I think it was a great way to push outside my comfort zone without getting in over my head.

2015 was the first year for the event. It defiantly had its share of first year growing pains, including the fact the course ended up changing a couple times as they had been needing to work the race with the spring football game at University of Oregon.

It is a no frills event that is meant to raise funds for Girls on the Run of Lane County and to give runners a more all-ages, all-abilities, smaller feel event. It is a different course then most events in Eugene and takes you through the Springfield farm lands.

The biggest growing pain was the mile markers, it seems all the mile markers had been totally off (most half marathons averaged 13.3 to 13.5). A few people complained about lack of sign marking and volunteers on the course, but I think that comes with the fact this is a first year race and they are figuring it out. At at the back of the pack, I think we only had two questions on the course.

The course was flat, and supported by some of the most energetic volunteers I have ever seen. They had been so excited to help the racers and encourage them. The water stops had everything you need including Stingers.

This was also the first race I have ever seen where the elites took the time to cheer on the back of the packers, everyone as out their encouraging each other which made the two first timers I was pacing feel so good about getting out there and running.

Also the race director was seen frequently out on the course working water stops, cheering on runners and just making sure it was a good environment for everyone. He also took the time to talk to a lot of runners just to see how he could improve. He was focused on improving.

I will be back, the race director is passionate about improving and making it all abilities friendly which makes this a very special event.