this is a mainly marathon race in the Independance series -- Delaware --
this race takes place in the Lum's Pond State park in Bear, Delaware. A very beautiful park. there is plenty of parking.
1. pre-race/packet pickup --- the morning of the race -- there is a t-shirt for the first race, not each race in the series -- there are other series shirts and other merchandise you can buy -- a very mini expo
2. start -- there is an early 5am and regular 6am start -- the early start is for the half/full marathon and 50K -- although there is no time limit except for the 50K
3. course -- this is a looped course -- goes across a grass field, thru a wooded area on a dirt trail, down a closed asphalt road and back -- fairly flat -- there is only one water station but it is a doosy -- lots of food (candy, sandwiches, pancakes, french toast, pickles, olives, fruit, coffee) and water/coke/gatoraid/chocolate milk and they keep your water bottle full or a cup with your name on it at the table ready for you at the table

this is a good run and these people put on a great race --- they really know how to do it

1. Pre-Race -- packet pickup -- at the depot downtown -- pretty easy to find but parking is difficult and traffic is congested thru the downtown area. parking is all over the downtown area. the depot area had a band playing and there were a few food vendors / porta potties available. the line for packets moved quickly and smoothly.
2. race day --- there were 2 starts -- Early (6:30am) and regular (7:30am) --- we did the 6:30am start with the 3:15 pacers -- the course was open from 7:30 - 11:30 -- and timing stopped at 11:30am -- but with the early start there was an extra hour of timing if you need upto 5 hours (woo woo) -- again parking is a bear. there is no one good place to park -- there are lots of parking lots around the downtown area but they belong to businesses and you dont know if they will have you towed or they are friiendly -- I suspect most are friendly.
3. Course -- I call the course FLAT -- very little up and down hill -- really the only uphill is an overpass at mile 12 and that is not as steep as some that I have run. the course runs thru the city neighborhoods, along the lake, through Arkansas Tech campus, and ends in downtown Russelleville -- lots of city support and people along the way yelling and holding signs -- local police/county sherriff deputies/Arkansas Highway patrol provided traffic control --
4. Finish line --- everybody moved thru the finish line quickly and rec'd their medal --- there was water/sports drink/pizza/chocolate milk -- outside the finish area were other food vendors and entertainment

I recommend this race -- I believe this is a good race to try for a PR.

Found this race by accident online -- thought it was an april fools joke at first -- no registration fee, no t-shirt(I have a bunch, dont need more), no medal, no time limit. lots of food. date of race April 1, 2017 --
talked to a couple of buddies that have done the race in the past and it is a real race so I signed up --- turns out this is a quality run. Put on by Dan Little in Madill, Ok at his 2500 acre ranch. If you want to try a trail run this is a good one to start with. not technically challenaging as far as trail runs go but you still get the feel for trails -- run on farm and field roads -- no really steep hills -- a few gulleys and ditches to cross -- as all trail runs would be -- if the weather is bad the trail would be very muddy and slick --
1. pre race -- small town -- few places to stay -- very nice best western hotel -- very few resturants -- braums and local places - very good though --- no race expo -- packet pickup on race day
2. race day -- good parking -- easy to find the race area --
3. starting line --- marked on the grass -- instructions by loud speaker -- very relaxed --- about 200 runners total in all
4. course -- trail run on dirt roads -- no really steep hills -- I would call this a basically flat course -- there are some up and down hills but nothing severe -- some gulleys and ditches as with any trail -- if there is rain it will by very muddy -- good aid stations but not many take water with you
5. finish -- no time limit -- at the finish you take your tag and write your time on it and put in a jar. they have an offical clock at the finish for the time -- Great food and alot of it at the finish
great run if you want to try a trail run -- I rec this run

This was the first time for the Omahalf in Omaha, NE. Overall for a first time race they did very well -- the only black mark for the race was the fact that it started at 10am.
1. Pre-race -- on-line/race day registration --- packet pickup on race day only --- parking was close on the street and in parking garages near the start/finish line --- my hotel was within walking distance (about 3/4 mile) from the the start. there was no Expo --
2. Starting line -- There was some confusion at the start -- there was a very narrow mat to run across to start your timing chip -- and the shorter distances were mixed in with the half marathoners even though they announced that just the half would start first -- also the half was sent in waves which was not announced -- so there was some pushing and anxious runners at the start.
3. Course -- The course was on a paved exercise bike/running trail -- the only uphill/downhill was as the trail went under bridges -- throughout the run there were bikers going by very fast and at times getting close depending on how many other people were around at the time. The course was straight out and back -- lots of water and sports drink - some stations had candy - on the course --
4. Finish Line -- some water/sports drink/cookies for nutrition -- medal was nice --

Overall I think this was a good run -- well organized for a first run -- but it started at 10am -- I did say something to the race officials about the 10am start -- they will consider an earlier start for next year ---
I recommend this run

1. Pre-Race --- registration is on-line or the nite before at packet pickup for t-shirt -- there can be race day sign up but no t-shirt --- parking is at the starting line thru out the downtown area -- easy in and out -- this is a small run -- we had about 60 or less people -- if you are coming from out of town there are several hotels in town -- or it is about 1 1/2 hours from Little Rock or Conway Arkansas if you want to come from one of those two towns on race day -- they have chip timing --
2. Course --- the course is very hilly -- aid stations are few -- I rec you carry some water with you and fill up at water stations if you drink lots of water -- I did not see a bathroom or porta-potty on the course there were several of businesses along the course (maybe they were counting those as bathrooms). there was one part of the course that ran across grass/dirt/ditch/under a highway bridge --- I rolled an ankle in a hole --- the course is marked with traffic cones but several runners missed turns or turned the wrong way --- they did have volunteers at alot of corners for assistance but always could use more arrows on the road and more cones -- Oh and did I say the course is hilly
3. Post-race --- they had very very good chili this year --- I understand that last year it was potato soup -- the finisher medal is a plague -- something different and it is nice -- 10 year AG - except for 60 and over - always makes me mad --

Overall this is a small race in a small Arkansas town --- they enjoy putting on the run and everyone is friendly -- I recommend this run if for no other reason so you can challenge yourself and it is cheap