The Run for the Rocks Half Marathon is held in Hutchinson, KS every September. The 2015 race was my second attempt at this half marathon course.

Registration: There is online registration through the Hutchinson Recreation Commission as part of the Hutch Race Series. It is fairly straight forward to register, but starting in 2015 there was a Classic Rock 5k added, which will show multiple race options.

Packet Pickup: There was no real expo. The packet pickup was the day before at the local bicycle shop, where they had a few free samples and an Oakley truck. You could also pick your packet up on race day.

Parking: The Run for the Rocks course is not a closed loop, so parking at the starting line won't be near the finish. I'm lucky to have a wife willing to drop me off, and make sure the car is back at the finish line later (or we leave two vehicles/one in each spot if we both race). There isn't a massive amount of parking at the starting line, but the race offers shuttles from the finish location to the start. That allows folks to park at the finish line, and not have to retrieve their cars after they finish. There is plenty of parking at the finish line.

The Race: The course itself spends several miles going through the park and along the river. The river is usually pretty dry, so there isn't much for scenery. After 5 miles the course leads into the city until it meets back up with a trail around mile 9. The last few miles you're back on the city streets until you reach the finish line inside the football stadium. The course is timed, but there is only two mats (beginning and end). There were plenty of water stops along the way, and the busy intersections were watched over by the wonderful police department. The course is fairly flat, other than a few spots when you go up/down along the river.

Swag Bag: This race provided a tech tee along with finisher medals. The medals seemed identical to 2014's, but with a different ribbon. The t-shirt, though tech, seems to be on the cheaper side of the fence. It hasn't fallen apart, so it must not be too bad. I'm just glad it wasn't cotton so I could wear it.

Race Management: The race was well organized and everything ran very smoothly. The finish line had massage tables, pizza, milk, fruit, water, etc. Plenty of supplies for all of the finishers.

Extra: With the 2015 race, if you took part in the Classic Rock 5k the night before, then you received an additional medal.

Overall: To date this is the only half marathon I've competed in, so I can't compare it to any others. However, both years I've raced this course I had no complaints. It is recommended.

My favorite zoo animal is the otter. I'm not sure why, but because of that the Otter Water 5k fundraiser was meant to be for me. This was their second running, and unfortunately their last? I'll get back to that.

Parking: The parking was sufficient, as the event takes place at the zoo. No issues here.

Swag Bag: The included shirt was your standard cotton shirt, but was a nice design in my opinion. I received a medal for placing in my age group (ironically my slowest ever race...thanks small race!). However, that medal was extremely cheap, and seemed more like a novelty medal for a kids participation award. Not for an age group winner.

The Race: The course was a simple trek around the park's paved path. There isn't much special about that path, but this race had several water obstacles to run through along the way. Those being: running through a waterfall/tunnel feature, kids using squirt guns as you pass by, firefighters creating rainfall with a fire hose, and having the sprinklers on. The best water feature was saved for last. As you cross the finish line you had the opportunity to take a dive onto a giant slip 'n slide, while they took a picture of you doing so. It brings the kid out in you.

Management - I suppose the race itself went ok. However, this event was supposed to be an annual race until a new otter environment could be built for the zoo. The first event was in 2013 (during a different month I believe), and then everyone disappeared after the 2014 event finished. The Facebook page went on silence, we never received our slip 'n slip photos, and I've heard nothing about additional races. This is all very disappointing.

Overall: I'd recommend the race for a little fun in the water. However, the race just disappeared, and I have no idea if another will ever be held.

The 2012 Firecracker 5k was the first race I ever ran, and I had no idea what to expect going in. The race is run every year, and belongs to a 3 race series for Hutchinson. I still remember towards the end of this race me and 8-ish year old got passed by someone I didn't expect to get passed by. It was then the kid and I looked at each other, and I said "dude, we just got passed by a stroller".

Registration/Packet Pickup: Registration was done online through the recreation commission. We picked up our packet shortly before the race, so it was pretty easy. No expo.

Parking: The race takes place in a park around the zoo and water park, so there is plenty of parking.

Bag Swag: Our shirts were of common cotton, but keep in mind this was back in 2012. Smaller town races hadn't thought much about tech shirts yet. I couldn't blame them at the time, because I was racing in a cotton shirt myself (I didn't know any better yet). We also received a pair of running socks, which I still use to this day.

The Race: The course loops through the park, and around the golf course. Pretty much all of the 5k's in this area share a similar route, as it works very well.

Race Management: I thought the race was handled very well. I didn't have any issues with the management.

Overall: For my first race it went pretty well personally...other than getting passed by a stroller. It's a well run yearly 5k.