Packet pick-up on Saturday, the day before the race was good. The pick-up was a four hour window to visit the expo, get your numbers and other race packet goodies.
The area of Tempe Beach Park is always a little congested being in the middle of downtown Tempe. Parking in a nearby parking structure was easy.
Even though I had printed out to bring with my, my daughter and myself’s race registration information, to make picking our packets up faster, the race send out an email the morning of as a reminder. Inside the email was again our race numbers and a QR code if needed during the packet pick-up. First, you picked up your race number , which was split up into different lines. Then you moved to a line where the shirts and rest of the packets were being handed out. This line was a little long, but moved pretty quick.
From there I walked around the expo and checkout of a few booths.

Race Day

I parked in the same parking structure, I used for packet pick-up, which was designated for race participants. I arrived there about 7:15am with my daughter. This was the first race I was about to run with my nine-year-old daughter. We walked down to the expo/stage area and I showed her the course on a map they had posted. We walked around and checked out the finish line area before heading to line up for the start.
We gathered pretty close to the start line and went over our game plan again. I was going to let her set the pace and follow what she did. If she needed water, I had some in my pack for her, or she could grab some along the course route. We were signed up and doing the 5K, but the race also offered a 10K distance.
With the energetic party atmosphere of the start line area, with blood pumping music and everyone decked out in Wonder Woman gear, it was exciting. There was some great messages and numerous reasons said up on the start line podium on why people were running the DC Wonder Woman Run. I was there to support my daughter and combine it with the love of being active.

The start happened right at 9am and course was great. With the 9am start, the latest, I have ever started a race, it had a calm relaxed feeling to it. Tracking the distance on my GPS the aid stations, very well stocked, were spaced every mile. The 10K runners followed our route until about the last half-mile, where they separated from us to go the longer distance.
A race director announced before the beginning of the race that 4,000 runners where taking to the course, the roads and pathways the race were just right, not being overly crowded and nowhere to move around other runners if you were to pass them, or be passed.

My daughter did great for her first 5K. I was very proud of her. She kept an average pace of just over a 12 minute mile. Honestly, when I were her age, I don’t know if I could have even covered that distance, let alone that pace.

We crossed the finish line together!. We filtered through to get our finishers medal and the food and drinks before relaxing by the entertainment stage. We then remembered that Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Gabby Douglas, who was there and holding a meet and greet after the finish. We lined up and she was able to meet her and give her a hug.

After that we hung out for a little bit before heading home.

"Disclaimer: I received free entry to DC Wonder Woman Run Series race in Tempe, AZ as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

The Humana Rock and Roll Half Marathon

Packet pick up was fast and easy. Held in the Phoenix Convention Center. There were a lot of vendors to check out after getting my race packet and run shirt.

The morning of, I looked online to find the parking for the event. With the half marathon distance starting at a different location than the full distance marathon. I was able to navigate getting to the start line with not problem. There were drop bag trucks very well marked to take your belongings/warm clothes to the finish line. With the race starting a 7:50, I stretched and warmed up at about 7:40, thinking that would be enough time.

I got to the proper coral I seeded myself in with plenty of time. By the time I crossed the start line it was about 45 minutes after the 7:50am start time. With all the different waves, I could have relaxed, off my feet and stayed a little warmer before turning in my drop bag.

The course was a big loop with very gradual if any inclines. The course was well marked, as well as the mile markers. The Rock and Roll marathon has bands on stages every mile or so to keep you motivated. It’s always fun to listen to the different music groups as you pass by their stage.
The first few aid stations were stocked with plenty of water. It wasn’t until mile 5 they started offering gels and Gatorade Endurance, along with water.

About two miles out from the 13.1 mile course, a lot more spectators were lining the course.

At the finish I was handed my medal and walked through a great swag/support line getting nutrition and drinks.

There was a main stage with the headline performers performing. There was a great energetic party atmosphere with many food and product vendors in Tempe Beach park.

I loved the aspect of the app the race series has created. From getting information at your fingertips to keeping track for social media followers and family and friends to monitor your progress.
They also have section on their app where you can listen to music to your preference based on beats per minute to keep you energized around the course.

I was actually able to get a good nights sleep, the night before. In my head I just kept my thoughts calm and acted like I was just going into another long training run in the morning.
I arrived early, as I still needed to pick up my packet/number/shirt etc. They had a packet pick up earlier, but it was far away from the race location.
It was cold outside for me, so I dressed in a long sleeved shirt and warm up pants. I also had a coat on while walking around and stretching.
While walking around I started drinking my pre-workout supplement about a half-hour before the start.
I knew the weather was suppose to stay cooler, but I wanted to make sure I didn't over dress. So I opted for just my shirt and my running shorts. I stashed two energy bars and two gels in my hydration pack along with a water bottle with some electrolytes in it.
I planned on using what I was carrying for emergency purposes, and using the water and other nutrition from the four aid stations they were going to have on the course.
The race started on time. It took me about two miles to warm up and get in a groove. There was one incline during the portion of the trail, and I kept running a pretty good pace up it.
The next part I would encounter on the trail, was the part I got lost on during a training run, two weeks prior. The course was marked really well with ground markers on stakes and tied in the branches of trees. This portion of the trail is mainly in a desert wash. This made for tough running, like in sand along a beach. There was a four mile stretch of this, at times, thick sand.
Climbing up out of the wash, I knew the trail was going to be more single track and hard packed trail.
I was feeling good and was monitoring my heart rate, to not go out to fast and blow up.
My upper legs were feeling tired from the motion of having to pick them up so high from the sandy wash area.
The rest of the trail after coming out of the wash, I knew what to expect elevation-wise. When to rest up and walk if needed and when the down hill run could help me gain some time. On the backside of Dynamite trail, I know is a good 1.5 mile downhill before heading up the Goldmine trail. The saddle at Goldmine trail hits at about mile 12.5 and a good downhill from there to the finish line.
I ended up fast walking up Goldmine trail. I was happy after getting to the top, knowing I was within two miles from the finish.
The aid stations were stocked with water/gatorade and gels.
I beat my person goal by almost 20 minutes to finish the 14 mile trail run.