In 2015 I completed the 5K and in 2016 I decided to up the ante and complete the half marathon. Unfortunately things did not go as planned.

I suffered from a foot injury and honestly should have pulled out of this event. I decided to make a go of it, though.

We drove up from Vegas the night before and checked into the host hotel. The hotel staff are great, and we had a nice dinner after checking in. I love the rooms, as they are very roomy suites. In the morning, my husband got up and ready a bit before me to catch his shuttle, I did the same once I was up and going. The hotel provided sack breakfasts for the runners, which was nice.

Shuttle organization was great, easy to find where you needed to be and plenty of volunteers to help if there was any confusion. We were shuttled up to the start of the race, where we all exited and tried to stay warm. We waited at a nearby covered seating area while waiting for the start. As with the year before, it started raining and it was fairly cold. I didn't worry about it, though, as I figured I would keep warm by moving along the course.

I started out with the crowd and within the first quarter mile, I knew I should have bailed out of the race. The pain was so intense, I knew I had to pull out for my very first DNF. I made it to the first aid station, which was just over a mile past the half marathon start. I checked in with the volunteers and they radioed right away that an injured runner needed to catch the SAG wagon to the finish. It started raining harder, it was cold, and the winds picked up. At first, I wasn't in a rush to get picked up because I knew the Marathon had just started and the course might not be clear enough. I waited. And waited. And waited..... aaaaand waited.

I stood at the aid station, exposed to the elements, and listened to the radio chatter as they were receiving updates. We were told multiple times that the aid station I was at was next. That they were 10 minutes away. That they would be "right there". The volunteers at the aid station were all extremely helpful and cheery, even with the weather, and they did their best to care for everyone.

At one point I was so cold, I could not control the convulsions which were nearly bringing me down, very literally. The volunteers who were running the radio were afraid I was going to fall into their heater and burn myself and they put me in their vehicle with the heat on. After a little while, more and more marathon runners were passing. As one of the volunteers sat with me for a moment, I noticed a guy on course who was very visibly in distress. I commented about him and the volunteer immediately went to talk to him. He opted to drop from the race and was put into the vehicle with me. A short time later, another runner was put into the vehicle. Both of the other runners could not stop shaking and it was pretty evident the 3rd runner needed more help than what was available at the aid station. We still waited.

The race was cold last year, and has been cold with multiple DNF's previous years as well. I would think that with that kind of history, there would have been more preparation and coordination for those who needed to drop.

I am a SLOW walk-runner. It takes me an average of 3 hours to finish a half marathon. I could have finished my race with time to spare in the amount of time it took the SAG wagon (which was one of the shuttle busses) to come pick us up. We then had to continue the rest of the course watching all the other runners (in the improved weather, by that time of day).

After we were dropped off at the finish, I went to the park where the finishing event was being held and waited a short time for my husband to finish the Marathon. We then made our way to gear check so he could grab his things and we went to the hotel to warm up, which took hours.

Honestly, I was likely nearly hypothermic while waiting to be brought back to the finish - which, we were told there would be "plenty of rides available". I did not see a single bus or other race vehicle picking anyone up AT ALL.

As much as I wanted to really enjoy this race, I couldn't. Not just because I had to DNF, but because it was so poorly coordinated once the weather turned and people needed assistance. I wasn't in danger from my injury, but being out in the elements and waiting over 3 and a half HOURS put my health at risk. Oh, and did I mention I was 18 weeks pregnant at the time? Cause I mentioned it to the race staff, they were fully aware the entire time.

I can't honestly recommend this race to anyone who isn't interested in being miserable, extremely cold, and risking the additional suffering if they have to drop the course.

8-16-2015, my birthday race!

I flew up from Las Vegas and stayed with a friend in Portland for this race. we drove over the morning of the race, so we didn't do any expo/early packet pickup.

The morning of pick ups were well coordinated and efficient. It was slightly chilly waiting for the start so we hung out in the car until the shuttle arrived to take us across the river to the start line. The start had ample porta potties and had a great energy to it.

We were off to a great start, running across the bridge. We had full rein of the roadway, as the organizers we able to close traffic to the roadway as part of their permit. How nice was that! Once we rounded the curve along the roadway, we then transitioned to a paved recreational path, which we stayed on through a majority of the race.

The views were amazing! The trail runs along the Columbia River which treats you to some breathtaking views. I was even able to see some bald eagles while on course. Thankfully, the course is also among the trees, which provide ample shade along with intermittent sunshine. Perfect for keeping cool as the temperatures warmed up.

The volunteers were all very supportive and energetic along the course and it was simply a great experience. The only thing I would say could use improvement is the post race meals for the slow runners. I am a back of the packer at the moment, finished around the 3 hour mark. By the time I finished, got myself together afterwards, and headed to the refreshments they were already being packed up by the event staff. I wasn't even that close to last, or right at the back of the pack - there were plenty of people after me who didn't get anything, either. That was the only negative thing I could think of for this race. It wasn't something that would keep me from doing this race again, just a suggestion for future events.

Overall, I completed 11 half marathons in 2015 from this race through the end of the year, and this race was my absolute favorite. I recommend it to anyone who is interested!