Packet pickup at the Nike Outlet in North Bend was a major inconvenience from the city of Seattle. With traffic, it was nearly 2 hours to get there (as opposed to about 40 minutes with no traffic on race morning).

This race is advertised as a "fast gentle downhill course" - it depends on your interpretation of gentle. Yes, the course is primarily flat with a gradual downhill. Gentle however, it is not when you take into account that it is a gravel / rocky trail. There are two tracks down the course that are worn flat which created congestion along the way with people running together but car-wheel distance apart, making for awkward passing.

Runners are assigned a shuttle time and I arrived for the 4:20am shuttle. At 3:45 they opened the lot and there was a bit of confusion in directing people where to park. The shuttle departed at 4:40 and dropped the half-marathoners at the drop-off. From there it was a rocky 1.2 mile hike to the start. It was concerning that my feet were screaming before even reaching the start line - the uphill climb was NOT gentle, even in a trail shoe.

Next we sat around on rocks and logs until the 6:30 start.

What I thought would be a fast race ultimately ended up being rather slow due to course congestion and trying to be easy on the rocky trail to reduce impact. If you have any knee / quad / joint issues, you will be aware of them within the first few miles.

The scenery was breath-taking and even worth shuffling or stopping for a photo or two. Waterfalls, canyons, thick trees, shade - just gorgeous. The only thing missing was a few more porto-potties as there were a few runners having to duck into the woods. The race also said there would be places to soak our race buffs to stay cool, however this was not evident on race day.

At the finish it was exciting to hear the announcer tell spectators how much time was left for each division to BQ and to congratulate runners who made the cut.

The finish area was exposed with no place to really sit that wasn't in the dirt. Water, bananas and bars were provided. The shuttle took us 2 miles back to the parking area.

Overall, I would NOT recommend this to someone who is unaccustomed to running on gravel and / or at elevation and looking to BQ. If you're looking for a run through the woods and have no issues with your joints, it is a beautiful course - but certainly not without its share of "cons" in a race that is hyped to be fast, gentle and a haven for those searching for the elusive BQ.

Oiselle and Snohomish Running Company pulled of a seamless race weekend. Registrants had the option of signing up for limited-capacity talks and Q&A by athletes Lauren Fleshman, Kara Goucher and Oiselle CEO, Sally Bergesen, hosted at the Oiselle Flagship store in University Village.

The Watermark Hotel was the hub of the action as team Oiselle Volee runners flew in from all over the country to meet up with their fellow teammates.

The swag was AMAZING and included exclusive merch from Oiselle just for this race - a premium quality red "flyte tank" and a navy Tenacious 10 hat. Swag also included Lauren Fleshman's Picky Bars for the ultimate fueling experience.

Everyone's adrenaline was surging at the start line as a real-life DRUM LINE kicked off the race following the national anthem.

Along the 10-mile course there were cheer stations / water stations every 1-2 miles with cowbells, spectators and hydration. The energy on the course was amazing and the streets were safely blocked off so runners could run wide. The November Project and Nuun Hydration were prominent among the spectator stations.

This year, the course was not permitted to run its usual finish up the hill at Gas Works Park so they had to build in some slightly awkward little turnarounds along the Ship Canal Trail to fit the mileage in. The water stations and port-o-potties were conveniently placed along this trail so you could hit them on the way out and / or back.

The best surprises were - FREE RACE PHOTOS! YAY! and also huge glazed donuts as big as your head at the finish line.

The medal is a classic Oiselle Tenacious Ten cowbell which doubles as a medal AND a cowbell - can't beat that. It is beautiful.

I have never been so happy to finish 127/135 in my age group - just another sign that this wasn't your local fun run, this was a group of women who run regularly and have fun doing it. The spirit was very much about the sisterhood and there was laughter, high-fives and smiles along the entire course and it wasn't uncommon to see hugs and runners pause to exchange hellos with other runners.

Overall, this is the most fun race I have ever had the pleasure of partaking in and I already signed up for 2019. Incredibly welcoming for all paces, bodies and experience levels. I can see why it is a MUST for so many around the country.

I ran the half-marathon in 2016 and 2017 and the 4-person relay in 2018. This race consistently runs smoothly under the eclectic Race Director Elby, who seems to make a personal connection with every runner that crosses the finish line.

This year was my favorite as far as the race shirt - always a loud, festive color and this year the fit is just right too.

The hardware is always impressive and I loved that the 4-person relay medals all connect together!

The race photos are free, the only downside is you may have to sort through them yourself on Facebook to find yours. However, there are multiple photographers throughout the course.

The course is beautiful, fast and flat. The "Blooms" part of the race title doesn't quite deliver what you would imagine - however maybe I have always been running to intently to notice if there were flowers along the way!

The veterans running with the flag is always a moving and humbling experience.

There are ample water stations and porto-potties along the course and the split-offs are well-marked and there are a good amount of volunteers.

After running this 3 times, I do prefer the half-marathon to the relay - primarily because the relay runners rely on busses to pick them up and get them from their finish to the next person or to the end of the course and the timing may not always work out.

The expo and and after-race party always provide a variety of things to see and do and the energy is very upbeat and fun. I will continue to participate in this race, it has a small town hospitality that draws from a broad surrounding region.

This Why Racing Event is an annual favorite for my entire extended family. With options of 3, 7 and 10 miles there is something for everyone.

The swag is always an incredible value - big, beautiful finisher medals, race shirts, a loaded swag bag, and waiting at the finish line you can have your choice of post-run fuel like a nice hot bowl of clam chowder (perfect on the inevitable cold, rainy March day in the PNW), a beer or kombucha, and a variety of snacks and beverages that you can weigh down your swag bag with. High-quality free race photos too!

All three distances start include a winding uphill path about a mile in, otherwise the course is relatively flat (or at least by Pacfic Northwest standards). The course runs along a beautiful scenic waterfront on a wide pathway and there are typically ample volunteers to hand out water and fuel along the way.

The distance options are a little unusual at 3.0, 7.0 and 10.3 but I enjoy that aspect of a new a challenge that isn't typical.

The start/ finish is high-energy with a DJ, announcers, people in St. Paddy's costumes and ample entertainment on the street and in the Main St. Pub. For as many people as there are who attend this event, it is extremely well-organized.

The only downside to this big event in a small-town downtown is finding a bathroom and having time to use it. The lines are always long so arrive early to find street parking and take care of your pre-race needs.

I will continue to run this race for years to come and it is always one to look forward to!