This race was black flagged due to heat 4 hours into the 2018 race, but race organizers did nothing different in 2019 even though temperatures were very similar. In fact, we started at 8:25 due to lightning delay, but during the lightning delay, all of us were already at the start/in corrals- so how exactly were we protected from lightning? We weren’t allowed to run in lightning, but were allowed to stand under the metal start sign surrounded by metal corral fences.
So let me make a list of my primary complaints about what WOULD be an easy course if race organizers changed things.
1. This full is in September and begins at 7:30. No one wants to run a full starting at 7:30- it should start at 6:30 for sure.
2. You have to get to a shuttle 4-2.5 hours before the race if you don’t want to park yourself. They literally had shuttles starting at 3:30 am for a 7:30 race. Embarrassing.
3. NO ONE can drop you off. Once you enter the parking area, you can’t leave until the race begins. So you can’t uber to this race. My husband dropped me off then waited for the parking lot to open for exit. That’s insane. Have a better system. It’s not even that big of a race.
4. You have to walk a mile before and after the race to get to/from your car, even if you park in the closest available spots.
5. ZERO nutrition was offered until mile 17 of the full. I have never heard of this in my life!!! They didn’t even give gems until mile 21.5.
6. No shade at all in later miles, my sunburn was unreal.
7. The only food offered at the finish was bananas, a bag of chips, and 1/2 of a bagel. That’s it. To me that is not enough after a full.

The ONLY positive things I would say about this race are...
1. The museum is open and free so it was a fun activity for my husband to do with the kids while he waited for me.
2. The course would be an easy one if not for the heat and sun. There’s only a couple rolling hills, two of which are in the first mile. Some people say it’s boring, I didn’t think it was- I thought it was pretty, but the heat was just brutal that last two hours. Because of the delayed start it was after 1 pm when I finished.