First, I would like to start by saying that this race was absolutely amazing! The 5k course was phenomenally drawn up, checking off one Columbus landmark after another.

The swag from this event was great! The jackets given to all participants is of good quality, and doing either event is worth the jacket by itself. One thing to note, is that the medals were not available at the finish, and the organizers sent an email to all participants before race day letting everyone know that they were not there. Although this should detract from the star rating, I am giving swag 5 stars because everything at the time of this review is running FAR behind.

There was only one aid station along the course which offered chocolate pieces and water. I wish there were more hydrations stations along the course just to keep everyone well hydrated.

The expo was kind of bare when I went in to pick up my packet. There was not really much going on, but I also came in around 4:00pm on the final day, but I am not sure if that would have changed a whole lot. This might be due to Covid as well.

The course itself surprised me due to the elevation gain. I figured the course would be mostly flat, but I was mistaken! There were hills! Not a bad thing at all, and that's a great excuse to work up an appetite for the food offered after the run!

Parking around the start and finish was a little hectic in the morning due to there being a limit on the accessible parking garages around the area. There was a decent backup trying to find a parking spot, but there was still plenty of time to get to the start line.

I would say that race management was great about being upfront about not having the medals before race day. They acknowledged that they tried everything they could to get them at the finish, and they would send the medals to all participants free of charge.

Overall, I would recommend this race to everyone because it really is a FUN race! The scenery itself is worth it, and the goodies at the end are worth it too!

Great, fast course! The crowd support is evident early on in the race, but as you progress through the course, there are some spots where you are by yourself. This could be good or bad depending on if you feed off of the crowd. Aid stations were present every mile which is an added bonus. Parking for the race can be tricky since it is limited by the start line. Overall, if I had to choose a race for solely improving your Half PR, this race is it! There's barely any hills to slow you down, besides one towards the finish line. Lastly, the money raised for the race goes for a great cause. They have a Patient Champions at each mile to help keep you motivated. Be sure to give them a high five because I know when I did, I got faster! 😊

A great and challenging course! I loved the challenge of tackling the hills, because as everyone knows, they build character. The course was almost entirely in the open and exposed to direct sunlight. I mention this because there is not a water station every mile, so I would HIGHLY recommend bringing your own hydration to fight dehydration. I know in 2019, the temperatures were creeping up, and the humidity was high because of the thunderstorm that moved through between the 10k and the Half, so that didn't help either. The atmosphere of the race was fantastic! Everyone was supportive of each other before, during, and after! Loved that! If I had to recommend anything to make the experience better, I would have a water station at each mile. I think that would benefit all participants.