It was quite a cold morning, but it did not reduce the enthusiasm from all involved with this race. There were hills, lots of hills. They really embrace the blues theme and the swag is top notch. I love the mock interstate sign 13.1 stickers, the finisher's medal is excellent, the harmonica was a nice touch, and a running vest rather than a t-shirt separates this race from others.

Great race with a great atmosphere and very memorable race swag. The biggest downside to the race is that it is held during the same weekend as the WDW Marathon events. A runner could not participate in both events, but, for anyone that misses out on the WDW registration, the Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half Marathon would serve as a great, and cheaper, backup plan. I would not hesitate to participate in this race again in the future! Also, the event has its own iPhone app for easy access to event info and pictures on the go!

The cause is great and at first the race seemed very well organized. I like that you got a hoodie instead of a traditional race shirt since it stands out from other events. The medal was the same this year as last, but at least it looks good. There were aid stations every mile, which was a lifesaver due to the unexpected heat. April is very unpredictable at this time of the year in the region. The hills were constant and you finish on an uphill climb. My biggest issue was that the course was 1/2 a mile long. This was according to my watch and the watch of at least ten other people I spoke with. In fact, someone commented on my blog with the same complaint from the previous year and that when he inquired about it, he got some static from the race organizers. Until this course gets certified, I would steer clear.

Swag for this race is top notch. This year all finishers received a 1/4 zip long sleeved pullover, Swiftwick race logo socks, hat, and an awesome wooden race medal. The medal is worth running up Whiskey Hill by itself. The course is through the scenic hills of Middle Tennessee and Whiskey Hill is no joke. Whiskey Hill is the dominant physical feature of the race and it reduces the majority of runners to a walk to conqueror it. Whiskey Hill is almost a straight up climb. Race organizers had "Dueling Banjos" and "Highway to Hell" playing while runners made the climb. This was the single biggest challenge I have faced in any race to date. There is a limited race field and the community/race support is phenomenal. The field is limited due to the scarcity of parking in Lynchburg. Runners were encouraged to arrive early, which I did. I parked in a field at the fairgrounds and had a lengthy walk to the start line. Oddly, the later you arrived, the closer you were able to park to the start/finish! Of course, you also had quite a bit more traffic to deal with on the two lane roads. I have a full review of this race here: http://runninglarge.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/oak-barrel-half-marathon-race-recap/

This was the 16th installment of this race, and was the first time that I have been able to compete in it. It was a rainy morning, but the atmosphere was still fun. The majority of the course winds through Germantown, TN, a suburb of Memphis, TN. Race volunteers where friendly, and GU was available at several of the aid stations. This year also saw an updated race logo and medal which were awesome. Just over 1,000 runners completed the half marathon, so this is an easy race to get into and have some room to run, especially in the later miles.