Pre-race: Registration was available online for around $30 and at packet pickup which was held the day before and just prior to the race. Proceeds went to help support brain injury awareness. Included with registration was a tech tee, no advertisements on the back and a chip for timing.

Race: 3 mile race. The race started on time after some brief announcements and thank yous. Entire race was ran on the high school cross country course, which was grass, mud, and some gravel trail. Lots of hills, 3 of the more steep ones had names “Incinerator” “Exterminator” & “Exasperator,” which all lived up to their names, steep & difficult. No mile markers. There were volunteers at each of the intersections. At least 2 water stops along the course.

Post Race: Finish was marked with timing mats and a clock. There were bottles of water and cookies, bagels, and bananas in a pavilion. Overall winners were announced over loud speaker. The finishing “chute” was set up so you could cheer everyone on as they finished.

Overall: This is how a benefit / fundraiser race should be organized. This race was more about the foundation, than the overall winners. However with that being said, as a runner I still felt this race had great support and I would definitely run it again. It made me feel proud to be a runner and a Hawkeye.

Pre-race / expo: The expo was held the Saturday before the race from 10am to 6pm. This was your only chance to pick up your packet. However you could have someone pick it up for you, they just had to sign a form saying they did so. There were scheduled events during the expo and a pasta party in the evening. With your registration (approx $45) you received a long sleeve gender specific tech shirt, bib, chip for timing, post race food, post race beer, a poster and lots of papers, pamphlets and flyers. (virtual race bags would have been nice, as my flyers hit the recycling bin.)

This year there were a record number of runners, 5700; so there are no issues with parking Just need to make sure you have enough time to maneuver through the area as the main streets are closed for the race. Lots of parking in the lot adjacent to the iWireless Center.

Plenty of port-a-potties lined up before the race. Hand washing stations were also stationed near them.

Race: All races started at 7:30, in the same undivided corral, just a big mob of people encouraged to line up with a pacer, to say it is crowded is an understatement. It was also the finishing shoot, which was set up with tents on either side. The race is chip timed so not a huge problem with timing, just a problem with too many people in one spot.

There were some announcements and a live singing of the National Anthem, which I did not hear as too many people were talking. If it were my first long distance race I would have been mad.

Course: All races start together, but quickly the 5k splits off and tours through Moline, IL. The half sticks with the full until mile 8, crossing the Mississippi into Bettendorf, IA, then to Davenport. When the full splits and goes into Rock Island, IL, the half comes back to Arsenal Island.

The terrain is all surfaces, pavement, asphalt, grave, bridge grate – pay attention to not get tripped up
water and lemon lime Gatorade stops along the course
Gu stops
No “lube” stops on the half as there have been in the past.
One fruit stop, near mile 12 / 20 – oranges already peeled
Port-o-potties on the course
Spectators along the course, except on Arsenal Island
Bands, live music, singers, DJ’s on the course
Each mile was marked
I did not see a medic or medical tent on the half course, but there were official bikers monitoring the course
There were volunteers at every intersection
The course is pretty flat, bridge crossings and one hilly area
MarathonFoto on the course for photos
Participant tracking was available via text

Post Race: After crossing the finish line a medal is placed around your neck and a finisher’s photo is taken. Tubs of ice with bottles of water available. Chocolate milk at another location. Mylar blankets were available. There was a food tent with watermelon, grapes, oranges, bananas, chips, granola bars, cookies and bagels. There were tents with things to buy, a tent with benches for sitting out of the sun & massage tents. Then there was a stop with Pepsi and Gatorade, a hot dog stand and then the beer trailer with Miller Lite. At the end of the finishers area was the stage for awards.

Overall: I like this race, it’s well organized, decent course and decent price. The starting area is about the only headache. I have been part of it for the last 4 years. I will always try to run it.

Thursday September 11 - Friday September 12, 2014. Relay from Ames, IA to Iowa City, IA (TIffin,IA) 125 miles. 45 degrees, cold, rainy, cloudy; sun came out at the end of the day Friday.

The Rival Game Relay is a running relay before the Iowa / Iowa State football game. Teams of 5 -10 people will run from one location to the other, in various lengths with exchange points along the way. Runners could run any where from 3 miles to 8 miles, and on teams of 10 only needed to run twice. Finish in Tiffin to the logistics of an Iowa City finish.

Registration was available online. Price was per team, avg of $100 per runner. There were discount codes available before the race. Included with registration was a bib, t-shirt, post race beer and food, pint glasses, and port-o-potties & water on the course.

There was no expo, no specific packet pickup. However the team captain received emails and instructions on how to proceed. The bibs were provided at the start for car #1 and at exchange #7 for car #2.

Race / Course - The relay was through the back roads of Iowa.

Safety was a priority, any participant on the roads from 7 pm to 7 am were required to wear a reflective vest and flashing lights, head lamp. Run against traffic.
Black top roads, gravel roads - which were muddy
Exchange points were labeled with a small sign near the ground, at each point runners were to write down the time they made it to the point
Not every point had a bathroom
some exchange points were dark with no lights
no spectators - only those in your vehicle
hills!
not all exchange point had an official - easy to cheat if you lost your "baton"
Hazards - dogs, animals you can't see in the dark, running along side roads with no shoulder, busy roads
Water bottles at various locations
cardboard boxes for trash along the route, also provided with a trash bag for each car
no medics on the course
bring your own food

Post Race- At the finish with a blow up arch, teams were encouraged to join the party. There was food provided by Wildwood Smokehouse, Bud & Bud Light tallboys, a rockin band, and the bags game. Prizes & awards were given away. The overall winner received glass pitchers. Random drawing prizes of Starbucks gift cards and Running Wild socks & race bucks. Then there were awards for best team spirit and that team won beer, their heaviest runners weight in beer.

Overall: The relay across the back roads of Iowa was fun. You don't need to be a marathoner to participate. The price is affordable for everything provided. I would do this again, but I would make sure to form a team of people I know.

Race is held as part of West Branch’s Hoover Days celebration. Race raises money for the West Branch High School Girls Track team and is named in honor of a former coach, Mr. Ferguson.

Pre-race: Could register online, but closed days before race. Registration & packet pick-up open before the race near the finish line in an empty parking lot. Packet pick-up was also available the evening before. Cotton t-shirt for those who registered before the deadline. Average cost $25-$30. Plenty of parking on side streets, the main street of the town was all blocked off for the day’s festivities. This year with registration participants received a bring back shopping bag in addition to a cotton shirt.

Race & course: Start line was a block from the finish line, marked with a spray painted line on the street. Small announcements made, and we’re given the signal to start. Course was through the town, very hilly! Paved streets, chip ‘n’ seal, and asphalt, no major hazards. One water stop at the halfway point with plastic cups. No mile markers (editor’s note, just drove part of the course, miles were painted on the pavement). A few spectators. Intersections had someone monitoring the traffic. however a few busy intersections with no volunteers. Also some volunteers were on their phones as I ran by. Finish was clearly marked and a giant clock with the time was displayed. Volunteer grabbed the bottom of the bib for results.

Post-race: Water, Gatorade, bananas, bagels, & cookies, plenty for everyone. Race medals were awarded to first 3 places in age groups. Raffle prizes after awards, had to be present to win.

Overall: This race is a good challenge as it is very hilly. It isn’t a bucket list race, but a nice hometown race, friendly people. If you have this weekend free, sign up for the challenge.

Personal: I have not been training with a plan and I could tell. I was suckin wind early, someone asked if I was sick, lol. It could have also been because I went out too fast. It was also really humid, and I had ran 2 pre race miles. I did place 2nd in my age group with a 26:08. I thought that it would be tough as the group is the ages of 30-39.

PS the race is so small it really doesn't have a website, so enjoy the link to my blog