sounds like a great race

My race report from I Run For the Party Half Marathon, and, with apologies to sruiz,  I don't need to be asked twice, so here goes.  

Bottom line: 1:50:44 chip time. Used race as a marathon-pace tempo run for Rocket City.

Background: Been in Nashville now three years. I’ve run the CMM half four times, Tom King twice, Cedars once, the Team Nashville half once, the new and very hilly half in Lebanon, the Middle Half thrice, and the Memphis half once. A downtown marathon over and back from Metro Center is a great idea.

This race had incredible energy at the start and finish. That is not something I’ve found in the other races. This was new, the racers younger, and the day gorgeous. Probably had a lot to do with it. Over 1000 racers for an inaugural event says much. The registration was organized. The volunteers helpful, plentiful, and gracious. The police were everywhere. Did I mention the police were everywhere? I have never seen so many in one event. They were everywhere. And, they were great.

Pre-race: drove to Downtown from the Dam. Easy traffic and easier parking, just one block from the start/finish line. Beautiful day, great location, great pre-race energy. I registered day of race, used the portable facility, finished my accelerade and off we went. (Every pre-race should begin “and off we went”. It’s perfect. Just sayin’.)

Race: It was warmer than predicted at start, so I had to change clothing. Like many of the racers, I ran in my race technical t-shirt. The first mile seems like it is going to be uphill until the course drops below the bridge and into the ups and downs of Germantown. The Big Hill that is mile 3 on the way out and Mile 10 on the way back is not a whole lot of fun. Miles 4 through 9 are flat. Very flat with long stretches of pavement with very few turns. Nice tour of Metro Center, especially the run along the banks of the Cumberland between Miles 5 and 7, as the river was glass. The out and back between Miles 8 and 10 were the most troubling mentally, but I dug in and maintained my pace.

I did not like Mile 10. Tough, tough hill in the middle of it. But, as I was not tired, I was able to run strong the last 2.1. This course could be challenging with a strong storm or wind. The lead racers were strong runners. This is not a PR course, but it certainly has the potential for being faster than CMM. And, the last two miles are faster than the last two at the Middle Half.  

For a first attempt, I was very impressed. The beer and pizza at the end was great. Again, the energy from the racers was amazing. Been a long time since I’ve seen that kind of energy at a race. It was palpable.

I would run it, again. If only there was a way over and back without the Big Hill.

This was a great race. I was totally stoked when Emmit announced at the starting line that the last 2 miles were downhill. The big hill at 10.75 was no fun but I kept telling myself, "It's all downhill from here." Boy was I disappointed when it wasn't. I think maybe Emmit meant the last 0.2 were downhill.  I was able to push through the last 2 hills and PR. Looking forward to running it again next year.