I don’t what kind of karma race directors Linda Brown, Jason Bakewell, and Ben Cohoon burned to get the temps and sunshine they did last Sunday, but I will be expecting ice and tornadoes at the Leprechaun Chase in March, ’15.  After letting thoughts marinade a little bit the last seven days, I get to add my few cents to the overwhelmingly positive feedback for the 2014 Good Life Halfsy (I hear that Bulu Box may have been a sponsor).

Pink Gorilla Events is known around the region for putting on solid events.  From packet pick-up to post-race emails, they are a group of organizers and volunteers that are bringing something different to the heartland racing scene.  Unique events from the LC10k to a relay race that started in Eastern Nebraska and now includes events in Des Moines and Cincinnati.

Lincoln has solid events put on from March-October.  But the city has been missing a big event in November.   With only one really good half-marathon within a 3 hour drive (Lincoln Half in May), this race fits a really unique niché.  There are no “halfs” at all in the area right now and to me this is prime running season (recent weather not withstanding).  So hereare a few thoughts on the event itself:

POSITIVES

• really solid course.  With most of the hills in the first three miles you can really get into a rhythm until about mile 9 where the course gets a bit jaunty.  For those that have run the Lincoln Marathon, it was kind of nice running Normal Blvd north and being aware of it.
• great pre-race set up for packet pick-up.  While encountering a few snags, Lincoln Station provided a cool venue for an expo that will likely only grow.
• really cool advertising campaign.  Logos, PR, color scheme were all very unique.  Props to whomever did that.
• post-race at the Railyard was sweet.  From finish chute to hanging out for awards runners were able to relax.  A free beer with entry, plus access to most restaurants was sweet.  Someone had the idea to walk around with chocolate chip cookies, bless their hearts and whoever had this idea.  Weather was awesome which did not hurt any of this.
• incredible job done by the volunteers.  From the start line and all along the race course and into the finish area, there were people cheering and ringing bells and just being generally helpful.
• as always, race organizers did a great job in pursuit of providing a great experience to ALL 3500 runners.  They did not focus on any one group and near as I can tell everyone leaders finishing in 1:08 to the folks closing it down were taken care of.

NEGATIVES (sorry guys, but it is for your own good)

• I would recommend making mile marker banners a bright color that was different from the race scheme.  Hard to find them among the multitude of banners, especially in the front end of the course.
• maybe had one or two mile markers in a spot where it was mis-marked.  My watch had a really fast mile in there (as did other folks), but it was also at a point where I was really starting to hurt.
• course support was rough beginning about mile 9, State Fair Grounds (or Innovation Campus but I have lived here 33 years and it will take some time to adjust).  My hope is the race will continue and that area will grow and businesses out there will step up and support it, but time will tell.
• with a point to point course a north wind could pretty much ruin everyone’s day.  Though it seems to me that this time of year has more better weather days than otherwise.  Why worry about it if you can’t control it?  Every course has its issues in that regard.

Overall an incredible event and one that will only benefit Lincoln running.

Personally, it was the fastest half-marathon in years for me. Even with a bathroom stop at mile 10, I was within 90 seconds of my PR from 2008.  Had Scott Haug out of Omaha along for the first 10k.  He was coming off an awesome marathon PR in Des Moines and was feeling it.  Wheels came off for him a bit, but he finished well.  Jason Zakaras of Gretna (trail running and fishing buddy of mine) had me for two miles and then he dropped back with a rough day on the roads.  From there it was solo time for just racing a couple of guys, which was different for me as later stages of races have not been kind to me recently.  The pit stop did not help me at all, but recovered and managed to finish well enough.

Tons of LRC-racing guys in front of me, and I was 15th.  Tom Nichols (old roommate) in 2nd in a kickers race.  Johnny Rutford, Trevor Vidlack, Logan Watley, Chad Sellers, Ryan Regnier, Andrew Jacob, and masters studs Ivan Ivanov and Tom Woods were all bringing it.  Fun to be a part of it.  1:14:52 and first in my age group for me. So not a bad day in any regards. . .