Post by archaeominx on May 1, 2015 20:03:40 GMT -5
It's definitely hilly. Nothing too huge but if you are in FL, definitely more hills than you are used to.
My biggest issue with the race was dealing with the traffic and some of the disorganization. I met up with a friend for it and we had a huge hassle with dealing with park traffic for getting packets, you have to deal with the parking lots while the park is open, they don't tell you runners do not have to pay, we found out by accident when we asked the parking attendants if we were supposed to even go in for pick up. No signs marking anything, we wandered around for awhile trying to find it since it was listed as next to the arena and was nowhere near it. It was just bizarre how little communication there was or direction for where to go. It took us about an hour and half of waiting in traffic to get in the park and then walking around finding the place to get our packets. So rather annoying.
For the race itself, give yourself a lot of time to get parked and through traffic again. We were staying about a mile frm the start line and we gave ourselves over an hour to get over there. Start gun goes off and we were still sprinting through the lot to get there. We had ditched the car by that point. No volunteers helping to direct anyone, that sort of thing. they had the area around the start fenced off and were not letting runners in, trying to direct us to the end of the lot. It was a little ridiculous.
One thing I will say about the race, you run through the campus of Milton Hershey High, it's a boarding school and I am pretty sure the entire student body was out there cheering, they were awesome. It's the hilliest section of the race and they make it much more enjoyable.
It's definitely hilly. Nothing too huge but if you are in FL, definitely more hills than you are used to.
My biggest issue with the race was dealing with the traffic and some of the disorganization. I met up with a friend for it and we had a huge hassle with dealing with park traffic for getting packets, you have to deal with the parking lots while the park is open, they don't tell you runners do not have to pay, we found out by accident when we asked the parking attendants if we were supposed to even go in for pick up. No signs marking anything, we wandered around for awhile trying to find it since it was listed as next to the arena and was nowhere near it. It was just bizarre how little communication there was or direction for where to go. It took us about an hour and half of waiting in traffic to get in the park and then walking around finding the place to get our packets. So rather annoying.
For the race itself, give yourself a lot of time to get parked and through traffic again. We were staying about a mile frm the start line and we gave ourselves over an hour to get over there. Start gun goes off and we were still sprinting through the lot to get there. We had ditched the car by that point. No volunteers helping to direct anyone, that sort of thing. they had the area around the start fenced off and were not letting runners in, trying to direct us to the end of the lot. It was a little ridiculous.
One thing I will say about the race, you run through the campus of Milton Hershey High, it's a boarding school and I am pretty sure the entire student body was out there cheering, they were awesome. It's the hilliest section of the race and they make it much more enjoyable.
Thanks good to know. Luckily my h will be there spectating so if things get hairy I can leave him and he can park and such. I'm a worrier so allowing way too much time might benefit me here lol
Post by archaeominx on May 1, 2015 20:14:22 GMT -5
Having someone drop you off will definitely make it easier. The traffic was making me insane, I hate running late to begin with but for a race? ughhhhh.
I also admit to being really bummed there was no chocolate milk at the end. It's Hershey! Bring on the chocolate!
I have to laugh, we were just talking about the race today because we got emails about registration opening, it reminded me of all the shenanigans around it.
Having someone drop you off will definitely make it easier. The traffic was making me insane, I hate running late to begin with but for a race? ughhhhh.
I also admit to being really bummed there was no chocolate milk at the end. It's Hershey! Bring on the chocolate!
I have to laugh, we were just talking about the race today because we got emails about registration opening, it reminded me of all the shenanigans around it.
Now I'm worried this was the wrong travel race to pick
Post by archaeominx on May 1, 2015 20:29:06 GMT -5
You'll be good, it was just weird for us because we were only there for the race, it was a quick trip for the both of us. Part of your registration gets you tickets for the park to use afterward, if you are actually longer than the race, you can use them. check out the chocolate world tour or the spa. My friend grew up in the area and we had both been to the park, tour and spa before so our whole point to being in town was just the race. We just wish we had known about the traffic situation ahead of time. It also could have been unique, Frozen on Ice was going on at the same exact time as the race expo so dodging stressed parents and elsas was quite the experience.
You'll be good, it was just weird for us because we were only there for the race, it was a quick trip for the both of us. Part of your registration gets you tickets for the park to use afterward, if you are actually longer than the race, you can use them. check out the chocolate world tour or the spa. My friend grew up in the area and we had both been to the park, tour and spa before so our whole point to being in town was just the race. We just wish we had known about the traffic situation ahead of time. It also could have been unique, Frozen on Ice was going on at the same exact time as the race expo so dodging stressed parents and elsas was quite the experience.