The Course: The course is fairly flat, so it's not a very difficult route. It started on 300 West and North Temple. West on 900 N then back south on 400 West. You turn into the Gateway at 100 S and run the last little bit through the center of the Gateway.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2812905
Actual Event:
Unfortunately this morning did not go smoothly so it's hard to review this event completely. I met up with a group who was doing it as a team. While I am a supporter of Trax this was not it's finest hour. They are doing construction so all trains are on the same tracks. There was also a power outage on a section so they were running late. I actually saw 3 trains go by before we got on. The 1st one had room but it came by around 7:20 which was before the group met (7:30). The second two were full to capacity. We finally just pushed onto the next train.
The race was supposed to start at 8:30 but we didn't get there until 8:50. The race actually started about 10 mins late, so we were only 10 mins behind. I felt bad for all the many people we passed on other Trax stations that couldn't even fit on our train, so they got there even later. The real point of the event was to raise money for breast cancer research and to help educate the public. Mission accomplished.
I, however, also wanted to beat my PR. My last official 5K was a few years back and it was about 0:29:00ish. Starting the race late put us behind thousands of people. I shouldn't say we anymore. I ditched the group because most of them were walking. The point is, there were way too many people I had to dodge and weave around.
It was kind of fun to pass so many people, but it was especially efficient and walkers tend to do things like stop suddenly or change directions without looking around them to see who is going to run into them. I think if I had started at the beginning of the race, I wouldn't have had the bottleneck issues.
Parade of Survivors
The awesome part once I made my way into the mass of people was looking forward and back. It was like being in a sea or white and pink. There were so many people. When you get to the last almost quarter mile, there is no more running. The run/walk finishes through the Gateway. It's not wide enough for the number of people that participate, so you start moving along like livestock to a corral.
Another con is that you don't get an official time. They don't track individual times in any way. I actually have no idea what my time was. I looked at the time when I started and stopped and I came up with just under 17 mins. That is impossible. I can't run one mile in 6 minutes let alone 3. Obviously, I got confused on the timing some how so I have no idea how I really did.
Cons:
No official timing
Too many walkers if you don't start at the front
Crying (happy and sad) in public by reading people's back dedications
Pros:
Lots of good positive energy from participants
Lots of cheering on the sides
Funny people to look at
You can talk/shout about breasts all you want
Free capes while they last
Recommendations:
I do recommend this event. Not as a race though. Do it for fun and to support the cause. Take time to look around and read people's t-shirts. How many races do you see a matching pink bowling ball and pin walking down the street or men in bras?
Get there early. If you're going to use Trax, leave before 7:30 AM. You'll be standing around for awhile, but you'll get there on time. If you choose to drive, still go early. Traffic looked pretty bad too. I heard the 600 S exit was backed up pretty bad right before the race. If I do it again, I'll still take Trax.
These guys were the most popular people at the event
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