The Expo was..the Expo. Easy race kit pickup and the usual vendors. And some of us geek’ed out with doing the photo thing.
Race Day dawned early with a 7am start time. It was a wave start with each corral leaving ~ 2 min apart. The half and full runners stay together until about 20km but I never found it crowded at all.
Racers away!
The first few KMs of the race were in darkness…and I don’t think in the greatest area either. It was dark so easy to not really notice, especially because you are heading to the Ambassador bridge from Detroit into Windsor. I loved this part – there were tons of people taking pics as the sun was coming up as we went over the bridge.
Into Windsor was awesome – the run along the lakefront, the University, the spectators/volunteers were very cool. At about 10km you enter the tunnel to get back into Windsor.
Meaning you are running in a closed in tunnel under water. I had a mild panic attack then just sucked it up and ran. :)
The rest of the half leads you through different parts of Detroit. Our friends who did the full said the remainder of the course was very nice and well staffed as was the entire race.
I knew early in the race (and after the 3rd porta potty stop) this would not be a PB and I was totally ok with that. I enjoyed the run, the weather, chatted with a few people and smiled.
It was a great way to celebrate half marathon #10.
If you are thinking of running the FreeP…don’t think. Do it. It was a fantastic race. Amongst my friends, we had some PBs, a 3rd place AG finish in the marathon but we all agreed it was a great race. I know there was a bit of an issue late on the weekend with people potentially having to actually carry their ID with them (it is an International race after all) but everything else with the race was fantastic.
It was sad to see the state of Detroit to be honest. My friend and I went for a run on Saturday – downtown at 8:30am and it was almost desolate. Even driving back on Monday morning, we saw few people. Sad and I hope things turn around….
12 comments:
Congrats on the race!!
I am thinking of doing the Free Press Marathon as my first 26.2, I am from Michigan
WOW I have always wanted to visit Detroit. It seems so close to us I am sure I will one day.....glad you ladies had fun!
Glad you had a great time and yes it does get depressing when you see what has happened to Detroit.
Great report! You just need to make your pictures bigger! I'm nosey and like to see everything in them. LOL I've been to Detroit a few times for hockey tournaments. You are right, it is a very depressing area. I was kind of happy for them to be holding the outdoor classic this winter to help add to their economy. Hopefully it still happens!
Sounds like a great race! Glad you had fun and enjoyed it!
First, congrats! Sounds like an amazing race and one I might check into.
Second--the state of Detroit does make me sad. I can only hope it will have a second coming of some sort. Being in Bethlehem, PA, this past weekend where the loss of steel was HUGE, it was impressive to see how a city can revitalize in the right hands.
I heard a story on Detroit recently on NPR and how there was a group of people who are really proud of Detroit and see it as coming back. I hope it happens.
Sounds like a great race and a great weekend! Would love to get down there for that one sometime. Love your pics. Congrats on another great race.
Congrats! That is a race I would like to run one day!
BTW, you're just squeeking in here....I’ve been nominated for Liebster Award and wanted to pay it forward by nominating your blog for one too!
The Rules:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions the person giving the award has set for you. <----on my blog http://breakingmyrunnersin.blogspot.ca/2012/10/liebster-blog-award.html
3. Create 11 questions for the people you will be giving the award to.
4. Choose 11 people to award and send them a link to your post. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs.
Congrats on 1/2 #10! That's great!
I'm so sorry we didn't get to meet, but I too LOVED this race and was intrigued by the plight of Detroit (such a contrast with what I saw of Windsor!). Congrats on what sounds like a great weekend for you and your friends. My friends, husband and I had a fabulous time too and I'd go back in a heartbeat.
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