The 2024 event was on Saturday, April 27 at 7:33 am. It was a breezy morning with humidity.

Registration: Available online. Included was a short sleeve, gender specific tech shirt (each was a different color,) bib with timing strip, and a drawstring bag.

*Many pre-race emails with information.
There is an app available for the race, free of charge. The app is well built. Lots of messaging. Tracker for participants, loaded with information, results, photos. Everything you would need for race day information and more. Easy to navigate.

Expo/Packet pickup: The expo and packet pick up was held Thursday evening and all day Friday at the nearby Rec Center on campus. Bib pick up was first by going up to clerk that was representing the event you were running, you showed them your unique QR code that was sent via email. They scanned the code and gave you your bib. You could pick up someone else's stuff. After you got your bib, you then went to the expo to get a drawstring bag and race shirt. The expo was a decent size with area races, area businesses, running gear, fun games and race merchandise.
There were also speakers throughout the day in the same building.
The Rec Center was also open for working out and their regularly scheduled events. Volunteers and signage was posted to navigate where you needed to go.

*Parking for all events was FREE surrounding the stadium area.

Pre-Race: The start was managed with corrals. A volunteer stood at the entrance checking bibs. There were port-o-potties everywhere, with short lines. The National Anthem was sung live and the wheeler division started, followed by the runners.

Race/Course: The course was around Champaign / Urbana on the streets. The half marathon ran with the marathon until they split just after mile 12.
-Scenery - Ran through parts the college area and residential neighborhoods. Ran through a park
-Terrain - All paved except finish on the turf football field.
-Elevation - This course was flat to me. There might have been short short climbs, but no major hills.
-Spectators - There were family and friends on the course. The residents along the course had some great signs
-Aid Stations - There were many Aid stations, with Nuun first and then water. Near the halfway point there was a stop with orange slices. I believe we also passed a gel stop or two.
-Course markings- No problems figuring out which way to go. All major intersections had law enforcement, and all other intersections had a volunteer. All miles were marked. There were some timing mats on the course too. There were 3 race distances using the course and each split was well marked.
-Photographers - scattered throughout the course *photos sent to email and posted on the app within an hour or so of completing the race.
-Volunteers -So many, every intersection, each aid station. THANK YOU!

Finish: The unique part about this race is the the finish on the 50 yard line at the college football stadium. There is an announcer cheering everyone in. A volunteer is there with a bottle or water, then your medal and a heat sheet. There are some photo backdrops set up in the end zone. There was a PR bell to ring. There were some stretching stations. Runners only on the field.

There was access for spectators to sit in the stands and watch their friends and family finish.

Post Race: The concession stands were the place to go for post race food. There were bananas, Nature Valley Granola Bars, pizza, cookies, chips, chocolate milk and bottled water.
As I left a volunteer said to keep my bib with me and I could come back and get more food. The actual party was on a nearby side street outside the stadium. Runners could get a free beer with their bib. A band played music, food trucks set up.

My race: I signed up for the half I challenge. Run the 5k the evening before and the half marathon.
*Due to protests the 5k was canceled, I did run my own unsupported 5k.
I have run this race a few times before and over 70 half marathons, my goal was to just finish.
By mile 2 I was already miserable. I was struggling with the humidity as I had not had a chance to train in it. (The windchill was 27 the week before.) However, that was about it, I just kept moving forward. I ate a lot of salt tabs, drank a lot of water, took some chews about halfway and mile 10. I enjoyed the signs along the course.
For me the best part was wearing another school's name across my chest. I was actually surprised about all the Go Hawks along the course. Who doesn't love a friendly rivalry.
I was ready to be done and excited to see the 12th mile marker. At that point I could also hear the music and announcements from the stadium. I turned that last corner and hit the field turf, which was super bouncy, and then I crossed the finish line.
I took a bottle of water and got my half marathon medal. I found my husband and we took some photos together. Then we exited the field, climbed the stadium stairs to the concession stand for some post race food. We proceeded to the post race party and snagged a beer and sat and listened to music.
It was then I realized they were handing out the Half I challenge medals. I was conflicted as there was no 5k, but I did in fact run 5k. So I went back into the stadium and onto the field to get that medal. *Since race day there has been communication that they are making plans to host the 5k, or have a virtual option.
I finished with a time around 2:27.

Overall: This is a great race, you do not have to worry about any extra logistics. It has all that would need to run and a fun finish line.
I can't say enough about the race organizers and communication. There was a developing situation and I kept getting emails and updates. The runners safety was always the number one concern. There are so many moving parts that go into planning a race and I felt they did the right things.