Race #248 - Knoxville Half Marathon - Knoxville, TN - 03/30/14

Pros:


  • Almost 10,000 runners competed in the three races (full marathon, half marathon, and 5k)
  • It was the 4th annual Grandfather-Grandson Knoxville Half Marathon for me and my now 26-year-old grandson Ryan.
  • Great finish on the 50-yard-line of Neyland Stadium, home of the Tennessee Volunteers.
  • Very good expo at the Convention Center adjoining the World's Fair Park.
  • Spectacular start with band playing Rocky Top and a large crowd cheering runners.
  • 24 bands and musical acts playing along the course.
  • Nice course along the Tennessee River, through upscale neighborhoods, and along the Knoxville greenway.
  • Lots of good post-race food including pizza and chocolate milk. I wish the pizza could have been kept warmer on this cold day, but cold pizza is better than no pizza.
  • Beautiful finisher medal with a rotating Sunsphere.


Cons:


  • No race-day packet pickup.
  • You can park close to the start OR close to the finish, but not both. It's not a huge distance if you're familiar with the area, but good luck if you don't know where you are.
  • For the first two years we ran this race the post-race activities were held in the nearby basketball arena. This year and last year it remained in the football stadium. That would be fine if the weather was warm, but with temperature only about 40 degrees after the race I was ready to get out of there. 
  • Race results not posted after the race. I won the Senior Grand Masters but didn't find out until I got home that night since I was unable to get a late checkout at our hotel.

Click Here for Half Marathon Results

 Click Here for Full Marathon Results

Click Here for 5k Results

 Click Here for Official Race Photos from SportPhoto

 My Stats:

Time:  1:40:33 (chip)
Pace:  7:41
Age Group:  1 of  46
Overall:  143 of  2488 (5.7%)
Average Heart Rate:  164
Maximum Heart Race:  173
Age Graded Equivalent Time:  1:19:50 (74.18%)

With my grandson Ryan Kennedy after the race.
It was the fourth year of our annual Grandfather-Grandson half marathon!

***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE
3 - Chip Timing: (3 points if yes)
2 - Starting Mat: (2 points if yes)
5 - Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 - Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
2 - Course Scenery:  (0)bad  (2)pleasant  (5)extraordinary
1 - Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 - Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
7 - Finish line: (0)mediocre  (2)not bad  (5)very good  (7)spectacular!
2 - Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 - Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 - Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION
2 - Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
0 - Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 - Posted promptly online:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 - Clear link on website:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 - 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 - 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 - 14 and under group (1)
1 - 65+ group (1)
1 - 70+ group (1)
2 - Top Overall M/F:  (0)none or first only  (2)top 3 or better
2 - Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
3 - Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
5 - Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
2 - Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 - Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 - Door Prizes or Drawing: (0)no  (2)yes   (5-9)fabulous door prizes!
5 - Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE
8 - Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
9 - Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
0 - Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS
2 - Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
1 - Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 - T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
2 - Design: (0)not good  (1)not bad  (2)nice  (5)beautiful!
2 - Material: (0)cotton  (2)technical fabric
0 - Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY
5 - Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
0 - Prices: (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
0 - Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (2)yes  (5)lots of free pics!

PARKING
2 - Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
0 - Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

WEBSITE
2 - Dedicated race website (0)no  (2)yes
2 - Results or link to results posted on website:  (0)no  (2)yes

OTHER
2 - Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
2 - Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
0 - Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes


TOTAL:  109

It's a fantastic finish on the 50-yard line of Neyland Stadium.

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