Where: Harrah’s, 2701 23rd Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Distance: Half Marathon, 5K
Description: Formerly, the Council Bluffs Half Marathon.
Website: http://www.thegamblerhalf.com
Where: Harrah’s, 2701 23rd Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Distance: Half Marathon, 5K
Description: Formerly, the Council Bluffs Half Marathon.
Website: http://www.thegamblerhalf.com
I agree with the previous reviewer…the water station situation was a little weird. And it was so hot and humid that I think it was important for the race coordinators to make sure the water was available AT LEAST every 2 miles. I passed about 6-7 people passed out along the course…most of them only had other runners or spectators helping them, one had a police officer next to him but the officer wasn’t really helping him – just standing there. I understand that these sorts of things happen, and when you’re going to race this distance, you need to be prepared for the conditions. However, the weather forecast was predicting hot and humid for at least 12 days prior to the race, which I think might have sent up a red flag to the coordinators to add some medical help/water stations/etc. I thought the course was pretty nice. This was my first year participating in this event so I don’t know what 2009 was like but I’m told this years course was much improved. I also agree with the other reviewer that the finish area needed a little work. It seemed rather damp, drab and not much like a finish area. And the post race “festivities”…the band was “interesting” and it didn’t seem like post race festivities at all. I’m not completely disappointed but this was my 2nd half, and my first was the Wisconsin race in this series. It was Wisconsin’s first year and their race was tremendous…very well organized and obviously well thought out. I know I’ll be going back to WI next year but I’m leaning toward not doing Council Bluffs next year.
2010 was the second running of this race. It was greatly improved from the first edition in 2009, but there was LOTS of room for improvement and there still is. At the start of the event, they need more than one speaker connected to the microphone–we can’t hear you over the hundreds of people in the parking lot and the train overhead! The disposable timing chip wasn’t disposable–no big deal, just not what they promised. There were portapots at 3, 6, & 9 in 2010 when there were none on the entire course in 2009, so this was better! The course was also different and MUCH improved, gone is the wierd trek through a trailer park and added was a few miles on the lake shore–wonderful. But, we could do without the off road through the trees connecting trail in mile 7, I think. One lady with a scratchy radio between mile 8 & 9 does not consitute “music & entertainment” along the course as advertised. I’m ok with no entertainment just stop promising that it will be there. The water stations every 2 miles were nice, exept the one that wasn’t at mile 8–it was at mile 9. I’d normally let that slide except it was nearly 90 degrees and there was no course sweeper or medical support along the course. They were all waiting at the finish line but people fall down and vomit from heat exhaustion before the finish line. When the starting temp at 7 am is over 80 degrees and the finish temp is pushing 90 (plus the humidity heat index) you should consider water every mile and water mist stations too. The finish in the bottom floor of the parking garage was cool (in temperature) but they need to make it look like a finish line not a parking garage. It would help if there was somewhere for runners to sit/cool down and a few bleachers would be nice for those who came to see the finish. Maybe year 3 in 2011 will be better but I don’t think I’m interested in continuing to participate in this experiment.