Race Review: Craft Classic Phoenix
October 19, 2017 Leave a comment
Disclaimer: I received a free entry to Road Runner Sports Craft Classic Phoenix as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
It only took 7 years of distance running to knock Arizona off my Half Marathon list. The funny thing is, my first marathon was in Phoenix back in 2010. Small world and a little backwards thinking! I got into the Craft Classic Half through Bibrave and ended up making a weekend trip of it. I was able to get a direct flight into Phoenix and got in around noon on Friday. After picking up my rental car, I went to the Road Runner Sports in Tempe for packet pick up and lunch.
Packet Pick Up/Expo: Friday from Noon to 7 pm at Road Runner Sports Tempe and Saturday from 10-4 at Road Runner Sports Scottsdale. You could pick up for other people with their ID. No race day pick up, which would have been nice for people driving in. You got a coupon to shop at RRS at, your bib, shirt and a beer pint glass
Cost: depended on how many people registered. As more people registered, cost went up. The half was anywhere from $75 to $105.
Race Day Parking: I arrived early and was able to park close to the start. You could park at the post office, the River of Time Museum or at retail parking.
Race Start: 630 AM off of the Ave of the Fountains
Race Day: I met up with Emily, a fellow Bibrave Pro who lives in the Phoenix area. I had also met up with her on Saturday for brunch after a running a 10K (I’m smart like that). We chatted a bit and then lined up at the start. There were pacers, every 10 minutes from 1:30 that I could see. The half marathon started at 630 AM and the 5K started at 7 AM. The half course started out relatively flat, and I was really hoping for a sub 2 hr race. The first 3 miles were comfortable, and that was appreciated. Then mile 4 showed up and all of the hilliness that decided to come with it. I felt ike it was all up hill from mile 4.5 to at least mile 6. By the time you got to the down hill, you thought the worst of it was over and then more rolling hills decided to rear its head. You figured out very quickly you weren’t likely to PR this course. It got to the point where legs got tired in a sense. It did warm up pretty quick, but we also got a nice breeze going, although it nearly knocked off my visor. The last 3 miles seemed flat to me (or at least that’s how I like to think of them). I ended up finishing just under 2:09.
Aid Stations: every mile or so. Water and nuun were available at each station, as were porta potties. I wish powerade/gatorade were available over nuun, as I don’t know it works all that well (though some people swear by it). Honey Stinger gels were available at some of the aid stations.
The Finish: right by the start. As you crossed the finish, you were given your medal. Plenty of water and nuun again. Only bananas and oranges to eat. Food trucks were available, but you had to pay for the food. I really wish they would have had some sort of food with carbs and chocolate milk. I get it’s a race with beer at the end, but I think having some food with substance and something cold to replenish the muscles would have been huge, especially given the heat. Each runner got a free beer, each additional was $5. My beer went to Emily, fellow Bibrave Pro.
Overall, a decent race. I would recommend doing some hills to prep for this race. I think that powerade/gatorade would have been a better on course option and some more food of substance and chocolate milk post race would be awesome! If you’re in the area, definitely worth checking out the race.
drrunner 