Race: Evergreen Half Marathon
Runner: Noah Jaffe
Race Date: 6/19/2021
Location: Snohomish, WA
Results: 1:23:59
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/5496630037/embed/fd66226fb5f0e383dfdb1285a187c153731b83f4
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Fast and forgiving course. Small enough to not feel overly crowded. Organizers really nice.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Start was chaotic, as later arriving runners were held shy of the start line, and couldn’t go to the start until earlier runners had cleared the first 300 yards. Communication wasn’t very clear on that.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
It was weird (but cool!) having a couple of the fastest runners (including the winner!) go off much later than the elite/first wave, and run their own race from the back. Chip timing allowed that, obviously, but was unexpected for me at least.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
The gentle downhill was really favorable, made it easy to get going faster and hold pace. I was able to keep pretty even splits, despite being a relative novice.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Show up earlier! (The bussing mechanics were more challenging than usual, I’d imagine, because of COVID concerns… hoping that’s less of an issue in future years).
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Show up earlier!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Straight line, gentle downhill. Not much to know… easy to have fun and go fast.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Lovely course– mostly rustic, a lot of tree coverage, and a lot of course running alongside a picturesque river.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
No, really fast/friendly.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Mostly well organized and well run, except for the chaos at the start times. I could have probably avoided that by being there earlier. Pre-race, post-race, and aid stations were terrific.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Seemed like a significantly stronger field than in years past. A few runners went under 1:10, including a 1:06 winner, who travelled in from Puerto Rico with his family. Seems like he must be one of the fastest Puerto Ricans overall, wonder if he’s on his way to some records.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Snohomish very accessible from Seattle and Bellingham, and small enough race that logistics were a breeze. Easy to find street parking right near the finish.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard, and well spaced IMO.
Weather and typical race conditions
Sunny, 55-60, perfect conditions. Probably pretty standard for this time of year. Lucky it wasn’t a hotter day.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Nothing special
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yeah, Snohomish great place to get a coffee/pastry, and plenty of junctions to watch from, as well as a very good fun park for the finish line.
How’s the Swag?
Average.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4/5. Great course to run, easy to get to and logistically smooth. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fast time / PR, and a nice scenic stress-free race.