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| - I've been part of both Phoenix (15K) races and even volunteered at the expo this year. I've found that these people put on a very well organized event and I've had a great time both years.
The hoodie they gave away this year is a lot nicer, IMO, than the jacket from last year, and I was happy to receive something different. The mug full of sugar that we received at the end of the race was the same as last year. It is a plastic mug, which seems a little cheap at first blush. Trust me, though, I've been at races where they hand out glass and it is NOT pretty.
I didn't see a "family reunion" area at this race, but there were a few families who asked about that. You know, signs with each letter of the alphabet where people can meet up after the race? For groups of racers with varying skill levels, that helps a lot in finding one another post-race. I'd suggest something like that for a future race.
Most of the complaints I've heard have to do with parking. Yes, it is bad here. Really bad. I don't know how much the race organizers have control over that. I didn't see bottlenecks at the parking areas. Instead, I saw backups on the freeway and on Pima Rd both years so I think a lot of the congestion has to do with the area and the limited access.
I've run quite a few races, some much larger and some much smaller. No matter the size, parking always sucks. If you can get dropped off, that's almost always the best option.
As others have indicated, you should plan to get there really early, especially if you're running the 5K. I suggest parking at the Pavillions shopping center (where the Expo was) and walking to the race start. There is a nice path from near the UltraStar theater that leads right to the gear check area and start line areas. I don't think it was more than a mile of walking and it was good to get the blood flowing.
From a volunteer perspective, the well-managed organization of this event is even more evident. Our jobs were well defined and we weren't standing around wondering what needed to be done. A big THANK YOU to all of the volunteers out on the course and supporting us on the day of the event.
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