It's a glow-mob mentality! (Yup, heard it, don't care. :-P ) Fantastic event! I hope to do this one…read moreevery year as a sort of end-of-running season finale. It was just so fun!
Yes, the $50 price tag is a little steep, but the payoff IMO is well worth it. Consider that you are usually paying $25-$40 for any other walk/run registration, & with this one, the $50 gets you an awesome DJ, music & laser light show- plus funky glow shades, an LED bracelet (required for entrance), and a cute & cooler than most Electric Run t-shirt. Register early. Pricing is date/tier structured. I paid $40 or $45, it went up to $60-$65. There's a diverse crowd, all ages, all strengths, set your own pace.
I'd say skip all their overpriced glow/light up accessories. Instead, stock up on your own from party stores, dollar stores & Halloween stores. However, test the glow-in-the-dark makeups before the event, as the gel I bought from a party store was supposed to glow & glitter, but didn't. Try to get glow accessories that require very little assembly! LOL We spent about 45 minutes at the event trying to "break" the sticks & putting our stuff together! We never even stretched, ran out of time. Battery-operated has a nice ring to it! I'm going to start searching for inexpensive items now for next year- & those you can use again, as traditional glow sticks, you can't. Invest! :) I want to do this event every year!
This is not a bib/chip-timed event. It's much more of an experience. People are encouraged to dance, & to stop & look at & take your own pics at all the displays along the way. There are some really great photo ops, believe me. Packet pickup is the day prior (or race day- and I saw no long lines for it race day, FYI, thowe were told there would probably be), & no check-in or corral assignments. You just show up with the required bib & LED wristband & line up at will. Easy.
The course is pretty well laid out, with only a couple areas where I felt like a hamster on a wheel, like the part where where it was a big parking lot & we were mazing repeatedly thru as if we were waiting in line at an amusement park. But the majority was more well-thought out & the views were spectacular! My favorites by far were all the green & purple lit paper lanterns in the trees, & walking under the "rain of light" canopy, as I like to call it. Side note: how can I incorporate this in my master bedroom??
I did have some anxiety- hi, have we met? I prefer to walk/jog/run on smooth surfaces. I do not like potholes, cracks, puddles, curbs, gravel, sand, mud, quicksand, time-warps, vortexes or the like! (Well, let's be honest; who doesn't like the Time Warp...it's just a step to the right...) Thankfully, this course was very good for the most part. There were, however, places where it was almost complete darkness, but still lots of people. It's a little unnerving not to be able to see the ground in front of you, but I seemed to be the only one acting like I needed to press the call button at an assisted-living facility, so I'm pretty sure I was in the minority. Plus, the hydration tables were awesomely stocked with glow cups of water, but as usual they just get thrown on the ground (why are there never trash cans??), so you have to be careful not to trip or slip there-- & organizers, how bout we don't choose an area going down hill when there's water & objects on the ground in an almost pitch-black tunnel? Just sayin'!
I have one major & one minor complaint, & here's where ER lost a star. MINOR: The after party was inside which was fine, but it was HOT & stuffy. Bring in some fans. I think they sell them at Target. MAJOR: the ridiculously long, slow & understaffed lines for drinks at the party. This event attended by 10,000 people was sponsored by Southern Comfort, & we were all set to do a little drinking. WHERE were the BARTENDERS?? I am not exaggerating when I say there were 2 lines with one bartender each. Lines extended across the width of the great hall we were in. That line...did. not. move. Remember when Grandpa Morty bar tended your cousin's wedding reception? Yeah, it was like that. They really lost out here on so much money. A lot of people, my party included, skipped it. I'm pretty patient with most things- que sera sera, right, but we didn't want to stand in those lines when we could've been dancing. Next time, ima bring a flask. Haha Don't, they do search your bag. (Speaking of that, there is no bag/gear check, so pack light. So much easier not to be carrying anything.)
I have really enjoyed the 5/8K's this spring and summer. I have never enjoyed an after-race more than this one! There is nothing quite as fantastic as you nearing the finish line to see the show/lights/crowd in the slight distance waiting for you. I felt like I was entering the party at Zion in The Matrix! Lol And I only picked up a mild contact high, just for a sec, & then my dancing frenzy resumed... increased...enhanced...improved? Well, anyway, it was super fun!
