The 5K started inside of Avalon while the half marathon started about fifteen minutes earlier and across the street. About fifteen minutes before I was due to start, I went across the street to my start line while Momma K waited in the car for her race time. Since it was a little cooler, it was nice to be able to stay in the car as long as possible.
The course had a nice mix of semi-residential areas and business park type areas so it wasn't the same surroundings constantly for 13.1 miles. The business park areas were also great for spectators to set up to cheer for you. Even with the cooler weather, there were still a number of spectators out along the way cheering their runners on (and of course the random strangers).
My favorite part of the course was running the few miles on the greenway from mile 7 to 11ish. The greenway is so pretty this time of the year and I am glad that they highlighted it on the course. Bonus: while it is a SUPER mild uphill on the greenway (50ft climb over four miles) it was nice to run on the nearly flat concrete for a few miles.
After coming off the greenway at mile 11, there was pretty quick steep hill that went up about 150ft within less than half a mile, but after that you were home free with just a few mild hills in the home stretch.
With just shy of 950 half marathon finishers and 350 5Kers, I would say that this was a successful inaugural running of the Alpharetta Women's Half Marathon and 5K.