I ran the Peach Jam 1/2 Marathon in 2014 and enjoyed the race. It was a smaller race (capped at 500 runners) and was well organized with a great course so of course I returned for 2015. This year a few more friends joined in on the Peach Jam which made it even more fun. The morning started with Becky and I leaving bright and early (not as early as some) - around 5:45.
It is April and you know the saying "April showers, bring May flowers" - well, we have had plenty of showers for sure. It had rained most of the week leading up to race which made for some 'fun' course conditions. There was one spot that you passed twice that was a HUGE puddle covering the entire trail so your options were to (a) go through the water (b) go off to the side and through the mud. I cannot speak for the front of the pack, but this caused a slight bottleneck for sure as runners tip-toed their way through it. It was like a little taste of an OCR thrown into the race - haha. There were small puddles along the rest of the route, but nothing too crazy. The worst part of the course conditions had to be the boardwalk sections (which was a decent bit). Think, wet wooden planks and runners....yeaaaaaaa. It was slick out there to say the least. I did see a few runners go down, but no one seemed too shaken up or hurt which is good. I slipped around mile 9 and pulled something in my hip area which was a buzz-kill because I was on pace for a PR (despite this not being a 'goal race' for me) and I ended up slowing down a lot the last 4 miles. NOTE: I get that the race directors cannot control that it rained and I don't hold them at fault for any of these conditions - I am just pointing out the experience. :)
Y'all know that I keep it real with everyone. I was highly disappointed in my bling. It was the EXACT same medal as last year. No date on the medal or ribbon...NOTHING! Most of us would be lying if we said that bling doesn't matter, so it is disappointing to receive the exact same thing two years in a row. Even the age group winners received generic medals and 'awards.' My speedy friend, Anna, won overall Master's female and was presented with a generic Dirty Spokes medal (no indication of what she won) and a random bag of stuff (box of beef jerky, Emergen-C, a portable cell phone charger, and a few other things).