I ALMOST set a new PR on this course... but like everyone else, we realized the course had been changed this year for a reason. The last half mile was straight up hill... a see-saw pattern climb within McEachern Greenway and the local connector greenway. It was a steep hill that in any other scenario would have been stairs but because it's a greenway, a lateral back and forth path was created to allow users access to the upper street level. I was content with my time over all though. Gun time was only 01:10 above my current PR, hill and all. April is looking good for a PR.
This is a well managed race in the historic district of downtown Concord. Easy access, lots of parking, tech shirts & bunny ears in the goodie bags and a 9:30 AM start time over Easter weekend. All-in-all a pleasant local race over the holiday. outside of the final half mile, the course is either downhill or flat all the way through. The terrain is concrete, asphalt and wood (all bridges on the greenway are wooden). Most of the course is within the park / greenway near the Courthouse.
Post race included water, oranges and bananas; bouncy castles, kids games and music with several vendors participating. Not bad for a $15 race. Lots of police presence at this event, more so than any race I've ever attended but I'm assuming that speaks to the support for the event rather than the need for law enforcement. The race was organized by the local Parks & Recreation group of Concord.
Overall on this course I walked two thirds and sporadically ran a mile which for me is more than usual. The first three tenths of a mile and the last two tenths of a mile are on the downtown streets adjacent to START and FINISH. The entire remainder of the course is all greenway. Again, a very pleasant experience for a 5K and a moderate turnout of 356 as well.
Best of luck to Concord Parks & Recreation with their future events.
