This was my first year doing the 26k distance for this race which reminded me a lot of Broken Arrow except the climb was all in one big go and at higher elevation which made it perhaps even more challenging, but worth the views which are spectacular. They implemented three waves to stagger the start which helped avoid some crowding on the single track uphill but you should still expect some spots with a conga line. The aid stations were perfectly spread out and had great volunteers but I wish they had more real food options like potatoes and quesadillas instead of chips and pretzels, but I made due with bananas and pickles. The downhill included some technical mountain biking sections and wooden bridges which was fun but could be tough on tired legs. Overall, if you're looking for a community driven challenging mountain trail race, this is for you!

Exceptionally run. Stunning scenery. Just plain fun!

Course is amazing. It has a lot of elevation. It can be done by anyone fit. The downhill was steeper than I expected. The finish through town is special.