Triple D Race Series: Half Marathon

Race date: January 18th, 2015

Race location: Dubuque, Iowa

Race length: 13.1 miles

Website: http://tripledrace.blogspot.com/?m=1

So let's start with a little background of the Triple D. The Triple D race series is a collection of races including: a half-marathon, a full marathon, an ultramarathon, a 50k and 100k bike race, and usually a 50k and 100k ski race (I say usually because this year, the weather melted all of the snow, so no skiers). I ran the half marathon, and let me say, this race is such a nice break from the normal, street-ran half marathons I typically run. The Triple D race is ran on the Heritage Trail, a limestone trail that runs from Dyersville, Iowa to Dubuque, Iowa. Now if any of you know or have been to Dubuque, you might think that I am absolutely insane for running there, but the trail we ran on is flat with some rolling hills. The course actually had a net downhill which was nice. 

Race day, we parked our cars at a local hotel and were shuttled out to a road in Epworth, Iowa, where our start line was. At 10 am sharp, (this was when all the races began), we were told to begin and head towards our finish. The race started out great, not too warm, not too cold, however that changed. Most of us expected that the temperature was going to hover around 35-37ish, however by the end of the race, the sun came out, the wind died down, and it got warm. This was a problem for everyone who overdressed and for all participants because there was a small amount of snow covering the ground at the beginning of the race, which, when it warmed up, began to melt. (I will add though, this year sounds better than the conditions of last year, which the day before the 2014 race, it had snowed 4 fluffy inches of snow, which made the course like running on sand). The last 5 miles for myself was a run in mud. Besides the mud and the heat, it was a really fun event. With only 40 runners in the half marathon, I was by myself for some of the race, however, I would catch up to different groups and run with them. With the course conditions being as they were, we all were taking it easy and chatting along. 

The finish was nice as well, as we ended at a bar along the trail, which the race directors had a $600 bar tab waiting for us to order whatever we needed. This bar has delicious pizza and was a very welcome sight for the runners of the half and ultra, who's finishing location was here. 

All three running races ran along the same trail, just different routes. The half marathon route was a simple, start here, end there, kind of route. We only had to stay on the Heritage trail to find our end. The full marathon had to stay on the trail, stop at the first bar to check in, then continue onto a snowmobile trail, which took them to their final location, another bar. The ultra marathoners had to follow the marathoners to the second bar, check in, then turn around and follow their route back to the first bar. As for the bikers, I have no idea where they ended up traveling.

As for the price of this race, it is a pretty steep cost. Being $60 for any event, this might scare people away, however, at the post-race festivities, you have a chance to win some back. I was not in attendance at the post-race party, so I did not win any of my money back, but that is okay with me.

Overall, this race was a lot of fun, and I would definitely do it again. I would recommend it to any runner looking for a good winter race that is a lot of fun. 

Feelin Good, around mile 6

Finishing the race, not so happy

Pros:

• A lot of fun
• Soft running surface
• Great finish location/post-race food

Cons:

• Price
• Not a lot of people (this can change)
• Weather is unpredictable