Bismarck Half Marathon
Bismarck, North Dakota
Saturday, September 21, 2013

My hip is still injured and Gerda completed the Bismarck Half Marathon in Bismarck, North Dakota on September 21, 2013. It was a cold morning for the event as the start temperature was 36 degrees and it climbed to near 50 degrees by Gerda’s finish. The skies were sunny and there was a little breeze. The course consisted of two loops connected by an out and back section that saw one challenging hill from mile 5 to mile 6. The next two miles were a little up and down followed by a mile back down the hill. The rest of the course was relatively flat. The course utilized approximately 9 miles of paved bicycle paths, 3 miles of the shoulder of a highway, and 1 mile of little used roadway. Roads had to be crossed in only two places that were controlled by police and volunteers. Turns were marked by arrows, signs, and volunteers that made the chance of going the wrong way near zero. There were plenty of water/Gatorade stations that were located at less than 1 mile apart and had plenty enthusiastic volunteers. The three deep, five year age group awards consisted of nice embroidered jackets. The event was very well organized, friendly, and fun to do. This was half marathon 198 for my wife, Gerda.