Kickin’ Assphault Half Marathon
Great Falls, Montana
Saturday, September 14, 2013

I still have a hip injury; however, my wife, Gerda, completed the Kickin’ Assphault Half Marathon in Great Falls, Montana on Saturday, September 14, 2013. It was a wonderful day for a half marathon as the temperature ranged between 55 and 65 degrees with partly cloudy skies and a 5 to 10 mph breeze. The course was completely on paved bicycle paths that went along the Missouri River where the Great Falls are located. There was one long, somewhat challenging uphill between the start and mile 1.5. The rest of the course back down that hill and then up and down gradual hills, mostly where the bicycle path was laid on an old railroad bed. There were 5 water/Heed stations spaced out throughout the course which were manned by two enthusiastic volunteers at each station which was enough help to tend to the needs of the 55 participants in the half marathon. Because the race was so small there were only finisher’s medals and no age group awards. There was a couple of places along the course where the route could have been better marked as many competitors missed the actual turn to cross the river and went the wrong way to a water station that was on the return route where their mistake was pointed out and they had to return to the actual turn which added about 1/3 mile to their journey. The same area caused problems on the return journey. Because I was not doing the race, I made sure that I was at this area each time Gerda came through and made sure that she did the proper route. I wish that I would have been able to do this event because it was the type of course and day that I usually do very well. Gerda and I had a nice time in Great Falls and have been enjoying our three week journey through South Dakota, Montana, and North Dakota.