Review: 2016 Hop Hop Half

What: Hop Hop Half
Where: Portland
When: March 26, 2016
Distance: 5k (There was also a half marathon)

At the very last minute, I decided to do the Hop Hop Half, put on by Foot Traffic.
The. Very. Last. Minute.
It was at the urging of my running buddy (and maybe a little guilt that she was doing the half and I was doing nothing that day), that I decided to do the 5k.
I've wanted to do this one for a long time, but I'd been nervous about about time limits. Foot Traffic is really good about putting that information with their races s you know what to expect.
Time limits are ALWAYS in the back of my head. Hey, I am slow, people. There is nothing I hate more than being at the back of the pack and having a police car tail me as I finish. The extra pressure that adds just kind of freaks me out.
I shouldn't have been nervous at all for this one!
I was able to go slow and take my time. No added pressure of being tailed. YAY!  There was a friendly bicyclist who followed those of us in the back but there was no pressure at all to hurry it up. He knew we were all trying.

The 5K course was changed this year from previous years. Rather than the 5k heading up Marine Drive, we went the opposite direction. We went down 33rd. We turned down a street (I'm unsure of the name) but went up a trail and then turned out. It was a nice out and back jaunt. It was flat.
(By the way, my running "bunny" told me that our course was the same for the half marathoners. It was their first 5k... and then they shot up 33rd and toward Marine Drive.)
At the Finish Line, we were handed medals and water and energy drinks. 

What we got!
Everyone got a giant Easter Egg finisher's medal and a T-shirt.

We also received a Hop Hop Half glass (with Mimosa... yum!) and post race treats of scrambled eggs and a croissant, plus a cinnamon roll. There was also an Easter Egg decorating contest. We decorated our eggs at the very end and walked up and were each given complimentary bunny ears. That was fun!

Would I do it again?
You bet. I love the medal and sure enjoyed the atmosphere.