January 2, 2012.
This was taken 45 minutes before the run started and already people are lining up. By 30 minutes before the upper viewing area was completely filled. I stood on the lower viewing area where I took this photo - the boardwalk for lion viewing. Trees obscure part of the run but you can still see the cheetah through an opening and it is much easier to get a spot here. They have two "reserved" viewing areas that cost extra - $10 for the one at the starting line and $40 for the one near the finish line. This includes time with the cheetah up close afterwards. Seems expensive to me, but a lot of people did it.