Latest reviews by Michelle

(2014)
"A DC must do race!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

A signature DC race that requires entry via lottery, I have done the race a few times and every time I like the race more and more. I am just waiting for the year that the timing of the race and nature's timing of peak blossoms happens at the same time. :) Overall, it's a great race to run but hard to run for a PR. Here's a breakdown of my views.

Pros:
Scenery - The course wraps through downtown DC along Rock Creek Parkway and Hains Point. It also starts and finishes right by the Washington Monument which allows for some awesome photo opps!
Entry fees - For such a well-known race, the fees are quite fair, and it goes up if one wants to add a medal and/or a tech shirt.
Medal - Every year, it changes but I always love the design that usually incorporates symbols of DC and the Cherry Blossoms.
Course layout - Flat and fast, lined with supporters. Even at Hains Point which is hard to get to for spectators, I have seen more support on this part than in other races that also run through there.
Metro accessibility - There are several metro stops nearby, and they coordinate with WMATA to get the trains running early. I have not had an issue with crowded trains or too few trains when getting to and from this race.
Communications from race management - These people are good! They maintain an up-to-date website and Facebook page. They also send e-mails with all the information you need and even include some extra tips. The e-mails are not overdone or over-sent, and they always repeat the necessary information for absent minded runners like myself.

Cons -
Course/corrals - It's very crowded, which is typical of any big race in DC however it would be helpful if they enforced corral assignments and allowed more time to pass between each start for each corral, maybe even add a few more corrals. The red corral (one of the faster corrals following the Elites) is so packed already, and has a lot of people not assigned there trying to get in.
Expo - The expo was held at the National Building Museum which is a beautiful building and has a lot of potential, but the vendor selection and variety was quite sparse. Also getting the packets/bibs was like a maze because you have to go upstairs and around. Luckily, volunteers are there to help direct foot traffic but this results in a lot of stopping and waiting as people stop to ask or look for maps. Better signage would help.

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(2014)
"If you want to see the true character of DC, run this race!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This is one of my favorite half marathons. The course is relatively flat with one big uphill between Miles 6 and 7. It winds through the neighborhoods of DC, instead of the generic DC course that just laps around the monuments and downtown DC only. And since it goes through the neighborhoods, the locals usually come out and support the runners...making the crowd fun and lively. The race start and finish are easy to access via Metro since it opens early for the race, and the event organizers do a great job coordinating with the city.

Other pros include a great technical race shirt, a fun medal, a drawstring bag, well organized finish festival
Minor cons: The expo could be better as it lacks in variety of vendors, and the race swag, other than the bag and t-shirt did not have as much promotional or free items.

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