This year, the location of the race was moved to Old Fourth Ward. I ran the 5K. We started 15 minutes after the half marathon runners took off at 8am.

PARKING: Participants were advised to park at Ponce City Market (you have to pay to park but it's not pricey compared to other Atlanta lots) or on the street.

COURSE: The course is stroller friendly but they'll tell you to line up in the back (even if you're a runner). I thought it was pretty hilly, especially in the beginning. I wouldn't consider it a particularly "easy/fast" course (and this course wasn't certified). It was also 37 degrees F and WINDY so I ran much slower than I anticipated and I even had to take a couple of quick walk breaks because I had a hard time with the hills and weather. It was cool/hip to run through O4W! The 5K course had one water stop (not sure about the half marathon course). There were no mile markers for either course from what I saw (and heard from a half marathon runner).

It was a big race so it was a VERY slow start once the "gun" went off. The DJ or directors didn't make an announcement directing walkers towards the back and I heard a lot of people complaining about this while some groups of walkers took up the entire walkway (groups of friends/family/matching costumes), prohibiting runners to pass safely. Additionally, some kids ran fast and quickly stopped repeatedly in front of runners, it just didn't feel safe for the first half mile.

PACKET PICKUP: Pickup was at West Stride in Atlanta. I went the day before on a Saturday. There were two people in charge of the pickup and it was very slow moving. From what I can see, everyone received the same shirt, a short sleeve V-neck tech shirt. I wish we could have received a long sleeve, or maybe the half marathoners could receive an upgrade to long sleeve tops or hoodies since they paid a lot more money.

POST RACE: They offered bananas, Bai drinks, bottled water, protein bars, and Chik Fila cows. I heard the half marathon runners may have had less vendors there at the finish, according to a runner in a run group I'm in.

I received an email that registration is already open for 2018. I'd run the 5K again!