I choose this as my first half marathon based on magazine reviews of this being a top race in Virginia. I can only assume there was a management change since that review as this was a horribly, bordering on criminal, managed race.

Since i live about 2 hours away from the race location, i choose to have my race packet mailed to me. It cost $20. About a week before the race, I received an envelope with just the bib. I still had to show up in person to get the rest of the swag.....thus defeating the purpose of paying $20 to avoid going to packet pickup in person. I spent the night near the packet pickup, so i was able to get there in time to get my packet. They provide a long sleeve, quarter zip up shirt which was very nice.

The race advertised a free shuttle since there was no parking at the race start location. I reserved my hotel within walking distance of the shuttle stop so i didnt have to have anyone drive me in the morning. A few days before the race, they announced that they were cancelling the shuttle due to a lower than expected attendance. I now had to coordinate to have someone drive me to the start.

The start seemed ok, and the race couse was nice. The entire George Washington Parkway is closed, and the views of the Potomac River where very nice. At about mile 10, you cross onto the Woodrow Wilson Bridge via a narrow path. For the next several miles everyone is shoulder to shoulder on this path until you exit the bridge with less than a mile until the finish.

The post party was suppose to include food, entertainment and a free beer from a local brewery. What we got was an ice cold hot dog, a choice of a bud lite or miller lite, and zero entertainment. They also announced that they didnt have any medals! They didnt arrive yet, and they would mail them to everyone. Initially there was good commuinication via email that medals had arrived and would be mailed out soon. Then zero communication. Nothing was mailed out, and they no longer replied to emails. They also ran out of shirts, and many people didnt get those. Be very wary of signing up for this race, if its held again. At the time of this review, the website was no longer up, so maybe its defunct.