I have always really enjoyed this race. It's close, the price is on point at under $50, and the course is flat and fast outside of one small hill. This year they had parking attendants to help in the morning which was a really great idea as I have seen what a cluster it can be down there when you are trying to find parking at the many beach parking areas around. That cut time and kept things running smoothly which was nice. One beef I always have is that there are not enough bathrooms around, so the lines are long and if you don't jump into the line really early you may have to run and use the weeds or you'll miss the start of the race! I am not above doing that, but some are, so it is something to think about. The race itself is well organized and they offered a ton of aid stations this year due to the high heat and high humidity that day with water/nuun stations almost every mile to mile and a half. They were extra cautious with the runners this year as well for that reason. They also changed the course up this year and race it in the reverse direction than past years. This was great for those of us that do it pretty regularly. The only down side is that at the beginning in the past, there is a 180 degree turn you have to make...well this year this was about a half mile from the finish line and that was a PAINFUL turn to make after having already ran 12 and a half miles. That slowed down people considerably and you could see everyone's bodies tense going around that turn. But I guess every race has it's challenges and this was it this year. The medals this year were AWESOME and the tank tops were nice as well; these were an upgrade from years past which was a really nice change to see made. I also had a pacer with me this year to help me reach my goal of under 2 hours and I crossed the finish line at 2:00:04.1. Knowing that I started further back from the start, I know I finished in under 2 hours and I was so happy and thankful for my friend who helped me get there. As the evening went on I waited for chip times to be updated as my gun time was what I immediately knew. Then I got the dreaded email that there was a malfunction at the start so no chip start times were recorded. So, this year the gun times are the official times. I was super disappointed and frustrated as I feel like there are little glitches like this at this race every year. But at the same time, those things can happen at every race and they try really hard to do a good job; overall they definitely do and even with this mishap, I would still recommend this race and will continue to sign up for as often as I can. If you are looking for something to get a PR on that is affordable, fun, and in a beautiful area, this is a great race for that!

This was one of my very first LARGE half marathons. The trick is mostly in the number of people that are there...during the expo, the day of, and during the race itself! It was much more crowded than I anticipated until about mile 8 and then it thinned out a wee bit. This was both a frustrating challenge and a welcomed distraction. If you are trying for a PR on this course, you really have to be diligent to stay as linear on the course as possible because often you are weaving in and out of the group with some difficulty trying not to trip or be tripped. Having said that everyone is super nice, friendly, and encouraging along the course including the runners. The city really embraces it as well and they play music, have signs, high fives, food and drink, and all kinds of good stuff happening along the way. You get to run throughout various neighborhoods in the city and see a lot of different things. In terms of the course itself, some people challenge that Pittsburgh hills are tough, but I found them to be very doable. Granted I live in the hills and train hills, but if you do a fair amount of hill training you can absolutely handle it. All the goodies at the expo are great and the atmosphere is fun and exciting. Overall, I really enjoyed this race and will be doing it again in the future!

My team and I have done this relay style race for 3 years now. It can be hard to get signed up as it sells out in minutes, but we have been very fortunate to have made it in each time. From generating the team names and then voting on the favorite, to the pre-race meeting packed with humor, to the course and volunteers, and the after...this race is always SO MUCH FUN. The organizers really do a great job of ensuring the course, directions, and rules are very clear. They keep you up to date with changes and put their humor into every area that they can. Their mission is also great and its wonderful to be a part of it. The only criticism that you will ever hear from this race is "we need more port-o-potties!" which is also a running joke. Get it? Running...joke...running joke. But seriously, such a well organized race and we always want more places to go to the bathroom especially during day long races.

This is a small, but well organized half marathon in the heart of Forest County, PA. This is an out and back, road race located right along Clarion River. The scenery is gorgeous and it is early enough in the year to be nice, but not too hot. They do just basic tshirts and sunglasses as well as a few additional fun items, but it's nothing major. The organizers of the event do a good job keeping things going smoothly and it is largely run by volunteers from Clarion University Track and Field Team (which it benefits as well as the athletic scholarships there). It starts and ends at one of the canoe rental locations there and they open up the concession stand for snacks when it's over. There are plenty of port-o-potties at the beginning/end of the course which is always a plus as well. In terms of parking, it can be a bit limited down there, but there is parking about a mile away and they offer their canoe vans to shuttle participants to and from. The cost of the race is what is most appealing as it is only $25.00 for the half and $20.00 for the 5k; from there it goes up $5 after a certain deadline. Regardless, very affordable, family oriented, and supports a great cause! It's also a beautiful place to hang out after along the river, have a cookout or paddle down the river!

This half marathon is a great one for first timers and those looking to get a PR or qualify for the bigger races such as Boston. It is overall very flat with a few small elevation changes that are very manageable. The scenery is great as it is right along Erie's Presque Isle Peninsula. It starts early, but the weather can still be hot and muggy depending on the day. Regardless there is usually a decent cross breeze that helps! In terms of leading up to the race and pre packet pick up, there really isn't much to it so don't expect anything major like the Pittsburgh or Buffalo Marathon/Half Marathon. The shirts are simple tech shirts, but they are always something fun. What you really can't beat is the cost! Less than $50 regardless of when you sign up. So given that you are only paying that much, you should kind of know not to expect much swag. The after party is nice and chill and most people stay to hang out on the beaches, relax, and spend time with their family and friends.