I decided to accept the Flying Pirate Challenge this year, which includes 2 days of running (5k & half marathon). The half marathon course was absolutely beautiful, as run with the ocean to your right for 5-6 miles. Your are treated with low elevation, and lots of spectators cheering you on along the way. Around mile 8, you get run around the Wright Brothers Memorial on Kill Devil Hill, as you head into the last portion of the race. Now for the surprise ending...the last 3 miles of the race takes you into this gravel trail with frequent views of marsh on your right and left. Not only is the trail gravel, but it is hilly as you go up and down continuously about every quarter of a mile. In the last mile, you make a hard left and it feels like you are running up a small mountain. In addition to the steep incline, you also see the texture of the road change. The ground goes from gravel, to what seemed like a soft sod, and finally the last quarter of a mile is SAND. It is definitely a challenging end, but the homestretch is down hill into the finish line. Even with the challenging final 3 miles, I would definitely recommend this race to anyone that enjoys a good race and nice scenery. Finally, you should definitely make a weekend out of it and do the Double Dare challenge. Do the 5k the previous day and make it a 3 medal weekend.

The First Flight 5k is a quick race, that I believe anyone would love. The course is an "out and back", with flat elevation and takes you around the Wright Brothers Memorial. If you looking for a 5k PR, the First Flight 5k is one of the races to do it. All finishers of the 5k receive a very nice medal, but you also have the opportunity to accept the Double Dare Challenge. If you chose to accept, not only will you run the 5k on Saturday but you will also run a half marathon on Sunday(see my review for the half marathon). For completing the challenge, you end up with 3 medals for the weekend(5k, Half marathon, Challenge medals). Take a nice little running vacation with the family to the beach, and while you are there, earn yourself 3 medals.

The tab this race as "10 is the perfect distant", and it is kind of hard to argue with them. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful COURSE! This is my 3rd year running this race and I enjoy it each year. The course takes you through the beautiful campus of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and down the well-known Franklin Street. You start right out the gate with a hill and it is relatively hilly throughout, BUT those early hills only serve as appetizers for the BEAST you encounter between miles 8 & 9. Affectionately known as Laurel Hill, this hill is so intense that they time you from bottom to top, and give out awards for the runners who get up this monster the fastest. The good news is after you finally get to the top of Laurel Hill, you have less than a mile left to the finish line. A few more minor hills, including one leading you to the finish. The race is very challenging but the scenery and medal makes it all worth it.

I have heard for several years that this is a very fast course, making it prime opportunity to PR. Tons of people take the opportunity to do this race to get their BQ time. The downside of it is, their is almost zero crowd support. Outside of the first mile and last mile, the majority of the race is on a trail so very little places for crowds to gather. I feed off crowd support so this race felt a little lonely, so I didn't enjoy it as much as some other races. The race itself is pretty flat, with the exception of a couple good size hills on the last 2 miles. If you love the crowds, this is probably not the race for you BUT if you looking to PR or BQ, you can probably do it on this course.