This was my 2nd year running this race weekend. This year I decided to run both days since we got a discount after last year's debacle.
Bib pickup was Friday from 4 to 6, but I skipped that and went early on Saturday. I heard that Friday was a bit of a train wreck. Saturday was pretty smooth although I almost didn't get my swag. Luckily one of the volunteers grabbed me and gave it to me as I left.
There was a one mile and 5k race on Saturday. I ran the 5k. Everyone got a cotton tee that looked liked Charlie Brown's shirt. Super cute.
Parking was free and plentiful.
The race began 15 minutes late, and wound around the back of the park, tthrough the water park and the main park, past the dinosaurs (which are live action, and they had them going for us) back into the park, where we finished. It's a very hilly course, well marked, and the park is being decorated for Halloween so it was super fun to run through.
The employees were all out, cheering, music was playing all through the park, and the water station was well manned.
There was no time limit, so there were lots of happy kids everywhere.
There was no photographer out on the course, only at the finish, and she missed half the runners while she took 5+ pictures of random kids and couples.
I have no finisher photo of my 200th race.
Some people who finished were given the wrong medals, because the one miler medals were mixed in with the 5k medals.
As I finished, people were crossing through the finish chute because no one was paying attention. My sprint became a dead halt.
The medal was Lucy in a roller coaster car, and she had a magnet so she can attach to the other medals in the series, which makes me happy.
There was plenty of food at the end, apples, bananas, bagels and cream cheese, and water and Powerade.
Your registration can include park tickets for a little extra, or you could opt for no park ticket.

The half marathon was part 2 of the weekend.There was also a quarter marathon at the same time.
Bib pickup started on Friday, but I picked mine up on Saturday before the 5k. Half marathoners got a tech shirt, cap, buff, and magnet with a Charlie Brown theme.
The race began on time after the anthem and a moment of silence for 9-11.
The race course is a double loop. You start by circling the entire parking lot, and then you enter the park through tbe main entrance. You run through the park, the water park and past the dinosaurs. You exit the park, run through the camping area, and then back to the parking lot. After a short out and back, you start all over again.
The course is hilly and well marked. The water stations are well manned.
Here is what I didn't like:
The pacers. The 3 hour pacer ran too fast at the beginning, because she said she puts time in the bank for later. This is not pacing. She lost several runners and freaked out many more with her erratic pace. The 2:45 pacer went out so fast that he walked the last several miles so he would finish on pace. The 2:15 pacer finished several minutes early.
There were no photographers anywhere on the course. There was one at the finish, but photos haven't been posted yet so I don't know if I have a photo. She missed me yesterday so I'm not optimistic.
No characters on the course for most of the race.I managed to snag them on their way to the finish but many were not so lucky.
No one was keeping park goers off of the course. A large group of girls were walking on the course even though there was plenty of room outside of the cones. It slowed me down, and many others, on an uphill at the end of 13 miles.
oh wait. 12.9 miles.
The course was short. After mile 4 it was off at every mile, anywhere between a quarter to a tenth of a mile, it varied from mile to mile.
Ok
Rant over.
Plenty of food and drink at the finish, which was nice. Bagels, cream cheese, apples, bananas, water and Powerade.
Water stations had gels at some stops.
Overall I'm not a fan of the series, but the course is so amazing that I'll probably be back.

Expo: The expo was massive, especially considering that this is just a 10k. Parking was right across the street and cost $15, and they had cops at the corners to help with traffic. You get your bib at the expo and the shirt at the finish which was cool, and the shirt is a secret until then. Lots of vendors and a fun activity area for families. There was supposed to be beer, which the hubs was excited about, but the tables were empty.
Race morning, they suggested the train but the hubs dropped me off right near the start with no trouble or traffic. Lots of porta potties to be had with no line ever, and water everywhere to keep hydrated. The corral system was well run and each one had its own color bib. I was way in the back in U, which sucked because everyone in front of me was walking and it was close to impossible to get past them. There were times I couldn't have run if I wanted to.
Water stations were plentiful. they were well run and only one was out of water by the time I got there. Spectators also had water and beer.
The course was well marked, not hard when it's a straight line lol, and lots of volunteers cheering and keeping cars out of the course.
The finish line was a hot mess. So many people walking and you just could not get through. You had to walk quite a distance for your water, which seemed weird for such a hot race. The finisher village was in a park and it was crazy muddy. Once you walked forever to get your swag, you had to walk about a mile to get back to the road.
Swag bag had a shirt and some coupons and stickers in it, plus you got a food box. There were peaches apparently, but I didn't see them. I wasn't really looking though, I just wanted to get out! They had some vendors set up but no shade that I could see.
Definitely not a race for a PR unless you're corral is up front, but one to run if you get the chance. It's the largest 10k in the country after all!

Ragnar Pennsylvania is a 200ish mile relay race that starts in Lancaster on Friday morning at 5, and travels to Mount Pocono on Saturday night, ending at 8 at the latest.
Teams usually have 12 runners, but you can go ultra and have 6, all covering the 204.1 miles. Your team is constantly running. Each team has 2 vans so when van 1 finishes their first round, van 2 takes over so van 2 can eat and rest.
My mileage was 17.3 total, some other runners had more and some had less.
There was no expo really more of a packet pick up. We proved we had the necessary safety gear for night running, and night cheering, watched a safety video, and picked up our packets. Each van got a cooler tote that held our shirts, bibs, safety flags, kind bars, tattoos, and some kind of hydration supplement that we never used. there was also a plug for our cell phones, that you could plug into the power outlet.
The race began at 5 am and you were pretty much moving constantly after that. The course was marked with blue signs that featured turns for runners and vans. We never once wondered where to turn. At night, they had blinky lights on them, like a beacon.
The race was green, so no cups, which was fine. but. I had 2 legs that were 6 and 8 miles and there was no water stations as promised on either of them. I ran out of water on my 8 mile leg, luckily another van offered to fill me up.
AT the finish line, the whole team meets up and waits for the last runner to come in and you all finish together. They announce your team name as you run through the chute. You are given your medals and vinyl stickers of the Ragnar symbol plus a 2017 add on. Every team gets a large pizza to share and they have a beer tent and a snack stand, although beer and snacks cost extra. They had corn hole set up, and a merch tent. there was a massage tent but i don't know how much it cost.
The bling glows in the dark and when you put all 12 together they spell a message.
I would totally do this again, I have my sights set on Cape Cod 2018.

There was only race day packet pickup, which was no problem since it's a night race! We arrived an hour prior to the start and parked with no problem. The pickup was trouble free, and the shirt was super soft and comfy cotton, with women's cut v necks and Men's cut with crew necks. The bib was super cool too, and you had to show ID for a wrist band to drink moonshine at the finish. There was a live Bluegrass band and plenty of seating while we waited.
The race started at 9 pm, just as it got good and dark. We were asked to wear headlamps so it was no problem. The course was marked with electric tea lights and they used lit up foam wands wherever there was a stump to avoid or a low hanging branch.
It was a hilly trail, some boardwalks to cross water, and some of the trail was horse trail, so it was bumpy and rutted. The scenery was amazing, and you could hear the frogs singing the whole time.
The course was well marked and there were frequent water stops. Miles were marked by speakers playing Bluegrass music and at the finish, the live band played you home.
We were given water at the finish and they had mason jars instead of medals, so we could try both kinds of moonshine: lemonade and punch. The punch was my fave. They also had pretzels and popcorn at the finish.
AG prizes were lanterns with a candle inside, which was very cool.
It was a great race, well run, and I'll be back next year!