This was my fourth year running at Hershey and I'll be back in 2018 to get my Five Timer award!! Even without the award I'd be back.
This has become one of my favorite events - partly because it gives me a fun weekend with friends and partly (mostly) because of Mile 12!!!

Not thrilled that they had the expo outside again and a few people I talked to had issues with getting their shirts at pickup. They were told that they had registered too late to be guaranteed the size they wanted but...this makes no sense. Also, the actual shirts (quarter zip pullovers this year!) ran really small. REALLY small and by the end of the race the only thing they had left to exchange for was a Women's Small. Which would not work for me! I chatted with the RD and she was as upset as the runners - she'd tried a new vendor to give us something different and it backfired...

OTHERWISE -- I had a great time. I've been running injured this fall so was unable to keep up the 14 minute pace so was re-routed about a mile past the relay exchange (so mile 7 or so) and ended up only doing 10.1. I was more than okay with this to be honest!
My friend was handing out chocolate at mile 12 and it was great to see her! And the chocolate!! I met a couple of other women on the course and we finished together.
It was nice to finish in the thick of things and get to cheer on lots of other finishers!
Great race, great RD and a really fun time!!

I've run the Hershey Half marathon a few times but never managed to sign up for the 10K - Spring always fills up so fast!
But, finally in 2017 I managed to get in and was really looking forward to it!
Generally, when I run at Hershey I head over to PA on Thursday after work and then hang with my PA Ohana til race day. Happily, the 10K is on Saturday which gives me more time to hang before driving home!

Expo was fairly small. Basic - Hershey doesn't do massive expos and that's really okay with me. I'm a looker not a shopper! My friend was volunteering so she got her things while I got mine. Volunteers get an pass to use in Hersheypark during their Spring opening weekends which we put to good use! The bad news is that race weekend is also opening weekend for the park so we had to wait to turn in the voucher and get a ticket for me to get in the park. No biggie for me! But a great freebie for the volunteer!

Race morning was easy - start is at the stadium like the half. Course is more time in the park. And, really. Why are amusement parks built on mountains??!! Or, it seems like it! They are all hills!! All. Hills.

One of the things I LOVE about Hershey races is that they put out .1 mile markers. For the Whole. Route! You will always know where you are!!

There is - so far after 5 Chocolate Town Challenges - nothing bad for me to say. RD Karen Kloss is really very communicative before the event and makes herself available at packet pickup to talk to anyone.

I'm already planning my April weekend visit to PA for next year!

I've only run this once mainly due to timing/conflicts. It's a late start - I think 1 in the afternoon.
Bib pickup is in the town green at Higganum and parking is close to pickup/start line.
Gorgeous time of year to be running in this area - not heavily populated but the town comes out to cheer
Hilly - everything in this area is hilly though!! Run by Hartford Marathon Foundation so you know it's well run.
Post-race banana and water and various samples from local Hartford companies (Main Street Bakery for one)
Swag the year I did it was a cotton shirt - which is fine for me!