Pre-race: Lots of communication from J&A Racing after registration leading up to race week. Even more communication during race week, which bordered on being too much. However, you cannot complain about not being informed.

Lots of information about parking for the race, which made finding a spot very easy. Dry bag drop off/pick-up was very easy and just past the finish line.

Expo was a bit disappointing, as there were not that many vendors present. Only a couple of other races were there advertising and many of the vendors were not running-specific. There was a LOT of merchandise people could buy if they wanted something more besides the tech shirts that were part of the registration fee.

Shirt/Swag: The race shirt was a generic, short-sleeve tech shirt. Sizing is good and quality is OK. The medal features the King Neptune statue from the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, so it's a great local landmark. Medal can also be used as a bottle opener.

Aid Stations: There were 2 aid stations with water and Nuun. Both stations had Nuun upfront with water at the end.

Course scenery: Course mostly traverses the commercial oceanfront district of Virginia Beach, so it's not particularly scenic. Running along the southern portion of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is nice, but can be difficult with a strong north wind. Finishing just past the King Neptune statue is really cool.

Crowd support was rather minimal, but may have been affected by the wind, cooler temperatures, and initial forecasts for rain on race morning. The boardwalk was flanked with people, which helped counterbalance the lack of support elsewhere on the course.

Elevation: Per my Strava data, I gained 16 feet in elevation. The course is VERY flat.

Overall: The race is extremely well organized with lots of volunteers. The course is very congested, as it seems to be the most popular distance of the weekend. Unless you go out first, expect to get bogged down on the course.

Pre-race: No real expo, as the majority of items available at packet pick-up for Atlanta Track Club-related. Adidas did have exclusive Peachtree Road Race shoes available, but no other vendors were on site. Packet pick-up was limited to the Saturday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Sunday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) pre-race plus the Wednesday (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) before the race. There was race-day pick-up available for a fee.

Several parking lots around Center Parc Stadium (GSU football stadium) were free on race day. There were also some public, paid-parking lots nearby. Due to street closures for the race, some lots were difficult to reach. Pre-race communication from the Atlanta Track Club was OK, but more specific details about exits and routes to parking in the area would have been extremely helpful.

Shirt/Swag: The race shirt was an Adidas tech shirt with thumb holes. It runs a bit small, but overall is a very nice shirt. The medal has a pretty fall-themed designed, but nothing that captures the sentiment of "Thanksgiving." Medal is very heavy and certainly a high-quality item.

Aid Stations: There were 5 aid stations with all having water and most having a very, watered-down Gatorade available. All stations had cups with choice between water or Gatorade. Station at Mile 8 also has Clif Gu packets.

Course scenery: Race is through the city on streets with about one mile through Piedmont Park on a paved trail. Route starts just south of downtown Atlanta, so you start by passing under the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Cauldron with the Georgia State Capitol in the distance. Route passes through the Georgia State University campus, past Centennial Olympic Park, and around the Georgia Tech campus before skirting Midtown and entering Piedmont Park. After cutting through the eastern edge of downtown, the route goes through a portion of the Old Fourth Ward before turning south toward the stadium and finish line.

Crowd support ebbs and flows along the course, even among some of the residential areas. Given that the race happens on Thanksgiving Day, a smaller crowd is not surprising, but it was a bit disappointing at times.

Elevation: Per my Strava data, I gained 591 feet in elevation. There are multiple hills on the course, so it can be a tough course if you're unaccustomed to running with notable elevation changes. It's not impossible to claim a PR if you allow yourself to coast down the hills instead of breaking, but it's tough sticking to a steady pace if you're trying for even splits.

Overall: The race is extremely well organized with lots of volunteers to help with everything from packet pickup to concluding with post-race nutrition. Crowd support along the course is hit or miss, which should be expected on Thanksgiving Day. Course is USATF certified, but definitely a challenge if you're not used to running hills.

Pre-race: There was a lot of communication from race about expo and starting corral information.

Expo: The expo was great, as expected from a World Major race. Lots of vendors with all sorts of gear available. Fleet Feet Chicago had a massive section with shoes and gear from all the major manufacturers. Opportunity to buy discounted throwaway clothes was nice, given potential for a cooler race day morning. Only a handful of other races on hand to promote themselves, which was slightly disappointing (Flying Pig, Grandma's, Little Rock, Houston, and Belgrade to name some of them). The free beer sample from Goose Island was nice.

Shirt/Swag: Finisher shirt is great material and fits perfectly. The design is a bit lackluster, as nothing distinctively screams "Chicago." The medal design and quality were outstanding. The medal featured several of Chicago's landmarks.

Aid Stations: Lots of aid stations; maybe too many if there is such a thing. Each station had combination of Gatorade (in green cups) and water (in white cups). Two had Gatorade goo gels if needed midway through the course. There were porta-potties and medical tents at each aid station.

Course scenery: Running through the city, you pass through 29 neighborhoods. With the large crowd, it may be a bit difficult to discern all the skyscrapers as you run past them at the start of the race. However, you get to savor the buildings after you finish in Grant Park. The more residential areas has larger crowds, as a few stretches down the last 3 miles were kind of sparse.

Elevation: Per my Strava data, I gained 167 feet over the course of the race. There are some small "rolling" hills along the course, but the biggest "hill" is during the last half mile when you're about to enter Grant Park. It only rises 10 feet in elevation, but feels like much worse because your legs are so tired by that point. Overall, it is an incredibly flat AND fast course.

Overall: It was an excellent experience from start to finish. The expo was a really good hours-long experience. The race itself had everything you need whether you're tackling your first marathon or a legacy finisher.

Pre-race: No expo, but there was one vendor selling reusable bags at packet pick-up. Packet pick-up was at YMCA on day before race and also available on race day at the state fairgrounds. Parking is free on the state fairgrounds walking distance to the main entrance of the fair. Fairly regular communication from race organizers leading up to race day.

Shirt/Swag: The race shirt was off-brand, dri-fit long-sleeve. It runs a bit small, but overall is a very nice shirt. The medal was excellent and epitomizes the Nebraska State Fair, which is awesome if you live in state but also a really cool keepsake if you're not from an agricultural-based state. The medals were the same whether you ran 5K, half, or full. Only difference was ribbon, which varied based on distance. Runners also receive admission to that day of the Nebraska State Fair, which is a very unique swag item.

Aid Stations: There were 8 aid stations with all having water and most having a very, watered-down Gatorade available. All stations had cups with choice between water or Gatorade.

Course scenery: Race is through the city, but many of the miles are on paved trails. There are about 2 miles running through the prairie before reaching a county park and then the Stuhr Museum grounds. The trails mostly go through residential areas and course concludes on city streets through neighborhoods before finishing at the fairgrounds.

Elevation: Per my Strava data, I gained 41 feet in elevation. Regardless of quantitative data, its a clear and easy flat course. Definitely good for an easy run as part of marathon training and ideal for people striving to record a PB.

Overall: There's not a lot of glitz and glamor with this race, but it is very well done. Everything you need in a race you have from aid stations to quality swag. Fan support this year compared to 2021 was definitely a let down as there were long stretches on the HM course where it was just me as a runner. There's also a lot of value for the registration ($65-85 for full marathon, $55-75 for half marathon, $25-45 for 5K). Course is also USATF certified, and marathon course is a Boston Qualifier. I would recommend this race for anybody seeking a PB at any distance.

I ran the race in 2021 and crowd support along the course was excellent. There was definitely a drop in amount of people watching and cheering runners this year. The second half of the course after leaving the Stuhr Museum and community college was especially sparse.

Pre-race: Fairly regular communication from the race management, but no way to ask clarifying questions about the expo or pasta-thon.

Expo: Smaller scale event, but both local running stores had booths along with several local running organizations and races. Both stores had gear and fuel options available for purchase.

Shirt/Swag: Canvas short-sleeve t-shirt is very nice. Medal is nice, but neither it nor the ribbon denote date of the race. Medal does have "45" signifying 45th running of the race.

Aid Stations: Per race organizer email, aid stations were supposed to be every 1.5 to 2.5 miles. That was not the case, as many were spaced farther apart on the course. "Volunteer" aid stations generously operated by local residents helped fill the gap.

Course scenery: Courses goes through part of the UNL campus and by the Nebraska State Capitol, but mostly traverses residential areas south of downtown. Bike/running trail along Nebraska Highway 2 is also nice. Highlight is finishing on the west side of Memorial Stadium.

Elevation: Per my Strava data, I gained 298 feet in elevation. There's a notable climb from mile two to mile six before a sharp drop. There's one final hill push at mile nine, but final miles are fairly flat.

Overall: Really fun and enjoyable race day experience. Lots of spectators along the course and several bands to keep runners motivated. Course marshals did great job communicating with runners at turns and kept traffic held until we fully crossed intersections. Many spectators cheered runners on by name (from their bibs), which is always a great feeling.