This is a small, local race, but it's not called the "best small town race" by Runners World for nothing. Everyone is friendly, the town supports the race and the course is just gorgeous. The mile markers are actually permanent signs stuck in the ground.

The expo is mostly local crafts - certainly different than many booths with running headbands and T shirts, but not for everyone. If this is a destination race you're sure to find a fun, unique souvenir but don't plan on buying a sweatshirt here.

Runner amenities: there were massages post race, I believe you had to sign up before the race started. A bus took runners to the start line. Just hop on the bus; they're sitting outside. Some porto-potties at the start, so get on the first bus to be first in line for the toilet.

Several aid stations, but with pretty basic items: water, gatorade - I didn't see any food.

The course is on the road, and there are many parts where there is absolutely no separation between runners and cars. Be cautious, but most motorists seemed to be understanding and courteous. The race is very easy to spectate since the course is driveable - my husband was able to stop at no fewer than six locations directly next to the course to cheer me on.

The best part of the race is the scenery. The first three miles are fairly plain, but once you hit mile 4 and start going around the lake, the fall foliage and the New Hampshire lake scenery can't be beat. You'll enjoy the view until around mile 11, where there is one significant hill, and then a two mile descent to the finish.

Post race, there were bananas, oranges, gatorade, and water. There are easily accessible bathrooms with showers inside the high school. The T shirt is not very exciting - a plain tech long sleeve T with the logo on the front. The fit is horrible but it makes a good next-to-skin layer. Not a lot of other swag.

Still, for $40, if you make this a destination race to enjoy New England, you will get some scenery and a real taste of the local culture. I will definitely do this race again.

The race was a fun, basic, local 5k. The expo and registration are right next to the start line, in the Mason's building. The start line is a very basic chalk start line on some torn up asphalt - watch your step! Parking, bathroom access, and warmup area were all very easily accessible for the race start. No need to arrive extremely early. Many racers seemed to be repeat folks, or already knew each other, lending a nice community vibe to the race overall.

The race itself winds through Portsmouth, NH, but not through the scenic downtown area or by the coast, as one would hope/expect. The scenery is still nice, but not what I imagined. The course is plenty wide enough for the number of racers. There were a few hills, but nothing out of the ordinary for New England. Crowd support from the town was very good.

The T shirt logo was very fun, but just a basic cotton T shirt.

Race organizers seem very invested in the race, but we did wait a long time after the race to start the raffle awards. No showers. Basic post-race food - bananas, oranges, gatorade. Raffle prizes were pretty good - mostly gift cards to local businesses. You might win your lunch!

Plenty of options for post-race lunch downtown, or you can head up the coast to Kittery, ME.

It's a good, basic 5k - no major complaints, but nothing spectacular. Make a day of it to visit Portsmouth, it's a fun town.

This was my first half marathon, and it did not disappoint.

Columbus is a big-city race, so be prepared for limited parking, access, etc. We did manage to find a parking lot a few blocks from the start, but there was more walking involved than we might have preferred.

Race corrals were well organized with pacers set up, ready to go. There was a great vibe - lots of people cheering the Ohio State fight song and doing O-H-I-O (Michigan fans, beware!) Course support was great, too. Especially as a new runner - I distinctly remember lots of spots with cheering crowds, signs, etc. One particularly hard part of the course (with a hill) had several people around it.

Scenery was great for a city race - the course takes you into some of the nicer downtown neighborhoods in Columbus (at least it did that year). The start is right downtown, and therefore the finish. Not a boring stretch.

Water stations were fine, more than adequate. There were also space blankets at the finish, along with the usual: bagels, gatorade, bananas, oranges. Spectators couldn't get into the finish chute, but because of the setup in the street, they were able to get pretty close. We just had to figure out another place to meet once I got out of the area - might be a good thing to plan ahead of time with thousands of people and race fatigue. The area a few streets back from the race festivities wasn't terribly crowded, so it should be pretty easy to find a spot to meet on your walk to the start.

The expo was pretty big but nothing terribly special. We did have to walk all the way through the booths of merchandise to retrieve our goody bags. That year, I received a Buff headband in the bag which I still use, some coupons, and maybe a granola bar?

T shirt was a women's specific (!) Nike dri fit T shirt, which I am still wearing 6 years later. Good quality, a bit on the small side, maybe.

If you're in the area, it's a great race - lots of fun, and the town puts on a good party. As you can see, I can remember a lot of the race even several years later - it's well run and a good time.

Everyone in SC has to run the Cooper River Bridge Run at some point.

It's certainly a large scale event (40,000 cap), but it's almost treated as a "local" race since the town has so much pride in the event. There's sure to be other things going on in town that day, so your spectators certainly won't be bored. If you want to travel to a race, esp in SC, this would be a good one.

There are shuttles free for runners/walkers to the race start - which is good, since it's a point to point race and the start is across a body of water! The corrals line a long four lane highway approaching the Ravenel Bridge, and climbing the bridge itself occurs right in the middle of the run (miles 2-4), about when you hit your stride on the flat approach. Be prepared, and train both uphill and downhill. The incline itself isn't horrible, it's the length of the climb and the mental difficulty of feeling like it will never end. The rest of the race is pancake flat. Of course, it also doesn't help that by the time you cross the start line, the race director will have already announced that the Kenyans have finished.

Parts of the course are truly beautiful. Mount Pleasant (the race start) is a nice suburban-ish area; crossing the bridge is beautiful to look out over the water. The course does pass through some less exciting parts of Charleston, but not without local flavor - there were several Gullah women weaving baskets to cheer us on as we ran, right after coming down from the bridge. (You can, of course, buy the baskets in the market later!) The finish runs right down King Street - Old Charleston at it's best. T shirt wasn't memorable, I don't think I even kept it.

One problem: it's a difficult race to spectate. Your supporters will either choose going with you to the start or waiting for you at the finish (not much room to stand on a bridge).

The race is well organized, by necessity.

If you pre register early enough, the price is a steal - $35 for an excellent 10k. The buzz in the rest of the city comes for free, but makes the race worth traveling for. Come enjoy the Southern Hospitality and the whole experience.