This was my first attempt at a trail race, and it was an amazing one. While it was about an hour from home, it was an easy drive. The field was small so there wasn't any crowding along the route.

T-SHIRTS/SWAG - All participants received a soft, cotton t-shirt in their packets. Finishers received a HUGE medal, and a logoed beer glass at the end of the race.

AID STATIONS - There was one manned water stop at the halfway point..

COURSE SCENERY - Gorgeous! The woods ran along the river, and there was a mix of tree-lined paths and waterfront views. It was cold enough to ensure there were no mosquitos or stinging bugs, which was great.

EXPO QUALITY - No expo.

ELEVATION QUALITY - The course was a combination of hard dirt, grass, gravel and some small roots. Not incredibly technical, but perfect for a first-timer.

PARKING/ACCESS - Free, open parking at the trailhead. It was pretty dark getting into the preserve, but there were plenty of signs to indicate the way.

RACE MANAGEMENT - Superb. The race crew and volunteers were friendly and welcoming. I had an issue with my registration (my husband signed me up for the half instead of the 5K) and the race director was happy to fix it for me, which I appreciated.

Race was gun-timed, which was ok due to the small amount of participants. Post-race was set up along the river, with plenty of beer, rice and beans, cookies and pretzels.

I hope to be able to run others in this particular trail race series. It was the perfect first experience.

For full details, visit http://runswithpugs.com/2016/01/20/race-report-13-1-at-princess-place-5k-1-9-2016/