This was my fourth year running the Across the Bay 10K — I have run this race each year since it started. I had a good experience, but I did notice some changes from previous years.

The race is on a Sunday, and the expo is held the Friday and Saturday before the race at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis (on the other side of the bridge from where I live - I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland). There is no race-day packet pickup, so you either have to attend the expo or you can pay to have your bib mailed to you. My friend and I stay over in Kent Island (on our side of the bridge), so we went to the expo.

The women's shirts this year were gray, and the men's shirts were orange. I preferred the bright orange color and tried to switch, but they did not have any men's small or medium shirts left, so I stuck with the women's medium gray shirt I got. It looks like it will be a nice fit, and I do like the crab. This race also has an interlocking finisher medal to the past three years and to next year's race. I think there were less vendors at this year's expo. I did not buy anything, but everything moved along well and it was easy to get my bib, shirt and parking pass.

I gave aid stations a 3-star rating because I did not use the aid stations. Normally, I do not carry water during a race and I rely on the on-course aid stations, but this is a cupless race (which I guess does make sense because you don't want trash/cups getting into the Chesapeake Bay). I think you were able to get water in a water fountain-like way, but I just carried my bottle.

Course scenery I gave a 5 because it's such a unique course and definitely a cool view! Runners (and walkers) make their way over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for about 4.35 miles of the 10K race - the length of the bridge - and normally, pedestrians are not allowed on the bridge, so it's really your only chance to see it from this perspective.

I live in a flat area and definitely noticed the incline on the bridge. However, it wasn't a steep hill, and I also got to enjoy the downhill, so I gave elevation difficulty a 2.

I gave parking/access a 3 because of the cost of the parking pass. Parking passes range from $10-20 (the Kent Narrows Center parking lot that I was in was $20). With a race that's already pretty pricey (I registered early on for I believe $55; registration at the expo was $85), it would be nice if parking were free. However, it was easy to park and we got on the bus without having to wait in line.

The race was well-organized, particularly for being the fifth-largest 10K in the country. It was an easy process to park and ride the bus across the bridge for the one-way race, there were plenty of portable toilets, and the race went smoothly with the wave start. People assigned to all waves seemed to be starting whenever they wanted. I took off a star only because there were no mylar blankets at the end (and this is a November race), and my friend had to buy a jacket to stay warm. There also wasn't a live band like there was in previous years. I also would have liked the option to buy a single beer rather than a $10 unlimited beer ticket (no beer is included with entry).

I'll be back next year - I enjoy the course and spending time with my friend (and family afterward)!

Read my blog post here: https://sherunsbytheseashore.com/2017/11/08/negative-splits-at-the-across-the-bay-10k/