2017 is the second year I have participated in the Annapolis Running Classic - in 2016, I ran the 10K. I live very close to Annapolis and travel through there frequently, so this race is sort of like running in my backyard. Overall, I think this is a good race and one that I would recommend to friends who are looking for a decent, though not huge, race that is pretty challenging in the second half of November.

Running through downtown Annapolis is always nice, and the first 10K of the course loops you from the Naval Academy Stadium down through the historic area and back again. If you're looking for an enjoyable run, I would recommend just doing the 10K. The second half of this course is quite challenging, and the considerable wind experienced in 2017 made it even more so. While the first half has a couple of hills, there is a lot of flat area that you cover, as well. The second half of the race is very hilly - you're almost constantly going up and down, including some hills that are pretty steep (not to mention two runs over the Naval Academy bridge!). Unfortunately, the scenery in this part of the course doesn't balance out with the difficulty - you're mostly running through neighborhoods and back roads.

The expo is almost nonexistent for this race, but the after-race party is great. I don't typically stay for after-race events, but I know you get beer, oysters, and lots of other good food at this one.

One of the best aspects of this race is the parking. Because the race starts at the stadium, runners park in the stadium lot and there is plenty of parking there. This allows you to sit in your car and stay warm virtually up until it's time to line up. It's also fairly easy to get in and out.

You can read the rest of my review of this race here: http://momrunsforfun.com/2017/11/28/annapolis-running-classic-half-marathon-recap/