Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Crystal City Twilighter 5K as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRavePro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

I got to run the Crystal City Twilighter 5K, put on by Pacers Running, as a BibRave Pro, and it was a fun race with a great atmosphere! The race started at 8:30 p.m., and participants receive glow sticks, so it's really cool to see everyone with them on the course. The only thing I marked with a lower star rating (other than elevation) was the scenery, because it seemed just like a normal city run to me — and it was dark. The scenery wasn't really the draw of this race to me, so I wasn't bothered by not having breathtaking views. I did actually see the Washington Monument from a distance, which was cool. I really liked the setup where people could hang out before or afterward; there were tables lit in different colors and some other colorful lights.

I was surprised, given the amount of participants, just how few lines there were. I did arrive early, but I was able to get parking in the first parking garage I tried — and it was free. Then, I made my way to packet pickup (there wasn't an expo, so that's why I didn't rate that category), and there was no line there. I also went to the bathroom without a line, and I did not have to wait in line for my post-race beer or food, either.

I was excited to see that the swag item was a tank top, because I have never before received a tank top as a race item in my 13 years of running. It did seem a little big (I normally wear a women's medium, but in some shirts, I prefer a looser fit with the large, so I went with large), but I did not ask to trade sizes. Instead of the tank, participants could choose to get $10 in Pacers Store Race Bucks or to make a $5 donation to Doorways for Women & Families.

I did stop at the first water stop, and there was music playing, which was fun. I also recall seeing a couple portable toilets there, although I didn't use them. I'm pretty sure there was also a place to get water on the way back (there was a turn-around not long after), but one cup was enough for me on this day. Thankfully, some rain seemed to have cooled down the temperature by the time the race started, although it was still humid.

I noticed a couple small hills (I live in a very flat area), but the race course seemed pretty flat.

Particularly as the race got closer, I felt like I saw a good amount of race news on social media from Pacers Running. I will note that I signed up for this race early, and there was still some old information on the website (last year's beneficiary and shirt), so that was a little confusing, but the race certainly seemed well-organized. It was also a chip-timed race.

After the race, participants (21+) were able to trade in a beer ticket on their bibs for a beer, and food options were soft pretzels and bananas.

I had a great time and hope to get some of my fellow running club teammates to join me next year at the Crystal City Twilighter 5K for the Run Club Throw Down.

Check out my blog post here: https://sherunsbytheseashore.com/2017/07/19/my-goals-for-saturdays-crystal-city-twilighter-5k-discount-code/