This was my very first time doing a 15K... or running 9 miles at all. There were two options to sign up- Paypal or through Raceit.com. I signed up through PayPal and never received a confirmation email, so I had to email race management to find out if my registration even went through. On race day, my friend (who is a seasoned runner and did this with me to be kind) and I got lost. The markings on the road were not very clear, even though they boasted more markings this year. As we were running through the neighborhoods trying to figure out if we went the right way, I remember that they had a table with maps at the beginning. If you're running, can you read a map AND run at the same time? I can't... but maybe I'm not too bright.

Some of the arrows, which were sprayed onto the ground, were very faint as though they were sprayed days or months before. There was one point where the cement ended and there was grass- do I run through the grass? Do I go to the street and run? I'm confused...

There were supposed to be water stations every 1 1/2 miles, but I don't think there were. I remember seeing 3. On a 9 mile run, that doesn't equate to every 1 1/2 miles. When we finally finished, we had gone 1.32 miles over the route. No one was there to give us our medals, we had to go and ask someone for them and even he wasn't sure where the 15K medals were. They were already doing the top awards ceremony. People were packing up- which is fine, we finished late- I get that. Everyone was supposed to get strawberries at the finish. People were leaving with cases of berries, 6-10 containers. I asked someone with the Tampa Bay Runners shirt if the strawberries were done and in a very annoyed tone as if I was bothering her, she pointed me in the direction of the sponsor, Driscoll's Berries. They had all of the berries covered up. I asked the woman if all of the berries were gone and she started to say yes (even though she clearly had at least 100 packs of berries under the coverings), then I told her that we had just finished so she reluctantly gave my friend and I one each.

Summary:
I wish communication was better in regards to race sign up.
I wish that the roads were more clearly marked- maybe cones or more signs because the spray paint on the road wasn't very clear.
I wish someone was there to give me my medal and I didn't have to ask for it. Every finisher deserves the honor of getting a medal no matter how slow you finished.
I know they're just strawberries, but if you are going to promise everyone some then maybe don't let some people leave with 10 packs of strawberries so that everyone actually gets some.