Overall: The most important part about Hood to Coast is having the right team. I cannot stress it enough. No matter how bad other things get (parking, feeling ill, not running super fast) having the right team will shape your experience.

T-Shirts/SWAG: The medals in the past have been very amazing and outgoing (this years were slightly disappointing and plain). However, to make up for that Dick's Sporting Goods engraved medals in the Portland area. The only downside is you still had to be in the area, so if you are traveling from far away, you may have missed that opportunity. Otherwise the gender-specific-shirts and Hood to Coast/Portland to Coast separate shirts and bibs is always a cool idea.

Aid Stations: The map in the pamphlet gives a good heads up on where to get food and at what time. Lots of local schools' cross country teams take this opportunity to sell delicious breakfasts or good hydration stations which makes for a good pitstop along your 198 mile journey!

Course Scenery: Breathtaking. Standing on top of Mt. Hood was awesome, and being able to watch my best friend run down that hill was pretty cool too. There seems to be photo opportunities wherever you go. Forests, cities, mountains, beaches: the whole package. You'll get a little of everything in your run.

Expo Quality: Usually very awesome except this year there was a huge wind storm that blew down the finish line. But it's amazing how management was able to redirect and figure things out in short time, so major props to them! Otherwise, finishing on the beach is always a cool experience, and the after party is fun even for kids (while the adults sneak away to get in a refreshing drink or too).

Elevation difficulty: I gave it five stars because I ran leg 5, the hardest of them all. The hills definitely left my quads aching over the rest of my legs (segments) that I had to run. Ultimately though, it's only as hard as you want to make it, and can otherwise be a very flat experience if you choose the right legs.

Parking: Since the whole thing is in a van, parking isn't the easiest thing to do. When you have a competitive team, it is hard to drop off your runner, pick up the one who just ran, and then beat your currently running person to the next station. However, if that is of no concern, and missing a few minutes here or there isn't an issue, then by all means take your time to pull over and cheer on your current runner (heck, do it anyways! Make good memories!)

I've done this race so many times, that I look forward to my next adventure every year. Unlike other races, this one seems to change every year. And even running the same legs can be a totally new experience. I've never had one Hood to Coast experience that was like another, and if someone was like "Hey, Jonathan, want to do Hood to Coast?" I would sign-up in a heartbeat.

So if this isn't on your bucket list, put it on. I've seen people of all different backgrounds run this race, and I've made some of my best running memories through it.

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