This was one of the most organized events I've ever had the pleasure of running! That said, you should know that the half marathon course is extremely difficult. The hills are absolutely relentless and come in all shapes and sizes. The shortest ones are the steepest ones, but long ones are quite steep, too. They are usually followed by a downhill, with very little flat stretches.

BUT, even though the course is tough, the race honors every runner for Conquering the Hill with amazing swag! The medals are gorgeous and if you run any of the Rerun events (5K plus 10k or 1/2 Marathon), you get a total of 3 medals for the accomplishment! Here are some key takeaways about Hospital Hill Run.

WEATHER: Today's race was hot and humid, with temps rising throughout the day. However, I was told that the past few years brought rainy conditions. Best to be prepared for both!

EXPO: Dozens of vendors were present at the expo. Race organizers even provided a large water jug for people to use while browsing, which I greatly appreciated! Lots of great deals were had by all!

VOLUNTEERS: Hundreds of volunteers were cheerfully present at the expo and at both the 5k and 10k/1/2 marathon events. Many were young people who were fully engaged in the events and activities of the race and their energy was contagious.

FOOD: A full BBQ dinner was available to runners after the 5K on Friday night and a huge pancake and pastry breakfast was provided on Saturday morning. Each runner also received a ticket to a craft beer for each race. Both meals were hosted in a shady area with DJ entertainment.

MASSAGE: Free ART massage was offered before and after each race, both on Friday and Saturday. I took full advantage of this feature to prepare and recover from the beating my legs took from all the hills!

HOTEL/PARKING: I stayed in the host hotel, The Sheridan. It is less than 1/2 mile walk from the start/finish line and is reasonably priced for the amenities. I highly recommend it if you are traveling from out of town for this race. Overnight parking at the hotel was $17. Race day parking was available, but I am not sure if there was a cost.

AID STATIONS: Water and Gatorade were provided in abundance throughout the course. There were volunteers with orange slices around Mile 10 that saved my life! :-D Volunteers were misting runners at several aid stations as well. Bananas, water and cracker sandwiches were provided at the finish line. The pancake breakfast was outside the finishing corral.

Recommendation for future: The only thing I think would be great was for some type of beverage to be available at the pancake breakfast. I had a small water bottle from the finish line but there was nothing available to drink at the breakfast. On a hot day like today, I needed more water!

Bottom Line: Hospital Hill is a fabulous family event, but I highly recommend you train for it! Even the 5K is full of difficult hills.

NOTE: This photo is to dramatize the steepness of the hill at mile 12. No Bibrave Pros actually had to crawl up the hill ;-)