This was my fifth year to participate in Hospital Hill. It's definitely one of my favorites for sure! There are plenty of hills in this race, and it is one of the most challenging half marathons that I've raced. Because this race is usually the first weekend in June, its usually hot and humid. This year was definitely no exception, but the weather is just part of the challenge.

Expo:
-The expo is usually a decent size with a variety of vendors. In years' past, I thought there were more vendors, and I didn't see as much apparel to purchase from some of the local running stores as I've seen in the past. I usually look forward to getting good deals at expos!

Swag:
-Hospital hill is unique in the fact that they usually offer something other than a t-shirt for their race. This year's swag was pajama pants, where were of good quality and feel comfy and warm. The sizing was a bit off on the pajama pants so I ended up with a youth large size. In previous years, my favorite swag items were a backpack and a long sleeve 1/4 zip pullover.

-Probably one of the biggest (and really only) complaint I heard about this year was the size of the bib numbers - they were HUGE. The 5k was in the shape of a bunny, and the 10k/half was a top hat. While these bibs were unique and went along with the "magic" theme, the bibs were difficult and awkward to wear.

Parking:
-There are a couple of large parking garages and open parking surfaces close to the race and the expo that make it easy to find parking close to the events all weekend long.

Course:
-There were ample water/aid stations every 1.5 miles, which was definitely needed with the weather this year. My only complaint was that the water stop between miles 10 and 11 was a bit off, which through me off a bit since I had gotten used to drinking gatorade and water every 1.5 miles prior to that. I always carry a handheld water bottle on me, just in case, but I tried to be super proactive on hydration considering the weather for this race.

-Kansas City is full of hills, and this is one race where you really need to train for the hills. The first three miles are very hilly, and then the hills are mild until about mile 8 or 9. The hills seem to accumulate on each other, which is what makes this race hard. It may not be a PR race for many, but it is definitely a fun challenging race that I've enjoyed every year so far.

This was my second time to run the re-run, which involves a 5k on Friday night, and the 10k or half marathon on Saturday. This year the 5k was more downhill in the second half of the race, which was definitely appreciated this year!

Race management:

The race director always does an awesome job with this race, and it is easy to see how dedicated she is the race. There is a lot of history behind this race, and it is a very unique experience compared to other races that I've done.

Because 2018 will be the 45th running of Hospital Hill, there were very reasonable sales for the race through 6/8/17. Needless to say, I've already signed up to conquer the hills once again!