I received entry as part of being a Bib Rave Pro.
I attended the expo on Friday. Parking was easy and if you went in and out within 20 minutes it was free. I met a friend for lunch and then hung out at the expo awhile, so it ended up being $10.
The Expo was easy to find, lots of signage, and as usual the bib pickup was quick and painless. My friend needed help with his bib and jacket and they resolved it quickly, even though it was his error.
The expo was small but they had merch and a running store was there with anything you might need for race day. They had some sweet treats to try, and you could trade your jacket for another size if you guessed wrong.
Race morning I carpooled with friends and we found free parking near the start with no problem. There were signs everywhere directing you to the start.
We found a large group of porta potties easily and the lines moved quickly.
We arrived in just enough time to pee and lineup, and the race started quickly after. It was rainy but not terrible.
The water stops had treats at them. I got chocolate chips, flavored marshmallows and candy hearts. A friend said she got m&ms but I didn't see them. The stops were well manned, except for one where they couldn't keep up with the demand. They were trying hard though!
The course was well marked, I always felt safe, and the security was on point. The course was super hilly, it's unavoidable in Charlotte.
The only downside was the scenery. It was mostly neighborhoods, which was nice, or the business district, which was boring. We didn't run past any of the stadiums, which are always fun to run past. I did see a cool sculpture and little free library, which was fun.
After the finish and the medal, you had to walk quite a bit for the treats but the area had lots of cool blow ups for photo ops, and the chocolate was worth the walk. It was a nice way to stretch your legs.
As challenging as it was, I will definitely return. The free pics were amazing and they offered a great discount for returning.