First time running this and I'm glad I did- it was a beautiful day and scenic course through North Park and around the lake (if you're running more than the 5k). I actually signed up morning-of, so I can't speak to any communication they send out, but I do know they have multiple pickup dates and locations for your bib and gear. Speaking of- I think the best part of this race is that they give out something all runners use but is an uncommon giveaway- running shorts! They're a nice pair of lined running shorts, and you get socks as well.

Getting There
I came from the South Hills so there wasn't any traffic, even getting to the event near the lake there wasn't much traffic. They do warn you that all the parking lots fill up quickly, so they offer a free shuttle to the area. I was able to find a spot on the road about 30min prior to the start.

The Course
Everyone follows the 5k course, which actually is the toughest part- there's extremely steep hill (1/4 mile 7% grade hill at the 3/4 mile mark) that lead you from the start back to the lake. From there you complete 1-3 clockwise laps around the lake (5mi), depending on which distance you signed up for. I personally ran the half marathon distance (2 laps). There's maybe about 100ft elevation gain in the 5k, and 200ft gain per lap around the lake. Finish is at the boathouse and it's marked clearly which lane to choose, whether you're still running another lap, or finishing. Half Marathon and 30k runners receive a medal at the end, and everyone receives free photos. Which is a HUGE perk IMO.

Post Race
They offer the standard snacks- water and Gatorade, chips, bagels, bananas. NO PROTEIN BARS though. They have a couple of local vendors on-site, and running clubs there.

Summary
It's a cheap race, really cheap, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Great, relaxing views of North Park, and it's a great race to use if you're pacing for the Pittsburgh Marathon or another early Spring marathon. It's nice that there's multiple distances for everyone as well. If you're not a fan of huge, crowded city races like the PGH Marathon, this is definitely a great race for you. Not to say it's underpopulated- there's definitely a good amount of people who run it, but definitely less congested and you still get all the water/Gatorade/energy gel/aid stations like the big races. I definitely recommend it