Keep in mind this was the first year for this race so obviously there will be some kinks and bumps that will happen just because of that but I will give my honest opinion. I just wanted to clarity this before I start.
I got this race entry for $10 based on the lottery they had to register. I had a ton of issues with the online registration so I finally called the company and spoke with one of the race coordinators. She was very nice and apologetic and honored my price based on my screenshot information that was my proof which I appreciated. I was a little nervous when I arrived in DC because I never got any emails confirming my registration but they had my name when I got there and my bib was ready to go!
I went with some running buddies and we stayed at one of the host hotels. We partially did this for the shuttle to and from the race and partially the location to the city. It was in a great spot to get around the city and do sightseeing.
There wasn't an expo it was a packet pick up at a store. It was small and they had a table set up and it got crowded fast. I definitely recommend going on an off time, like after lunch or before dinner to avoid the crowd. The swag bag had some coupons, a bag and a VERY, SMALL SHIRT. Like 2 sizes, womens cut, cotton small.
So the morning of the race we worked our way downstairs to the lobby to get on the shuttle. There were 2 buses but they were taking a really long time. We got worried we wouldn't make the race so we ended up taking an Uber instead. This was a little disappointing especially since we waited over a 1/2 hour 45 mins to realize we wouldn't make the next bus that had yet to return from the last drop off.
We arrived to the race, got some great photo ops-the start line was very close to Lincoln Memorial and then we hit the road. The views were amazing, great sites, some areas I would not have otherwise seen. Not too hilly and a variety of scenery. There was a good mix of shaded, back roads as well as lots of opportunity to see some of Washingtons amazing scenic areas.
The aid stations were great and plenty. The volunteers were awesome, all smiles!
The finish was nothing special or exciting and there was not much of a crowd.
We were about mid pack to finish and needless to say they were already out of a lot of items. Not enough foil blankets, not enough food, not enough shelter. It was cold, colder than usual and they weren't prepared for that. There were lines for everything, including the shuttles back to the hotel. We got in line as the shuttle was leaving so we were about 10th in line. We waited over 1/2 hour and with no end in site we Ubered again.
Overall, this race had a really positive vibe. Lots of women talking with each other, sharing stories and just encouraging each other. I don't know that I would do this race year after year but it was definitely a race I am glad that I did.