The NoDa 5k is a neighborhood race in Charlotte that covers some of the neighborhoods in the North of Davidson area around a couple of breweries. It's in early summer, so while this particular day was hot (around 90) it's not a given that the temperature would be uncomfortable.

The course is enjoyable. It looped through the area neighborhoods and featured enough hills to make it challengind but none of them were long enough to really tire you out. The course ended on a downhill around a blind curve, and it came up quicker than expected. I set a PR on the course. Scenery is bland, but some of the residents had fun cheering us on. If organizers could go a little further north they could go under an overpass that features some unique art on the history of Charlotte.

There are a couple of things that set this race apart from other 5ks. First, it is an evening start. My wife and I used it as a date night and had a lot of fun. Second, they have good swag. I'd seen the t-shirts from previous years and really liked them, and this year was the same (they give you the option of a shirt or a tank). Though it's not a draw for me, they give you a nice finisher's medal. Finally, they have a really nice post-race atmosphere. They had a good band for before and after the event, good beer handed out quickly in a line that moved well, and though they had food trucks we gravitated to the popsicles. This was a race where we enjoyed milling about for a while afterwards.

My wife and I both enjoyed the race a lot, and though I wouldn't travel for it if I lived in the area this would be an event I would pencil in to the calendar.

For the more reflective overview of the event, check here: http://wp.me/p7xxYm-1z