The Oakland Running Festival gave me all the feels.

I got to Oakland on Saturday - a day before the race. I went to the Expo to pick up my race packet and did a little shopping. It wasn't crowded -- maybe because of the potential rain -- but it was fun and entertaining.

I ran the half marathon which started at 9 am. Late start to give all the challenge participants (5k and 10K) runners a chance to get back and join the half marathon distance. The race started in waves and as a back of the pack runner, I hung out with the wave 3 group with the 2:30 pacer.

The race started at Snow Park and the first three miles was around Lake Merritt. The pacer was a little fast so I hung back and enjoyed the views of the lake and the surrounding area. The course meandered through Downtown Oakland, then out toward West Oakland, and then back to Downtown Oakland with a finish at Snow Park. I worried about the hills but there weren't any major hills along this course. The elevation gain in some areas was noticeable but it was nothing to worry about.

The course is a fun one! There's so much to see -- especially the amazing art scattered throughout the city. The streets were lined with enthusiastic spectators and I felt their energy and support throughout the entire race. The course entertainment was fun and lively - especially the taiko drums and lion dancers. I am Vietnamese and was so happy to see the "Little Saigon" group out there cheering folks on. There was an incredible flame arch at 6.5 miles that was awesome to run through. It was totally unexpected and oh so awesome!

The aid stations were stocked with plenty of water and Gatorade. Some stops had extra snacks, including bananas, electrolyte tablets, and chips.

At mile 9 (along Broadway), I slowed down a bit because I felt the gradual incline that seemed like it went on forever. Luckily, you turn around shortly after 10 miles and the rest of the course was downhill -- except for the last 0.2 miles where you head uphill to the finish!

What made this race stand out was the sense of community. The Oakland community really came out to support the runners. They brought their energy, enthusiasm, and plenty of noisemakers. Their words of encouragement made me, an out of town runner, feel the love and support of a community I didn't even know. The on-course entertainment was spot on and was so encouraging of all runners. And the race announcer was superb! He pronounced my name correctly and his commentary was on point.

The Oakland Marathon published an online handbook that proved to be extremely helpful! I read it twice to make sure I didn't miss any details and felt prepared for the expo and race morning. I love that the handbook had a section describing spectator suggestions - what to do and what not to say.

I stayed overnight at the Marriott (hotel partner) and it was the perfect location. Website said that parking is $45 but because I was a race participant, I got a discounted rate of $25. Also, the hotel had a complimentary check out of 2 pm for race participants so I was able to return to the hotel to shower before heading home.

The Oakland Marathon had a fun course, awesome swag, and beautiful medals. I look forward to coming back in 2023!