I've run the Naylor Mill 7K each year it's been around, and this was the sixth year. It's always on a Friday evening in August, so it's usually super hot. Last year was especially hot. This year, it was cooler, at 82 degrees.

The race is run primarily on the Naylor Mill Forest Trail, with about a half-mile of running around the baseball/softball fields first. This helps spread people out and get near others of a similar pace, since it is hard to pass once you get onto the single-track trails. There is also a short portion of the race that is on the grass and sidewalk at the end.

The trails are very challenging, and this is definitely the area's hilliest trail. There are surprisingly steep hills that are part of this single-track trail system. The course was cleared and well-marked, but I still had approximately a 17:30/mile pace for a 7K, when my 5K road pace is currently just under 10:00/mile.

Runners have to carry water, and there is one aid station along the course where you can have your bottle refilled, which was great. Afterward, people could enjoy bacon, scrapple, scrapple sandwiches and donuts. I was also given an ice pop and water bottle.

The scenery is nice, although it's hard to look around much since you have to make sure you don't trip and fall. It's pretty, though.

The race is affordable, and swag included a nice T-shirt, sticker and customized bib. There was a packet pickup the night before the race at Two Scoops Ice Cream & Waffles, and people could also get their packets on-site before the race began.

Although it's always challenging, it's fun, and I will keep coming back! Read my full recap at She Runs by the Seashore dot com.