Let me start by saying, I had very high hopes for this race from all the wonderful reviews I heard from 2015. I signed up because 5 ladies from my running group were running it & I had a free place to stay next to the start line (plus a beach weekend!) Leading up to the race it looked highly likely the race would be stormed out- and the race directors did an excellent job of keeping us well informed about the weather. THANKFULLY the storms rolled out at 6:45AM and the race started at 7:30 with 99.9% humidity and not a drop of rain or lightening in sight.

The Swag: You don't get a shirt, which is fine with me, I don't need another shirt. Runner instead receive a tote bag, which is nice, but the duffel bag from 2015 is much nicer so it was kind of disappointing this year. The medal is great! Excellent quality and it's got a spinner. Downside, the race description made it seem like runner received something after crossing the finish line, but that wasn't the case.

Aid Stations: Probably the worst I've ever seen- with the exception of the one time I ran a 5K and 8K and they accidentally set up the water stop for the 8K course first and the 5Kers didn't have any water. The aid stations were not where they said they would be on the course map and therefore were not nearly as frequent, and given the incredible out and back and turning around of this course, they could have been laid out infinitely better to provide more frequent access to them. There was one nutrition station, at mile 7ish, and all they had was chocolate Gu. Nothing else, not even water at that stop. I carry nutrition with me, but I felt really bad for the large number of people that can't handle the Gu consistency. Before the race I couldn't find anywhere to get water, super frustrating as well. With the humidity and temps it was quite a struggle to make it stop to stop. I was so dehydrated that drinking anything made me feel sick and I had to decide to just press on through the last 4 miles.

The course is beautiful, all through historic Savannah and the Squares/Parks. It is VERY outback and turns a lot. Makes it hard to get and maintain a pace for me. I feel like they could make it a little less of a contorted course, but that's just my preference.

The expo was nice, very small, and very "BUY NEW BALANCE" focused. Fleet Feet, a premier race sponsor, wasn't even allowed at the expo, which was kind of disappointing considering I wanted a new pair of non New Balance shoes!

The Course elevation is practically zero gain/loss. But at the same time, this course didn't hurt my legs/feet like Charleston did (which was super flat). So there might have been some mild elevation change that I didn't notice, but kept my feet from aching like they have in the past.

I stayed next to the start/finish so we didn't have an issue parking. Metered spots are free on the weekend in Savannah, so parking shouldn't cost you anything, just might take you a minute to find it.

Race Management- I'm giving them a 3 star because they did amazing from when I signed until the moment I stepped on the race course for race day. No one would help me find water before the race, the corrals were a mess and there wasn't enough room for people to line up. Pacers showed up at three minutes to race start and just walked into the crowd. The race didn't start on time, with really no reason to start late given the weather changes. The course support was lacking. The finish line area was very crowded and people were standing on the other side of the finish instead of being told to move out. AND NO MEDICAL. I did not see a single ambulance or medical professional before, during, or after the race. No first aid kits at aid stations or a first aid tent after. Completely uncalled for.

*Side note: My mom ran the 5K and had the same experience that I had with lack of aid stations. She finished over an hour and a half before me and also never saw medical (and sadly witnessed people trying to find medical that couldn't)