My friend from Astoria, NY grabbed my bib for me the day prior to the race & purchased a parking pass, so parking was a breeeeeze. Arrived kind of... ok super... early, so we had plenty of time to brave the porta-pooper lines. The park was very muggy and I heard that it's perpetually like that, so definitely dress for high humidity. I wore my Oiselle crop top, Lulu speed shorts, a hat & completely unnecessary, but super cute Goodr sunglasses. The lines weren't to use the bathroom weren't too bad and I got to the start line without any trouble. It starts in the park on a super flat, shaded stretch. The flatness at the start was pretty representative of the entire course and the herd of people pretty much carries you through to the finish line. At no point does it really break up, but it's also no so crowded that you are uncomfortable bumping sweaty elbows with your neighbors. There is one little up and over when you leave the park and then a hill by the Globe that you hit around mile 4 and again at the finish from another direction, but they are actually a nice change from the otherwise monotonous flatness. I will say that I thought I would enjoy circling the globe at the end of the race, but it felt like it would NEVER end. It felt like I was caught in an undying loop of last mile pain. Anyways, the race was fast, easy-going & unassuming. It's one of the 5 Burroughs for NYRR's 4-0f-6 to get into the NYC half & definitely worth getting to. Plus, the teal singlet we received is off-the-freaking-chaaaain.