This race was my first full marathon distance and it couldn't have been a better experience. I selected this race because it's relatively close to home( within a couple of hours) and the Facebook group is so positive and excited about this event.
Where I stayed: I rented a small cottage, through VRBO, a mile away that was dog friendly as I was planning on bringing my dog and Rehoboth is very dog friendly. I had a great experience and it was super easy to get to the race start and packer pickup.
Parking: This is definitely not a problem in the off season as there are no parking fees or permit parking only areas. Plenty of free parking close to the race. However, after the marathon I noticed that there was a tow truck towing people from a private lot so please pay attention to signs when parking in a private lot.
Packet pickup: This was relatively easy and involved stand in multiple lines to get my t-shirt, after party bands, and race bib. I am guessing this is to spread out the crowd but this was slightly confusing to me as I didn't really see signs due to congestion (but people cleared out fast). They also had a few vendors there like Hoka and the Rehoboth Running Company was open across the street to buy last minute gels or whatnot.
Swag/perks: The race t-shirt fit me perfectly (I selected a unisex xs) which is difficult because I am a smaller person. If you wanted a women's specific cut you could pay more for a women specific shirt but I chose not to do this. My favorite perk of this race was the free runner tracking by Race Joy. This is the first time I used this app but I cannot say how thankful I was that I used this. Not only could my family track my progress but they could send messages and cheers that are read aloud as I ran! It really made my day and I laughed so much as some of the cheers were hilarious. Unlimited Dog Fish Head beer at the finish was also a seller. I almost forgot to mention, this race offers free race photos! I can never afford the pricey race photos so this was awesome.
The course: This course is pancake flat with breathtaking views of nature. The course consisted of both pavement and hard packed gravel trail. I liked the mixture and it gave my legs a bit of a break from the constant pounding of asphalt. If you are trying to BQ then this course is for you! Some parts of the course is a bit narrow due to it being on trails so at times passing was a bit a of a challenge.
The after party: This is the most important part of a race for me and I pick my races accordingly. The food was phenomenal! The veggie burgers were delicious ( yes, this race is veggie friendly:) as were the waffles, mac and cheese and coleslaw. My mom really loved the hamburgers and said that they were pretty thick. I had two 60 minute Dog Fish Head beers which really tied everything together. It was totally worth the extra money to get my family extra wrist bands. Many people also enjoyed dancing for several hours.
Cons: There are so many pros that I really had to rake my brain but here are a few things to note. There are no race corrals so if you are pretty speedy line up near the front as it's always frustrating to weave in and out. That being said I am pretty new to bigger races so everyone might know this already. Second, this race is expensive so sign up early! Better yet, activate an alarm reminder on your phone in order to get the special discount on the first day to receive full savings.
Race sponsors: This race has great sponsors and a few days before the race an email went out about marathon deals. We ate dinner at the Lupo Italian kitchen and recieved 50% off our pasta. I was really impressed by the service and quality of food that we received. We were seated near the window and were treated to a view of the beautiful Christmas lights that lined the street.
Bottom line is that this is a race that people keep coming back to year after year!