Intro:
This was my first half. I picked this specifically as a training race as I'm doing the Philly marathon in November. The course would give me a good preview of the the finish of the marathon. Philly, like any major city cab be a nightmare for parking etc, but this weekend was fairly calm in center city and it wasn't that bad to navigate around. If you're coming in for the race only, public transportation is the best.

Expo:
Bible pickup was a breeze. Walk right in, no line, bib in hand. Done! The only slight annoyance was to have a written confirmation paper, but I could deal.
The merch was typical but I did have to get my "run philly" shirt. I had wanted to try the Brooks gait analysis demo but didn't wait in line. Lots of great vendors. The Altra booth was amazing!

Race day:
Walked to the race area. Walked around. Checked out the scene. Water was available. Plenty of port-a-potties. Lined up with my corral and we waited. Things went smoothly with the start and the line moved well. One complaint is that the PA feed on the speakers down the way cut out and would get about 2 seconds of music/announcements every 40 seconds or so.
The course was great! Flat and fast for sure. There were a few areas where there was a steady incline but nothing terrible. To get up to the finish line there's one last "hill" but it was great motivation to push up it and cross the finishline!

Post-race:
Done! Step right up and get your medal! Then, get some ice! Buckets of ice were amazingly refreshing. Next up water, Gatorade, frozen yogurt pops from Whole Foods, protein bars, chips... Great cures for the runger!

Overall:
I was really happy with my result and how the race was ran. It was a great first half experience. I can't wait for my next!