This was my second 5k experience in the Run Around Scranton Series. These folks do a great race! The best part... it's free! They will have t-shirts available, though often run out due to the large turnout each month. Get there early for your swag! Also, get there early for a parking spot! Being downtown the parking is somewhat limited and with 200+ runners it gets to be a fight for the last spot at times.

This month's course started off downtown at Ale Mary's and led along through the city and along part of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, then back into the city. For the most part this was a fairly quick and flat race. Toward the end of the race there was a substantial hill that took my breath away, but then this turned around to a gradual decline for a fast finish. The Scranton Police are great to keep the roadways clear and safe for the runners and directing/stopping traffic as needed.

At the finish, there's plenty of cold water to slug down after pushing through for your hopeful PR! The run is always hosted at a local pup/restaurant and that certainly helps to chase down the finish line to claim your chilled pint! (if that's your thing...)

Overall, this was a great race in the series of the monthly Run Around Scranton 5Ks! I am definitely looking forward to the next!