This was my fourth year participating in the Run for the Animals in Onancock, Virginia, on Virginia's Eastern Shore, and I had a great time! This race is well-run and has a fun small-town atmosphere.

The race was just $40 (early rate) for all distances, including a 10K, half marathon and noncompetitive 5K. I ran the 10K this year. This year, it was hotter than it normally was, but there were three aid stations (one was the same one that we passed twice), which I thought was a good amount, and they had what I needed. It would have been good to have a trash can, but I am hoping the volunteers picked up the cups I dropped.

I loved that this race had a mug as a premium like it did last year. Last year, the mug was wider and black; this year, it was a different shape and there were all kinds of colors to choose from. My friends and I had trouble choosing! There are also finisher medals and the overall and age group trophies are unique. The shirt is a pretty basic tech shirt, but I would have given the 5-star rating just to have something cool like a mug.

The town of Onancock is nice to run through; then there is an out-and-back stretch on a road with not much to see. The race is very flat and it's very easy to park close to the start/finish, and of course, parking is free. Race management is great; everything went smoothly and I did not have any problems at all.

There is not what I would describe as an expo; people can pick up their packets race morning.

After the race, there is tons of food, including delicious Corner Bakery doughnuts, fried chicken, various breads, beer and more. I would definitely recommend checking out this race!

Read my recap on my blog here: https://sherunsbytheseashore.com/2018/04/22/run-for-the-animals-10k-doughnuts-heat-and-more/