If you're looking for a larger fall 10k near Boston with a finish line party (including beer), this might be your one. Note: since this is an event with alcohol, you must be 21+ to run.

Here's what I thought of the race:

Registration - Entry fees were around $50-60 and included a tech hoodie, finisher's medal, and 3 drink tickets at the finish. The hoodie and medal are quite nice--they didn't skimp on quality there.

Packet Pickup - You could get your bib and jacket the two days before the race, and the morning of. There was a HUGE line an hour before the race, and the race actually had to be pushed back 15 mins because people still hadn't gotten checked in. To avoid the crowds, try to get your bib the day before. The race organizers should consider starting a Boston pickup location, too. Of the 2500+ participants, I'm sure a large chunk came from Boston, as I did.

Course - The 10k winds through the neighborhoods of Salem and is somewhat hilly with 180ft gain (the website says 140ft, but my Garmin registered 180ft). It's not the most scenic, but it's not bad either--I liked the many colorful murals of Salem, and we did get to see a bit of the waterfront. Don't expect a lot of spectators though--there were probably more political groups with campaign signs than actual race spectators lol.

Fuel - There's two aid stations at miles 2 and 4. There was only water at mile 2, and water and Gatorade at mile 4.

Finish Line Party - This was incredibly crowded, it was hard to move around, and lines for beer/cider were long. There was lots of Domino's cheese pizza and some free energy drink/other fuel samples. I would've stayed longer, but I had lots of gear and bag drop closed 1.5 hours after the race start (to allow volunteers to attend the party). If you like big crowds, beer, and dancing, this would be your place. If you want your non-running friends and family to join you at the party, get them to volunteer, as they'll get free entry to the party, a race hoodie, and 3 drink tickets.

Overall, this is a fun race with a pretty chill vibe. I would definitely recommend, but try to avoid the bib pickup crowds by getting yours before the day of the race.

For more details, check out my race recap on my blog: https://www.imperfectidealist.com/2019/09/race-review-salem-road-race-2019.html