This race has been nicknamed "Little Boston" or "Baby Boston". Given the climbs, it's very easy to see why. Miles 1-4 are completely uphill. Bill Rodgers won the race it's first three years in the 1970's. Several locals who qualify for Boston generally treat this as a training run.

Registration:

Registration is generally very easy. This year however my GMail spam filter picked up the confirmation email. 2014 was the fourth time I ran this race, and it has never happened before. Coincidently, my final instructions email hit the spam filter too. Race Wire supports the event, so I was very surprised.

If you do decide to run this race, register early. If you register by 1/17, the cost is just $25. Every month on the 17th, the price goes up by $10 until March.

Swag:

The race shirt isn't your typical race shirt. It is a pigment dyed shirt and around here it is considered quite stylish.

Expo:

The expo is basically just bib pickup. I have two complaints about pickup. The first is that there is a DJ blasting music in the tent they use as Race Headquarters. It is extremely difficult to hear. Additionally, in years past, bib pickup started at noon on Friday making it easy for me to run over at lunch and pick up my bib and shirt.This year, it started at 3PM. They will let you pick up on race day as well, and they also allow someone else to pick up your bib providing they have your final instructions email.

On race day, the Race HQ allows runners to hang in a warm environment. They also provide bananas, chips, cookies and waters to runners. The DJ is still blasting music, so it's not ultra comfortable for my tastes

Parking is very difficult. With the number of spectators and runners, you can park up to 1/2 mile away from the start. There are some lots that charge, but there is a ton of on street parking.

A local church runs a free bag drop, donations are accepted. I have not used it personally, but I have spoken to a few friends who say it is secure and well organized.

Course:

As I mentioned, the first four miles are uphill. Out of the chute there are 6000+ runners, and hundreds of bandits. The race now staggers the start with elites and mid pack runners going off first. A second and third wave goes off a minute after the first two groups. The two mile walk goes off a minute or two after the runners and now has it's own course. In years past, walkers clogged the course slowing everyone down.

The first 1/2 mile you get the typical bumping, but the course opens up quickly, so it's not an issue. There are two official water stops along the way. The first has tables set up on both sides of the street causing bit of a slow down. There are also not enough trash bins at either stop so it's a bit messy.

The spectators literally make this race. The ENTIRE course is lined with spectators. Given the celebration the weekend of the race, everyone is rowdy. It is actually infectious. Spectators along the route also have literally dozens of unofficial water stops as well as beer, Jell-O shots, and nip bottles. I will say these unofficial stops are well maintained. I'm always scared of tripping on a discarded cup.

The final 2.2 miles are mostly downhill, and 5 is extra fast as it is the steepest down grade. Once you cross the finish line, you are corralled a few blocks before you are dumped back into the center of the St. Patrick's Day celebration. There is water at the end of the finishing corrals, but by the 70 minute mark, most of the water and cups are gone.

A highlight of the race is the costumes. There is the traditional St. Patrick's Day garb, a man playing a tuba, yes, a 25 pound brass tuba over 6.2 miles, guys in drag, tutus, a ghillie suit, speedos, green men, and a juggler.
Pre and Post Race:

First thing pre-race that you should be concerned with is parking. Bib pick up begins at 9AM the party starts at 9:01. There is a kids run as well at 10AM. There are a few free parking garages in the area and some pay lots. The on street parking tends to fill up quickly. If you don't get there early, be prepared to walk 1/4 to 1/2 mile. The race committee also provides a shuttle bus from a local Community College. Be prepared to wait in long lines for the buses to and from the race.

As I mentioned, the crowds are huge. It makes it difficult to make your way through the crowd to the start, and if you jog lightly as a warm up, it is very difficult to do so with traffic around the area and people wandering about.

A huge draw for the race is the after party. Honestly, the party isn't my thing. If you do stay, the food vendors are very reasonably priced and beer is very cheap.

Overall, the sheer challenge of the course makes me go back year after year.