The excitement leading up to the Crawlin' Crab Half Marathon really starts on their excellent social media presence. I learned about the race, the awesome afterparty, and even that there was going to be popsicles on the course! It sounded fun and I couldn't wait for race day.

I've never been to Hampton, VA so I wasn't sure what to expect. I arrived on Saturday and there was such flexibility in the schedule that you had several options for packet pickup. I enjoyed the expo, there were several vendors, and I struck a conversation with several people. Of course, you could get selfies or group pics with the crab and fun signs.

There were many options for overnight stays within walking distance to the start line. I saw a lot of runners either in person or from the massive amounts of race stickers on the back of their vehicles. If you're traveling there are options within a mile of the hotels for food, coffee, or entertainment.

Since instructions were shared on the official social media feed, I knew exactly where to go on race day. Parking was plentiful. It was a temperate morning in the low 70's with 72% humidity. The race announcer wore a crab costume which added to the experience. There were pacers up to 11:45 minute mile which gave options for runners looking for a specific time goal. The course took us around Hampton and what struck me the most was the amount of local support along the route. There were cheerleaders, churches, families, little children, and one spectating couple in particular that I passed at 3 different points. There were sufficient amounts of water stops, and they also served Gatorade, with one aid station serving GU. The massive amount of race volunteers, made these stations flow without impediment. Elevation difficulty is subjective but my tracker said I had 200 feet of gain during the race.

The afterparty was a great event that really turned a race into a social experience. There was live music, craft beers, and crab soup! Attached to the race bib was a ticket for free soup with biscuits and several beverages. I took the opportunity to experience the afterparty and listen to some music. It was a nice atmosphere with seating available, a ping-pong table, and signs to take pictures around.

I would recommend this race because of the great community spirit, course management, and the afterparty. It's a great fall race, and I would sign up again without hesitation.