This year's RnRVB was held in the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hermine. The storm cause Saturday's race, the Mile in the Sand, to be canceled and altered many of the accompanying American Music Festival acts. Both the city and Competitor Group did the best they could in the face of torrential rains and gale force winds to put on a solid event. The half marathon was affected much more than the 5k as we were missing little more than some mile markers. Here are the details!

Expo/Packet Pick Up - There is no race day pick-up (except when there's a hurricane) so hitting the expo is a must. You must get your own packet and the lines move quickly. Next up is a swag bag and tech shirt. After that it's into the main expo with Official Gear, Brooks Run Happy Island and vendors galore giving everyone plenty to do. They do tend to get crowded at RnR events so going early is always a good idea if you can.

Overnight - The start is 3 blocks from my house so no overnight accommodations needed but there are lots available. On the holiday weekend hotels get pricey very quickly and often sell out even though they require multi-night stays. The bulk are within easy walking or warm up distance from the race's start and finish. The resort area features tons of restaurants, bars and fast food options with even more choices if you venture out to other areas.

Weather - This race is hot and humid. Like 85, sunny and 85% humidity. Except this year since Hermine was still kicking around it was 70, cloudy, 80% humid and 15-20mph winds.

Race Day Parking - This year passes were sold but it wasn't much of an issue with refunds offered to anyone who didn't want to travel in Hermine. With the convention center lots bearing the load right at the start line, other nearby lots including schools are open for business, too. Parking is not a big concern for this one if you have a plan and arrive at a reasonable time (not 6:50 for the 7am start).

Start - Things were toned down this year with Hermine throwing a wrench out there. Competitor Group did an awesome job making sure there was still music, a big start arch with plenty of Port-a-Potties and easy to find gear check.

Course - Fast and flat. Normally I'd say this is a PR course but watch out for wind. With 20+mph gusts lingering after the storm the headwind makes things tough especially when you hit the final straightaway on the unprotected boardwalk.

Finish - I was first female in the 5k and got to break the tape for the first time ever at this one. It was pretty cool and much appreciated since I've won others but never had tape pulled back out for me. Like the start, the finish festival and signage were pared way down after the storm. The big arch was there and bands were playing as you received your medal, water and snacks.

Party Time - Bands play all morning long while you enjoy complimentary beer on the beach (usually, we were inland this time. Thanks, Hermine). Sunday evening your race bib gets you into the headliner concert at the American Music Festival which typically features some good bands and is a nice reward.

Having run the half multiple times, I must say I liked the 5k just as much. Competitor Group did a fabulous job handling the nasty weather situation and I definitely recommend making a visit to Virginia Beach.

This was my 2016 Summer Half and I really enjoyed my first trip to Minneapolis to run it. Here are the details!

Expo - Pre-race day packet pick-up was held at the Twin Cities in Motion office in Saint Paul. Due to my flight schedule I opted to wait until race morning to get mine. It seemed like most people took the option to get their gear morning of so I wouldn't say there was much of an expo at all.

Overnight - Lots of hotel options and a fun city. There's lots to do, including Mall of America, art, sports, museums and dining. A fantastic light rail system makes it easy to get from the airport to just about anywhere very inexpensively.

Race Day Parking - I was able to walk from my hotel to the start area in about ten minutes. The train is a great option but with the race's smaller size there seemed to be plenty of street or garage parking within a reasonable distance.

Race Day Packet Pick-Up - Easy! The lines moved quickly as you picked up your number, Brooks race shirt, race logoed pint glass and clear gear bag. GREAT SWAG!!!

Start - Gear check is easy, water and sports drink are both supplied, Port-a-Potties abound and the shaded park provides a good place to stretch out or hang before your race. The actual Start line is a short distance away (600M?) with closed streets offering plenty of warm-up spaces. The corrals are crowded on a narrow road but after the national anthem we were off right on time. Traffic is tight for the first few minutes on the course then gradually clears up by Mile 4.

Course - One of the biggest highlights of this course was the shade. An earlier start, 6:30am, keeps the hot sun away which is always a plus and the tree lined parks and roads offer lots of coverage. I didn't feel like it was hilly but gained 300 feet of elevation over the 13.1 miles. Yes, there were a few noticeable climbs though most of it came from slower, softer grades accompanied by some very nice downhill spots. Be aware that very early traffic prevents you from taking tangents though but eases up as the race goes on.

Course Support - Water stops with cheering volunteers and Port-a-Potties are roughly every 2.5 miles. Each had water and sports drink. Crowds are thin throughout the race until you hit the final stretch. Minneapolis PD and EMS were out on a day when a heat warning had been issued though I think the heat depends on what you're used to. It was a 70 degree day that felt cool to me, used to running in 75-90 degree temps.

Finish - Finishing across the Stone Arch Bridge when it's lined with cheering spectators on each side is special. The last 100M are packed with people and there's a great energy. After crossing the line you get a medal, a red, white and blue ice pop, chocolate milk, Cliff Bars, snacks and bottled water. There's a slip-n-slide right next door to gear check to help you cool off and stay in the summer spirit.

A quiet, clean and friendly city, Minneapolis' Red, White and Boom Half Marathon is a great race, especially for those of us who like smaller ones.

Rock the Parkway was the kick-off to my new training cycle and my first run over 10 miles since my marathon three weeks earlier. A low pressure fun run for me, this turned out to be the perfect spot for it. Here are the details!

Expo - Held Thursday and Friday for the Saturday race (no race day pick-up) at the Overland Park Convention Center, the expo is small but adequate with tons of free parking. After picking up your number and timing chip in one room you are directed to a second for your tech t-shirt. Unlike most races, that's all you get. No free samples or things you don't want or need. The timing chip came with twist ties to attach it to your shoe, something I had never seen before, but my concern that it would feel heavy or rub my foot was unfounded. It worked and felt just fine.

Overnight - There are plenty of hotels within 5-6 miles of the Start. With so many options, it's easy to find the perfect spot to fit your budget while keeping you comfortable. Restaurants are also plentiful, especially barbeque, and there's something for everyone in the family.

Start - There's lots of free parking but I'm not sure it's enough so if you're looking to get super close, arrive early. There were lots of Port-a-Potties but the lines were mayhem and it was pretty much the most polite free-for-all you'd ever been a part of. There isn't a ton of space to warm-up right near the line, you have to head a block away to get some running room and I didn't gear check so no comment there. A good band was rocking the start area and on a cold morning it helped take your mind off the numbness in your hands. The half marathon started at 7:30 and the 5k started afterwards at 8. There were waves based on expected finish times for each and I went with a crowded half marathon Wave A right on time. During the first mile I realized it was a little strange the national anthem wasn't played. After finishing, I heard there was lots of time between waves which then presented a problem for getting the 5k off on time.

Course - I expected the first mile to be traffic filled based on how jam packed me and 1,000 of my closest friends had been into the Wave A corral. I was mostly correct as things started to spread out around the 1k mark. There were alternating stretches of multi-lane road to run on and single lane road to run on but after the initial tightness in Mile 1, it never became an issue again. The course's profile is out-and-back with upward climbs for the first few miles, flat-ish in the middle and down for the last few. It sticks pretty closely to that framework but I will say I was surprised to see almost 500 ft of elevation gain on my Garmin afterwards. The hills are mostly rolling with a few shorter steeper climbs and a bunch of long slow ones. Traveling through peaceful neighborhoods, the scenery is decent, you're blocked from 80% of the wind (or it wasn't a windy day - I only noticed it while climbing two shorter, steeper hills) and the miles roll right on by. Plus there's nothing to complain about with a gentle downhill finish.

Course Support - Water stops were well staffed, well stocked and enthusiastic. Each had Gatorade and water with energy gels at Mile 8. On course Port-a-Potties had spots near each stop. Running through neighborhoods on a Saturday morning fans were intermittent but volunteers blocking streets were cheerful. The most fun was Mile 5 because the whole neighborhood got involved with a beer stop, tunes and some really cute signs. The Police Department did a great job of keeping cross traffic from crashing into runners in big intersections.

Finish - Bleachers lined the chute for the first time in 2016 and they were well used on a chilly morning. After jogging across the line, I received a bottle of water then somehow managed to balance on one foot while my timing chip was cut off by a volunteer. Next up I received my massive medal. That thing is heavy! All of the other goodies you usually grab in the chute were away in the post race area. I liked not having 4,000 items to juggle while I plopped down the loosen my shoes and put on a warm hoodie. Waiting three minutes more to eat wouldn't kill me.

After Party - The morning was chilly so after a post-race trip to the now line-less potties I made hastily for my heated car seat. It was nice how the party was a little bit away from the finish chute and potties giving everyone lots of room to huddle up for warmth, put layers back on or stretch out.

Swag - The medals are big. Big and heavy and lovely. Short sleeve tech shirts are nice even though I never wear mine and I definitely liked not having a bunch of things I don't want thrust upon me.

A smaller race with weather than can vary 15 degrees from start to finish, Rock the Parkway is a great course for a good workout. It's well run with awesome volunteers and lots of water stops. If you like hills and big medals, this one is for you.

The 2016 ODU Big Blue 5k was the race's second year and my first running it. Put on by J&A Racing, it was another example of their excellent events and offers something for both children and adults.

Expo - There is no expo. Packet pick-up can be done Friday or before the race on Saturday. I opted for race day pick-up and the lines weren't too bad. Tech race shirts in both men's and women's cuts were easy to exchange for different sizes and the reusable bag is always nice.

Parking - With several garages dotting the ODU campus, race day parking was allowed on certain levels in each one. Arriving early is a good idea, especially if you're doing race day pick-up, so you have time to hit the restrooms, drop your bag and get on over to the start with time to spare.

Start - The 10:30 start time makes this the perfect race for those who like to sleep in. It also gives 5k runners a chance to watch the kids run their 1k race that started at 10am. The start area has plenty of Port-a-Potties, a water station and the race store. It was a bit challenging to find somewhere to get a solid warm-up in since the available areas also had some very light traffic or were packed with people After getting in a bit over a mile, I stepped into my corral. They line up down a narrow street but with the race's small size (limited to 2,500 participants) it doesn't seem too crowded. I was in Corral 1 and after the national anthem, Team Hoyt was off two minutes before the rest of us right on time.

Course/Support - An immediate right turn after starting puts you on a road wider than where we had been lined up and it was nice to spread out a bit. The very flat course takes you around and through ODU's campus with some tight turns and narrower paths later in the race where there's little running traffic. A hard U-turn at the midway point can slow you down a little and the bigger number of turns can make the super flat course less of an opportunity to PR. Water stops were well staffed at two spots, a doughnut stop somewhere between Miles 2.5 and 3 was cute and I failed to notice if there were any potties out there anywhere. The best part of the course is the finish. With a tiny bit of race to go you enter the stadium, step onto the bouncy football field and pass over the finish timer right on the 50-yard line. Crowd support is minimal on a Saturday morning college campus but the finish has plenty of enthusiasm to make up for it.

Finish - Finishing on the football field is neat. Beware it's a kind of lumpy surface. After crossing the line, you get a bottle opener medal and a bottled water before a nice cool down walk to the post race party.

After Party - J&A races are all about the post race party. You get three complimentary beers (21+, of course) and at this event your food was a burrito from Moe's Southwest Grill (yum!). Featuring food trucks, cornhole boards, giant Jenga, unlimited water and tons of potties without lines, it's easy to imagine hanging out there for a few hours while you wait for the ODU Spring Game to begin. You get a free ticket to attend with your race entry.

Swag - Bottle opener medals, gender specific tech t-shirts, entry to the football game, comp beer and free food are hard to beat. The bags you receive with your shirt are reusable grocery style bags and thankfully don't come full of things you'll just throw away. Did I mention the 10:30 start time? That's not really 'swag' but it is nice.

Another fantastic J&A Racing event, the ODU Big Blue 5k has something for everyone in the family and is a great chance to show your university pride.