Despite my title for this review - I do love this race. If you've never been to the Outter Banks of North Carolina you should stop reading and make plans now! The Outter Banks area is a large tourist area that has somehow managed to keep it's sleepy town vibe. There is lots to do and the area is full of history.

If you're looking for a big flashy race with a huge expo and bands on the course then this is not the race for you. To say the expo is small would be an understatement. There are a few tables around mostly peddling entries to other Outter Banks Series races and local doctors. The SWAG for the race is the usual t-shirt - but they are pretty good tech shirts. You can also buy other merchandise from past races or the current race. There are fun eye patches and pirate flags you can pick up here as well - they are all in on the theme!

Transportation to the start is very well organized. The race doesn't loop back to the start for the finish so you either have to get someone to shuttle you at the end or you can take park your car and take the shuttle to the start. The transportation was no issue at all. The start line is nothing special. It's efficient and there are plenty of porta-johns around the start line.

The course switches between roads through trails and neighborhoods. At some point you run past the Wright Brothers Memorial as well. All the streets are closed and well manned so you do not have to contend with any vehicles. The local course support is amazing. There are kegs, full service bars, children with water and lemonade stands. I ran across people with bananas, pretzels, candy, and tissues. Everyone cheering and having a ball.

Then comes the suck part. The last 5K is a trail run which would be ok but there are giant sized pieces of gravel over the terrain that make the run, at least for me, precarious. I'm not a huge trail run fan - but the rocks and the cracked dirt from rain make it easy to lose your footing. About the last 1/2 mile you take some pretty steep inclines through mulch only to arrive at a severe mulch covered downhill to the finish line. It's like a punch in the gut when you can see the finish and think you're probably going to bust your ass on the way down.

The medals are great and they do have a challenge medal for doing the 5K the day before.

The after party was fun and there was plenty of different kinds of beer to choose from for your 2 free post race beers. There are also plenty of food vendors and the party is in a grassy area so you can sit and hang out if you'd like,

Even with the terrible last 3 miles - I love this race and I'd encourage anyone to do it.

A 1/2 marathon in my home town - hell yeah!

I loved this race. I loved it for so many reasons despite the drizzling rain and that massive uphill that was not very nice course organizers... The excitement of lining up on Constitution Ave in our corrals, running past the monuments on the mall and across the Potomac, running the downgrade of Rock Creek Parkway, then back up through Adams Morgan, and through Howard University, though the neighborhoods of DC with so many spectators made this one of my favorite race experiences. All the distances ran on Saturday - I assume because it is so hard to get streets shut down in DC. It would have been nice to have a remix challenge but I understand why we didn't have one.

Everything at the start was organized and bag drop was simple. The course didn't loop back to the start so the trusty UPS drivers delivered our bags to the finish line. There were plenty of porta-johns too.

I cant say enough about the course - I loved it and I grew up in the area. I think you go to see some of the best parts of the District. There were plenty of photo opportunities if you are into that - you could even get your picture taken with some of the Presidential mascots from the Washington Nationals Baseball team. The course was clearly marked for the 1/2 marathoners and the full marathoners.

Water stops were well staffed and there was plenty of water and Gatorade on the course. The local on course support came in the 2nd half of the race - probably just when you need it. The locals brought out the usual - bars, beer, candy, and signs. Everyone seemed to be having a ball - despite the rain.

I'm not a fan of ending the race in an entirely different location than the start. This can make for some serious transportation issues at the end. This is my real negative about this 1/2. We ended at the Armory and the subway was choked with people by the time we wanted to leave. It probably took us another hour to get back to the hotel - it was only made more miserable that we had to climb a lot of stairs to get out of the party parking lot location and that we were wet and cold. We tried to get an Uber but the car couldn't even get to our location. I'd prefer to have a hotel near the finish line to avoid this and cab it to the start in the am - but this location wasn't conducive to that plan.

The after party in the parking lot is not really a lot of fun if you want to sit down and relax after the 1/2 or the full. I don't even know if there was a band playing - the party was so spread out and seemed just like a random assortment of tents.

The medal was a postage stamp theme - which I liked.

Most importantly it was my best 1/2 to date.

They say people are friendlier in the South and this race sure proves it - although I may be bias since this is where I live.

This race is run by J&A a local race organizer and they spoil every runner who lives in this area for all other races. This is our St. Patrick's themed race and you'll see lots of green and lots of costumes during the race. The Shamrock 1/2 marathon is often listed as one of the top races in the country and there are many reasons why...

For a locally organized race the Expo is pretty intense. There are lots of vendors and it is held in the VB Convention Center. The shirts are high quality and they always have lots of merchandise for the race and even left overs from past Shamrock races or other races they sponsor (prices can be pretty good on some of these items!) I'm a gal who likes the bibs and the bibs are personalized and look really nice - the only drawback is that your age is on the front of the bib sometimes in giant numbers :-(

Parking isn't a problem if you get there early enough. There are a lot of lots so plan to pay. I usually go this route rather than parking somewhere for free and trekking a mile to the start. It can cost upwards of $20 but the convenience is worth it to me.

The corrals are organized and the start line announcer is always fun. There are plenty of porta-johns at the start and along the course. I usually don't check a bag - but I've never heard a complaint about bag check from any of my friends.

The course is flat - yes flat. It's the beach! You run down the strip, through a military base, down the boardwalk and more. While running on the roadways the entire road is closed - that is not always the case with many races I've done. The course support from the volunteers and the locals is tremendous! There are plenty of water stops along the course fro the official volunteers not to mention the beer stands, bar set ups, cookie ladies, Kleenex kids, and cheerleaders that make up a fraction of the local support. There are also bands and DJ's along the way. The course is never boring that's for sure.

The finish line down the boardwalk is great and at the end of the race there is plenty of water and food for refueling. You'll even get finisher's SWAG along with your medal. this year we all received a 13.1 runners hat - the marathoners got 26.2 obviously. Oh and the medals are no joke - they are HUGE. There is a challenge medal for doing the 8K the day before -they are all beautiful medals.

The post part is awesome. The party is on the beach and there is not one beer for your bib - but 4 and it's Yuengling or cider. There is also Irish stew by the bowl to help you refuel.

My only drawback from this year is that the porta-potties at the finish line had run out of toilet paper. Luckily I travel with baby wipes in my pocket.

If you haven't done this race you need to do it. The weather is always amazing and we know how to throw a party here in Virginia!