I did this race one year when I didn't get into the marathon. It was a great race - very well organized, very pretty race course, same great support from the Marines....but if you are a marathoner, you will spend the whole 10k thinking, I wish I was running the marathon!

The course overlaps with the marathon course for quite a bit, but of course you're coming in much sooner than the marathoners. The course is much quieter than the marathon course - not as many fans for the 10k! It's a pretty flat course so you can go pretty fast. The start is at the National Mall and it's beautiful!

It still sells out but it's much easier to get into than the marathon. If you don't get into the marathon but still want to run (or if you're building to the marathon), I definitely recommend it!! It's really fun and then you can finish and cheer on the marathoners :)

I did this ultra challenge twice in the past and was ready to do my last one in 2013, despite having concerns from past races (covered below). It's an 8 mile loop in downtown Philly that you can do as many times as you want over a 24 hour period.

However, 2013 was a hot summer and ultimately this race was cancelled.

I definitely understand the heat concerns, as well as city mandates. The communication was poorly managed and the race was cancelled after runners had already traveled far and committed to hotels and other costs for the race. It was a huge disappointment and not managed particularly well.

I'm really surprised that they are continuing to try to hold the race in downtown Philly in July after this. I just wouldn't trust the weather, the city, and the management enough to sign up for the race again.

From past times running: The course was not well lit in the past and I know that people got mugged in the 2012 race when I did it. The course is by the water but close to the highway for a lot of it. But it's generally flat and easy to maneuver.

The volunteers were awesome - I have very positive memories of volunteers on bikes distributing water to runners and volunteers with buckets of cold water, cold towels, and hoses at aid stations.

If they were to provide more details or move the race, I would sign up again. I just need more confirmation that I won't spend a lot of money and collect a lot of donations and then not get to run.

I LOVE this race!! I did it kind of on a whim in 2012 and did it again in 2013. Cincinnati isn't necessarily my dream city to do a race, but it's a fun place, the people are nice, and the crowds are AMAZING.

Registration is easy. It's a popular race but there's other distances (half marathon) that sell out quicker.

The expo is awesome. The volunteers are nice, helpful, and knowledgable. The booths are awesome - lots of free swag at this one. They really, really, REALLY play up the whole flying pig motif. It's just FUN.

The race itself is well organized, well managed, and again fun! The start line is within walking distance from most hotels in downtown Cincinnati. Your loved ones can stay with you pretty close to the start. They enforce the corrals, which is a big deal for me.

The course is not exactly what I would call beautiful and it's not easy either - there are definitely more hills than I was expecting. However...in 2013, I qualified for Boston at the race! I beat my best time by more than 13 minutes. There are a lot of factors to this (my training was probably part, haha), including that the course is not super crowded, so you can run your race. The crowds are absolutely amazing and supportive. You go through neighborhoods and people are having huge house parties to cheer on runners and just enjoy being outside on a beautiful May day.

They have bands throughout the course and the best aid stations I've seen - they have water every mile during the race, they have vaseline stations, cool wet towel stations, tissue stations, candy, etc. The aid stations are sponsored by local community groups and at the finish swine (get it?) you can vote for your favorite.

That's right - when you are done, you cross the Finish Swine!! The medals are amazing (so are the t-shirts!) and the post race snacks are great.

I love this race and can't wait to do it again! I was going to do 2015, but it was too expensive. I had already registered and they were so nice about letting me defer to 2016. See you in 2016 Cincinnati!

This race is still small enough to feel like you're part of something great and big enough to be well managed and exciting!

I've done it twice. The expo is small but easy to manage. The t-shirts are cute and they have had cute totes and lunch boxes at the finish in the past! The medals are cute. And um, chocolate!!! There is chocolate on the course, chocolate before, chocolate after! Massages at the finish line!

A good race for beginners and fun for experienced runners as well. I usually combine it with a trip to the Hershey Spa (chocolate massage!) but I stay at a cheaper hotel nearby. The start is easy to navigate and the course is pretty. There are some hills but it's manageable.

Enjoy and eat some chocolate!!!!!

I hate to be so negative on this one - and hopefully it's improved since 2009!

This was one of my earlier marathons. My first marathon was the Marine Corps Marathon and this was really paled in comparison. It was not well organized - the expo did not have standard items (like Gu!) and the volunteers didn't really seem to know anything.

The start line was chaotic and a little terrifying. I am all for girl power, but there was a LOT of estrogen at the start. The decibel level was like 5 octaves higher than a normal race.

The race course is pretty, but very hilly (I have not had to walk in a marathon like this before or since). It hurt my ankles a lot. And it was really hard (ie impossible) for my family to find me on the course. The tracking system didn't work, there was limited to no public transportation. There were not any photographers on the course that I can remember. It was very stressful for my family.

The necklace is nice, I think I got chocolate. But in general, I have to say that what stuck out to me about this race was the lack of organization and a lot of hype that didn't live up to expectations.

But again - this was 6+ years ago!!!