I'm from the Triangle, and have participated in many races in Chapel Hill. I'd been warned about Laurel Hill. Do NOT underestimate that "hill," which is the nice word for it. Nearly a mile long, it doesn't quit. Neither should you, because the support from the neighborhood along it is fantastic.

Course scenery: it doesn't get prettier than CH in the springtime. Everything's blooming, campus is radiant, and the weather is at least balmy.

Expo quality: easy to get in and out.

Swag: love the t-shirts and medal, great quality. They also had promos along the way for additional swag, like a hat, additional shirts, pint glasses...I'm a sucker for race gear. :)

Aid stations: they were well stocked and in the right locations. I just hate yellow gatorade. Can a girl get some blue to match the Tarheels?

Race management: everything was pretty seamless until the finish. The chute narrowed tremendously, and lots of runners were stopping immediately and squatting to catch their breath. It would have helped to have volunteers move them along. Also, all the sides were blocked in and runners had to exit past all the bananas, bagels, etc. Crowded was an understatement, and in the heat, it was not a great scenario if you were trying to quickly get into the shade and cool off/stretch. I hope next year they'll move all of that to a different location than the finish line and not corral it in for an additional .15-.2 miles (seriously felt that long).

Overall: I am already signed up for next year. It's a challenge that can't be beat. More than a 10K, not quite a half, and nobody is going to call you a wimp after they remember the feat that is Laurel Hill! Thanks for a great race!

Reader's Digest Version: loved the course, the swag, and the aid stations were stocked. Can't wait to run the 25K next year!

Course: GORGEOUS. Salem Lake is really pretty, some hills, and hugs the lake the entire way around. On a rainy day, it's probably muddy, but the paths were clear and dry. There was a weird out and back to make mileage towards the end, but then you went up a steep incline, across an overlook of the lake, and banked into a hard downhill at the finish. For just about every uphill, you are rewarded with equally pleasant flat stretches and downhills.

T-shirts/Swag: handstamped clay medals for each finisher. Gender specific tech shirts, and they are so comfy (it's a new favorite). For the registration, you can't beat it.

Aid stations: I can't speak for those doing the longer distances, but there was ample water and gatorade when I visited the station (at about mile 3.5). At the finish area, there was ample sustenance (PB&J, hot broth, Gatorade, jelly beans, bagels & cream cheese, etc.).

Parking/access: if you arrive SUPER early (at least an hour ahead of time), there's parking right at the start by the lake. If not, you're about half a mile down the road. It's not terrible, but since it's an ultra and a lot of folks are bringing gear, changes of clothes, or fuel, it means a lot of back and forth or carrying your things a ways.

Relay option: The relay was great, and lots of fun to watch. The chip bracelets though were a bit of a pain. They were slap bracelets, and our group had a timing issue with our first leg, then another runner lost it because they didn't clasp well.

Reader's Digest Version: the course makes for a quiet long run through the woods...not crazy about the parking situation or the race shirts.

First, this race sells out like hot cakes. Get it while you can.

Course: it starts in a park on paved streets (first two miles) before turning onto the American Tobacco Trail (unpaved bridle). This paved part is downhill, which makes it uphill on your way back to the finish. It's not steep, but it's just long and continuing, and makes for a finish where you'll need something in the tank. The path is wide, and that's where the half splits from the full and the crowd thins some. It's an out and back on the trail, with ample aid stations. But the route itself is better for a quiet long run than a race mentality for me. I found I got a bit bored for a bit around miles 3-4 and from miles 9-11. It's pretty, but it's pretty much all the same, too.

T-shirts/Swag: I'm not a tall girl. I got a small women's shirt, and it is nearly too short for me; it barely meets the top of my shorts. I don't like wearing it because the cut is boxy and short - a bad combo. I do love the big, train-themed medal.

Parking/access: get the parking pass. It is worth every bit of the $10. Otherwise, you're crunched on race morning catching a bus or scrambling for somewhere close-ish to park. Buy the pass, but like the registrations, they sell out crazy early.