This was my second time running Richmond and I was much better prepared for it. The scenery was amazing, the people cheering were great and everything seemed to run very smoothly.
Compared to other events the Expo seemed very small and lacking.
The course is well laid out but deceptive. Around mile 16 or 17 when you turn on Main St it is slightly uphill the entire way and unless your with someone it can take some punch out of you. Luckily one of the local watering holes had Mimosa's handy and were cheering everyone on. The section after the bridge around mile 20 had the biggest crowds when you turn back into the neighborhoods and head toward the finish.
The last half mile to the finish is all downhill and is rather jarring after that distance, but the view of the finish and the river is worth it. The after party was a lot of fun, and standing in line for a massage was worth it.
Finisher swag is a medal, a fleece blanket, and a hat. While I like the medal and the blanket was very handy with the cold weather, they could drop the hat and do something else. Maybe socks or a Buff. Or stainless steel cup.
Overall, this is a great fall race and I'm planning on running it again.

This is my 3rd year running the Moonlight 4 Miler and it was the hottest one for sure. Real Feel temp was around 98 degrees at the start and it felt like it. The race started promptly at 7pm and was well marked. The local officers working the event asked everyone to stay in certain lanes as it was not a closed course and did agreat job directing traffic. The course is a L shaped loop that feels like your going uphill both ways. There were 2 waterstops at mile 1.5 and 3.
After the race everyone was treated to popsicles.

My 3rd year running the Monument Ave 10k and each year I get a little bit faster. After the last several years of 40k plus runners, the directors listened and cut the amount of entries. The race seemed to go smoother this year, so I'm guessing that's a good thing to do.
The scenery is wonderful. The amount of people out cheering, bands almost every half mile playing and well stocked and manned water stops make for a good time. Part of the race is on cobblestone streets so you need to watch your step but it's not that noticeable.
The expo seems to be lacking this year, compared to past ones, but the post race party was much improved.

This was my second marathon my first one on road. The expo was well organized and pick up was very easy. Parking on race day was so-so, I just put my car in a parking garage instead of circling for something else. The start was well done with wave starts and pacers every half hour.
The course is beautiful. From the River, the city skyline, and the old neighborhoods, to the wonderful people cheering you on every where you look, you can tell the city gets into this event.
Post race was a party on the riverside, so that was pretty cool too.