FIRST: This is the one and ONLY FREE Boston qualifier...let that soak in for a minute. It is free. In lieu of an entry fee, the race director (AKA the most amazing human being on the planet, Gary Allen) asks that you spend what you would have spent on race fees etc. in town. Tip 100% at local eateries. Attend the artisan fair and do some christmas shopping (I'm done now!) Stay at local hotels. Meet the locals--they are pretty awesome people. SECOND: There is no swag, BUT the whole point of this race is to support a struggling community. So your swag is buying local products so families in this struggling Northern Maine former mill town can buy their kids swag for Christmas. Or pay for oil. Or pay mortgage. That's a pretty awesome feeling. THIRD: There is no "expo" per se, but there is an artisan fair and a variety show. The artisan fair is where you buy your swag to support local families/businesses. Then you wander over (on the other side of the high school gym), get your pasta dinner (donation only--donate a LOT) and watch the local kiddos perform the most amazing variety show you have ever seen. It's super cute and awesome. Support these people. They are the heart and soul of the community. FOURTH: The aid stations are manned by locals, organized by locals. They are beyond thrilled to THANK YOU for running in their town. They are not every mile and likely never will be. But they are the best aid stations ever! FIFTH: The scenery is like nothing you have ever seen or will see anywhere. This makes the insane crazy hilly course in frigid weather SO WORTH IT. It's uphill both ways and it is a BRUTAL course but SO SO SO worth everything you put into it. Ultimately, I have run Marine Corps (I'm married to a Marine, so I get it to some extent), I've run Country Music Marathon, I've run the Army 10 Miler in DC. Not one of these races can hold a candle to the energy at this race. It's hard, it's cold, there's no swag (but the cookie lady is at mile 12.5 on each loop, and I'm told there are fireball shots...somewhere), it's uphill both ways, it's in Northern Maine--in DECEMBER, but DO THIS RACE. Do it for a struggling small town. Do it for the views. Do it to meet the amazing woman who spent 11 HOURS on this course and was run into the finished to be welcomed "home" by a pile of 50+ locals /runners who watched her like a hawk all day long to make sure she was OK. Don't do it for the swag. But do it. You will NOT regret it!!