2017 is the second year I have participated in the Annapolis Running Classic - in 2016, I ran the 10K. I live very close to Annapolis and travel through there frequently, so this race is sort of like running in my backyard. Overall, I think this is a good race and one that I would recommend to friends who are looking for a decent, though not huge, race that is pretty challenging in the second half of November.

Running through downtown Annapolis is always nice, and the first 10K of the course loops you from the Naval Academy Stadium down through the historic area and back again. If you're looking for an enjoyable run, I would recommend just doing the 10K. The second half of this course is quite challenging, and the considerable wind experienced in 2017 made it even more so. While the first half has a couple of hills, there is a lot of flat area that you cover, as well. The second half of the race is very hilly - you're almost constantly going up and down, including some hills that are pretty steep (not to mention two runs over the Naval Academy bridge!). Unfortunately, the scenery in this part of the course doesn't balance out with the difficulty - you're mostly running through neighborhoods and back roads.

The expo is almost nonexistent for this race, but the after-race party is great. I don't typically stay for after-race events, but I know you get beer, oysters, and lots of other good food at this one.

One of the best aspects of this race is the parking. Because the race starts at the stadium, runners park in the stadium lot and there is plenty of parking there. This allows you to sit in your car and stay warm virtually up until it's time to line up. It's also fairly easy to get in and out.

You can read the rest of my review of this race here: http://momrunsforfun.com/2017/11/28/annapolis-running-classic-half-marathon-recap/

I originally planned to run the Wineglass full marathon in 2016, but had to defer my entry to 2017 and switch to the half marathon after finding out I was pregnant in summer 2016 :) I had heard many wonderful things about this race in various online running forums that I participate in, and so I'd been excited to participate in the event for a long time. It definitely didn't disappoint!

I typically choose races near the coast, as I'm a water/beach/ocean fanatic, so Wineglass - which is set in the mountains - was definitely a change of pace for me. Although race day weather was unusually cold (39 degrees at the start!) it was still a beautiful course with lots of crowd support. Corning is a quaint, fun little town to explore, and I honestly wish we'd planned a longer weekend so that we could truly explore the area. I traveled to the race with my husband and two kids (6 years and 6 months), and we spent some time at the Corning Museum of Glass and walking around the town Saturday afternoon. The museum is fun, although holding the expo there makes for a very tight, crowded experience trying to get in and out to get your race kit - other reviews that have mentioned how it's difficult to get in and out and how small the expo is are totally accurate.

The thing I loved most about this race, however, was the people. I have literally NEVER run a race with such a friendly bunch of people. Everyone was very kind, talkative, and genuinely interested in the other runners in the race - several people struck up conversations with me while we were waiting in various lines (for the bus, for the portapotties, for the race to start, etc.), and they were all just truly kind people. It really made for a race that had the feel of "we're all in this together", which I've never really felt organically at any other race I've run.

The course itself is not terribly difficult, despite being in the mountains. As someone who lives in a very flat region, I didn't find the Wineglass Half course to be too hilly - there are some rolling hills, but they are do-able, even for a flat-lander like me. Best of all, I set an unexpected PR at this race :)

So, long story short, I would highly recommend this race and hope I have the opportunity to go back and run it again someday. Other reviews of the swag, course, and expo that I've read have all been on point. If you'd like to read a more detailed review of the Wineglass Half, please feel free to visit my recap at https://momrunsforfun.com/2017/10/02/wineglass-half-marathon-race-review-and-recap/ .

I have run at St. Michaels every year since 2015 - it was my first half marathon, I ran the half again in 2016, and then ran the 5K this year as it was only two months after I had my baby. I am somewhat biased because this race is close to where I live, but I genuinely think it's a great race. The course is the definition of fast and flat, so it's great for first time half marathoners, and it's scenic. There is good crowd support, good race management (although, because the town is tiny, parking can be tough), and the whole race just generally has a positive atmosphere and vibe about it. St. Michaels is a very cute, quaint little town, and is a great place to spend the weekend, or just some time after the race at the post- race party.

While the medals for the race have always been really nice, the one thing that I've always found lacking are the race shirts. But,nuthatch is a minor quibble with an otherwise well-run, scenic, and very enjoyable race for runners of all levels.

I ran this race in 2016 with the goal of breaking 2:00:00, and missed the mark by 3 seconds! The course is very flat, with only a few slight hills and small bridges, but it has a lot of turns which makes it difficult to run the tangents. As someone who had never been to this part of New Jersey before, I found the race to be a nice tour of the area, scenic, and generally enjoyable. It's a large race, so you never find yourself along any stretches without lots of other runners around you. The crowd support is great (and it was rainy the year I ran, so I can imagine it's even better on a sunny day), and the expo was probably the best I've ever seen. Everything about packet pickup, parking, wave starts, course management, and post-race activities was well-run and very smooth. Overall, this is a very enjoyable "big" race that is great for runners of all levels.

I ran this race in 2016 with the goal of breaking 2:00:00, and missed the mark by 3 seconds! The course is very flat, with only a few slight hills and small bridges, but it has a lot of turns which makes it difficult to run the tangents. As someone who had never been to this part of New Jersey before, I found the race to be a nice tour of the area, scenic, and generally enjoyable. It's a large race, so you never find yourself along any stretches without lots of other runners around you. The crowd support is great (and it was rainy the year I ran, so I can imagine it's even better on a sunny day), and the expo was probably the best I've ever seen. Everything about packet pickup, parking, wave starts, course management, and post-race activities was well-run and very smooth. Overall, this is a very enjoyable "big" race that is great for runners of all levels.