What?
A jacket instead of a t-shirt?
A steak dinner post race?
Pro's : everything
Con's: Hills.

Signing up:
Sign up is administered through run sign up. Easy is you have an account.

Pre-Race communication:
The Race Director communicates, to a fault. I don't think there was anything which was left out of the pre-race emails. This was both helpful and a bit over the top; but it added personality to the race.

The race:
I stayed at the host hotel with my family. I was really excited for a 10 am start! What was really cool about the 10 AM start for runners was the walking option at 8:45 and the run wall option at 9:45.
I think, if nothing else, the ability to run your pace at a race and not be rushed or left alone on course was fantastic. The scenery was spectacular as you roll through the lakes.
My only critique was the course isn't closed.
I can live with an open course, but I can't deal with drivers barreling down the road.
I saw signs telling motorists about the race, but on the course I felt there could have been more cones or directed running on the side of the road.

Post Race. Really net little finish chute followed by an absolutely fantastic meal catered by outback steak house! WHaaat
an award ceremony and just a really great feel.
Side note: The community really gets involved and the different restaurants offer discounts with your bib!

I think this is going to be my spring race. It was kind of fun! Low key enough not to feel pressured, but really fantastic amenities.

The good: it's pretty flat and fast
The bad: where are the bathrooms?

In full disclosure, I won a social media contest for entry to this race which should make this pretty easy review... it was awesome...
Not

In true 2019 fashion. I skipped the expo. This really bummed me out because I wanted to see Des Linden and Meb. But we will cross paths again.

The Swag:
I really thought the shirt was nice this year. The race medal is the nicest measure produced medal I've received this year. The liberty bell actually rings!

Start corral
Gear check; I feel, was atrocious.
I think the RD was under the impression if you can go to whatever van you want, then linea will move faster. I just felt that was poorly executed. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. I did like that everyone got a wrist band at drop off which made things a bit easier...

The course:
The first 7 miles flying by. You wrap through the city and along the water. If anything it's down hill; but mostly flat. You wrap around the zoo and cut through Fairmont park. The only problem... no restrooms.
There were some at mile 2 or 3 and maybe 6... but then nothing until 15. There were a few stops after 15 along Kelly drive but it was difficult finding a place to relieve nature's urges.
This is a good local race if you are from the area! Kelly drive can get boring. But there were a lot of spectators at Girard!

The crowd
They were there in patches. I am not certain if that's because of the weather but I just ran New York and Chicago so I was a bit bummed that it wasn't wall to wall people. There were a bunch the first mile, then there were some around the water stops.
Mile 20 was amazing because of all the people in Manayunk.

The aid stations were fully staffed! Amazing support there!

Finish festival was amazing too!!!
Massage tents which moved pretty fast! Hot soup! You cant beat that!!
Sausage or hot dogs from Deitz and Watson.

If I work from Finish line back, the race was a much better experience than from the start line forward.

I am really on the fence about recommending the race. I think if I paid for it; I would probably say no; there are better fall races. But...its not a bad race.
Just do it.

The good. Everything
No. Really. Everything.
This is such a Runner's Focused event that you cant really go wrong running it.

The bad.
Maybe this is too much information; but in really needed a rest room. I felt there could have been a more strategically placed one between 7 and 14. There was one at 9 but it was not convenient. There was one at mile 7 but there was a line.
Any way

Registration.
I registered a year or so ago when it first opened sonits hard to remember how easy or difficult it actually was.

Communication
The race director and team were super communicative and supportive leading up to the race. They also did a great job of making sure the important emails were easily distinguishable from the promotional ones.

The expo
I was really very happy with the expo. It was small but more than just a bib pick up.
There were a few vendors for some last minute necessities

The course.
I would say it bordered on epic.
I am a history fan and running through the civil war battle fields were pretty sweet.
The imagery of hanving to tread those hills with wool uniforms and maybe leather boots made you feel the perspective.
If you do the full; the first half is flat.
If you do the half; the whole thing is rolling hills.
Any way you slice it, the course is fantastic.
The flat portion on the canal is very scenic. I feel that weather would play a part in the experience; but it was cool and easy to run.
Crossing the water on the bridge (pictured) was an breath of fresh air early in the race.
The race makes you want to learn more about the history you are running through.

The aid stations were my only gripe. The helpers at mile 9 were not "handing" the water out. I personally like when water is handed to me because I cant process having to pick up the water while in running...maybe that's haughty...The rest of the helpers were pretty on it...until mile 21 ish the poor girl was standing there just looking at me with Gatorade in her hand..I took water from the next person instead.
There were not a lot of crowds, which was almost refershing.
It was nice to run for running sake and only have a few "cheer stations" along the route.
One thing to note:
If you want to spectate this race there are TONs of opportunities to drive along the course and jump in to cheer. It would be welcomed around mile 11 and 13.5

The swag
Oh my goodness
They give you everything and the kitchen sink.
A shirt, a water bottle, a beer glass, as much pizza as I could eat, a really interesting "metal"
It was unique and had an almost custom made feel to it (meaning not mass produced)

The finish festival
Epic
I loved the 50 yard line finish. That was fun
They have 2 finish parties.
Pizza, yoga, stretching and pictures at the finish line.
Beer, massages and food at the Bavarian Inn across the street.

In short.
Do this race.
Even if you run-walk it you are in for a good time!