I signed up for One City last minute after Tokyo was canceled and I am very glad I did! It was my first small (<10,000 people) marathon so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I have been training for a big PR and new this was supposed to be a fast course so hoping for the best.

- Traveling from out of town was easy. We flew into Richmond and rented a car for an easy drive. We didn't get down to Newport News until late Saturday afternoon so had just enough time to get my bib before the expo closed

- We stayed in the hotel of the expo (holiday inn - hampton) and it was great. Despite the rooms not being ready after normal check-in but they were very accomodating and gave us restaurant voucher for our inconvenience. The check-in line for the hotel was also pretty long but the race staff was handing out snacks and water while we waited and one even offered to pick-up my bib for me so I would get it before the expo closed (my husband came to wait so I didn't need them to)

- Long sleeve good quality race shirt came with registration

Race Day
- There are multiple buses leaving from the hotel - ones for half and one for the full. I originally got on the half bus and sat there for a few minutes until I realized. When I was getting on the next bus the driver specifically mentioned it was a bus to the full start - which I wish the other driver had done too. There are different starts for the half and full so be careful
- It was a cold morning. I brought sweats to donate since it's what I'm used to but bag check seemed like it would have been super easy
- There were sections to line up based on pace per mile 6, 7, 8, 9, etc. and it was self-seeded
- Both porta-potties and full service bathrooms were available in the park where the start is. The porta-potties were right next to the start and there were plenty. The full-service were a short walk but close to where the buses dropped you off.
- It was a cold morning so the buses offered to let you stay on until 15 minutes before the start
- They had music at the start 'village' and despite being small it did have a good vibe like the really big races put on (obviously not to the full extent)

- Course was overall pretty easy. I would say generally flat but there were a few slight hills here and there, which I think is better than being a pancake the whole time. There are permanent mile marker road sides, which is cool, but easy to miss if you're not paying atteniton
- I ran with a pace group - it was my first time ever doing this - and I am SO glad I did. The pacers were wonderful. We had 2 - they switched at the half. Both personable and really helped the miles fly. They were also super encouraging and the 2nd one did not let me give up at the end to get my time!
- Water stations were great - every 2 miles with gatorade at every other and gel at certain ones as well
- Spectators along the course were encouraging. They were not lined up along the entire way but there were definitely a lot more and a lot more energetic than I expected!
- My husband was a spectator and easily was able to drive to one point in the race we pre-determined and also get to the end to see me finish
- They had photographers along the course as well and some good pics

Post-Race Party
- Free beer, free food, free massages! The event coordinators really put their all into this race and it shows

Great event. I would highly recommend for a PR and fun small race!

Loved the Berlin Marathon. It was my 5th major - I set a new PR and my first negative split (by 3 minutes!). Getting out in the beginning was a bit more difficult than other races, which may have kept me inline and aided in my negative split. At the 2018 race I was also informed of the new WR during the second half so I think that may have also aided in a speedy 2nd half :)

Course - flat and fast. Cheering from the crowds was great, although not as intense as NYC (my favorite major) but definitely more energetic and lively than Chicago (my least favorite major). I liked that they put your first name on your bib so people in the crowds were actually cheering for you specifically even if you didn't know them. I enjoyed Berlin as a city and thought it was very cool to run through. The finish right after running through the Brandenburg Gate is a great touch and I got some awesome pictures through there and other sites.

Aid Stations - water stations were not as common as NY and Boston (only every couple of miles). Water stations were also only on one side of the course which made it a bit crowded, I'm not sure their reasoning for doing that. I didn't take anything besides water from what was offered but they did hand out bananas and food earlier than I've seen in other races

Expo - I wasn't a huge fan of the expo compared to the other majors (London is the best). I thought parts of it were pretty poorly organized and others were wonderful. I liked the wristband concept and getting your bib was a very smooth and simple process. However, the extras were such long waits - getting race poster (they individually rolled each poster) and picking up pre-ordered gear. You have to purchase a race shirt which may seem annoying but a) the race cost is cheaper than the US majors so overall you're not paying as much and if you don't want one you don't have to spend the money and b) guarantees you get the size you ordered (the 2nd time I did NYC they ran out of W XS by Saturday and I was not happy about it...). The airport hanger where it was held was cool but it was annoying that the expo was so long and you had to walk alllll the way to the end to get your bib

Race Start - make sure you know where you are going beforehand. A lot of people were walking into the wrong entrances and had to turnaround and go in elsewhere since they were not clearly labeled and the security in the front was not informing people if their letters were for the wrong entrance. They also had less bathrooms than other races I am used to so plan accordingly. If you stay close though (I stayed at the Hyatt) and it's walking distance it's a late start so you don't have to head over until 8ish.