I signed up for this race because the Army Ten Miler was full and I wanted to do a middle-distance fall race.

This was a pretty good race. A little less than 500 people signed up for the 10-miler so runners spread out fairly early and it didn't feel crowded. I felt unencumbered and was able to run freely.

The course was pretty flat overall but it did have some hills, including a decent hill toward the end when I was getting really tired. I was trying to set a PR during this race and was glad I started out fast (even though they say you shouldn't do that) because then, when the hill came at the end, I was able to slow down a bit without compromising my time too much (happily, I did break my PR). I sped up a bit on the flat parts and downhills during this race to make up for the hills.

The finish festival was really fun. You finished at Mount Vernon and could then spend the day there touring around. I wasn't able to do that for very long but wish I'd had time to make a day of it. You also got a free beer. We walked around a bit and enjoyed what we could of Mount Vernon after the race.

The shirt and medal were nice. I appreciated that they had women's sizing so I wasn't drowning in my shirt. Other races I've done have unisex sizes for shirts which generally makes it harder for women to get a shirt that fits well (yet we pay the same as men to register!).

On the downside, this race lacked a lot of special touches that distinguish great races. It's a pretty new race so maybe they will add some of these features as the race becomes more established.

There were no pacers and no corrals, so runners just kind of stood anywhere at the start. This wasn't a huge deal since it was a pretty small race but it was a bit surprising.

There wasn't a timing clock midway through the race.

No spectators were allowed on the course so family and friends couldn't cheer you on until the finish. They also couldn't use an app to track your progress.

They only had water at aid stations. No athletic drinks.

The age categories were set in 10-year increments, not 5-year as I've typically experienced in the past. I'm at the very top of my age bracket and couldn't see how I performed compared to other women runners closer to my age. Posted results didn't show ages so all I know is how I did compared to some women who could have been ten years younger than me.

The scenery was okay (and you run by the water at one point) and it was fun to start and end at Mount Vernon. However, it was one of those races where you just run on a road, one way, and then turn around. Since there weren't signs and spectators on the route the race itself was a little boring, to be honest, but I appreciated that it wasn't crowded. Toward the very end of the race the cones weren't set up clearly at a fork in the road and I almost went the wrong way. One of the volunteers called out to me and I had to turn around a bit to get back on track.

It was a hassle to get out there and made me wish I'd just done a run that was Metro accessible.

Overall, I'd say if you're looking for a fun, low-key 10-miler, you'll enjoy this race. T