Before I found this race, I had never heard of a quarter marathon. 10K? Sure. Half marathon? Of course! So registering for this uniquely characterized race was awesome on its own. What made it even better was that a medal is involved. Medals for races under the half marathon distance are a rarity in Connecticut, so that drew me in for the race even more.

The race offered packet pickup at the race location the day before, but unfortunately the location of the race was a little vague. Runners were only given a location of the West Hartford Reservoir for the pickup, and there are more than one locations in the GPS with that name. The location my GPS picked was the wrong one, and sent us on a forty minute chase around town. Once we finally found the location, we were good to go for the next morning.

The race entry included long sleeve tech shirts that were really nice along with the standard RoadID bib. Race morning parking was exceptionally easy, despite some concerns that a shuttle might be needed to cart runners from an offsite parking lot. The walk to the starting area was nice, with easy access to restroom facilities.

Bag check was waiting right at the starting line with bags for runners who might not have brought their own. This was a major plus considering the temperature warmed up quickly before the start of the race, leaving me able to shed a layer without any worry.

The race had a very comfortable registrant pool size, and didn’t try and cram more runners into the area than it could handle. Small corrals were even lined up by pace time, making it easy to fall in. The course was a two-lap course around the West Hartford Reservoir, all on a paved path so traffic was of no concern. It really was the best starting area experience I’ve had possibly ever at a race.

The course was extremely challenging. The first two miles were pretty much all uphill, and just as one uphill ended, another was there waiting for you. What made that a bit worse was knowing that you’d have to do it all over again on your second lap. The third mile of the course broke into a fast downhill, but this was made a bit treacherous due to machinery that was working on the surrounding trees that had left the paved path severely muddy and broken up. With the speed of the downhill and the rough terrain, the potential for a major injury was high.

Aid support was on the course around the 2-mile/5-mile mark, and then at the 5K/10K mark. Port-o-lets were aligned at the 5K/10K mark as well, something that isn’t often seen on a course of this distance. One of the absolute highlights of the race was the post-race snacks. If you named it, chances are it was there. The race organizers even had taken requests from runners before the race to accommodate any special requests for post-race refreshments.

Overall, this was a surprise hit of a race. Everything was so smooth and so well put together. I was most amazed that the race was in its 8th year, and I had only just heard about it. It is definitely a sleeper hit of a race.

If you're looking for a fun half marathon to take on, the Princess Half Marathon does not disappoint. While the race is largely aimed at the female running demographic, the race is open to men as well - you just won't be able to start in the first corral regardless of your proof of time. The race compares well to the Disney World Half Marathon - it's the same course, but with different Disney characters and entertainment throughout the course. There is a ton to see, with lots of music and characters all around. The race underwent a change in the corrals this year, with more corrals and less people in each. This proved extremely helpful in preventing any major congestion and in fact this is the least congested race I've ever run in Disney. Lines for characters were non-existent, so stopping for a quick photo here and there was not detrimental to one's time. Facilities, medical aid stations and water stops were plentiful and always fully stocked. A great race to try at least once, especially if you're a Disney fan.

In what was my third running of the Disney World Marathon, I took on this race as the last part of the Dopey Challenge. This year seemed to top all the past year's races, and that includes the 20th Anniversary running in 2013. A new corral system with smaller numbers in each corral helped break up the extreme congestion that was experienced in previous year's races. The course had some slight changes from previous year's, but the scenery can't be beat. There's no experience like running through the Magic Kingdom or heading around Epcot to the finish line. The crowd support has been unmatched at any event I've ever taken part in. Aid and water stations were all over, and in addition to the port-a-potties that were easily found, park facilities could be used as well. A great race for a first time marathon!

There is no question that running through New England in September, especially along the shore, can be an amazing sight. The Surftown Half Marathon does not disappoint when it comes to beautiful scenery as it takes runners all through the Misquamicut Beach area of Rhode Island. But looking past the scenery, this race has a lot to improve upon. The race starts right on a main road by the water that was not closed to traffic. Runners are corralled on to either side on the sidewalk, cramped in with nowhere to move. Once the race does kick off, the first three miles take runners through some very scenic neighborhoods that fall on some extremely terrible roads that have not been well treated at all. There is a high chance of injury in this section due to uneven roadways, dips, potholes and other obstacles, which is only increased by the high congestion in this tight area.

The course is touted as being fast and flat, which is true for a good portion of it once you get out of this rough terrain area, but is anything but flat when you hit an unexpected steep climb at mile 10. The finisher's medals are awesome for this event once you do make it to the finish, and the after-party does impress.

Make sure you get there early. Parking is a nightmare, and trying to leave will be equally as difficult.