I have run other races by Startline Racing, and have always been happy. They offer a quality tech shirt and unique medals for their race series. Everything went very smoothly for this race. There is no expo, but I was able to show up less than 30 minutes before race and collect my bib, shirt, and medal. Yes, you get your medal BEFORE you actually race! It's actually a placard that hangs from a medallion on a ribbon. Each race in the series has it's own placard. Very cool.

This race is run on the paved trails around Rose Mofford Sports Complex. It goes along a canal, which for the most part is a dry canal. It is not the most exciting scenery to look at; I'll be honest. Approximately every 1/2 mile or so, the trail dips down in an underpass under the road and then back up. By the 10th time you have to run up one of these, it starts to feel like a lot of effort. You are constantly going down and up.

It was hot and sunny for this race (about 65 degrees and full direct sun), so although there were water stops approximately every 2 miles or so, it did not feel like enough. I don't think I saw any aid stations.

They do have an app that they offer - and you can check your results immediately on the app or on the screen near the finish. They provide age group awards 3 deep, and those are also placards that hang.

This race is small - there were 100 participants in the half marathon. It was well organized and started promptly on time.

This would be a great non-intimidating race for a first timer, or someone using this as a training run for something else.

The Shamrock Run is a small 4 mile race that takes place around St. Patrick's Day in Scottsdale, AZ. It is located in Old Town, which is an area of Scottsdale that is filled with many trendy bars and restaurants. The race is late afternoon/early evening (5:30 PM), so it ties in perfectly to going out afterwards.

There is no expo for the race, and there were only 100-200 people that ran it. It was very easy to just head over to pick up your packet right before the race started. There is no finishers medal, but you do get a decent tech shirt. The entire race takes place on the canal system, which is mostly dirt. Parts of it were scenic.

They did give out age group award medals 3 deep (10 year age groups instead of 5), which was a nice touch.

This is a fun race to do if you like to dress up for St Patricks Day and then head out on the town afterwards. It was a little strange this year, since it fell after St. Patricks Day. Still cheap and worthwhile if you're looking to get a few miles in.

I’ve never been to Hilton Head. I chose this race because my good friend and running partner moved to the area last year. So 3 of us girls decided to run this race together.

It was a Saturday race, and we arrived on Friday in town in the late afternoon. We headed over to packet pickup at the Westin. It was very small, only a handful of vendors were there. There was a half, full and a 5k for this event, with a cap of 2,500 participants. Our goodie bag wasn’t much, a neon green shirt and a mini flashlight/caribeener.

The race started at Jarvis Creek Park. It was an out and back loop for the half. South Carolina is way more wooded than I expected. The course did not provide any beach views, it was mostly flat with some forested trails, and we crossed a few creeks. We wound around through the park and came out on the shoulder of a highway. We ran over a steep bridge (2 times), into more wood and trails, then looped around and came back.

There were plenty of water stations, but no clocks along the course. Lots of volunteers directing the course along the way, which was helpful with all the twists and turns. At the finish, we were given a nice medal, and there was a small beer tent and a band playing. We got pizza and fruit as our post-race treats.

I love destination races. It was a great excuse to come out and see that part of the country. We had a whole other day to just sightsee and relax. The whole experience was easy - it had a small, local, friendly feel.

This was a very well organized event. I joined a team of 12 strangers to do this adventure. We started out in Wickenburg, AZ with 2 vans and ran 203 miles all the way to Mesa, AZ. The scenery was pretty but the days were very hot in the sun and the course is very hilly. Some of the nighttime race legs were on pitch dark trails that were a bit treacherous. Expect to get little to no sleep - but that's part of the adventure, right? The course is well marked, and as long as you have the required gear and supportive friends, you'll have a great time! The medal is nice and you also get a nice t-shirt, and some lots of energy drinks and clif bars at each major exchange. I would definitely do it again!

The Lost Dutchman races (8k, 10k, Half and Full) are a top-notch experience. I chose to run the 8k trail run this year for some variety, and I loved it.

The race takes place out in Apache Junction, AZ - about 30 miles outside of Phoenix. I appreciated them offering packet pickup at Road Runner Sports in Tempe for those of us who don't live that far out. Pickup was a breeze. The expo itself is out near Apache Junction and is incredibly small. Even if you wait until day of to pick up at the race, though, it is still a pretty smooth experience.

The race is well organized. Parking was very easy. We parked at the Rodeo Fairgrounds and took a 5 minute shuttle bus ride to Prospector Park where all the races except the full start. There are literally hundreds of volunteers for this race, which makes for a great experience for everyone. It is a very family-friendly setting with the park and picnic tables.

We started at 7:45AM and headed out towards the trail. For the most part, it was soft sand and relatively flat. There were plenty of dips and washes along the way, where you needed to slow down a bit and be careful! The trail was very crowded up until the turn around point. There were approximately 600 people running the 8k. We were treated to great views of the Superstitions around us. It was a pretty simple out and back course.

For running the 8k you get a finishers medal and a long sleeve shirt. Results were available on monitors right away. In terms of post-race food, there were breakfast burritos, bagels, fruit, yogurt and chips.

This was a fun race and I'll definitely be back again next year!