Allison Scaia's Staging Area

For anyone in the DC area, this is a fun one! It’s charming running through Old Town for a few miles coupled by an out and back on the GW Parkway. I loved running on the Parkway amongst the trees even as an out and back – which I normally don’t love. There are a bunch of turns in the beginning and then a few hills on course, but overall a great run! … Only complaint is compared with bigger races, the aid stations were quick (ie short) to grab water.

Packet pickup was very easy. Old Town is a lovely area to go to dinner the night before or grab brunch after!

The course was a fantastic tree lined course that was small town / neighborhood at first and then was along tree lined road near the river – you see the river in the back half of the race.

The race is rolling hills – a couple steeper ones and then a lot of downhill time. There is a hill at the end that was a little unwelcome. One other tip – note the slope of the road as it is banked with curves.

The race transportation was easy to the start – lots of portapotties and easy bag drop. There was water at the start.

A no frills race shirt — lots of cute other shirts to buy at expo though they didn’t have smaller sizes. There were also lots of gels for sale if you need anything!

Overall, highly recommend! Great community feel and a very scenic course with trees (apt for Ann ARBOR). If you’re traveling, don’t sleep on the food scene in Ann Arbor either.

Expo (mid-town) was very smooth to pick-up race bib and shirt

For the start, I followed the instructions from NYRR to be at the start by 6:40 AM for Wave 2. I was not checking a bag, so this ended up being really, really early, as the corrals didn’t open until 7:30 AM as fortunately, security was very quick to get into the start area. The subway station listed for those not doing bag check looked like a further walk from the start, so I did the subway stop indicating bag check, which was very close to the starting area.

It was very slow getting into the corrals – while I was supposed to start at 7:50 AM, at 7:45 AM, I was still waiting to get close to the corrals. Then, it was a mad dash for folks running to their appropriate corral, and it seemed like a fairly slow and congested start the first mile or so. There were port-a-potties in the corrals for reference.

The weather was very foggy in 2025, so it was hard to see much on the course (imagine weather is all over the place given timing in mid-March). On a clear day, I think it would have been a great sightseeing tour of NYC. The crowds were great once you got onto 42nd street (last few miles), but expect empty stretch on the FDR. I loved that there was a Maurten gel stop around mile 8. I thought the water stops were slow as there weren’t a ton of people handing out water, and you were mostly grabbing it yourself.

There were some hills throughout the course, but I didn’t feel like any were crazy.

Recommend to at least do the race once!

The first ~6 miles you’re moving and grooving, then there’s a major hill in the 8th mile and from there some smaller rolling hills. The scenery at the beginning has some of the most classic DC views, and in 2024, you finished with a nice view of the Capitol. Lots of port a potties at beginning and along course, ample water stops, and nice t-shirt aesthetic. The shirt was the only automatic swag besides a bio freeze packet. Packet pickup was convenient and quick moving, even on Friday evening. Metro access was easy for both packet pickup (convention center) and the race start and finish! Recommend race but plan time accordingly given the hill and how much you may slow around hill.

Pros:
– Well organized expo at dodger stadium (with free parking)
– Great transportation from century city to start at dodger stadium – no wait for a bus and tons of buses waiting
– second half of course had more people cheering than first half
– lots of aid stations

Cons:
– course after about mile 17-18 is dull with no landmarks / scenery, especially with going under overpass and to turnaround at 21/22. You’re running against people finishing starting at mile 18ish until you turnaround.
– there’s some sneaky hills! There’s some nice downhills but prepare for mile 20 hill and one at finish

If course goes back to finishing in Santa Monica, this is a no brainer and amazing race, including for out of towners. With current course, it’s fine overall but not a top race to travel to run

Race registration was easy and great communication leading up to the race via email, social media, etc. Race kept website and social media up to date on wildfire status to indicate not expected to impact race

Expo was well organized and good location near Marriott Monterey – race hotel partner.

Race day – very well organized. Gear check was located next to the corrals such that it would have been very easy and I wish I’d done it! Pick up was a few steps from the finish line!

Elite women started 10 mins before the rest of the corrals and elite men. I could have arrived much closer to start of the race as I got there about 30+ mins before the start!

Course had mile markers every mile that were comical. A few rolling hills for someone from the flat Midwest but nothing crazy.

Course was very scenic along the water. Only downside is that I saw the first elite female at mile 5 and from probably 6.5 til turnaround a little before 8, had a steady stream of folks from faster corrals. Just the mental challenge of an out and back.