I ran the "double shot", which starts with a 1 mile run up and down Mt. Brighton--our local little ski hill. Next time, I think I'll do a couple of loops of the parking lot first--running straight up a hill, even little Mt. Brighton is enough to spike your heart rate pretty good! Note: the volunteers will have all of the medals at the end of the second race so there's no need to grab one running through the chute the first time.

Next up, my son Christian and I ran the 5k--his first race! I think it says everything you need to know about this race that we came straight home and signed up for the next race also put on by Epic Races, a Turkey Trot in 2 weeks. :-) We didn't run for time, just to have a good time, and Epic Races makes that easy. Great shirts, great medals, great food, well run... Everything you could want in a race--plus lots of chocolate. :-)

There's a pretty sweet bonus if you do both races for the "double shot"--you get a second shirt (this one is long sleeve) and an extra medal. Even sweeter: the two medals are magnetized to come together a create a new "third" medal. Pretty ingenious!

At the end of the race was what you might call a sundae bar, except for hot cocoa. Marshmallows, whipped cream, syrup, sprinkles, etc., and I understand there were shots for purchase to doctor up adult hot cocoa as well. The post race food was well organized, with one of everything in a little to-go tray which kept the line fast and efficient. (Everything = a small peanut butter wrap, banana, Michigan-made Better Made potato chips, and a mini chocolate Clif bar.) Speaking of food, there was also a mini Clif bar in the goody bag, and Michigan-made Sanders chocolates handed out mid-run at the "chocolate tunnel". Yum!

Thanks, Epic Races, for making it a truly epic race! :-)

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