Saturday August 22, 2015. Sunny, 70's, little humid. 7 am. Madison, WI

This is the third year running this race, despite my love for the Hawkeyes, I keep going back. Madtown is fun when there are no B1G contests in town.

There is a 5k that starts at the same time, then finishes at the same place.

Registration: This was available online and started at $65, increased to $95 before it closed a few days prior to the race. Participants could then register at the expo for $110. Included in registration was a short sleeve, unisex tech shirt; bib with your name; timing chip; post race beer & finishers medal.

Expo / Packet pick up: This took place the day before the race at the Union South, from 11 am to 8 pm. There was parking in a nearby ramp, but it gets crowded. The expo wasn't too big, but had your average variety of vendors - running stores, races, running supplies, race merchandise, freebies. Packet pick up was simple, show an ID, get your bib, shirt and bag. Someone else could grab your things by showing a copy (paper or digital)

Pre-race: There are many parking ramps in the area, but arriving early is key, as the line to get in backs up. There are many port-o-potties around the start. Due to construction, the starting corrals were separated from gear check with construction apparatus, however the area was easy to navigate. There were many maps available prior to the race and at information tents. Gear check was inside the Union (at the Terrace, where the race finishes.) There were about 6 starting corrals, already pre-assigned on your bib, labeled alphabetically. There were announcements on a loud speaker as well as music. With about 15 minutes to go, the National Anthem was sung live. When we made it to the corral, there was an announcement that they were closing the corrals.

Race/Course: The race runs through Madison, highlighting some of the attractions on paved surfaces. We saw the capital, ran through a farmer's market, down State St, around Camp Randall, near the Kohl Center, through the Arboretum, by the Zoo, near a golf course, through campus and ending at Lake Mendota.

-paved, a few areas to watch, but no major potholes or road hazards
-each mile marked with a number poster, clock and flag warning system
-Lot of hydration stops with Lemon-Lime Gatorade and Water. Paper cups. Each station was different in whether it was Gatorade or Water first, some stations didn't have the Gatorade in the Gatorade cup. One station was behind on filling their water cups. The stops became more frequent towards the end.
-Spectators
-no food stops on course
-photographers, but mostly towards the last few miles
-hilly, nothing too steep
-Volunteers galore, police watching major intersections
-Misting spots along the course
-Some roads open to traffic or bikes
-port-o-potties along the course
-timing mat splits at 5k, 10k and 10 mile
-Medics along the course

Post Race/Finish: The Finish line had an arch, timing mat and clock. A volunteer hung a medal with a beer opener, around your neck. A bottle of water was handed to you. Then the crowded finishers chute was full of food options - banana, granola bar, bag of popcorn, whole chocolate milk- lots of things to hold. There were banners set up to take finishers photos.

After a small walk, you arrived at the "14th mile finisher's party." The post race area was on the Lake in front of the Union on the Terrace. Lots of seating and live music. This is were you could redeem your beer ticket for a Wisconsin Brewing Inagural Red. Non drinkers could get a soda or Gatorade. There were brats and pitchers available for sale. You could also check your results with the QR code on your bib. There was a merchandise tent set up, which is were you could get more finisher's information.

Overall: I will be back! Yes the entry fee does get steep, but despite construction woes the race goes off without problem, great organization, easy packet pickup, and excellent post race. Madison has also won over this Hawkeye fan. You should run this race once.

Check out my photos, and personal tidbits on my blog http://wp.me/p3CgRX-16R

Friday August 14, 2015. 7pm, Durant, Iowa. 85 degrees, humid, sunny.

A kids fun run, one mile run and 5k held with the community's firefighter's celebration to fundraise for the Durant Cross Country team.

Registration: You could sign up online, print a form and send it in, or register on race day. Price increased until it reached $30 on the day of the race. Included with your registration was a unisex, short sleeve, cotton t-shirt, and a bib. If you registered early you also picked up a bag of flyers and things.

Pre-Race: There is no expo for a race this size, about 100-150 participants. Usually runners mill about talking to their friends, or do some warming up. The start / finish are near the town's rec fields and park. There were real park bathrooms near by. Parking was plentiful, just pull along the curb on a side street.

The National Anthem was performed. However the guy starting the 5k kept screeching 4 mins until start, 3 mins until start...while the singer was performing about a block away, racers were scrambling to the start. Not cool

Race / Course: The course was through residential areas of Durant. Kept on the north side of town, so wouldn't have to cross the main Highway (Hwy 6) through town.

asphalt, cement - keep an eye out for uneven surfaces. HOT surface.
2 water stops with paper cups, but very full cups
a few spectators, residents in their driveways, some holding a hose or a sprinkler
Course marked with spray paint on pavement, arrows and mile markers
no photographers
flat, no hills
volunteers at all intersections
roads were open to traffic - some drivers didn't seem to care there was a race in progress

Finish / post race: The finish was marked with a timing mat and clock. Then someone clipped the chip from your shoe. There were bananas, cookies, popsicles and bottled water. Volunteers encouraged taking more than one.

Once all participants were finished, there were awards for the overall winners in the mile and then overall winners in the 5k as well as age group winners. Members of the XC team presented these.

Overall: This is not a bucket list race, but I enjoy a small town 5k.

For pictures and my personal experience, check out https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/08/18/durant-dusk-hustle-5k-review-2015/

Saturday August 22, 2015. 5pm. Sunny, 80 degrees

This is the third year for this race. There are 2 options a 5k and a 7 miler. The race is a point to point, finishing at the Backpocket Brewery.

Registration: On the first day of registration there was a special online deal, the first registrants got $1 entry, the next group $5 entry and then there was $10 entry. When all those slots were filled, registration started at $25, then increased to $50 up to the day before the race. There was no race day registration. Included with registration was a pint glass – gender specific, short sleeve cotton tee – post race beer – bib and timing chip.

I was fortunate enough to register for $1. I figured for that price, if something came up, I wouldn’t be out. I also have ran this race the past 2 years, and was on the fence about running it again. The first 2 years of the race the shirt was a Nike tech fit, this year the shirt ran super small and fit strange.

Expo/Packet Pickup: There was no expo, but there were 3 packet pick up times. The first was held at the running store, and the others at the nearby hotel. Everyone had to sign a paper wavier to get their things. Someone could pick up your packet with a signed permission slip. Parking is a problem downtown Iowa City for the running store pick up, and there is a pay ramp at the hotel. There were a few flyers in the bag with some coupons and reminders of upcoming races.

Pick up is not a pain if you are getting your own packet, however picking up for someone else is a headache. I run A LOT of races, of all sizes, lots with beer at the finish, most of them I register online. Through that process there is always the wavier you agree to, so you just pick up your packet. However it was strange, you had to sign a wavier in person and if you were grabbing another’s they had to send you with a printed out permission slip to get it. I am not sure why all the waivers. I have been asked for ID at pickup to ensure it’s actually you, which makes sense.

Pre-race: Parking was available at a free, nearby parking ramp, 2 blocks away. This being a point to point race, participants for both distances were encouraged to arrive by 3:50 to take a shuttle bus to the start. Buses started loading, but had to ask to make sure you were on the right one to get to your race. The last bust was scheduled to leave at 4:10. The ride was about 15 minutes long. There were only 5 buses. I think one bus brought the stragglers.

Once to the starting area, at the Coralville Dam. There were 3 port-a potties, and volunteers filling cups with water. Announcements were shouted through a bull horn. There is no shade. The race starts on a road, the only road crossing the dam and it is open to traffic, making it congested.

There were flags marking the starting line, and once it was time to start, the timing mat was thrown across the street and the race began.

Point to point races can be a pain, the shuttle bus system works, but it was a little confusion as to which bus we should board. I also felt the buses left for the start super early. We stood around near the start for about 20 minutes in the sun. I was also meeting my sister at this race, she had waited around to board the bus at the Brewery. Once at the Brewery, she was scolded for being in their patio and not ordering food. There was no other area to wait for the buses.

Race / Course: The 7 miler starts at the Dam and ends at the Brewery.

-All paved surfaces. asphalt & cement. No major pot holes. Started on road way, then back and forth between sidewalks, paths and roads.
-Hilly
-Many water only stops with paper cups
-Volunteers at all turns and intersections. The County Sheriff was at the major road crossings
-No mile markers
-Not many spectators
-Roads open to traffic
-No photographers
-No food on course
-One port-a-potty on course, but this is were the 5k started.
-Not a lot of shade

Since I have run this course and I run these parts of town, I was familiar with the rolling hills. I also carried a hand held water bottle as in previous years the water stops were out when I passed, and I am a middle of the pack runner.

Finish/Post Race: The finish was marked with flags and a timing mat. Once across there were bottles of water and Gatorade. A sponsor was handing out metal water bottles. You could then double back on the side to get a print out of your results, then proceed to the beer patio to claim a glass bottle of the New Bo Ale. Once everyone had finished awards were announced. Then after that there was a stein holding contest.

The finish of this is where I toy with the idea that I will never run this again – every year. This year there was absolutely no food at the finish. Each year this has declined. The first year there was cookies, bagels, oranges, bananas and each person got 3 Scratch cupcakes. Then last year was super strange, when I finished the only thing left was a half of a banana. Ok, so you do get a free beer…but hey an apple or cookie is nice. I guess they are really encouraging purchasing the brewery’s food, which is limited to pizza and the like, however it does the opposite and I don’t want to buy anything there and spend my money else where.

Yes, I know I only paid $1, but that was a promotion. There are people who paid $50 for an ill fitting shirt and a free beer. I am not sure if the RD has gotten lazy, or the sponsors just wont cooperate. I like to run races I can sleep in my own bed to attend, but if I am not happy with it, I am not going to continue to participate. I will travel and have fun at races that appreciate me attending.

Overall: I am happy I got in for only $1. As I say every year, not sure I would run this again for a free beer. There are many other races that offer the same, and I enjoy more.

For more photos check out my blog at https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/dam-backpocket-7-miler-2015/

Saturday, August 8, 2015. Cloudy, 70 degrees, HUMID!!!! 8:00 am

Registration: There was online registration available, or you could print out a form and submit payment through mail. Price increased up to race day of $30. Which did not guarantee a short sleeve, cotton, unisex, t-shirt. There was no chip timing, just a bib.

Pre-race: There was no expo and packet pick up was the same day as the race. There were port-o-potties stationed around town as part of the weekend festivities. Parking was first come, first serve, wherever you could find it, as many roads were closed also for the weekend festivities including the parade.Once runners were at the start line there were some encouraging words and we started. No National Anthem.

Course: The course is run on the city streets of West Branch.

-HILLS!
-pavement, some spots had to watch out for cracks or holes
-one water stop, however the volunteers were sitting in the grass next to the table. Water was in plastic -cups and the table was off the road, up on a curb.
-Lots of volunteers at every intersection
-Some roads were open to traffic
-one section runners were directed the wrong way, made for an interesting criss crossing of people at --one point, but it didn't alter the distance.
-no photographers
-a few spectators, mostly townspeople sitting in their driveways
-no mile markers, but there were strange number signs along the course
-course marked with spray painted arrows on pavement and yard signs

Finish: this was marked with some volunteers and track hurdles. There was a line painted on the street. The clock also displayed the overall time. a Volunteer took the tag off the bottom of the bib for placement.

Post Race: Tables set up with bananas, bagels and donuts. Coolers with bottled water and Gatorade.

For my personal thoughts, check out my blog https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/08/08/its-fergalicious-race-review/

Saturday July 11, 2015. Humid 67 degrees, cloudy, RAIN. 8 am. 10k, North Liberty, IA

10k, 5k, 1 mile - North Liberty Community Pantry Thanksgiving in July Turkey Trot
Registration - This was available online through get me registered, or you could print a form and mail in a check. Price increased as race day approached, where could also register for $35, shirt was not guaranteed. All distances paid the same price. Included in registration unisex short sleeved tech tee, chip timing, bib & post race raffle chance.

Packet Pick up: There was no expo. Packets could be picked up the night before the race at the Pantry, or on race day up until 7:45 am. There were some flyers, chapstick and a pen in the bag of things.

Pre-race: The event was held on a 40 acre park, all grass. Parking was on the grass (it was raining.) There were port-o-potties, but they were a short walk to get to. There were a few race announcements, thanks to the runners, directions on the course (where the 5k/10k split was.) No National Anthem.

Race / Course: Run through the city of North Liberty
-course was on sidewalk, narrow in spots, low hanging trees
-one water stop, dixie cups (would pass twice on the 10k)
-the 10k was 2 loops
-many volunteers and officers at major intersections
-no spectators
-no photographers
-no mile markers, no arrows on the course
-Flat, no hills

Finish/Post Race: The timing mats signified the finish of the course. There were no post race announcements, overall winners were just found and handed their trophies. Runners could check in to see if they won a raffle prize. There were bananas, coffee, bottled water and a buffet of baked goods.

Overall: The price is right for a 10k, and the money goes to a great cause. However the race is a little unorganized and running on sidewalks in a race is too crowded.

Results: 15th overall, 9th female, in a time of 51:02

Check out my blog, was there a post race donut? https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/thanksgiving-in-july-turkey-trot-review/