Really want to like this race--it's nice to compete along the lakefront on a Thursday evening, and proceeds benefit the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, one of Chicago's oldest charities.

Seems like organizational support for the race ebbs and flows year to year, and you never know what you're going to get. Some years they really play up the French theme all the way through to the postrace party, some years, like this year, seemed like they were late getting organized and were only going through the motions.

The 5k course is a simple out and back up the gravel path through Lincoln Park--lots of fun dodging water holes--then turns under Lake Shore Drive to the Lakefront Trail near Belmont Harbor, runs south with the turnaround just short of the Theater on the Lake near Fullerton. Flat and fast, and because this is Chicago parkland, the trails are open to other runners and cyclists, keeping everyone on their toes. You can see a GoPro video of the entire 5k race here: https://youtu.be/4YPyVqS1lFs The 8k race takes a turn to the north on the Lakefront Trail coming off of the LSD tunnel, presumably goes north until a turnaround, but don't know because course maps were missing from the site and the Facebook page.

There were some Blade Runners competing this year, which is always exciting and inspirational for everyone.

Past couple of years they've had live timing, and you could enter your bib number on a keypad about 50 yards past the finish line and get a printout of your official time and pace, along with unofficial age group and gender places, which is great. But why have a timed race if you're not going to give out age group awards? There were some very nice Eiffel Tower medals in 2014, but this year, nothing. Should have looked at the race information more closely before I registered. Not really complaining too much about this because it's a charity race and sure we know they need to control costs, but even the non-profit boards should understand what motivates semi-serious runners to show up, pay race entries and parking, compete, and tell our friends about it for next time--and that's the opportunity to pull down some hardware. Otherwise we would just make a donation like anyone else. If a race director can't afford awards, ok, then save money by eliminating the timing too, call it a fun run, and maybe that still gets the fundraiser where it needs to be.

The postrace party had enough vendors and sponsors to make it interesting and comfortable for the runners, but really, once you finished your beer or chocolate milk there wasn't much reason to stay.

On balance it's worth another try, because when the organizers have the time, spirit and resources to commit it's a winning night for a good cause.

Link to this review