This was my first 10K, and it was really a great event. I tend to really enjoy Fleet Feet Chicago races, and this was no exception. Packet pickup was at the store and was a breeze. Getting to the race was a snap for me (Divvy!), but one of my friends drove and parked at Soldier Field and parking was super easy.

PROS
Swag - they didn't have my shirt size (S - not sure if this is just because I signed up late), so I gave away my shirt, but it looked nice and had cool Big Ten Network branding. Best swag - Big Ten team trucker hats! This was a very unique and super cool piece of swag that I loved. Plus, the finisher area looked super cool afterward because EVERYONE was wearing a white-faced trucker hat with their team name and colors. Loved this.

Post race - Um, no other race even comes close on the post race party. Huge area with a free beer and free chicken sausage, games like bags, 40-yard dash, slip 'n slide, huge stage with all the Big Ten team mascots dancing around, and great music. Big Ten 10K post race pretty much blows everything else away.

Cost - Last minute sign up was $48, and for what you get, this is a great value. Some people might think it's pricey for a 10K, but you definitely get what you pay for here. Marquee event for a totally reasonable price tag.

Aid stations - well manned, paper cups, gatorade then water, often. Check, check, check.

CONS (minor)
Course - If I had to pick a con, it'd be the course, but even that was totally fine. It's a pretty straightforward out and back. There were some extreme turns at the end - a U-turn toward the finish line, then another u-turn back down the finishing shoot - which weren't ideal. And one thing I didn't like and heard every single runner that I talked to mention was, inside the finisher's area was a 40-yard dash game. Very cool idea, but the sign for the 40-yard dash looked just like the race finish line. So you think you're done with the race but you actually have about 1K to go. I pushed hard to the "mirage" finish only to realize I had a ways to go and was pretty much out of gas :). So not a big deal, but that was one thing I didn't love and I heard lots of people mention. But like me, the people who did mention it didn't really care THAT much.

HIGHLY recommend this race. Solid value, unique experience in a time when unique races are hard to come by, fantastic atmosphere and outstanding management. Fleet Feet just puts on good races, simple as that.