The 2017 Chicago 10k took place on Sunday, August 13 with an 8am start time in Grant Park (more specifically, Arvey Field which is just Northeast of Columbus and Roosevelt). Temperatures were in the upper 60s/lower 70s with about 77% humidity and mostly sunny. I think this was my fourth year doing this race (and quite possibly the first 10k I ever did? Could that be right? I have the worst memory). The race is managed by Run Mfg. Prices increased $5 starting at $45 and ending at $60, which I think is reasonable.

PROS:
+ Packet pickup on Friday August 11 (4:00pm – 7:00pm) and Saturday, August 12 (12:00pm – 6:00pm) at Road Runner Sports (1435 N Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL 60642). Friends could pick up for you if they had a copy of your photo ID and bib number.
+ Option to pay $10 for race day pickup. I did so because I didn't know my schedule and $10 is worth it to save myself a trip into the city. Pickup was quick and easy; you needed your bib number (they had a binder if you didn't look it up ahead of time) and your ID.
+ During registration, option to upgrade a unisex cotton race shirt to a gender specific tech shirt for only $5. I'm not a fan of cotton shirts (unless it's a guarantee that they'll be the super soft kind), so I paid the extra $5 for a tech one. It's black with neon yellow graphics. I like it.
+ Plenty of garages in the area (not so great is the price tag; but that's Chicago). I paid $19 for Soldier Field for about 4 hours.
+ Race Day Gear Check - they had clear bags for you to use (or you could use your own) and safety pins to put your bib number tag on the bag. Participants placed their bags in the area themselves – there were sticks in the ground with the different bib number ranges for organization. Since I did race day packet pickup, I utilized gear check so I didn't have to go back to the car to drop off my shirt. Afterwards, go in and grab your bag and the volunteers would check your bib number vs the bag number on your way out to verify it was in fact your bag (I liked that).
+ I didn't utilize, but looked like a good amount of portable toilets to use.
+ Pre-race entertainment: DJ/announcer, cups of water and Gatorade, Bai tent handing out bottles of their anti-oxidant water.
+ Pace signs so people could line-up according to their expected pace. Winners were by gun time, so encouraged to line up early if they were going for a win. Signs went up to 14 (I believe 15pace was the requirement, but I saw some slower folks out there and it seemed they were keeping the finish line open a bit longer, which was cool - I like that it encourages everyone, no matter the pace, to get out and be active).
+ I think there were 3 aid stations. First and third had water and Gatorade, second water. Use of paper and plastic cups (not a fan of the plastic – you can't pinch and drink, which leads to me spilling ha). I brought my own hydration, but did take some water to dump on my hat.
+ Volunteers were all great. Seemed like a young crowd which was fun to see, and they were energetic, polite, and encouraging.
+ Course started at Arvey Field, went around the block (north on LSD, west on Balbo, South on Columbus, west just before Roosevelt - all staying on the sidewalk; streets not blocked off), down underneath the overpass, then around the Shedd on the LFP and south just past 31st street, then turn around back to the finish (you did not have to go around the block again; just head up the hill after the overpass to the finish line). For a brief time, the path is split so runners were going south on the west side and north on the east side, and then re-joined again. I felt the course wasn't too congested, though when it did get tight, some folks were going 3 across, which made it hard to pass, but generally, I found the running etiquette to be in pretty good use most of the day. Be aware the LFP is an open path, and so there are other runners and cyclists out on course and be observant and respectful of everyone.
+ Two waves with maybe 2 or 3 minutes between the first and second.
+ Free race photos (and I actually saw a bunch of photographers out there; usually free means there's one photographer at the finish and I don't get any photos).
+ Decent-sized, double sided medal.
+ Post-race goodies included a giant bottle of Bai antioxidant water, cups of Gatorade, Cliff mini bars (trail mix flavor), banana (though these ran out), and some flavored cracker/chip things.
+ I enjoyed seeing people hanging around after the finish – plenty around the finish line to cheer on everyone else. Great day for runner camaraderie.

OTHER:
• Mile markers, no clocks (to me this is neither pro nor con; I have my watch and usually the clocks are ahead since I start in the back and I can't remember the math from what it was when I started to deduct it from each mile).

I love that it's a smaller race, which means congestion isn't much of an issue (which most races it is, especially going around the block to start). I encouraged others out there and they did the same. Nothing comes to mind as a con. I felt it was a well-organized event and will register again for 2018.

Personally, I was excepting to struggle hard since I had 16 miles the day before, but I actually felt good and the nicer weather helped a ton. Glad there was enough aid for the mid- to back-of-the-pack, which sometimes in summer isn't a guarantee. I was happy with my finish time and enjoyed the day.