The course was out and back on several segments of the Busse Wood path which is overall very flat. After the first two miles and the Elk Grove Community Bridge which includes a nice incline over the highway, you enter the woods that are intermixed with water and grassy areas which were gorgeous and serene with only a faint buzz of the highways. The aid stations were so-so and I’m not sure if they were all Gatorade and water or not. I started having a tough time around mile 10 but had caught up to a pace group that was really great and helped me through the last few miles. The finish was brutal along the frontage road and around the office park to the finish. At the finish line there was a band, not much post-race festivities beyond that.

This race reminded me of a cross country race, but it might also be because Dick Pond is synonymous with high school cross country to me. I found it strange that the only email I received from the race management was following my online registration. I had to double check to make sure that I actually registered. The race start/finish is organized around an office park with race day packet pick-up start/finish in one area and parking on the far side of the parking garage making it a little hard to locate where to go. Packet pick up was easy, but had a quirky organization by bib number, which you didn’t know without looking at another list in another area, which was essentially by last name. Full and half start at the same time and didn’t split off for a few miles. You would have to be a mentally very strong runner to do this course as a marathon since it loops twice and spectators/distractions are sparse.

What I liked:
Out and back course on forest preserve path (not so much the frontage road)
Awesome pace group that I picked up on the last 3-4miles (thanks 1:55!) that herded us through the last few miles that included a nice incline to go over the highway and the desolate frontage road.
Calm, natural scenery short distance from Chicago

What I disliked:
Running along the Frontage Road

What I felt Mixed about:
Start area with limited signage
Lack of pre-race communication

Price:
Less than $60 after online processing fees. You can save on the fees by sending a registering by mail with a check. . . did i mention this race had an old school vibe? I did take advantage of early bird pricing.
Swag: Large finisher medal, long sleeve technical fabric hoodie