The pros: volunteers handing out water were so cheerful and supportive considering they were hanging out in the freezing temps while we at least built up body heat.

I will also say that I was pleased they offered shuttles from Diversey. Part of the reason why I registered for this race was that it started and ended in my neighborhood so I was bummed when they moved that, but the shuttles redeemed.

The cons:
It was 20 degrees and there was an ice storm the night before which covered the path and made it incredibly unsafe to be running on. I don't know what the elites do but I found it very difficult to build up speed without slipping and when I ran on the grass it would turn into mud. There was one area under a bridge that was a downhill and was just complete ice.

Somehow this race path also found all of he inclines in Lincoln Park and we had to cross a couple of parking lots which meant you occasionally had to wait for cars and cry a little as this took away prescious seconds from your PR.

The last three-ish miles or the course was completely miserable and directly into the wind. Many times I debated dropping out and just going home.

When you finally got to the finish line, which felt like miles away, you saw family and friends and entered a big open area filled with basically nothing. I realize it was cold but I grabbed a chocolate milk (skipped the beer and pizza) and headed to the water and other snacks which turned out to be entirely green bananas, Quaker oatmeal bars and some sort of cookie. I passed on all of these and just headed home.

Oh and the pull over... It's cute but sizing is very off. I ordered a women's small and it's gigantic!

Obviously I don't blame the race for he unexpectedly terrible weather but it really took away from the race experience.