I ran this race for the first time in 2014, and again in 2015. Both years were a similar experience, except that it was colder in 2014 and there were volunteers at the water stations throwing rock salt and gravel on the ground (to prevent ice formation--not a problem we have at races in the San Francisco Bay Area!).

Registration is very easy. You can register online, and if you are local you can take advantage of early packet pickup. You can also register in person at Cobo the day before the race, which I've done both years. At registration you get your bib, shirt, and pins, and the information table has parking information.

Parking is similarly easy. The only slightly tricky part is that you don't want to park somewhere that you'll be stuck after the race while the parade goes by (unless that's your plan, in which case, go for it). The Cobo roof has plenty of parking for $10, and there are multiple nearby surface lots.

Corrals are self-seeded, with no proof of time requirement. The events have a generous time limit, and people generally seed appropriately. There were no massive bottlenecks or runDisney-like walker blockages. Being in a later corral also gives you the advantage of a few extra minutes to get to the race if you're running late, and you might find yourself running late if you try to pee at Cobo prior to the race. This year there was a bit of a bottleneck in the finisher chute, but that was due to a medical emergency that temporarily shut down part of the chute.

Speaking of the chute, logistics for this race are amazing. Start corrals are easy-in, with no need to hop a fence or squeeze between a barrier. Every turn has volunteers and markers to tell you where to go. Water stations are fully-stocked and swept/raked free of cups during the race. The cookie and peppermint aid station has multiple volunteers with each, so you don't have to wait in a line. The finisher chute forces runners to walk past the closest entrance to Cobo, avoiding a major traffic nightmare. The runner food area has four lines and is optimized to get runners through quickly. Also, it has real Detroit Bagel Company bagels, and not round bread masquerading as a bagel.

Runners for every distance--10k turkey trot, 5k stuffin' strut, 15k drumstick double, mashed potato mile--get a long-sleeved tech shirt. Both years I've run, the shirts had contrast fabric on the sides (which I find slimming, optically). All runners also receive a finisher medal (assuming you finish, this isn't runDisney), with a different color of ribbon for each distance. Ribbons also have the race name and distance on them.

The expo is pretty tiny. It's really just a few other Michigan races and some running supply stores, with a few Christmas tree ornaments and similar novelties. Last year I picked up some cover-up pants (which I needed for the cold!). This is not a shopping mall-a-palooza like most races, but I didn't mind at all.

The course, like Detroit itself, is completely flat as a pancake. Flatter than a pancake. It follows the parade route, mostly, so there is a ton of crowd support and cheering little kids who want to high-five. You're also running through some of the best architecture from historic Detroit.

I love this race (both times!) and plan to run it again next year.

http://www.trainwithbain.com/the-turkey-trot-report/ for more photos and a personal race report