This is a great race from start to finish! If you're looking for a beautiful point to point race with great cheer sections, easy transportation, great SWAG and post-race food, this IS your race!

I may be biased because this race is in my hometown of La Crosse, WI. But, I have ran many races and this small town race is a race you definately want to add to your bucket list.

This year, the expo was relocated to the Radisson Hotel. It was small, but well managed and easy-in, easy-out. A+ for the change in venue this year. Last year's expo was cluttered and a bit crazy. Fantastic job to the race management for figuring that out and moving it.

I have always been impressed by the medal and this year it didn't dissapoint! The unisex technical long sleeve shirt featured thumbholes and was adorable. It's one that will not just sit in my closet and I know that I will wear it a bunch!

I registered early January for this May race and the registration fee was just $40. I feel that is a fantastic price. However, the registration gets steep the longer you wait. I believe it caps out at around $80 the closer you get to registration and there is NO race day registration so if you're on the fence about this race, don't wait too long to register. Early on if you follow the events Facebook page you can score discounted race fees with coupon codes as well.

Parking to this race is FREE and is easy as pie! You park almost at the finish and shuttle buses transport you on about a 15 minute bus ride to the start on the top of Grandad Bluff.

The elevation difficulty is right in the middle. The first two miles are straight downhill. If you're like me, you'll feel those quads burning for days after. Once you are down the first 2 miles the course levels off with a few rolling hills and one larger hill at the 10K split. The course winds through residential and a short industrial area until the last mile runs along the river and finishes at Riverside Park. The park is gorgeous as it sits alongside the famous blue bridges that join MN and WI and the Mississippi River. The medal has always been designed around these two bridges.

The Aid Stations and cheering sections of this race are fantastic. They compete for prizes so they are very energetic and keep you motivated. Spectators on the course are moderate. Some areas have 50-100 people, other areas just a handful, but typically you won't go more than 1/2 mile without someone cheering for you. I had a ton of fun this year on the course dancing with people in banana costumes, doing the wave through people at one cheering section and even climbing on the hockey rinks snow pile they make just to throw snowballs! You won't be disappointed with the cheering sections.

Post race food is water, bananas and brats! And if you're 21 beer from the local brewery. The post race party is kid friendly as well with many inflatables. My kids had a blast!

Race Management gets an A+. I look forward to doing this race next year!