Well...this was the first race that brought tears to my eyes (and not in a positive way). More on that later.
This small, extremely focused race is perfect for those trying to qualify for Boston right at the registration cutoff. The 8, roughly 3.25 mile loop course has great scenery around the Fox Valley river. There are two aid stations on the course with water, Gatorade, and Clif shots. One of the coolest parts of the race was the elite water bottle table for ALL runners. Simply put your bib number on your bottle and volunteers will have it ready for you each lap (they'll retrieve it from the drop zone - just no refills). The course support is fantastic for a race limited to 300 participants. For those spectating, it's a real treat to see the athletes 8x without moving! Definitely check this race out if the spring and summer marathons didn't quite get you to your goal.
For me personally, I missed my BQ goal by 53 seconds and will be attempting again at Chicago. I won't soon forget the feeling after this race. It's tough to not internalize everything and dissect all of the details. I know I'll hit it, it's just unbelievably frustrating at this point. On. To. The. Next.