Team Ortho has FANTASTIC SWAG. If you ever want to be decked out in great jackets and have fun medals.... these are your races. The Monster Dash is also a fun added bonus because many runners race in costume. I am never that brave. This year I ran in orange shorts and black tank top with pumpkin sleeves! :) I don't want to have a costume get in my way so I always choose to run without a costume.
The course for the Monster Dash is great. Small rolling hills, not many to slow you down and in my opinion a great variety of scenery. Lush tree lined streets, the beautiful St. Paul Cathedral, the river.... you really get it all. Post race food is the usual, banana, chips, nutroll - but the races are HUGE so I feel it's pretty well run for the crowds they draw.
PROS:
- Great Swag
- Costume themed - Halloween
- Great weather in October ( usually :) )
- Close and convenient parking
- Avg. race entry fee

CONS:
- HUGE race with 12,000 plus runners, this can be bad if you're a "slower" ( I say that with caution) runner because Team ortho has been known to run our of water,food etc .

I would highly recommend this race - it's always fun!