The Inaugural Rise and Shine 5k (produced by Chicago Sport and Social Club) took place on Saturday, December 31 with a 9am start time. I registered for the event because 1 - you know I just love to race and 2 - I wanted to start my NYE off on the right foot and what better way than to have some fun in the city going what I love. It was a sunny day, but some high winds made it a bit chilly. Once we started running I felt the wind died down a little and I warmed up pretty quickly. At 8:15am weather was 39 degrees, feels like 31, 13mph winds, 52% humidity. I got some photos of the sun peaking out, so I feel like mother nature was being kind to us for the race :) Registration opened up early/mid-November at $20.17 and then rose in increments - $20.17 - Nov. 11 to Nov. 28, $35.00 - Nov. 29 to Dec. 8, $45.00 - Dec. 9 to Dec. 27, and finally $55.00 - Dec. 28 to Dec. 31 (I do believe there was race day registration... but I could be mistaken). I learned about this race in mid-December and was excited to register. For the short time period of the race being announced and race day, they had a really good crowd.

PROS:
+ Packet pickup at Fleet Feet Old Town on Friday, December 29 from 11am–7pm, and my favorite - - race day pickup at race site from 7:30–8:30am.
+ I did race day pickup and it was a breeze. You could either give your name or have the volunteers scan your QR code from registration to look you up. I got there around 8am and there was no waiting. Quick and easy.
+ SWAG included a branded pom pom hat and touch screen gloves. Also in the bag was a box of Wild Garden Roasted Garlic Hummus crackers, two Clif Bar minis (I had white chocolate macadamia nuts and sierra trail mix), and lip balm. On the table for pickup they had full sized Clif Bars in Hot Chocolate and Iced Gingerbread flavors.
+ Gear check open at 7:30am.
+ Group stretch and warm up at 8:30am and start corrals opened up at 8:45am.
+ Nuun and water was provided on course around mile 1ish.
+ Great course! Started off on Randolph Street going east, hopped on the LFP going south, utilized the lower path near the lake), then went up the upper path heading north, back to Randolph, where you then headed over to run through Maggie Daley Park and over the bridge by Pritzker Pavilion, and then came to a finish on the east side of the Pavilion.
+ There wasn't a wave start, however, getting in that first .5 mile on Randolph street, which was nice and wide, allowed for runners and walkers to spread out so congestion on the LFP wasn't bad at all.
+ Course was clearly marked and had mile markers (with clocks).
+ Given water bottles at the finish line.
+ Hot chocolate and warming (mylar) blankets when you got back to the race site area.
+ At the race site area, there were also samples of David's Tea, Clif Bars, Bai antioxidant infusion in different flavors, and more boxes of crackers. It was a sweet set up.
+ They did awards at 10am on the stage for age groups 19 and under, then age groups of 10 (20–29, 30–39, until 60+) and top three of AG received a branded hooded sweatshirt.
+ Race bib had a tag of either free mimosa or Corona at Sweetwater Tavern and Grill.
+ Free race photos

CONS:
- I don't blame the race for this, but Sweetwater didn't anticipate the crowd they got and it took quite some time to get served at the bar (about a half hour). There were a ton of runners getting food there as well. Most runners were getting the mimosa, and I saw the bartenders making them at point of sale, where I felt they should have just pre-made it in carafes so they could just pour when someone ordered rather than making them individually. Just a thought.

From the sounds of it, this will be an annual tradition, and I plan on racing it every year (you know, keep that 'legacy' train going haha). It was super fun and I saw a lot of friends. Great way to start NYE!