This Palos Park Thanksgiving Day Tradition is 4 miles long with 13 hills. In 13 years this race has donated over 120,000 cans of food and $3,000.00. Parking at the Palos Park Metra station with shuttle bus service to the start line.

PROS:
+ Parking is limited at the race start, so you can park at a nearby Metra lot (you don't have to pay for parking), and the race has school busses to take you to the start and back again when you were finished.
+ Packet pickup is at the store (Running for Kicks) Monday–Wednesday.
+ Packet pickup on race day beginning at 6:30am
+ Goody bag included a yellow hooded sweatshirt and a pair of Features running socks
+ Instead of having the indoors open this year, there was a large heated tent that you could hang out in before the race began
+ 5 year age group awards going 3 deep
+ Post race bottled water, bagels, and bananas
+ Post race includes awards with raffles scatted throughout the awards - I think there were three or four certificates for free shoes. Bonus - I won one! Also, mom won her age group.
+ Family friendly - love seeing so many people being active
+ Smaller race - about 600 participants

CONS:
- I think the only con is that there were no aid stations... however, for a 4 mile race, I don't deem them necessary, so really didn't matter to me. I suppose it does to some, though, so figured I'd mention it. I gave it 3 stars because it didn't have any, but also felt they weren't needed, so just went in the middle with it.

I really enjoy doing this race every year. I've been doing it for maybe 5 years now? It raises money and donates food to the hungry and it's a great way to feel good about yourself before splurging on your Thanksgiving feast.

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