SO since I worked for a company that also had a race division for 8 years, I get picky when it comes to races. I loved everything about this race, and was so surprised. First of all it opened up solider field parking garage so you could park there. then packet pick up was also easy. They had a high school choir singing Christmas carols, there were blow up Santa's everywhere. They had corral starts, there were cookie and candy stations on the course and at the finish line. And for race swag you received socks, hat, beard and t-shirt. And running on the lakefront with 1000s of santa's was fun. Also the race was competitive. You don't normally see people running in Santa suits running hard. I am not in shape to run fast but I like to try my best and I like it when the race has fast runners , it keeps me honest.