Edit--I actually did this race in February 2014, but accidentally put in in 2015!

I've said it before and I'll say it again-- Go Run Events puts on a fantastic race. If you're looking for a challenge, and to not break the bank, do yourself a favor and drive half a day south to do one of their races.

The course elevation profile isn't published on the site for this race...and with good reason. I think it would scare a lot of runners off. There's a pretty detailed written description of the race. I honestly didn't know what I was in for when I started the race. Once I hit the first big incline I started to panic a little...and this panic lasted a couple of miles. Once I got it through my head that yeah, there were going to be a lot of hills, and it was okay to hike up them, I calmed down. The first 7 miles of the race has a ton of elevation gain, but when you get to the top of the mountain, the view is totally worth it. Go Run Events also does a really good job in designing their courses, so even though that first 7 is mostly uphill, the incline gets broken up by short flat or downhill sections to give you a break. Sometime near the end of the race (between mile 11 and 12) there's a river crossing. Don't worry, it's pretty shallow (below the knee), but be careful with your footing.

Here's the thing too...the course may be really hard, but it's harder to drop. The course is a loop, and there's really no access to the trail by car. There are 3 aid stations, and the volunteers have to bike in all of the supplies. If you drop you either have to come back the same way you came, or finish the course. Either way it's easier just to keep moving unless you're seriously injured (in which case I'm sure they have some kind of protocol in place). I didn't bring water with me, and I probably should have. It takes awhile to get from aid station to aid station.

Loved this race. Even though it was my slowest half ever, it was the one I felt most accomplished for finishing. You'll hike, you'll crawl, you'll run, you'll laugh, and you may cry, but it's all worth it in the end. For me it was a great little escape from the Chicago winter, and fantastic experience on trails.