It's my 4th year going back and the North Face crew and volunteers have yet again put on a great race experience.

PACKET PICK-UP: I went the night before the race at the North Face store in Brookfield. I was expecting to see Dean Karnazes as it was mentioned on the website but he was not there again (2nd year in a row). That was the only disappointment that night. The race director had some great stories from his racing experience and also plenty of warning and advice on the next day's high temps.

SWAG/T-shit: Dri-fit shirt but that is all. The North Face store does provide discount on their items if you show them your bib!

RACE DAY....
Parking: For some reason, the 50M have to park the furthest away from the Start/Finish!! I've made note of it on their survey but nothing's changed yet. I'm sure logistically, it's easier for them but after 50M, it's torture. Despite that, getting in the park is easy and there are plenty of volunteers directing you to the correct parking areas.

Race course: I've heard that the North Face WI course is the easiest, especially for the 50M distance. For most of us flatlanders, it still has its challenges. The hills are manageable but there seem to be more towards the end! It's a mix of trail, sand, prairie and road (after start/getting to finish).

Aid stations: THE BEST aid stations of many ultras I've run. North Face crew and volunteers are on it. I've had them grab my handheld and fill it up, even adding ice without asking. I've been instructed to fill up on food and rest while they take care of it. This year had additional challenges due to the heat that they had cold, wet towels and buffs waiting for us. Twice, I had crew and paramedic just come up and place it across my shoulders.
The aid stations have plenty of everything. This year, they partnered with Skratch Labs so there weren't any gels as they did previous years with Cliff but they did have yummy gummies!

It's a well-organized race and the post-race environment is just as awesome. Many runners (strangers, mostly) catch up on their war stories and celebrate with each other. It's a great community atmostphere at the finish line. I highly recommend this race!!