This was my first trail run and I definitely had a lot of fun.
Personally if I decide to do more trail races I will buy trail shoes. Or I should have worn and even more worn out pair than I did. Oh well, I will know for next time and keep learning

Things I liked:
-Packet pick up easy there are 4 different days and times you and pick up your packet, Wednesday- Friday at Universal Sole (parking over there is easy) and on race day. I picked mine up on Wednesday since I run out of there Wednesday nights.
-Sweatpants Swag, probably one of the most attractive things about this. I have plenty of t-shirts from races, it is nice to receive something different especially in the winter months.
-Course was well marked, however... (see below)
-One aid station, but you pass it twice. More of a self serve aid station. I didn't grab any water.
-Course was forgiving, but had some small hills, not unexpected, it is a trail run. Turns and slick muddy spots, so be careful! (Mother nature nothing we can control)
-Course was along the path so it was clear and worn, easy to follow.
-Schiller Woods is really easy to get to. I couldn't remember which entrance I would need, I remembered the number 3 thankfully Universal Sole had a big flag outside the entrance.
-Plenty of parking
-Port o potties
-Gear check was your car, but not necessary to actually have a gear drop.
-Mizuno was on site letting people borrow trail shoes to try out for the run.
-Post race food included gatorade (self serve which is nice), bananas, Goose Island beer, and Will's Famous Chili. A very meaty, chili but I heard great things!
-Gun timed like old fashion cross country races. Small enough where chips aren't necessary.
-Start and finish in the same spot
-strips of pavement that let you pick up the pace
-Awesome staff at the store and race day :)

Things I didn't like: there were quite a few of us that got lost. It's a trail run, I assume it happens more often than road races. The aid station worker directed us or the leader of the pack I was in went the wrong direction. Once we got back on the path it was fine. There was another slight misdirection elsewhere. It could have been us just following runners going the wrong way. Otherwise the course was marked with flags, cones, signs and people.

At the beginning we were told it was 5.25 mile run, I mentally prepared for 5.25, got out of a wooded part and was told that the finish was right around the corner. I still had some gas in the tank for the last mile. Oh well. Still fun.
Total distance on my watch was 4.76. I'm curious to know the distance of those who didn't get lost.