Would I recommend this to a friend....I'd say maybe- if you like that sort of thing. I've done many many other events that are

This was my first Mud Run and probably my only. Here's the pros-

+great course- some hills, well marked, can't get lost.
+all women
+inspiring
+option to fundraise for cancer
+fun costumes, all around fun atmosphere
+thankfully the mud didn't smell like manure which I've heard at some mud races- it STINKS.

Now, let's get real. CONS:
- Price- $70+ depending when you sign up- only includes a t-shirt. No finish line drinks- not even WATER and it was 85+ out. Thankfully, I did this race for free. I would have not paid for it.
- on top of the registration fee- you had to pay an additional $10 for parking.
- t shirt- just ok- cotton, nothing special. sizing- very large. At least they had enough t-shirts and the right sizes probably because this is a series and no dates or cities marked on the shirt.
-Aid Stations- 2 out on the run course and the cups were tiny Dixie cups. No finish line aid station- no food, no drinks at the end... for that price I would expect a small water at minimum.
-Race Management- I stood in line for over 1 hour to rinse off with a hose. ONE HOUR or longer and no water to drink. After I hosed off, I had no dry clothes nearby as gear check was closer to the entrance. So I put my wet clothes back on and walked over there.
-More on showers: They had women specific changing rooms for after hosing off but you'd have to walk to the gear check on the other end and then back again barefoot. Gear check should be near the showers. Plain and simple or there should be volunteers bringing bags over. The showers/hoses were out in the open- and a bunch of creepy men just standing around watching women shower and get the mud off. No one was naked but still- CREEPY. Make the area off limits to spectators and give some privacy. The creepers can go watch the women jump in the mud pit at the finish line.

I'm glad I did this race- I had a lot of fun with my friends and any event that gets people of all ages, shapes, and sizes to walk/run 3.1 miles is a winner in my book for promoting fitness but I feel like events like this defiantly cash in on the idea because it is fun, therefore not necessarily caring as much about the quality of the event or how it's organized. People pay top money for some of these events, they should get top service.

.5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. This is the 2nd year that Iron Girl has taken over this race from Danskin. It is a great course out at Lake Andrea- warm water, overall flat bike ride and a pretty run. I recommend this to any woman looking to cross over into the triathlon world as a first tri. Having only women out there with you, the race is not intimidating and very motivational.

Pros-
+ all women
+ easy, flat course
+ warm lake (NOT Lake Michigan so it's very predictable)
+inspiring
+all ages welcome
+cool medals!

Cons of this year
-they were back and forth on the wet suit being legal or illegal. First it was illegal, than legal, then not legal and this must have been very frustrating for new triathletes. Final word was wet suits allowed in last wave but you were not eligible for age group awards.
- Aid stations- none on the bike course which I'm okay with because I have my water bottle and don't need much for 12 miles but I'm sure some women would have liked at least one stop.
- a couple of the turns on the bike course are full 180 turn arounds.
- no aid station going from the bike to the run. Usually they have one on the run-out. So no water until 1.5/2 miles
- Age group awards- the overall winner got a better prize which they should. Age group 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place were necklace charms- same as last year- kind of cheap looking. Hard to compare with the Danskin that used to give one free entry to any of the following year's triathlon series event.
-same weekend as Age Group Nationals in Milwaukee (30 minutes away). Most of the fast racers are doing Nationals. I think to continue to have a good turn out- the weekend needs to change to keep the field competitive.

Overall the cons of this race are so minor and most wouldn't even see the things I mentioned. I strongly recommend this race!

This is an excellent annual event and you won't be disappointed in the course. Great scenery but don't be surprised by the hill at the finish! Some of the water stops were really close together- like within .25 miles of each other which was strange. At the end, results were a little messed up but they fixed it and sent out metals. Great kids race at the end too. Overall, an excellent family event.

I LOVED this race!
+ The shirt is long sleeved, tech shirt, loved the colors!
+ I raced this event so I carried my own water but I probably would have been ok without. Beautiful course.

cons
-maybe parking but we didn't have a problem.