The 2015 Rock n Roll Chicago helped me check off half marathon #20 and state #12. I was happy to not have planned to race this event because it turned out to be a very hot weekend and humid race day morning. Here are the details!

Location – Chicago, Illinois. A city full of activity for any time of year, the mid-western summer can be absolutely gorgeous. Travel to and from the city as well as moving around once you've arrived is simple. The short Chicago summers make the July event a busy and exciting time of year to visit the metropolis.

Expo – The 2015 Rock n Roll Chicago expo was a typical Rock n Roll style event. It took place in the massive McCormick Place Convention Center and was filled with vendors, free goodies and participants. With a two day expo, I definitely recommend avoiding the big day before the race crowds, picking up your packet and doing your shopping as early as possible. If you're staying close to the Start or Finish, you'll need a cab for this one.

Dining – Big city, tons of great restaurants. With lots of hotels within walking distance of the Start and Finish there's a dining option for anyone. Price points from $60 dry aged steaks to $10 juicy burgers make it easy to make your budget and your taste buds happy.

Parking – Traveling in from either of Chicago's airports without a rental car doesn't mean a thing. It's easy to get anywhere you need to go using public transportation and once you're downtown, you can hop back on the train or walk just about anywhere you'd want to go. Coming in from outside the city you might need to arrive more than a little early. Parking lots fill up and with road closures, it might be challenging to navigate your way around.

Start – The half marathon and 10k do not share a start line. I heard some less than great things about the 10k start situation but wasn't there to comment further. The half marathon was well done with easy access to gear check, Port-a-Potties and the starting corrals. In front and to the sides of the first corral there was plenty of room to get in a nice warm up for a race that went off right on time.

Course – Mostly flat with the exception of a few bridges the course isn't as scenic as I expected. There wasn't much running along the lake or by some of the bigger landmarks. Many GPS watches lost signals repeatedly as the course traveled under other bridges, the 'L' and a few overpasses. There are lots of turns as you loop around the city but for 95% of the race I had plenty of running room. Around Mile 11 we headed under McCormick Place for 400-600M. This was by far the worst part of the course for me. You head out of the sun into a long, dark tunnel that is filled with loud music and flashing lights. I got dizzy, slowed to a walk and almost stopped to sit down. It was very unpleasant.

Course Support – There were not many fans out in the heat this year but that could have been the main reason the cheering crowds were mostly limited to volunteers at water stops. There were plenty of well stocked water stops which was great for the hot day and GU was handed out around mile 10. Ice water filled sponges waited around Mile 9 and several misters helped keep things cool after the 10k mark. The music on the course wasn't particularly notable and the course would have had long stretches of quiet had it not taken us through downtown Chicago.

Post Race – Big shiny medals are a Rock n Roll staple and this was no disappointment. Iced towels, cold bottled water, chilled Gatorade, Power Bars and bananas all waited for those crossing the Finish. Getting from the finisher chute to gear check was easy since it was in the same spot we dropped things off.

Great swag and good hot weather course support are two huge pluses while the biggest negatives were the tunnel under McCormick Place and lack of live bands. Definitely not a PR race in the middle of July, I'd definitely support Rock n Roll Chicago as a great opportunity to hit the Windy City in the height of its summer season.

The Prairie Fire race series has a spring race (half, 5k, mile kid's run) and a fall race (full, half, 5k, fun run). I chose to run the spring half as my Kansas race and spring PR goal race. Unfortunately, my actual race went pretty badly after tweaking a knee somewhere between miles 6 and 7 but the event was well done. There were about 2,700 participants across the three race day events of all ages, a few hundred people larger than last year. I was excited for the smaller race and to explore a new place, here's how it went.

Registration - Online, very easy and straight forward even though they use their own system instead of Active or RaceIt. It was nice that the fees are lower than with those other services.

Travel - We stayed with family but arriving at the small airport, which is undergoing renovations, and getting around town were all pretty easy. There are plenty of hotels right next to the Start/Finish area and several local brewery restaurants for those who want to relax a bit before racing. We checked out River City Brewing for lunch (delicious) and ordered our traditional pizza for dinner.

Expo - Parking at the expo was very limited due to a second, much larger event occurring at the same time. I'm not sure if this would be an issue at the fall race since it has more runners. Once we entered the building, volunteers directed us to the small race expo area. We picked up our unisex tech t-shirts, which never fit me but are nice, and numbers in record time then strolled through the three short rows of vendors. It took us longer to park than get our race gear! Along our shirts and numbers, we received race a information booklet that contained course maps, parking maps for the morning, race and gear check information. The gear check section left a bit to be desired as it simply said 'clear plastic bags will be available at the tent'. I had expected to receive one at packet pick-up and wasn't sure how big the bags would be, where the tent would be, what time it would open and if there would be zip ties to close them with. I ended up loading my gear in a gallon size freezer bag race morning and hoping it wouldn't come open.

Race Day Parking - Very easy. Because of the race's small size, there seemed to be more than ample locations both free and paid to stow your car not more than a 10 minute walk from the Start/Finish line. Getting in and out were both simple and road closures didn't have a massive impact on the ability to move around town.

Start - The race starts at 7:30. We arrived around 6:30 to wide open parking lots with a row of Port-a-Potties that had no lines. Not one person in line. We then tried to find gear check. It wasn't open/set-up yet but it was a bit chilly so since we weren't ready to get warmed up, we took a short walk over the to the hotel directly across from the Start. We were able to stretch out in the warmth and use a clean bathroom in the quiet hotel (yay, small race) until heading back out to find gear check at about 7. The plastic bags we had been curious about were there, plenty big enough and I just slid my own bag into the larger one. I noticed lots of people were now hovering near the Port-a-Potties but was happy to find tons of room to get warmed up close to the Start. After getting moving, we moved towards the Start area. It was an honor system to get lined up and everyone was chatting about their expected times to make sure they were in the right spot. It was a nice change from some larger races. Moments later the National Anthem was sung and we were off right on time.

Course - The course weaves through downtown before turning into some pretty parks, along the Arkansas River and finally sending you back to Finish where you started. Made up of two out-and-backs that look almost like bunny ears, it's flat course that on a calm wind day, could be very fast. Roads provide plenty of running room when you're on them and the sections run on pathways don't have any two-way traffic. A few of the turns are tight and my race was over when I tweaked my left knee on a section of heavily banked road around Mile 6.5. I had tons of running room the entire race though further back, especially on the narrow path areas, I heard there were some issues with people walking wide and blocking things up. Running through the parks there are a few tiny treks across grass that can definitely throw a road rhythm off but the paths and roads are 98% bump/crack/pot hole free. Thanks to being in the parks or on the edge of the river for the majority of Miles between 3 and 11, the course features lots of shade that comes in handy as the temperature rises quickly with sunlight.

Course Support - The water stops were staffed with plenty of volunteers for the size of the race and were just about every 2.5 miles. Each of the stops had water, Gatorade, potties and a first-aid kit. The stop at Mile 5.5 offered GU and since we passed it again at Mile 7, it was supposed to be there also. I'm not a GU person and don't know if the supply ran out or the supplier moved to another location but I did learn that when the two hour group came back through, the GU was missing. The crowd was a steady trickle from Miles 0.5-12.5 and those who were out there did a really good job of cheering everyone on. Wichita PD did a nice job controlling traffic and helping keep street safe for runners.

Finish - Coming into the final 800M, the crowd gets both bigger and louder while the announcer calls every finisher's name. When I crossed, the announcer said my name then gave me special recognition for having come all the way from Virginia Beach. There were only a few East Coasters racing and I think each of us got a little special mention for our Wichita visits. That is something you most definitely do not get in big races that pull in lots of people from all over. Next up was receiving a very nice medal, water and Gatorade. There were some food option right in the Finish area but I was in some pain and just wanted to sit down.

After Party - I took a little rest to drink my water then picked up my gear and happily got my shoes off. I stretched a bit while waiting for my running buddy and looked at the live results that said I was third in my age group. As my buddy crossed the line, we gathered his gear and settled in to snack on available pizza, bread, grilled chicken and chocolate milk. Plopped down on the grass, we ate, hydrated and listened to the band while waiting for the awards ceremony. The grassy field had lots of room for runners and families to gather and munch on the abundant food. About 30 minutes later when my age group was announced, I was not listed. Confused, we went to to look at the posted results again. It still counted that I was third. Turns out the second overall female had gotten to the Start late and due to USATF rules wasn't listed correctly because of a penalty. This pushed me back to fourth but after a not great run, I wasn't surprised. I was happy to have finished without a serious injury to bring home.

Weather - Kansas is flat. Kansas is windy. May is in the middle of tornado season (which explains why the fall race is bigger and faster, mostly likely). We had a face full of 16-18 mph winds for much of the race and it definitely takes some extra effort to fight through. The morning started a bit humid but that burned off quickly when the temperature started to climb. The shaded sections were a big benefit even if they didn't block the wind and out in front of the big two hour group, it was impossible for me to find someone to draft behind.

A small race with a flat, fast course, the Prairie Fire spring half is a fun event. There's something for the whole family with a hometown feel from beginning to end. The pretty course with lots of shade and plentiful post-race fueling/hydrating paired with easy parking kept a positive spin on a event that went exactly opposite of what I had worked 12 hard weeks for. While I have 39 more states to go, this is a race I'd certainly consider participating in again.

I ran the 2015 St. Michael's Running Festival Half Marathon this past weekend. The race was very well done and I’m looking forward to participating again in the future. Here are my thoughts:

Location – St Michael’s, Maryland, is a historic town on the Chesapeake Bay. Home to local seafood restaurants, good shopping and lots to see, I 100% recommend staying at one of the bed and breakfasts within walking distance of the expo, start and finish. They're a bit expensive but hotel options are minimal. The tree lined streets and bright green golf courses surrounding the water are beautiful in mid-May but beware the potential for warm to hot humid weather. This year race temps were in the 70s with upwards of 75% humidity and occasional breezes reaching 10mph.

Expo – Small and easy to breeze through. The weekend’s races have about 1,500 participants in the half, 650 in the 10k and 550 in the 5k along with race morning packet pick up that means the small community center is plenty large enough to handle everything even if there is a big rush on Friday. It was nice that I could pick up my number and gender specific tech shirt without having to troll through a crowded vendor area like you are forced to do at some larger races but the option to shop for some running gear is still available.2015 st michael's half marathon

Dining – St. Michael’s is home to a bunch of local restaurants that feature seafood, burgers and lots in between. The running festival brings with it a large influx of people on a normally busy enough weekend in the small town and an early dinner is recommended if you’re not looking to wait around.

Parking – Because I stayed within walking distance of both the start and finish, they’re only about 3/4 of a mile apart, I had no issues with parking. Everyone who drove in was directed to free parking on neighborhood roads though unfortunately those same people seemed to have some trouble leaving. The single road in and out of town got rather backed up post race so it probably pays off to hang out for a while after running. I would definitely recommend car pooling if you’re not planning on staying extremely locally.

Start – 10k goes first, half 10 minutes later and 5k after that. The entire start was delayed roughly 15 minutes due to I don’t know what and made the 2015 St Michael’s Half Marathon a little bit hotter than it could have been. Port-a-Potty lines were fairly long and moved slowly, there should be a system where those who start later are behind those who are racing earlier. The general area was spacious enough for all runners to have lots of room to warm up and everyone lined up in the starting chute where they belonged, which is always nice. There was gear check but I didn’t use it.

Course – The course is very flat though run mostly on the right side of the road which can get a little bit irritating to hips and knees. With warm temperatures, tree lined portions are great but not quite often enough. It’s a scenic, quiet course that’s traffic controlled for the most part. You will find cars on the other side of cones or, during one stretch, trying to weave down a long straightaway through the race course. I also wondered if the golfers we ran past a few times were bothered by the hustle and bustle of 1,500 runners. There are several out and back stretches that can get slightly tedious but also provide a good chance to see friends who are running.

Course Support – Water, Gatorade and at one, GU. They come about every 1.5 miles but some between the stops stretches in direct sunlight felt a whole lot longer. Each stop had plenty of volunteers and I did notice emergency vehicles parked at intervals along the course. I did not notice Port-a-Potties at the water stops but wasn’t really paying attention as I watched a few people hop off into the course-side woods. At each turn there were volunteers guiding runners in the correct direction along with good signage pointing the way. The crowd is slim and mostly people at the ends of their driveways cheering or waving until the last 800M and the Finish area is jam packed.

Post Race – After being announced crossing the finish line, runners received their 2015 St Michael’s Half Marathon medals, bananas, PB&J sandwiches, water and Gatorade. Each participant gets one free beer at the after party where is more available for purchase. Awards for winners and age groups in the chip timed race.

I had a good time at the 2015 St Michael’s Half Marathon. I’d love to go back for another shot at the flat course, the small town feel and nice swag this well organized race provided.

I paced the 1:52 group for this year's Shamrock and loved every minute of it.

Expo was a breeze though the Convention Center, located right off the highway, can be short on parking. Registration is online though there were spots available at this year's expo, too.

Getting down to the race was no problem but I know parking does fill up as the Start approaches and can become problematic. The race starts at 7 and at 6:30, I ran a mile warm-up that included a trip to gear check near the Finish then used my clean, indoor restroom at work (3 blocks from the start) once more before my pacer buddy Kevin and I made for our corral.

There was a stiff breeze and the temperature was a bit chilly, typical for this race, as Kevin and I weaved through thousands of pumped up runners to arrive in Corral 3 with plenty of time to spare. There were lots of Port-a-Potties near the Start with lines that didn’t seem too bad. People were excited to see us and it was great to get to know some of the ladies and gents we would hopefully be leading to new PRs. Things were a bit warmer in the crowd but everyone still wanted the wind to die down as we all fidgeted trying to stay loose. Moments later we were notified of an emergency of the course as an ambulance drove by. Luckily any delay that resulted was barely noticed by the adrenaline filled group hanging out with us and before we knew it, we were off for the 2015 Shamrock Half Marathon.

The 1:52 group rocked and rolled through the first three miles. They are flat and almost a straight shot with four lanes to spread out across. The course is at least three lanes wide from the very beginning until you hit the boardwalk in Mile 12. At Mile 3 we hit the course’s first gentle curve heading into the tree lined portion of our run and our second well staffed water stop. During the stretch from Mile 3 to about Mile 5.5, we passed two more well staffed and supportive water stops, two DJs and one band before turning right onto the race’s quietest section. The 3+ miles of flat course running through Fort Story have great views of the Chesapeake Bay and this year lacked the strong headwind of 2014 but there isn’t a ton of crowd support until you get back on Atlantic Avenue around Mile 9.5.

It’s here you can start counting down the numbered blocks and really settle into a groove for the last 5k. Crowd support was good from 9.5 to 12 but when you hit that last mile and finally turn onto the Boardwalk, it’s exciting.

Plenty of Port-a-Potties lined the course, gel stops were much appreciated and bands kept the course rocking even when the crowds were hard to find. Though the base stretch is quiet, it's nice to enjoy the peaceful scenery of the Chesapeake Bay.

Kevin and I walked through the finish chute to collect our medals, bananas, pretzels, cookies, water, Gatorade, finisher’s hats and awesome finisher beach towels. Best swag! Hitting the end of the finisher zone, we were routed out onto the beach where I saw a line waiting to ring this year’s newest Shamrock feature, the PR bell. Watching the 1:52 runners smile with the bell was better than ringing it myself.

After warming up and filling my hungry tummy, I collected my first post-race Yuengling and settled in to chat with other pacers as they finished. I wrapped my 2015 Shamrock Half Marathon with a few more beers, a lot of socializing, tons of fun and a big thank you to J&A Racing for another amazing year. The 2015 Shamrock Half Marathon was a great experience and I hope I get to pace it again in 2016. Team J&A does an incredible job involving the community, running a timely event and rewarding their participants with graciousness and gratitude. The course is flat, fast and home to some great scenery. All runners earn amazing swag and incredible post race parties, so If you ever have the opportunity, make sure you swing by Virginia Beach and get your ShamRock on!