Latest reviews by Jessica Rudd

(2016)
"A fun themed, fast, Peachtree qualifer"
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The Hearts & Soles is part of the Atlanta Track Club Grand Prix series. It's free for members and only $10 for non-members. If you're looking for a fun local event, that's known to be fast for some good PRs and Peachtree qualifying times, this is the race for you.

Pros:
- Free!
- Easy parking at GA Perimeter College
- Race morning packet pickup and race day registration
- Costume contest
-Team based contest, best combined times in various age/gender categories
-There's 1 hill (down on the way out, up on the way back) which allows for a speedy first half and a solid PR if you don't kill yourself in that fast first half (I PRd by 1min30sec)
-Bagels, donuts, coffee, snacks at the finish. 1 aid station with water.
Cons:
-Since this is part of the free grand prix race series, there is no swag (the kids race gets little medallions I think). I don't really think of this as a con considering it's only a 5k and it's FREE.
-Course is an out and back through a boring neighborhood past a middle school. Not much to write home about.

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(2016)
"Sweeter than expected"
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I'll be completely honest, I'm not a huge fan of for-profit "gimmicky" races. The few that I've done in the past have felt overpriced and underwhelming. I knew a lot of people running Hot Chocolate this year so I went in with an open mind and was happily surprised. Overall, this is a very well managed event (Ram Racing does a great job) and they did a great job supporting all types of runners, in spite of some weather related difficulties this year. I will definitely run this race again.

Pros:
- Communication: As soon as I registered I received about 1 email a week with very clear, helpful information such as training plans (nice bonus!), how to apply for priority waves, race day travel info, etc. As the event got closer the frequency of emails increased but it never felt like spam. Also, when weather created difficulties with the expo and changes on race morning, we received very timely communication regarding these changes.
-Swag: of course the Hot Chocolate jacket is a favorite every year. I really liked the material and color this year. Also, in the past I've heard sizing was an issue but this year everything was true to size. Also, at the expo they had a swag try on/swap area where you could try on different sizes before opening your swag bag. My only complaint is that I wish the jacket had thumbholes.
-Aid Stations: really nice volunteers who were out in the below freezing temps. I was impressed that they kept the aid stations pretty clear without ice buildup. I was extremely impressed that they had Nuun on the course instead of the typical sugary sports drink. I consider this very classy. They also had M&M's and marshmallows at the aid stations of course, but I saved those for closer to the end. Most races of this length don't have snacks on course (it's really not necessary) but considering the theme of the event I thought this was a nice tough.
-Course: I love running through different ATL neighborhoods
-Medal: I don't race for medals but if you do then you'll definitely like this medal (only for the 15k). It's shaped like chocolate bar and is city specific. I did enjoy getting something a little different from the norm.
-Chocolate bowl: It was freezing but my hot chocolate was still hot. #Win
-FREE RACE PHOTOS! No more $20 for a crappy digital photo.

Cons/plan accordingly:
-Expo: I'll say this is more of a disappointment then a con. Due to impending weather A LOT of people tried to go to expo early on Friday. There was an around-the-block line just to get in the expo hall. However, this was to mitigate the crowd inside the expo hall and I felt it was very well managed and a good plan given the situation. My disappointment stems from the fact that the expo was surprisingly small considering the size of the event; less than a dozen vendors. However, it was well organized and all the volunteers were very patient and helpful.
-Parking/access: Again, this is less of a con and more of a "plan accordingly." I did not buy a parking pass because I planned to take MARTA. When it was clear that race morning was going to be below freezing I had second thoughts on standing outside for an hour and tried to get a parking pass. It was not clear how to buy one online though after you already registered, and even once buying online you had to pick it up at the expo. The line to buy/pickup parking passes at the expo was very long and I had already waited on line to get inside the expo in the first place. Luckily my friend dropped me off at the start line about 30 minutes prior to start and I took MARTA back to my car after the race. I did hear that parking race morning was backed up, they re-directed a lot of people, and they weren't even checking parking passes. There should be a way to buy and print your parking pass online to avoid expo lines.
-Course: I actually really liked the course, as stated above, but beware that it's a very hilly course. Train accordingly and love those hills!

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(2016)
"Exploring Atlanta's "Backstage""
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I like to call this an adventure run rather than a race. There's a summer and winter edition of the race, with the summer edition going all the way around the approximately 22 mile future rail trail around Atlanta, and the winter edition going out-and-back. Only a few miles of the proposed trail are actually finished and paved. Some of the future path is still active railway (the winter edition does not go along the active tracks).

Even though the trail is pretty flat, this is not a race for the faint of heart. Most of the route is off-road, gravel, train tracks, or practically impassible thick pits of Georgia clay. Be prepared to get muddy, possibly climb fences, scavenge supplies from convenience stores near the route, or possibly find a hidden water and/or beer stop in the woods. Also be prepared to run the most epic race with the best people you will ever meet.

Pros:
- See Atlanta like no one else
- Play in the mud
- Earn a one of a kind token of awesomeness
- Beer, pizza, chili at the finish
- Trains!
- I personally find the underbelly of Atlanta to be some of the most unique race scenery
- For a 'self supported' race, they do a damn good job with goodies at the start and an actual aid station (or 2 if you're lucky)
-No annoying race bib to wear; instead you choose a playing card and that gets to be your race "bib" - See pic

Cons:
-The winter edition doesn't circumnavigate the city- but that just means you have to come back for the summer edition!
- If you're looking for a sanctioned, measured race to qualify for Boston or Marathon Maniacs, please go somewhere else.

If you want to enjoy a completely unique Atlanta running experience with some really cool people, you MUST do this race.

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(2016)
"Keep your resolution with a thousand friends!"
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ATC offers this 4, 1 mile, and 50m, race each New Year's Day. It's a great way to start off the New Year and is also the first race in the ATC Grand Prix. It also starts at 10am so you get to sleep off that New Years Eve hangover. I actually ran to the race from my house, and then had a great time hanging out with friends, enjoying the provided coffee and bagels (since I was standing around for 1.5hr sweaty and cold, the coffee was a life saver!), and then ran a surprisingly strong 4 mile race with some of my best running friends. It's definitely a hilly course, with some nasty hills in the last mile, but the neighborhood is nice with beautiful homes, and more people than is typical in Atlanta came out of their homes to cheer.

Pros:
Access- Even though I ran to the start, the event starts in one of the city train stations so there's a huge parking area, or you can just take the train to the start (which is recommended)
Pre-Race - packet pickup at the start (this is the only time to get your bib). Bagels and coffee(yum!), DJ to keep everyone motivated and music, Coach Amy with the ATC training programs led an awesome warmup, Mizuno step-and-repeat with costumes and signs to write your resolutions
Swag- really nice, soft long sleeve t-shirt. The only problem people are having lately with ATC shirts is that they run REALLY small. Most ladies I know have been ordering XS and even those seem kinda big. I really like mine though and wore it all day after the race.
Race- a hilly one, but I feel like that goes without saying in any ATL race. Brookhaven is a beautiful neighborhood so you get to see great houses along the way
Finish- they had medals for any kids finishing the race. Super cute. Adults? Get over it; you don't need a medal for running 4 miles.

Cons - Since the start was at the train station it was sometimes difficult to hear announcements when a train went by. In fact, my friends and I were not aware that the 1 mile race started 15 minutes after the 4 (this info is posted on the website) so one of the girls ran the 1 mile by herself lol. She wasn't upset about it though.I feel I need to take 1 star for race management though for that reason.

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(2016)
"Best/most beautiful 50 miler in the Southeast"
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It's the 2nd year that RunBum tours has done this race and I've been there both years. I'll be back next year! It's a great, very 'runnable' course with average elevation change for a trail race. Some minor climbs in the first45 miles. The last bit is when you have to go to the bottom of the canyon and then climb out 1000ish stairs. I actually got cut just before the last bit into the canyon, which is one of the reasons I'll definitely be back next year. There are a couple awesome waterfalls at the bottom that make the climb back out worth it (I've climbed down there in the past). January weather in north Georgia is very variable (15 degrees last year, 45 this year), but the people, terrain, views, make it a must-do event.

Pros:
-Easy drive from Atlanta, and just 30 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. We stopped in Chatt for dinner the night before the race, and stopped there again for brunch on the way home on Sunday
-Group bunk lodge right at the start line. There's room for about 50 people in the group lodge at the start finish area. It's a basic bunk house with heat, bathrooms, hot water. For $50 for the whole weekend it's so worth it! We met awesome people, rolled out of bed at 4 am for a 5am start right outside the door. No driving up dark park roads at 0'dark thirty necessary. Showered and chilled after the race, and left at our leisure on Sunday morning.
People. The best volunteers and aid stations. As soon as you arrive at an aid station at least one, and usually several, volunteers immediately ask you what you need, help you fill water, hand you food. So motivating.
Course. You start in the dark and it stays that way for nearly 3 hours. There's something so amazing about seeing the line of headlamps bob up the trail. Once day breaks, even this year with clouds and fog, the course is still beautiful and we still had views into the canyon. Nice terrain and not too technical.
Swag. Cool tshirt, and a pint glass with plenty of beer and awesome BBQ the finish

Cons:
-I still haven't finished all 50 (my problem alone and something I plan to remedy next year)
-If you're looking for a race with exact mileage this (and pretty much any trail race) is not for you. All posted mileages and aid station locations are approximate. I can hardly count this as a con. It's more of a warning to any newbs. Your garmin data won't be exact (mine was as much as 2-3 miles off). Deal with it.

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