Another fun Halloween run! The start/finish moved to a new location in FW--from LaGrave Field to Panther Island Pavillion. PIV is becoming a really popular spot for local runs. There was lots of parking space available, but I hadn't realized how far the lot was from the official start line. I parked about 15 minutes before the gun and I ended up being the last person to start before they closed down the course! (It was a good mile walk from the parking lot.) So, lesson learned for next year!

The route itself was much better than last year--straight out-and-back on the Trinity Trail and very scenic. A huge improvement! Most of the course was flat. There were 3 water/port-a-potty stations for the 10K runners and I was so grateful--temps are still in the 70s-80s F this time of year. Volunteers were also stationed along the course so runners didn't take the wrong turn. It felt great to cross that finish line!

The swag was the same as last year--all finishers got fleece jackets and stained glass medals. The designs were updated for 2014 but it was still great quality. And the jacket had a pocket this year! (So maybe next year we'll get two pockets?) :) Post-race festivities were another big improvement. There were several vendors handing out samples, including a local craft brewery (for those 21+) that I'd never tried before. Music played and runners lingered. Glad I ran this again!

The 5K was definitely a fun-run style event. I'd never seen so many runners in costume before! Parking was really close to the finish line and easy to find. The start/finish was right by the local baseball field, so most of us were milling around the stands and concessions area until it was time to line up. The course took us mostly along the Trinity Trail but the last section of the route seemed a bit odd. They had us loop awkwardly around the parking lot for about 0.25 mi just before crossing the finish--it almost seemed like they planned the course too short and had to tack on the last bit of distance? (Or maybe it just seemed that way from a runner point of view.) The Trail winds around the city for 40 miles so that loop probably could have been avoided.

All runners (all distances) received embroidered fleece jackets and stained glass finisher medals. The jacket is stretchy and surprisingly warm, especially with layers. The only downside is that it doesn't have pockets but otherwise, it is excellent! The medal is a really cool design (and quite big) and it felt so great to get one after a 5K. The post-race festivities were ok--all finishers (21+) got a free beer from the concessions stand. Coors Light was the only option though--this isn't a deal breaker for me but just surprising, given how popular craft beer is in the area.

All in all, it was a good experience and I would definitely do it again.

The IU Mini takes place on IU's Bloomington campus and not surprisingly, it's a popular event for students, faculty, etc. Despite the large pool of runners, the college setting gave this race a more intimate feel than I expected. The course took us through the heart of campus and it was quite hilly. (I overheard many complaints from half marathoners about this.) It was a beautiful run and the weather was excellent--not too hot, not too cold.

Packet pick-up wasn't as well organized as it could have been. There wasn't much of an expo but the pick-up lines were being run by student volunteers. (Customer service didn't seem to be the highest priority, but maybe they were having a rough day.) The shirt designs were great though--especially the half shirts! I admired those from afar. :) Parking was easy to find on race morning and the start/finish area was well managed in terms of crowd control. Runners were able to use the restrooms in the Alumni Association building pre- and post-run. Kroger provided post-run bagels, bananas, water, and granola bars.

FYI, this event is under new management and is now called: Hoosier Half Marathon & 5K. The new site looks great!