This was my first time getting to run this race despite having interest in it for several years now. It always fell on a date in July when I was heading off on vacation, but this year my vacation was a week later so I was able to participate in the run. I signed up with a group so I wasn't the one who picked up the shirts/packets so I cannot comment on the quality of the expo or pickup process. I also didn't directly receive the emails, etc from race management but having dealt with the Brewers racing staff before, I would assume they were informative and prompt.

As for the race itself, it was a blast. It was a nice simple course, some slight elevations along the way but nothing too strenuous on the body. You run along the streets surrounding the Brewers' stadium, Miller Park and you also get to take a lap around the warning track during the run, so that was fun. There are two aid stations on the course, both serving water but I was disappointed in the fact that there wasn't water being handed out at the finish line. Your bib provided a ticket for water, which is fine, but the tent to pick up the water was a decent distance away from the finish line. Not optimal if you cross and then want to cheer on friends that are still racing. There is no medal for the race but you get a sweet shirt (as my picture will show), a free beer (Miller Light), a free brat (plus Chik-fil-a was handing out sandwiches) and a voucher for a free Brewers ticket. So there is some good swag involved. And after the race there was a band jamming away to lighten the mood and keep everyone in a happy mood. And after you're done drinking/eating/listening you can head back to your car, which is conveniently located in the Brewers parking lot.

It really is a fun race, a simple 5K with views along the course, beer at the end and a chance to trot along a major league baseball field. Fun all the way around!

This is the fourth year running the half marathon (my first year I ran the quarter) and this was the first time they switched up some parts of the course in comparison to previous years. There was a new start and finish line which I thought worked well. It had you beginning and ending in the festival grounds as opposed to starting a few blocks away on a side street and ending just outside the grounds. This did cause the race to be delayed though since you had go through security to get to the corrals but the old adage reigns here: be on time or even earlier! I also liked the subtle change on the course in between miles 7 and 9, where instead of staying up on the bluff like previous years, they had you go down a winding road and then go north along side Bradford Beach before doing the turn around to head back to the festival grounds. Music seemed better to me this year,with an exception or two. The guy playing the saxophone is a great player but I just don't think this is the place for soothing jazzy sounds. Also, the race management needs to improve what they use for music at the mile markers. Little iPod speaker bases don't provide anything until you are right on top of it and that last for a split second as you go by. Louder please or bigger speakers please!
T-shirt/Swag: I found this to be lacking. Women received a tank top while men received a runner's shirt. BUT, they were both the same powdery blue with light yellow writing/designs that are barely visible. Where is the tank top option for men? And that it with the second year in a row having an UGLY color for a shirt. Highly disappointed. Also, there wasn't as much chances to acquire things at the expo. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of awesome vendors selling shirts, water bottles, gels, etc but there wasn't a spinning wheel where you could get more Summerfest tickets or other raffle options. They did have BMO Harris Bank giving away short socks again, which are so soft and comfortable. The coupons in the bag were also disappointing; no nice discounts for local stores like in years past.
Aid Stations: Plenty on the course with water and Gatorade. Also several misting stations as you ran by which was very refreshing and around mile 9/10 a station handing out soaking wet cool wash cloths for your neck/head/arms/etc. They do an excellent job with this.
Course Scenery: I always love it! You run across the Hoan Bridge and get a great look at Lake Michigan, then you are up on the bluffs later, coming down towards the beach; nice breezes at times and then the brief section where you run though some residential areas and the crowds of people cheering you on really provides a boost. And once again, the "happy go lucky fans" manning their own "aid station" handing out shots of Schiltz beer (this year I did take part in this.)
Elevation: Difficult parts again with the steady grueling climb up the Hoan Bridge and then the "big " hill by the Colectivo coffee shop, which I always find daunting.
Parking: No issues this year but that's because me and my brother in law took a ride sharing service to the starting point.
Race Management: Great. Plenty of email updates in the months leading up to the race and then every day on race week. Also, I have to give extra credit this year since for some reason I registered myself for this race twice this year, but they kindly refunded me one of my entries and it was the more expensive one too! I was appreciative of that.

I say this all the time; this is a fun race to run. Great after party with a band and beer (more food options were needed this year) but the amount of fun and happiness going on is great. Everyone supporting one another and having a good time while doing it. Plus this year had the added bonus of good weather!

Disclaimer: I was given free entry into this race for being a BibRavePro.

This was my first ever trail race and I have to admit, other than knowing it was on a trail, I had no idea what to expect. It was great and I look forward to signing up for another one in the future. The Bigfoot State Park in Lake Geneva was easy to find (thank God) which was beneficial since I was running slightly behind schedule. I arrived and parked with approximately 15 minutes before the start of the race. But everything from there went well and I made for the national anthem. The course itself was a mix of grass trail to dirt (some spots with mud) to a brief section of paved which was when you went through the campground area. Some slight inclines and declines and one part that crosses a somewhat narrow bridge. The course itself was a 5K loop that for the 10K folk, you ran twice.

T-shirts/SWAG: A water bottle was the "swag" for the race. A shirt would have been nice, tech or t-shirt. And I kind of was hoping for a medal, it being my first trail race. Might seem corny but I would have liked that instead of a bottle whose logo will fade over time.

Aid stations: Two per loop, water and nuun products being offered. Really cool that they used nuun instead of the traditional Gatorade, which I find too sugary.

Course Scenery: Beautiful. Simply beautiful. The race starts out with a great view of Lake Geneva, then you cross a little bridge and that leads into the woods and trails where you get a pleasant mix of sunlight and shadows. I also enjoyed running on the grassy parts while being surrounded by tall grass. Great experience for a trail race.

Expo: Packet pickup was at two different Fleet Feet stores in Illinois. Not really an expo per se.

Elevation: Some ups and downs, nothing too crazy and then there is one final "big" hill just ahead of the finish line, which the RAM Racing told me on Twitter would be a "sneaky surprise"

Parking: Easy as pie. Awesome that they parked you right near the start/finish line. All my gear and excess stuff close by; one of the easiest arrival experiences I've ever had at a race.

Race Management: Tons of updates and info blasts leading up to the race; weeks and weeks ahead of time. Zero questions leading up to the race. I thought RAM Racing put on a good trail race; I do wish there was a medal and that there was some sort of food at the finish. They only had water and more nuun beverages to try. There was a massage table area as well, but no food. Something would have been nice, not a lot, but something.

I was supposed to run this race with a friend who was just getting back into running and wanted an easy race to jump into, but, their training and preparation took a halt and they didn't recover in time to run. So I did it alone, like many of my races. The expo was non-existent; it was just a packet pickup. The location of the pickup was the same at the race day so it was beneficial to know where to go exactly of the starting point the next day. But I found it extremely annoying that the hour for pickup were from 4-8pm on a Friday in an area that is a pain to get to at that hour due to school and work traffic. Ugh!! The process was simple though so I appreciate that.
Now, the swag for this race is pretty sweet in my opinion. You get the T-shirt, which is your standard t-shirt, a coupon for money off at Performance Running Outfitters, a chaser glass (like for beer with your Bloody Mary) and a sweet medal with bacon and eggs on it! Also, at the post race party/brunch (brunch was something they recommended you sign up for if you wanted a specific time, but you could also just try to get in after the race at your own time risk) you had a choice of post race beer/Bloody Mary/mimosa/soda. I've never had a race where there were that many option for a free drink. And this after your water and banana at the finish line! I chose the beer and even that was not your normal "single option" beer. Since the race was at a beer garden, anything on tap was on a option. So, I actually had to think about it with a dozen choices up there. (I went with a Central Waters IPA, much better than the typical light beer that is served).
The course was nothing exciting but I knew that going in. It being only a 5K, the sidewalk trail that it was on wouldn't take us far before having to turn around to achieve the distance. The course was open, which normally I frown upon, but it wasn't an issue. Your amongst the trees so scenery is limited but at least the trees blocked out the road noise since heavily traveled roads are near by. One aid station, serving water, which I passed on having as I usually do for 5K races. Zero elevation, flat course but wide enough to pass people for the most part.
I know the course itself is not a huge selling factor but the swag and just the pleasantness of the post race party make this a race worth considering, especially if you just want a simple morning run with some sweet swag and post race alcohol.

This was my second time running this race and I enjoyed it much more this time. Being in better shape is part of the reason but not the only reason. I was able to go to the packet pickup which was at Performance Running Outfitters, a local running store, and while it wasn't a true expo, it was great to be at a location that sells so many awesome products. Aside from shoes to try on, they have various items ranging from Nuun products and Gatorade gels but also Buff wear and compression gear. So much stuff to peruse through after or before getting your packet.
Inside the packet was my bib, race shirt, and some sweet deals on future races and for the store itself. There was also some nice deals on the virtual goody bag. The only thing I wish this race had was a medal but I can't complain. It's an inexpensive race and proceeds go to the MACC fund, which is a great charity.
The course scenery is partially the village of Wauwatosa, WI but mostly through residential streets and along a parkway before heading back into Hart Park, where you also start. There is some elevation sections but nothing brutal, mostly subtle inclines and declines. There were two aid stations which I feel is appropriate for a 7K. The weather was chilly on this race day with a sharp wind cutting through my clothes but I had all my necessary gear to stay warm and have a good race. How good? A year ago I ran at a 8:38 mile pace; this year I was at a 7:40 mile pace. Huge improvement!
Race management is excellent. Plenty of emails sent to both of my accounts and Facebook notifications as well. Everything is laid out for you with ease.
As long as the calendar works out, I will most likely run this race again, if anything, for the party at the end. Two free green beers, bananas, mini Lucky Charms boxes, a fancy grilled cheese food truck and then the gathering at Leff's Lucky Town bar, one of the main sponsors of the run. And I love the different distance.