This year was the inaugural race and for a small local race, I couldn't have asked for anything better! Everything was well organized and the staff was awesome! RunAway Shoes always does a fabulous job on any events that they put together, and this one was par for the course!

Prerace: was awesome that the local coffee shop (where packet pickup was also held) was welcoming to all the runners who were looking for someplace warm to hang out before the race started!

The best part of the race it the beautiful scenery. The race starts out with a run over the bridge and river and then heads into the quiet residential street of Appleton. Granted part of the race does go through residential neighborhoods, but this also gave opportunity for specator support along the way! I was happy to see a number of locals, sitting out in their yards on cold Saturday morning to cheer on several hundred runners! A large portion follows local trails and the River, the the scenery made for a fabulous fall race!

We didn't actually stock around for the post race food as the line to get into the tent was longer than what we wanted to wait in, but from what I heard, the post race feast was fabulous.

This race is part of a series and the second one will be held in Green Bay in April (Badger State 10k).

This year marked the 20th annual running of this race and was a must run on my bucket list for 2015! The race did not disappoint, Mother Nature could have however been a little more cooperative! This was my first trip to the island in 17 years and a 1st time adventure for my best running friend that was joining me! Race expo, although small, had everything that you needed (including Body Glide - not a good thing to forget at home!).

I was fortunate to get a room on the island, at Mission Point, which was "race central" for the weekend, as well as right at the start/finish line for the race. Convenience brings on new meaning when we get to the actual race on Saturday! Packet pick up was well organized and the staff was extremely helpful!

Saturday morning was a little different, since the half doesn't actually start until 11:45am. I can only assume that there are 2 reason for this - 1) there is not enough lodging on the island for all race participants, so they need to give those racers time to take the ferry's over from the mainland and 2) One never knows what the weather in October in Northern Michigan will bring, so starting later gives a little opportunity for slightly warmer weather than at 7am!

At the start of the race it was overcast and we knew that it was going to rain. What we didn't anticipate was the pouring rain for the first 3 miles of the race! About the same time the rain stopped, we turned off the paved roads and hit the trail! Yes, that meant mud, and water everywhere! The serenity and beauty of the island were everywhere and part of the course actually takes you right through the residential areas of town, along the bluffs overlooking town and through the quiet woods. In the end, even with the tough running conditions, I finished within 5 minute so my half PR, so I will never complain!

This was by far one of the toughest half marathons that I did, once you combined the weather plus the elevation and terrain, but I would love to run this again! Hills don't scare me and I want to come back again and see what I can do when Mother Nature might be a little more cooperative!

When my running partner came back from this race in 2014, he right away said he wanted to go back and do it again the following year - and I needed to come with him! So, we signed up that same week to get the best price on our registration! (they opened registration for the week after the 2014 race to sign up early for 2015!)

Then we had to wait almost an entire year to actually make the trip!

Lodging: There are several hotels within walking distance to the start line! Just be sure to book early to get your choice hotel! We booked early and were able to get a room at the Marriott, which is right across the street from the Convention Center where packet pickup is located (there is actually a skywalk to get to the Convention Center so you don't have to worry about crossing a busy street!). the start line was a block over, on the opposite side of the hotel!

Expo/Packet-pickup: packet pickup on Friday afternoon was quick and easy! I think we both had our packets in a matter of minutes. It helped that we got there early, and most people were still at work. We then spent some time wandering through the expo, which was HUGE! I could have easily spend hours checking out all the fun stuff!

Race Day: Since we were staying so close to the start finish line, we were awake bright and early with all the music and festivitie... guess it was a good thing we were already awake and getting ready to run! We got dressed, grabbed so food (supply of banana's, almonds and other goodies we had in our room) and headed down to join the party!

This was definitely this largest race I have ever run! last I saw, this was listed as the 2nd largest half marathon in the country, but who knows, it might even be back on the top again! Once you get out from the immediate downtown area, the course majority of the course is through residential and industrial areas of town, and the course support is amazing! Between the various bands on the corners to people cheering from the sidewalks, there was virtually support everywhere!

Of course, the thing everyone looks forward to with this race is the lap that you get to take around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! Keep in mind tho, there don't allow any food/gels to be consumed while you are on the speedway, so if you are going to need fueling during that stretch, you need to take care of it before you head in, or wait until after! There is one water station inside the speedway, just after you come off the front stretch. As you head up the front stretch, be sure to slow down and enjoy the moment and take a photo or two - I mean, how many times will you have the chance to be ON THE TRACK here at Indy? Many people were stopping to get photo's of themselves kissing the bricks etc, but since we took a Speedway Tour the day before, we just grabbed a few photos and kept going.

With this race being early in May, you never really know what kind of weather you are going to get. It was pleasant and cool when we started, but by the time we were approaching the last 3 miles of the race, it was starting to get warm. I was grateful for Matt, who kept me moving forward and pushing me to keep going. Part of me just wanted to be done, so I kept moving forward!

After crossing the finish line, getting out medals and bag of treats we headed to the part to meet up with the rest of our group. We didn't stick around the post race party too long as we needed to get showered and hit the road back north.

Over all, loved running the speedway and Indianapolis is a beautiful city to explore!

I can't say enough about this race! Love the course support and being able to run past so many fun places in Milwaukee (although the "aroma" as you run past the casino in the morning is a quick wakeup call!)

Packet pickup is just that... packet pickup with a few booths set up promoting other races around Wisconsin. But it is at Miller Park so that's always a plus!

The race starts and ends in the parking lot at Miller Park, so parking is not an issue on race day.

This was the 1st year that I ran this race and I knew right away that it would not be my last. Yes, part of the half marathon course goes through some of the older parts of the city, but it also goes past the casino, the Harley Davidson museum, through the property at Miller Brewing company and then through Miller Park before you get to the finish line!

For my complete review, check out my blog post here:
http://crazyhamster.run/2014/10/hello-miller-park-brewers-mini-marathon.html

We looked forward to this race for over 6 months.
First official girls weekend for us
1st half marathon for 1 of the ladies I traveled with.

If I were to have based running another half marathon ever again on THIS race, I probably would have stopped running after this weekend.

The expo as well as the start/finish line were all in the same area, at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Expo/packet pickup: Packet pick up was quick and easy. The swag was awesome and I love the jacket!
The expo was very small (maybe 5 vendors) and I can honestly say I spent virtually NOTHING!

Race Day: We were staying downtown and opted to take a cap to the start line, instead of walking almost a mile. We arrived in the part with plenty of time to get some group photos at the start line, relax, do some stretching and drop off our stuff at great check.

Once the race started, it quickly went downhill from there. It started out as a col morning, but ended up being a very warm day and we hit the first water station at about mile 2, just before we headed out onto the paved trail along the waterfront. This was an open trail and I quickly lost count on how many times I was nearly run over by bikers, roller bladers or other runners (who were not part of the event). The next 6 miles were HOT... and there was virtually NO breeze off the lake!

In the end, there were 3 water stations on the course (one you ran pace twice) and that was not nearly enough for as warm as it was that day. I talked to one runner who actually stopped to ask someone in one of the parks if she could BUY a bottle of water off him!

The other disappointment... the race advertized that their sexy male calendar models would be at the finish line for photos. Close but not really. There was ONE helping pass out finishers charms at the finish line and then 2 in the post race celebration area.

We stayed long enough to get a few photos, drink our champagne and catch a cab back to the hotel.

Sorry Women Rock, these ladies will NOT be coming back to Chicago!

For my full race recap and weekend adventures, check out the CrazyHamster Blog here: http://crazyhamster.run/2014/10/chicago-running-good-friends-and-ice.html