Latest reviews by Ali

(2016)
"Dick Lytie Spring Classic - Hills, Hills, & more Hills"
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So let’s dive into the meat and potatoes of the Dick Lytie. This race is notorious for being tough. With portions of the course along the bay it can be extremely windy and chilly. To top things off there are several hills to tackle…thankfully what goes up does come down and the reward for climbing a hill is the descend on the return to the golf course. For the most part this is an out and back course with a few twists and turns mixed into to keep things interesting. Keeping with the tradition that Dick Lytie started many years ago the course is virtually the same as it was when he 1st set out to create a challenge to runners with lots of hills, few water stops, and little fanfare. I knew what I was in for as I have run this event twice before.

The first hill came a little over a mile into the race. It is a winding road that pops out onto one of the main entrances into campus. Being that I was a graduate of UWGB I had taken this road many times, so I knew it well. A water station was located at the bottom of the hill which was a nice touch for runners before they took on this 1st hill. I knew that getting to the top of the hill would require me to slow a bit, but that it was doable to run almost all of it. The next mile was flat until we hit a downhill, but do not be fooled that is not going to be it. There were more hills to come. We snaked through the backside of campus that is adjacent to a residential area to then turn onto a road along the bay. The winds by this point had not disappointed, they were swirling and strong but not consistently in our face. I was pleasantly surprised there more aid stations than in previous events and the volunteers were AWESOME! The next 5 miles flew by. Mile 10 was flat and an opportunity to pick up speed and mile 11 would be downhill has we looped back towards campus. The last hill to tackle came at mile 12.5 as we pushed to the finish.

Crossing the finish line I stopped my watch and was shocked – a 1/2 marathon PR for this runner! Not what I expected for this course. The minor changes with more aid stations and volunteers on the course was a wonderful additional. The course was well marked and easy to follow all adding to a great race experience. I'll be back again next year!

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(2016)
"Seroogy's Valentine's 15k"
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I have run the Seroogy’s 15k on and off for almost 9 years if I was in town. The weekend often fell on the same date as the WACPC State Dance competition and coaching did not allow me to be there. Since retiring I have been at the Seroogy’s 2 years in a row now and one thing I have come to expect from this event is that it is always a unique experience. The weather in Wisconsin is always a gamble this time of year and you prep with several layers in mind. Last year the weather was beautiful – rather warm in the mid-30s, this year the temperature was a bit cooler at 25 degrees. The skies were clear with not a flake of snow in sight so dealing with the chilly temps was not a big deal.

The race started with the playing of the National Anthem, a few announcements, and we were off. All runners began at the same time (both 5k & 15k) which caused a congestion until the race split at the 2 mile mark. I am all for races being welcoming of paces of run/walkers, but it would have been nice to have the runners split up so that faster runners would not have to bob and weave wasting time and energy. I am not one to complain so and not speak up, so I will send a message off to the RD and hope that this is changed for next year. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a speed demon, but I do like to get a good stride down as soon as possible in a race so that I can settle in and run comfortably without fear of colliding with others and possibly getting injured.

I love this course. The 1st mile travels slightly up hill for about 500 feet and then flattens out as you turn into the St Norbert Abby. The 2nd mile pops you out back onto the road and takes you down the main drag in DePere. It is always nice to have cars honking and the college students cheering as you continue on to the split. Mile 3 takes you slightly up hill for about 200 feet and then you coast downhill for the next mile (many forget that your return up this hill, not me…I was going to be ready for it). Miles 4 through 6 takes you out and through Green Isle park and then starts to turn you back towards the start. Mile 7-8 are back up the hill. The final mile is slightly down hill for 800 feet with the one little hill and a turn toward the finish. Up to that point the course was easy to traverse, but the last 200 feet were slick. I was quite unsure of my footing and had to slow a bit to place each step more carefully…not what I wanted to do, I felt good and wanted to open up at the finish.

DuTriRun puts on excellent events and brings in wonderful volunteers. I ran the Noodleini 15k earlier this year and look forward to running the Oshkosh Marathon that they host in April.

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(2016)
"Icebreaker Indoor Marathon Relay "
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I have done a few relay events in my day and one thing I have come to know is that you are going to have fun if you run with friends...no matter where you are! In the case of this Saturday the relay event was held indoors (in Wisconsin all bets are off for good weather in the middle of winter) around a 445 meter track. The Pettit Center is famous for being the training grounds for world class skaters, but this weekend it was all about running as hundreds of individuals from all over the US converged on Milwaukee. With only 3 lanes available participation for the Icebreaker Indoor events (5k, 1/2 marathon, Relay Marathon, Solo Marathon) was limited and spread over 3 days.

Which brings me to my participation in the weekend...I had heard through the Oiselle Volee grapevine that birds had flocked to Milwaukee in the past to run as a team. Not to repeat myself but if you have never done a relay running event you are missing out, they are so much FUN! I jumped at the chance to hang out with fellow birds. We converged on the Pettit like no other group and brought the heat as well. When all was said and done 2 of our 6 teams made the podium...not only are these women the kindest, most beautiful runners on the planet (IMHO), but also FAST!

Being that we had to complete 96 laps our Oiselle teams adopted a pretty basic strategy...2 laps each per set. Timing was done old school with ankle monitors (think Lindsey Lohan style). At 1st the "hand off" or switching of the bracelet was a challenge but teams picked it up and began to move with stealth-like efficiency. Food, Nuun, and laughter was in abundant supply all day as we tacked on the laps. Before you knew it the day was over and all the birds took to the track for a final lap to cap off the day.

What a great way to start out the year! #FlyFastStayWarm

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(2016)
"Icebreaker Indoor Marathon"
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It has been a few years since I have run on an indoor track...like 20 years (don't judge, I'm aware that was forever ago). When I had the opportunity to join a group of fellow Oiselle Volee Bird runners for the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon Relay I could not pass up the chance to run the full marathon the next day. As with many of my races registrations I sign up 1st then investigate the details later. In the case of this event I was unaware of how many laps would need to be covered to make up 26.2 miles. The realization hit me that I would be traveling around the same course 96 times. At that moment I wondered...what have I gotten myself into?!?!?! I reached out to my runner friends for advice and also joined the Icebreaker Facebook page. Boy am I happy I did both of those things. I was given fantastic advice and highly entertained by the posts on Facebook. As the date of this event grew closer I became more excited to participate, but nothing could have prepared me for the unique experience I was about to encounter!

To provide a little background let me 1st layout the weekend events. Friday evening the 5k event was held and participants were able to pick up their bibs and packets, however runners had to return the day of their event for their chip ankle bracelet (think Lindsey Lohan style). Saturday, the busiest of the 3 days, consisted of the half marathons and relay races. To start the day off the 1st wavy of half marathoners got going at 7am, the second wave of half marathoners started at 9:30am, and awards were held at 10am. This sounds insane but went surprisingly smooth. Kudos to the race director Chris Ponteri and his crew (which included his adorable wife), these individuals know how to put together an amazing event! The energy in the packet pick up room and on the track was upbeat and fun...party atmosphere from start to finish. As the half marathoners cleared out the day ramped as relay teams rolled in for the afternoon marathon event. The 445 track at the Pettit National Ice Center only has 3 lanes so to keep things running smoothly each event was limited in the number of slots available. In the case of the relay there were 100 spots available. I participated on one of the 6 Oiselle teams running roughly 6 miles. I had a blast! Teams dressed in crazy outfits and kept the party going well into the afternoon. But this was not it, there was still another day of racing yet to come.

That brings me to the marathon on Sunday. I was already in Milwaukee and had been building miles in preparation for the Phoenix Marathon next month, the option of doing my long run this weekend indoors but not on a treadmill was quite appealing. You never know what Wisconsin winter weather will be like from one week to the next, on the off chance that it would not be possible to run outdoors I decided to pull the trigger and sign up for the Icebreaker Marathon. (On a side note the temps outside were almost as warm as they were indoors. Mother Nature sure is comical and unpredictable!) I digress, back to the marathon. The race was scheduled to start at 8am. I arrived to pick up my chip and race packet at 7:30am and found I had plenty of time to get ready. When I opened up my packet to pull out my bib I could not have been happier...lucky number 7! That was my tryout number in high school when I was on the dance team at Oconto Falls. The Chris had seen this nugget of knowledge posted in a Twitter chat and pulled it for me. Such a nice touch and very appreciated. Just another reason why I LOVE events put on by this RD and look forward to participating in many more throughout the upcoming year (check out Lake Michigan Marathon & Milwaukee Running Festival you will not be disappointed).

With my bib attached, my shoes laced up, and one last bathroom stop I was ready to go. The race began with the playing of the National Anthem and a few quick instructions. Runners lined up and at 8:05am we were off. With so many runners you would think that it would be a mad house on the track, again there are only 3 lanes, but everyone followed the rules. Slower runners stayed to the outside lane, middle lane was for passing, and inside lane the speedy runners. At no point did I run into any problems or have to bob and weave around others. Head phones were not allowed, which initially freaked me out...I love my music! This though was covered by the crew who had tunes pumping throughout the day. When runners registered for the event they were asked to list a song they would like to hear, this created a very eclectic mix all day long. The announcer was also a hoot. He keep runners on their toes and up to date with the laps they had left. I'm a huge fan of laid back races and this one fit the bill. I was able to bring my own hydration (Tailwind Nutrition - Raspberry Buzz & Lemon mix) and bottles (Orange Mud - handheld). Not only Earth friendly, but also I know what works for me and did not have to worry about getting an upset stomach. The volunteers at the hydration table were AMAZING! They were on top of what runners needed and were so supportive. I looked forward to coming around the back of the track to engage with them. In addition runners could put their supplies around the track and grab what they needed with ease. I was able to get my gloves when my hands got cold, use my inhaler and not have to carry it with me (which is a pain in the neck), and grab my Run Gum when I needed a little boost. These little details may not mean a lot to everyone, but to me they made this marathon one of my favorites and I've done a few (this was #14). I almost forgot to mention the easy access to bathrooms. I didn't need to use them, but if I had they were in ample supply. The Pettit had traditional bathrooms close to the finish line and also 2 Port-a-Potties at the turns on both sides of the track. All these options meant no lines!

When I posted that I had completed this event I received many congrats messages, but also a ton of questions...the most popular being - "Didn't you get bored?" No, actually didn't get bored. You would think 96 laps would drive a person bonkers, but in such small quarters you get to know the runners around you and striking up conversations help to get through the miles with ease. I spent a good portion of the first 10 miles catching up with a runner I had met at the Elroy Apple Dumpling Marathon in September 2015. It was great to hear about what he was up to and how his marathon was going. He is the RD for the Gandy Dancer Trail Marathon in Luck, WI. Eric also introduced me to the two runners he had come to Milwaukee with to participate in this event. After 10 miles we all settled in to our individual paces and split up, but often found each other around the track as we progressed through the next 16 miles. It was always nice to see a familiar face and touch base even if it was for a brief minute, that broke the monotony of the laps. I'll be honest this was not my fastest marathon 4:51, but it was a ton of fun and to me that means a lot. I continue to meet amazing runners as I embark on my goal of completing 40 marathons before I turn 40 years old. I would highly recommend that if you have the chance to try an indoor event you do so...very different from what I expected, but in a GREAT way! So far 2016 is off to a epic start. Onto the next adventure.

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(2015)
"Fun way to #burnthebird & everything else you ate for Thanksgiving!"
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Great event with the option of a 5k or 15k. This is an event to raise funds for a local high school sports program and managed by both volunteers & the DuTriRun company. It was a cold morning (20 degrees), but sunny. I appreciated that the high school was open for runners to collect in prior to the race so that my friend and I could stay as warm as possible. We both choose the 15k option. The course was beautiful and minimally challenging. Volunteers at the aid stations were friendly and encouraging. The day could not have been more perfect. In WI you come to expect cooler temperatures in November, but all bets are off for snow to be flying. The fact that the sun was shining helped to make for an enjoyable experience. I will be back next year for sure!

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