This is the second race I've run that's been managed by FrogHops sports, the first being a 50K held at the same location in December. I arrived about an hour before my race, and there was plenty of parking very close to the start/finish line. Packet pickup was quick and easy, and was very organized. This race is located in a very nice forest preserve that has nice indoor heated bathrooms to use before the race (although they are a bit of a hike from the start line). The race started about 5 minutes early, although they had the speakers facing away from the racers so I didn't even hear when the race had started. However, once the race started, the route was clearly marked with bright pink arrows. The course was three 5K loops, and I appreciated those arrows on the last loop when there were very few of us on the course. While this isn't a huge race and there was very little crowd support on the course, there was a decent crowd at the finish line cheering you on every time you passed through at the end of a loop. There was plenty of post-race food, and the aid stations were placed perfectly (although I wish they had bigger cups). You do get a medal and a cotton t-shirt as swag. I would definitely do this race again and would recommend others run it as well.

I signed up for this race because I needed to run a 5K to get pacing times for my upcoming marathon training. I signed up about 3 weeks before the race, knowing that the race was about an hour away from me. I showed up at 8:30 for a 10 AM race, wanting to get my packet before the race. (I always appreciate day-of packet pickup!) It was held at a very large Lifetime Fitness center, and I walked in to the front lobby and inquired about where packet pickup was. I was told by the front desk people that it was at the activity center...and then the people went back to work. I had to ask where exactly the activity center was, and then I got some strange looks. A young man directed me down a hallway, which is where I went next. When I got to the activity center desk, I told a young lady I was there for packet pickup. She silently went to a back room and got the goody bag and handed it to me. I then asked where the starting line was, and got another weird look... "Out back," she said, with a "duh" implied. Then she directed me towards a computer where they were handing out bibs. Now, I'm used to races that, when you sign up 3 weeks in advance, your bib is already registered and in your goody bag. They were registering bibs to people that day, and there was a problem with the system - it wasn't allowing them in to do that. Kudos to the young man at the desk for getting some paper to record names and bib numbers while still handing out bibs, but this struck me as very disorganized. Then I went out back to where the starting line was, and watched them struggle to put up the start/finish arch (looks like they eventually gave up on that). I went back inside, wandering around for a bit and finally seeing signs that said Gym #1 was closed due to the 5K festivities, but there were no signs directing anyone not familiar with the place to that gym. I guess that's my biggest beef with this race - it felt like I was already supposed to know what was going on because it was assumed anyone running was a member of that facility. There were no signs or no explanations given at packet pickup, which is what you usually get at a well-run race. When I got another "duh-implied" answer from the same woman regarding where the gym was we could wait in, I got fed up and left and ran my 5K at home. I can't stand a disorganized race and borderline rude people. I will never sign up for this race ever again.