This is probably my 5th year running the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell 5K at the Cantigny estate in Wheaton, IL. This is a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation, a great cause. There is early packet pickup but race day pickup is so easy and parking so readily available that it really isn't necessary to make a trip and do it early. This year's shirt is a bright green, long sleeved cotton t-shirt. I know that a lot of people want tech shirts, but I love that this is a cotton shirt that I can wear throughout the holiday season. The goody stocking also included a key ring with a light and a couple jingle bells for the run.

This year's weather was perfect with temps in the low 30's, a heavy cloud cover, little or no wind and no precipitation. The course is a loop, run twice, around the beautiful Cantigny estate. Nothing particularly exciting about the course but there is a pretty big (by midwest standards) hill that appears near the end of each loop.

This race is so well run and everyone is so happy that it is a must do. There are a lot of snacks available before and after, age group awards, costume awards and this year, photos with Santa. My run club always has a big group attend and it seems very festive. This year, I finally got 2nd place in my age group!

Early pricing for the Frigid 5K was just $25. Same day packet pickup, a nice hoodie, a 5K, great hot chocolate and a nice warm place to congregate before and after the run. Can't ask for much more.

The course for this race is 2 loops around a small park and a middle school with a narrow section on a sidewalk. Not a very interesting course but if you run it with a friend you might not even notice. It's just a good opportunity to get outside on a Sunday morning and do a no hassle event -- no parking fees, not a big crowd, a no stress run.

The after party for this event was really well run with great hot chocolate and a fixin's bar, including whipped cream, along with bagels, bananas, muffins and gatorade. I love small events, the food is good and the fun is huge!!

In 2016 this race was held on October 23rd rather than in November. I ran the Chicago Marathon on October 9th and probably shouldn't have even signed up for the half, but this race starts less than 4 miles from my home. It's a must do for me just because of the location.

This year the race organizers did not include any swag in the base price of the race. If you wanted a race shirt, hoodie, jacket or hat, you had to pay more at the time you registered for this race. I worked Friday packet pickup and many people who did not order anything either forgot that or liked what they saw at the expo but there was no additional opportunity to buy the race swag. I like the idea of paying for the swag separately but this race is pretty expensive (even in the early months) to not include at least a rudimentary race shirt. I'm pretty sure that by the time I registered, and all the discounts were pretty much over, I paid $90 for the race and another $10 for the shirt. That is very expensive for a half marathon. I justified it by the fact that I didn't need to drive far or pay for parking. Parking in Naperville on Sunday is available at many locations including the streets.

This year's half marathon race course ran through the more central and northern neighborhoods of Naperville. It was a lovely suburban course through beautiful neighborhoods in fall color. The crowds are not like Chicago but still lots of families out cheering and people in their driveways drinking coffee and cheering on the runners. I also really liked that streets were properly closed and volunteers made everything safe. At no point in the race were we dodging traffic.

The medals for this race are very nice and if you run the Fox Valley Marathon or run this race multiple years there are bigger medals available -- but you must sign up for them when you register.

One big criticism of this race is the after party. For the past two years, instead of having beer available after the race, the drink ticket will get you a beer at a number of local establishments. After the race, the last thing I want to do is go someplace else in my stinky running clothing for a beer. I know local establishments must love this to bring people in to spend money and the race organizers must love it because they don't have to buy or deal with the beer but as a participant, it stinks!! Also, for the price of this race, I expect more from the food tent than what I get at any local 5K. Seriously, quarter bagels (with no spreads), NUUN/water is small cups, bananas, granola bars. If beer isn't available, at least some kind of soda or something would be nice. As far as I could tell, no one really hung out after the race because of this. The after party needs serious work.

In conclusion, I really only run this one because it is local. It's a nice course and the swag is nice if you pay for it.

This was my fourth year running the Lisle Turkey Trot Tuneup the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Unlike the Naperville Turkey Trot which attracts over 7500 runners, this is a small event with fewer than 200 runners.

Up until 2 years ago, the swag was a nice cotton hoodie. Now it is a short sleeved tech shirt and nothing to get excited about. Packet pickup is easy either a couple days early or on the morning of the event. This race starts at the Lisle HS so there is plenty of parking and a nice warm place to wait for the run to start. In addition, there is coffee and bagels available before the race and a few local vendors to talk to.

The course runs through a business complex and then through a local park, including a spin around a pond. It's a nice course but nothing challenging or special about it. After the race, there are age group awards and more coffee, bananas and this year, inexplicably, everyone received a package of Hawaiin bread rolls.

I love this race. For me, it starts off the holiday season. It is easy all the way around.

This was my 2nd year running the Waterfall Xtreme 10 race and I will definitely run it next year too. I signed up for the race last December at a deeply discounted price of $45. That's $45 for 10 miles, a really nice race shirt, and good beer after the race. If you wait until the last minute, this race will cost $85. Get in on it early.

The weather was perfect this year with cool morning temperatures and a mostly clear sky. This race is in July folks and it can be brutal. We lucked out this year with glorious weather. The Waterfall Glen Trail is all crushed limestone which is easy to run on and there are a number of hills, including the infamous Big Bertha which climbs 125' in half a mile. Not big hills for those who live in hill country, mountains for us flatlanders. The first quarter mile of the race and the last half mile of the race is run on grass. It is the one thing about this race that I really don't like. The end of the run is particularly hard as it runs through some fairly deep grass with ruts... it's short but miserable.

This year, the race was not one of the CARA circuit races so the crowd was smaller than in 2015. For me, it was a great improvement. The trail wasn't crowded and there was a nice friendly vibe. Some of those CARA circuit runners are animals and it is all about the win... even if it means ruining the fun of running.

My only complaint is there needs to be at least one more water station on the course. For us slower runners, 2.5 miles between water stations is just too long on a hot summer day. I carry my water at this race but prefer not to do so. Actually, two more water stations would make it ideal.

Great race and lots of fun!