Latest reviews by Kelli

(2016)
"A World Class event from start to finish..."
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This was a first-time event held in Canada and did not disappoint. With over 2000 participants racing various distances from the 3K short course on Friday, the 15K course on Saturday and two options for Sunday a Team Relay and a 7K charity event. Each distance offered a variety of obstacles from 15 to 48 challenges spread out over the mountainside. There was a cut off for the 15K of 5 hours where racers would DNF. Great finishers medals in white, blue, green and black. Some brave racers chose to do all 4 to fill their weekend with epic athletic energy. This was a well-organized event and there were little to no lineups excluding the merchandise tent. Blue Mountain resort was an excellent venue located in Collingwood, Ontario. Racers had to qualify to participate by either best time or having completed a set number of OCRs throughout the year. It was a great mix of athletes and even the weather held out until the final day. Make a Wish was the charity from the Sunday event and costumed racers came out to tackle the mountain for a good cause. Overall highly recommended for those looking for a challenging course and a goal for 2017. Rumour has it, it is returning to Blue Mountain for a second year. SWAG was a bit expensive and highly recommend the Sunset Grill for breakfast located right on site -YUM. We stayed at the Blue Mountain Inn a 5 minute walk from the main venue and great clean updated rooms.

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(2016)
"Foamy Family Fun"
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We arrived early and decided to tackle one of the first few heats out. Registration was easy online and there was no problem picking up our race bib, with little to no lineups. Each racer got a bib, pins, and tattoo and parking was available right on site. The ski hill is located in a small town called Mont St. Bruno and it is a beautiful location with small town charm and great vista views. Heats were released often so we only had about 8-9 minutes to wait until the MC released us up the mountainside. Foam funnels sprayed the racers as they giggled with glee and dared fellow racers to stand under the foam for a count of 10. Spectators could follow the racers along the base of the course and get some great photos of the foamy fun. The course looped its way around and up the side of the mountain and gently wove it's way in and out of the wooded areas. Music was played throughout the mountain and there were even air filled obstacles at the top, a nice surprise with generators brought up the mountain to power the giant slides. A few obstacles needed a bit more of an incline to get the racers moving down them but each one had 1-2 dedicated volunteers that kept racers motivated while they trudged back up the mountainside. It was well laid out and had great variety. A very family friendly event. As you approached the giant slide near the end you could hear screams of glee as racers dashed down the over 100' slide with a terrifying thrill. Medics were available on site and also drove the sidelines on ATVs to ensure everyone's safety. At the finish line, there were free photo opportunities and each racer received their finisher medal and towel. Chapmans was on site and gave out free popsicles. Change areas and hose off stations were well managed with no line-ups, same with the port-o-potties that were located at the base and 1/2 way point along with the water stations. When we left it had gotten much busier and the line up for race kit pick up/registration extended down the full driveway of the mountainside. It is recommended to get there early to avoid lengthy wait times. We had no delays on the obstacles, but later on it in the day, this wait time increased. Overall, an excellent event, great for the kids and kids-at-heart. Thanks to the wonderful volunteers and fab medics!

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(2016)
"Big Bubble Blah...."
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We headed up to the Rideau Racetrack early Saturday morning and easily found the racetrack using our IPhone GPS. There was plenty of parking on site and it was free...an added bonus! We quickly got checked in and were given our wristband and headed to get our white tech tee and blue logo sunglasses. We then had about 45 minutes to wait until the 1000 a.m. heat. There appeared to be some set up still going on so we headed over to a small car show and browsed the classic automobiles. They had music playing and raffle tickets and it was fun to browse the small vendor village of pet supplies, jewelry, and automotive cleaning products. We then toured inside the racetrack and took advantage of the indoor washrooms. It was a bit cool so we added a layer and headed back towards the well-signed start line. Monster was there to sponsor the event and was handing out free samples along with Muscle Milk and Slow Cow. the race was to start at 10 but there appeared to be a bit of a delay. The MC tried to keep racers entertained and then a yoga professional led everyone through a sequence of stretching exercises but she lost the crowd half way through as it was difficult to see and hear her and we were crammed in at the start line with little room to spread out. The kids loved the foamy start line and by 1025 we were ready to start the event. This is a family friendly flat course marked with pylons and spray paint along the route. It is an out and back loop along gravel/paved trails lined by woods. There were a few additional foam stations along the course and a water station around the 1/2 way point. Volunteers were on site and cheered people on at various points. At the finish line racers received a water (ours was really warm) and a sample of Muscle Milk and Slow Cow to drink. Children could play in the large plastic bubble balls and see what it was like to bounce around the field and bonk each other playfully, seemed to be a popular activity for the younger families. It was a smaller crowd and they offered heats between 10 and 12. There were a few food vendors on site and places to eat your snacks on outdoor picnic tables. It was nice that there were 2 events running at the same location. But it is for a younger crowd and those who have never done a road race or want to get the family out for something a bit different.

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(2016)
"Muddy Family Fun"
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This was the second year for this event. And the course itself was much more fun. Registration was easy online however racers stated they were unable to locate the waiver so there was a lineup at the registration desk for those having to fill out the form. A few people seemed to have them already completed but I am uncertain how they received them in advance. Everyone who raised 150.00 received a 'free' t-shirt and it was a nice vee neck tech tee in mint green. There was ample parking on site and you could park VIP for an additional $5.00. The event was held to support the Canadian Cancer Society and had approx. 800 participants including 150 mini-mudders that got to participate in a condensed version of the adult course. Men could race at the end of the day for an additional cost and then volunteers were offered the opportunity to race the last heat as they swept the course for stragglers. The weather held out for much of the day and we only had a few showers on and off until the very end of the day when it poured incessantly. The course covered a 5K figure 8 and offered many traditional obstacles, such as over/under's, crawls, walls, carries, climbs, a few spider webs, lots of cargo net crawls and some great mud pits. The SUP crossing was a nice touch to cross the small river and then you looped back and into a large road pipe that went under and back towards the river and it had some shorter racers swimming towards the shore and into the mucky ditch to carry on. There were a few more obstacles in the woods as we looped back towards the main vendor village. There they had the final slide into a muddy pit and you were gladly hosed off by the waiting Kingston Fire department who also participated in the fun and kept racers wet from start to finish. There was a nice finishers medal and sliced fruit and water with a water station at the 1/2 mark along the course. The course itself was well marked this year and was clearly visible. The vendors had some interesting booths set up and there were a few raffles offered and prizes for largest donations gathered by racers and largest teams. Some people chose to wear costumes which added to the festivities. The mini mudder course was well received and offered a challenge to racers 5-13 years old. Parents could run along beside their children and cheer them on towards the finish line. There were top 3 prizes for each age category. Some sponsors at the event were Cardiac Science, Attention Getters, BioPed -who took shoe donations to give to Soles4Souls for those in need and of course Sunlife one of the main sponsors. A fairly flat course, family friendly with ample change rooms and port-o-potties on site. Average swag bag with toothpaste, Gatorade and flyers. Recommendations: better signage at registration, when checking in, provide SWAG bag directly without sending racers to a secondary table and decrease the amount of time between heats to keep racers engaged along the course. Also, do not have everyone wear a life jacket to cross the river, just have it optional for those who request it as it caused quite a delay at that one obstacle.

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(2016)
"Into the Jungle we go...."
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Well, for a first-time event it went quite well. With approx. 370 racers, the race was a success with donations going to a local park. There was a 5K and 9K option for racers and it looped out and back through a small town called Smiths Falls. This course is a flat course and offered numerous obstacles including full-size train engines, a river, over and under's, mud, crawls, and climbs. A small vendor village was available and there were indoor facilities in the local arena. Parking was free and easily accessible on site. The local firemen helped out with water and the event was supported by numerous local companies and corporations. There were door prizes and each participant received a large medal and cotton tee. A very family-friendly event. Volunteers were in short supply and more were needed for various locations. A good blend of urban landscape and man-made obstacles kept racers actively engaged throughout the course. Local residents provided small water stations along the route and there was a nice children's play area at the main venue to entertain a younger crowd.
Recommendations: more signage, more volunteers, needed one more water station due to the excessive heat and medic tent was not clearly visible if it was on site? A good start for a first-year event and some room for improvement for the years ahead. For any train lovers, this is a must do as it has runners in and out of full-size engines at the Railways of Eastern Ontario Museum...very unique!

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