This was my first time racing the Scott County Family Y Turkey Trot, but I have watched in many times in the past. The 5 mile starts right in front of the YMCA and you immediately go up a rather steep and gradual hill, but lucky enough on the way back you go down the hill :). Once you are up on the hill you wind around Van Der Veer Park during the 3rd mile and then back down the last two miles. This year was the first year the race had a 5k. The only issue is for the people racing the 5 mile, you ended up weaving around the 5k runners that had already turned around. I ended up on the sidewalk trying to dodge around the 5k runners.

The Lederhosen 5k is a new race in the Quad Cities area and it was so much fun! The race course is scenic and right on the Mississippi Bike Path in Rock Island. The only thing is that it is a out and back with a sharp turn around. But, post race party is amazing! You get a free meal ticket and a flight of German Beer! Definitely would do this race again!!

The Freedom Run 5k, is organized by Joe Moreno. He puts on an amazing series of races in the Quad Cities Area. I enjoy all the races I complete that Joe organizes. The race supports our military and veterans. You are able to get customized dog tags, a drawstring bag and t-shirt. The post race party is filled with beer, food and music. The course climbs a large hill within the first mile. The second and part of the 3rd mile is spent on top of the hill in neighborhoods. Then you fly down a large hill to the finish in the last mile.

The Firecracker 5k/10k is a fun family event! Joe Moreno puts on a series of races in the Quad Cities area. After all of his races, he puts on a amazing after party with beer, food and music. The 5k course is a flat and fast course that takes you around neighborhoods in East Moline. However, I ran the 10k in 2015 and this is a challenging course with rolling hills! It has become a family tradition to lace up our shoes and head down in our red, white and blue!