This was the first time I had signed up to run the IceBreaker. I thought about doing the Half last year, but I thought of it way too late and it was already full. Since I have a Half coming up in two weeks, I didn't see the need to do the IceBreaker Half this year (plus I didn't want to run all the laps), so the 5k it was!

T-Shirt/SWAG - I loved the shirt for the race. Design was excellent. Color was excellent. It runs a little big, but overall I have zero complaints about the shirt for this race. The only negative on it (and I'm really nitpicking here) is that it just says Indoor Marathon. So it gives the impression I ran an absurd amount of laps for an indoor marathon. I don't mind, but having some indication that there was a 5k and Half wouldn't be the worst idea. But again, totally nitpicking.

Aid Stations - Ok, technically there was an aid station, but do you really need one for a 5k? I would argue no. But anyway, there is a table set up so that if you have water or drinks you need during the race, they will be there. A nice idea and a good way to allow runners to grab fluids when they need to. If I was running one of the longer races, it would have been amazing to have this.

Course Scenery - You see the same thing 11-12 times in the 5k, so not much scenery here obviously. But still, watching the speed skaters fly around the ice was fun. And then keeping an eye out for the free skaters. What if one went barreling over the side and onto the track? Who knows. So I guess while the "scenery" per se, wasn't great, there was plenty to keep your attention as to not get bored.

Expo - Surprisingly good! Packet pick-up is only on Friday night, so right before the race for those of us running the 5k. There were some booths for local races, which frankly was more than I expected. Plus there were some additional booths away from packet pick-up that I didn't explore. I know New Balance was there with some of their new shoe models.

Elevation - It's an indoor track...so no elevation.

Parking - Super easy. The Pettit has a huge parking lot in front. Find a place to park and do so. Very, very easy.

Race Management - These guys have been doing it for a while, so this race is well run. From packet pick-up to the actual organizing a race on a 3 lane track, this was excellent.

Overall - Superb experience. I hadn't run an indoor race since high school. I still don't like it. But this was a good experience! The race flew by, and it never really seemed like we were running 11 and a quarter laps. I would definitely do this again.

Overall: How I lived in Iowa for three years without running this is beyond me. Well actually, it was because the first two years the race was sold out (year 1) and I was hurt the next one (year two). Still, this one should be on your bucket list. If you're in or around Iowa at this time of year, do yourself a favor and sign up for this one.

You'll see lots of people in costumes out here, which is always fun. If you want to run a decent pace, you'll need to get way up front at the start, since the course bottlenecks fairly quickly. The first three miles were, honestly, quite boring. Gravel roads and fields are your scenery and path for the start. Then you dive into the woods on some beautiful single track where you hit the first of several river crossings. The first is the only one where you can jump across rocks and not get wet.

After that, you'll have hills (some VERY steep) and more river crossings. You'll get wet and muddy, but you'll have a ton of fun. We had a chilly and windy day, but overall a good one for late November. Don't be surprised if you get snow and ice for this one though.

T-Shirt - The race shirt isn't the best, but it isn't the worst. But that's all you get. Other than the food at the end, which is super-duper good, hot, and overall just great.

Aid Stations: Non existent.

Course Scenery: Any course that sports single track will get a good rating from me. But really, the single track, farms, and fields encompass just about everything there is to see in Iowa. And you get it all on one 7 mile loop!

Expo: It's efficient, that's for sure. But it's nothing special.

Elevation: This was actually one of the harder courses I've ever run. The hills aren't long, but boy are they steep. Plus, most come after the river crossings, so they'll get muddy and slick in a hurry.

Parking: I was told by so many people to get there early. You can only get to Living History from one road, so it does fill up quick. But I had no issues (other than a flat tire...but that's a personal problem). Easy in and easy out for me.

Race Management: These folks know what they're doing. The expo and post race aren't flashy, but they're efficient. And when you have about 7,000 runners, efficient is the most important.

You better believe I'll be back.

I feel like the title sums it up!

Overall: What a great experience at the MDI Race! I signed up for it way in advance, since it normally sells out fairly quickly (so I was told). I opted to run Twin Cities as my A race in the fall, and that just so happened to be the week before. So it was back-to-back marathon weekends for me. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting to do well, nor did I particularly run for time because of that. I had a few friends running this as well, which made it all the more fun. Definitely more of a small town race as the marathon only had about 700 I think.

T-Shirts: I really like the T-Shirt! I have a weak spot for green shirts anyway, though. Simply and long sleeved. Very comfortable. What more could you ask for?

Aid Stations: The Aid Stations were fantastic, even on a somewhat chilly day. All volunteers were very enthusiastic and seemed happy to be there! One Station even had goodies (aka more than water and Gatorade) much akin to a trail ultra.

Course Scenery: Can we give this a 10/5? Seriously. The fall colors were at their peak, and most of the run takes you around amazing scenery of the forest, National Park, and ocean. A friend and I had to remind ourselves to look around during the race and take it all in. Absolutely stunning!

Expo: We were driving up from Boston, so we didn't hit the expo. We had friends pick up our bags for us.

Elevation: I thought it was tough, certainly hilly, but not ridiculous. I trained pretty hard on hills for the Twin Cities Marathon, though, so I guess the hills didn't bother me as much as they otherwise would have. Not the easiest course, but if you're ready for hills, you'll be fine.

Parking: Very easy. We stayed at a hotel a few blocks away, so we just walked down one road to the start. Hotels fill up quickly in Bar Harbor, though, so if you plan to run this, book a hotel early.

Again, I thought this was a fantastic race! I don't normally like to do a race multiple times, but I would definitely do this one again. If you get the chance to sign-up and run this race, do it!!

For years, friends of mine had told me to run Twin Cities. They all said it was one of, if not the top, of their favorite marathon list. Somehow, I always seemed to have a work conflict for that day, so I never was able to run TC until this year. It definitely lived up to the hype!

The weather was 100% perfect. About 30 degrees at the start and probably high 40s at the finish. A little wind, but nothing to write home about. The only negative, I thought, was that we couldn't go into US Bank Stadium since the Vikings had a home game. But that's so minor. Otherwise, the start was probably the best and easiest start line I've ever navigated for a marathon. Super-easy and very helpful volunteers.

The race itself was superb. Easily the best crowd support I've ever had in a race and it isn't even close. There was only one stretch I remember, around mile 19 I think, where there weren't people everywhere. Great atmosphere. The hill right after mile 20 is brutal. That part is the only hill to speak of on the course, but it comes at a wicked time. I trained to run up the hill, but not to run over the hill (if you will). Those last three miles killed me.

The post race chute was long, but that's to be expected for a large race. I wasn't the biggest fan of the finishers shirt as they seemed to run small (anyone else have this issue...or just me?). But I loved getting a knit hat in the race bag. It came in useful after the race standing in the finisher's chute. Oh and the Caribou coffee was amazing at the finish.

All in all, I loved this race. I don't know if I'll do the full next year (who knows what my schedule will have in store), but I would like to at least be in the Cities for the weekend.

I put this down for 2016, but I've run the race the last three years. I just didn't want to clutter the page with three posts, when I can do it all with one.

This is the only race I've ever run more than twice. It's become my August tradition to race this bad boy. It's a good opportunity for me to see friends and visit my alma mater as well.

The course is practically built for a negative split...although I have yet to achieve that. You park at the riverfront in Hudson (lots of parking!) and get shuttled to the start line in Stillwater, MN. You're at the fairgrounds, so sometimes we aren't the only ones there. In 2015 there was a rodeo (I think) going on, so we ran around lots of farm animals, which was really cool.

The first six miles are rolling hills. And they're no joke. The first part you run almost exclusively through a neighborhood constantly going up and down. Almost no flat road after the first mile. Upon leaving the neighborhood, though, you get about a 1.5 mile stretch on flat straight road on a county highway. The road isn't closed, so be prepared to have some cars flying past. From here, you turn toward the river, and get some much needed downhill. That doesn't last, though, as you turn up to get to the I-94 bridge (this part always kills me) to cross the St. Croix. The last mile is along the Hudson Riverfront, and feels like it take FOREVER.

With a race in early August, you never know what you'll get. In 2014, the weather was...ok. It was warm, but not hot by any means. In 2015, we have 60s and overcast. Perfect. And last year, 2016, it was hot and humid. Come prepared for just about any condition you can think of.

Like I said, this is probably my favorite race and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is willing to listen to me.