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Latest reviews by Joel
Joel recommends this race
(2017)
"MORE RUNNERS THAN I EXPECTED"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Minocqua is a town in northwestern Oneida County, Wisconsin. The population of 4,385, held their 11th annual "Only Fools run at Midnight" 5K on April 1 at 11 PM and 530 soles braved the brisk night coldness.
First, there were plenty of parking at Lakeland Union High School and prerace packet pickup, gathering, and prerace instruction was held inside the H.S. Commons.
Second, I preregistered but was told they ran out of t-shirts in my size. I asked what was the purpose of preregistering then and my reply received was "not enough shirts your size was ordered". I asked what was the purpose of preregistering then since I registered on February 26? My question was met with silence.
Third, there is no expo as we come to expect. No extra "swag". Just a bib and race shirt. A 100% cotton long sleeve t-shirt and not the sweat wicking tech shirt advertised on the website.
This 5K was ran on surface streets winding through the neighborhood around the lake. This night run had its share of costume runners, young and old, and one Forrest Gump look alike. This 5K could be thought of any other 5K ran at night with street lights here and there providing illumination but what made this 5K extra special were the volunteers that parked their vehicles on the side of the street with their lights on which provided enough light to see the road without difficulty. Other volunteers were positioned at the turning points and directed us in the right direction. Even a few stationed themselves along the course providing encouraging words. MY HAT COMES OFF TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS!
This course starts at Lakeland Union High School, runs the neighborhood bordering the Minocqua Lake, across a wooden bridge, through the streets of Minocqua and end up back at the HS.
One thing though, the Garmin registered 3.45 and others had similar.
If you are looking for a night run without nice swag or tech shirt, then this race is for you.
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Joel recommends this race
(2016)
"Rock'n the Farm Fall Run"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Started in 2013, this is my first year running The Rock’n the Farm Event held at Gotrocks Farm, a private estate with over 700 serene acres of beautiful farmland with a private lake and prairie. The property has over 8 Miles of trails that take you past numerous rocks, gardens, wildlife, though the ever changing hardwoods over a rolling river to the finish. This years event had its share of spoils with water drenched ruts making for a fun and cautious running event. Arriving early, parking was directed to the shoulder of Partridge Road and onto the open acre of farmland. After the playing of our National Anthem and kudos to use of someone holding Old Glory, the race started leaving the driveway and headed out across Highway 153 onto the start of the trail which led me out and up through the woods where I encountered my first hill. Afterward, the trail circled around and brought me back to the start of the race (1.15 miles) running past the home and the barn. Following the runners ahead of me I encountered the water logged ruts, slight inclines, and the presence of a runner just behind me that I was not able to shake off but eventually did. This course is not too challenging and the scenery is beautiful and an occasional deer sighting. With what little volunteers out on the course directing me through the turns and at water stations, it was much appreciated. Following the runners and/or trail I'm lead through turns and around in "loops" where I meet other runners which allows me to gauge how far back or how far ahead I am. The course winds through the private farm and over small streams before heading back to the farm. My only dismay was the unoccupied loop that runners ignored. This loop is a left hand turn that followed around to complete a circular loop that brought me right back to the main trail and to my surprise I seen runners ahead of me - where did these runners come from because they didn't pass me. It was that these runners didn't do the loop. At the end of my race I and a few others had the opportunity to address this to the race director and at the awards ceremony the director came out and said runners ignoring the loop would not be included in the awards. Overall, I do recommend this trail run.