Latest reviews by Michael Mason-D'Croz

(2017)
"Tough race, fun times"
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After training for months it was finally the day! It was time for my first ever 50k. Unfortunately, my body didn't cooperate and I had to withdraw after 22 miles. And although my day didn't end well, that was through no fault of the race itself.

Let's start with the parking. They have the entire campground for parking, so there is plenty of room to park your car and set up for the race. It is well organized and volunteers point you to the correct location. It is a smaller race, so if you weren't able to pick up the bib the day before, it was very easy to do a pick up on the day of.

At 8 am, the 50k race starts. At 8:10, the 5-mile, 10.5 mile and 21 mile races all are let out. We got going at 8, with no delay. Unfortunately, there was a volunteer miscommunication, and we 50k runners were pointed in the wrong direction and added about 0.6 miles. However, it's a 50k ... if we can't handle another 0.6 miles, then why are we out there? Mistakes happen.

The course. Mostly single-track trails around Lake Cunningham in the North Omaha area. There are two courses, the 5-miler that runs with most of the others then branches off and heads back, and the 10.5-mile loop that becomes the other races. The 10.5-miler is one lap, the 21-miler is two laps and the 50k is three laps.

The trails themselves were mowed well, and well marked once you know what to look for. The trails were challenging in their unevenness, and some of the hills will get the blood pumping. However, this isn't like running a trail race in the mountains.

The aid stations. There are two full aid stations -- at the start and half way -- and one more water station to fill your own bottles. The full aid stations included water, Tailwind, sodas, pickles, potatoes, salt, candies, fruits, Stingers, and more. It was quite impressive. I spent a good amount of time getting more calories into my body.

The swag. A sweet long-sleeve hoodie shirt, and an awesome gym bag. Also, the "medal" is actually a wooden medal with the logo. This is a G.O.A.T.z signature, and I love it. It's a trail run, so yes, I want my medal to scream trails. How better to do that than use a wooden medal?

Overall, the race is a good one, and I hope to take another crack at it in the future. Unfortunately, I developed blisters during the first lap and had to change my shoes. Bigger issue is put more pressures on the other leg after this happened, and the extra pressure on that leg resulted in cramps that locked my leg up -- couldn't bend my knee -- and I had to withdraw after two laps and 22 overall miles. Hopefully I'll get that Ultra finish at some point.

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(2017)
"Challenging, and hilly. Good times."
Overall
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This is a neat race. It is a trail race intended for people to be able to run with their dogs. You don't have to have a dog (like me), but it is encouraged. All the proceeds also go to local dog shelters and charities.

The course itself is very hilly, and this year was quite challenging. Overall there was 1200' of elevation gain over the 13 miles. However, it was more challenging that it usually would be this year because of heavy rains leading up to the race. There was a lot of standing water, and the hills became very slick. Most of the course is on mowed grass trail, but there are lots of sections of single-track dirt trails. The dirt trails turned into mud trails pretty quickly.

As a looped course, it got a little monotonous towards the end, but that is part of the challenge. I enjoyed it.

The swag is OK. The shirt is great -- not the most amazing design -- in it's material and comfort. The rest of the bag is geared towards dog owners, as there are samples of dog foods and treats and many coupons for vet visits. At the end of the race you are awarded a neat wooden medal.

There are two full aid stations, at the start and 5k into the loop. This is a great set up as it makes sure you get a full aid station every three miles and can stay hydrated and fueled as you run.

This is a good race, and worth a look if you're in the area and want to get into trail running at the 10k/HM distance.

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(2017)
"Top 3 Favorite Race"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
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This is one of my favorite races every single year. It is a great race and a great concept. This 10k race is different than most races because it is a competition between the Lads and Lasses. The Lasses start the race right at 3 pm on race day, with the Lads 5 minutes behind. As the race unfolds, the competition pits the elite guys against the elite girls. If a guy is able to make up the time and win the race, then all men in the race get a free beer. If the woman is able to hold on to the lead to the end, then all the women get a free beer. It's awesome!

If that is not enough of a motivator for you to run a hard race, this course is surprisingly well supported with people cheering you on. Truly a great job with set up. This is the race where I have set my 10k PR three different times.

The Course -- A looped course at the Mahoney State Park area and the SAC Museum. This course is set up where you head out and go downhill for the first section -- a 100 foot drop from mile 2 to mile 3 -- and then you work your way back up to the finish line in the second half of the race. There is a total of about 200 feet of elevation gain -- not a ton -- but an equal amount of drop to go with it.

The Crowd -- Surprising amount of people around the course and the people at the aid stations are great.

The Aid Stations -- There is one aid station every 2 miles that has both water and sports drink and plenty of volunteers to make sure everyone gets liquid. Well organized and well done.

The Swag -- Great shirts, some of my favorites to wear all the time. If you sign up early enough you can get one of their different one-off shirts each year. This past year it was a zip up hoodie shirt.

The Expo/Party -- It's a 10k ... there is no expo. Now with that out of the way, the after party! This is a happening party. Tons of snacks to help replenish, and lots of drinks. There is also a bar truck that sets up and doles out the beer, keeping it flowing. There is music and there are awards for finishers as well as best costumes. It's great fun.

Overall -- Sign up for this race. Like, I mean do it this year, if you can. It'll sell out and they cap it at 2500 runners. So if you don't get in, you should try the year after that. This is a race to run and run this upcoming year.

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(2017)
"Love this little race"
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*Warning* The Empyrean 5k is a not what it advertises. It is actually around 3.5-4 miles, depending on the year. And that little extra comes at no extra cost!

This trail run is awesome! The race itself is fairly small, and runs mostly on the - very - hilly course that is part of the Carol Joy Holling Camp site. You will run through the woods, along the road, down some single-track, through a stream, up a hill that is so steep it needs stairs, and through some pasture that will give you views of the Platte River. The course is challenging enough -- 300+ feet of elevation climb in 3.5 miles -- but has places to catch your breath.

Keep in mind that this race is in Nebraska in February. This means that the race will almost always be cold, and frequently will have snow on the ground. But that just adds to the fun of a trail run in Nebraska. And because of the length (less than 4 miles) and trail nature, there are no aid stations available. If you need water, you must bring your own on the course.

After the race is a catered meal from Lazlo's -- bbq pork, salad, soup, sides -- and you get two drink tickets for the Empyrean Ales they brew for the race (two full pints). This food is worth the price of admission in and of itself. Plus, TWO BEERS! TWO GOOD BEERS!

The swag is a little lacking in quantity, but is made up for in quality. In the two years I've ran this race they've gone from a nice beanie hat with the embroidered logo, to a ear warmer headband (my preference for running in cold weather) which is soft, and nice.

This is one of my Top 3 races in the area, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a shorter race that is a blast. Not to mention, the price is incredibly affordable.

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(2016)
"Nice race, decent course"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
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Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was my second marathon attempt and it went much better. This race is really set up into two halves of the race. And these two parts make for entirely distinct races in and of themselves. There was good support for the first four to eight miles, but then that drops off from there until the finish line.

The Course -- The first half of the marathon is in downtown Omaha and takes you through lots of the iconic downtown scenery that you look for. It also includes some of Omaha's hills, which makes it a better "Nebraka Marathon". All of this makes for a great half marathon. Unfortunately for the marathoners, the second race starts at that finish line, when you cross over the Missouri River and into Iowa (I know ... I know ... Nebraska Marathon and you run in Iowa ... WTH?). At this point you jump onto the bike trail that hugs the river and do a 6.5 mile out-and-back to finish the race off. This portion of the race is not scenic (unless you really like riverboat casinos) and there is no crowd at all. This race (the second half marathon) is not as much fun, and mentally tough.

The big thing about the course layout is that it leads to a fast course. A net downhill for the first half, then a flat second half. You can bank some time going downhill in the first, and then just cruise to the finish.

The Crowd -- The first half was great, the second half was not. But that's what a marathon is, you need to be mentally tough enough to finish the race.

The Aid Stations -- They were properly placed, every 2-2.5 miles. They had water, sports drink and every other station had gels or other treats to help with calories. They were well maned, and everyone was able to get fuel that wanted it.

The Swag -- Nice shirt that feels good. It's a great workout shirt. They also gave out a free tree to plant in honor of running the race. It's a nice touch that I appreciate. Why not improve where you live while running a race? Makes sense to me. The medal is nice, but again another race that didn't distinguish between a Half Marathon and a Marathon runner.

The Expo/Party -- The expo was just a pick up and get a tree while in a bar. Not much there. However, the finish line included calling out the names and finish times of runners, music to wind down, food and drinks. The drinks included at least one free beer from Nebraska Brewing (great beer). That was nice. However, since I live an hour away, I left early to get home.

Overall -- This newer race is a great one in the fall if you're looking for a fast race. The hills in the first half are still mostly downhill, and that leads to a flat second half that can help you nail your goal. On this race I set a new marathon PR and hit my goal of a Sub-Ten marathon.

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