This was overall a great race. I've only done a couple races through Team Ortho before, and they get bad reviews a lot of the time but I've actually never had a bad experience at any of their races.

I opted to have them mail me my race packet, so I can't speak for what the packet pick up experience was like. They mailed the packet about a month ahead of time, and it came with the race bib and the finisher's sweatshirt. I really like the sweatshirt, I think it's great quality and fits true to size.

I also can't speak to what the parking situation was like, because I live about a mile away from the start line so I was able to walk. It started and finished in CHS field, and it was a little confusing to find where to go once in the stadium, but not that bad. Since it was in the stadium, there were no port a potties but runners had access to the regular bathrooms.

The course is not my favorite. Most races in St. Paul go along Shepard Road, which is really dull. It's right along the Mississippi River, but the river isn't visible for most of the run. Miles were well-marked, which is always helpful. There were volunteers who directed runners at the turn-around for the 14k runners, and they did a great job. I also felt like there was an adequate amount of water stops.

All of the races met up at the turn-around for the 7k, and because that distance was the shortest, there were a lot of walkers and families. In my experience, races that are on holidays and are shorter distances attract a lot of families and others who aren't necessarily to run. This definitely isn't a bad thing, but it's something to keep in mind if you're a more serious runner. I've found that people who are only there for the 'fun run' aspect aren't typically aware of race etiquette. The last couple miles of the race I spent bobbing and weaving around groups of people walking in horizontal lines taking up a lot of the road. Not cool, especially when the serious racers are coming through (like the fastest people from the 21k and 14k).

Overall, I enjoyed this race and had a great experience. 14k is a weird distance, but it lined up perfectly with the distance I was supposed to run anyways for my half marathon training. I felt like the race was well-managed, the volunteers were great, and the medals and sweatshirt were awesome. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a distance that's more manageable than a half marathon, but still challenging.

This race is awesome! If you're not ready to run a full marathon, but want more of a challenge than a 10k, this is a great option. The course is awesome, it's called the most beautiful urban marathon for a reason! The 10 mile meets up with the marathon course around mile 4, which is mile 20 for the marathoners. This is right at the Summit Hill, which really isn't that bad after only 4 miles. The Summit Hill is the biggest and most challenging hill you will encounter on the 10 mile course, and there's a nice downhill from the Cathedral to the finish line. The crowd support is amazing, the closer you get to the finish line the more spectators there are. There are plenty of aid stations along the way. Because it's in October, the weather could be anything from freezing cold to unbearably hot, but this year it was cool and rainy which is not bad for race conditions. The expo is well organized with many vendors. I recommend going during your lunch hour or right away in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds. The swag is awesome, in addition to a shirt you get a pair of FitSoks, which are excellent quality. The parking situation isn't great, I definitely recommend having someone drop you off at the start line (downtown Minneapolis) and meet you at the finish line (capitol building in St. Paul). For parking in St. Paul near the finish line, street parking in surrounding neighborhoods in free. It's a bit of a walk, but it's not too far. Parking in the lots closest to the finish line is pretty pricey, around $20 or so but if you have spectators who have physical disabilities, the lots might work best for you. This is a great 10 mile race!

This is such a fun race; it's so cool to say you've run from one state to another. This race is really well organized. Parking is kind of a hassle, because the start line is in Minnesota and the finish line is in Wisconsin. I believe that have buses that will take you from the finish line to the start, but I recommend having someone drop you off at the start and meeting you at the finish. One difficult thing about this race is the heat; it's in August so if summer running isn't your thing, this race probably won't be either. There were plenty of water/gatorade stations along the way, and most parts of the course have decent shade cover. The finish line has a lot of fun family-friendly stuff going on, like live music and of course, Goldy Gopher. This is a great race, and it lines up perfectly with fall marathon training!

This was a fun summer race, and a great way for an out-of-towner to see Chicago.

If you're coming from out of town, I recommend using public transport as opposed to driving. Chicago has an excellent public transportation system, and I found it easy to get around.

The expo was good. Checking in and finding my bib number was super easy, as they had computers for runners to check in. The expo was organized, and there were many vendors.

I didn't think the course was that difficult, I don't remember there being any challenging hills. The course is scenic; it goes along the lakefront and through the city. Not going to lie, parts of the city smell like garbage but don't let that hold you back. There was also a lot of music along the way. At the finish line, volunteers were handing out cold towels which was AWESOME and more summer races should do that! It helped so much to have a cold towel to help cool down, as it gets pretty hot in Chicago in July.

I've done this half marathon three times, and it's always a great experience. I went to college in Eau Claire, so it's always nostalgic for me to go back every year and run through a city that has so many memories for me. The course takes you through all of the main parts of Eau Claire, like downtown and the university campus. The Blugold Mile is the best, it's located around mile 10.5 which where I really need some extra support. It was packed with university students cheering on runners. The last few miles of the race that goes down Water St. also has great support. I think the best part of this race is how it's a community event and there's so much sideline support from student groups of all ages, and other community organizations. I love this race! I recommend this race for beginners, because Eau Claire is pretty flat and there are barely any hills in this course.