Latest reviews by Tia Hedenland

(2019)
"Always Dun Downtown!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was my 2nd year running a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. First time running the Turkey Day 5K. I was excited that the location was in Downtown Minneapolis as I live in the West Metro and needed it to be a smooth, fast morning so I could get back home to cook!

While this race did not have an actual "expo". Packet pickup was offered at multiple LifeTime Fitness locations around the metro. Which makes it super convenient no matter which direction you happen to live to pickup your shirt/bib etc. If you are curious as to the swag. Love the shirts we received. Great quality, color is fantastic and the material is super soft. (signing up with a large group offered a cute winter hat)

Parking was pretty simple. Multiple ramp options, on street spaces if you could find them nearby. I live just west of downtown. So I chose to Uber. Beat the traffic and faster access to race day packet pick-up. (NOTE: while race day packet pickup is an option. Make sure to get in line early. Quite a few people chose this option and I stood in line for quite some time. Keep track of cut off time before race starts)

If you have ran a race in downtown Minneapolis before, you are familiar with the route/scenery. The race started just a few blocks from Target Center. Ran a few blocks in downtown and followed along the West River Parkway. While the scenery isn't amazing. You do get a nice view of downtown and of the river for the short 3.1miles.

Favorite part of this race was the Turkey Tailgate Lot. Plenty of photo op spots. Post-race snacks were great. And being its winter here in MN. Free Hot Cocoa and Cider were served as well. For those looking to have a bit more of a kick-off to their Thanksgiving...the race partnered with MN's own Greay Duck Vodka and for those runners 21+ you could enjoy a FREE spiked Cider after you were finished. WIth loads of games, great music and funny dressed up person as a turkey running around it was a great time after the race.

So will I be back. Yes! It was a fun morning. I love Minneapolis races. And Turkey Day 5K did it right!

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(2019)
"Always Fun Downtown!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was my 2nd year running a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. First time running the Turkey Day 5K. I was excited that the location was in Downtown Minneapolis as I live in the West Metro and needed it to be a smooth, fast morning so I could get back home to cook!

While this race did not have an actual "expo". Packet pickup was offered at multiple LifeTime Fitness locations around the metro. Which makes it super convenient no matter which direction you happen to live to pickup your shirt/bib etc. If you are curious as to the swag. Love the shirts we received. Great quality, color is fantastic and the material is super soft. (signing up with a large group offered a cute winter hat)

Parking was pretty simple. Multiple ramp options, on street spaces if you could find them nearby. I live just west of downtown. So I chose to Uber. Beat the traffic and faster access to race day packet pick-up. (NOTE: while race day packet pickup is an option. Make sure to get in line early. Quite a few people chose this option and I stood in line for quite some time. Keep track of cut off time before race starts)

If you have ran a race in downtown Minneapolis before, you are familiar with the route/scenery. The race started just a few blocks from Target Center. Ran a few blocks in downtown and followed along the West River Parkway. While the scenery isn't amazing. You do get a nice view of downtown and of the river for the short 3.1miles.

Favorite part of this race was the Turkey Tailgate Lot. Plenty of photo op spots. Post-race snacks were great. And being its winter here in MN. Free Hot Cocoa and Cider were served as well. For those looking to have a bit more of a kick-off to their Thanksgiving...the race partnered with MN's own Gray Duck Vodka and for those runners 21+ you could enjoy a FREE spiked Cider after you were finished. WIth loads of games, great music and funny dressed up person as a turkey running around it was a great time after the race.

So will I be back. Yes! It was a fun morning. I love Minneapolis races. And Turkey Day 5K did it right!

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(2019)
"All the pink!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was a weekend I knew wasn't going to be all about PR's. More about spending time celebrating amazing women, supporting each other and running for a great cause.

Traveling from MN, being able to find hotels/restaurants close to the race start/course is always a plus. We ended up staying right at the Hyatt. And the start line was right outside the hotels front doors. (with the finish line not too far down the block)

The expo took a bit of winding through the hotel and a few directional pointing from hotel staff to find. There were multiple booths offering clothing/last minute race items and additional race swag. Packet pick-up was simple. And after picking up your shirt in the next room, you did have the option to exchange sizes.

It really was a weekend full of events. Pre-race pasta dinner was provided to runners, and the guest speaker was so wonderful.

There was nothing amazing about the course. In all honesty, it was really industrial and until the final miles you didn't even see the river. But in terms of elevation difficulty. It was nearly pancake flat and an easy 13.1.

Because it is such a small race. Supporters are rare along the entire course. But the ones who were out there really gave it there all. Music, fruit snacks, cow bells and high-fives from little ones who literally made multiple stops along the entire course and cheered everyone on! It was the coolest thing to see the same few families almost the entire 13miles!!

FREE PICS!! Can you really beat FREE? The photographers did an amazing job and the pics turned out great. I love races that offer free pics and let everyone have an opportunity to showcase their race. Well done to the multiple photogs out there. Well done!

The race shirt was a pink long-sleeve tshirt with a hood. Very cute and nice quality. The finisher medal was not a "medal" but rather a necklace/keychain. Which to me is great. Its a unique race, so even the swag is unique and I appreciate that. (the top female finishers earned medals for their amazing efforts)

The post-race treats were AWESOME! ALL THE PINK! Between the veggie/hummus wrap, pink lemonade, cookies, strawberry shortcake, free beer. Yes please! Loved it all.

If you are looking for a small town race feel, with amazing women (and even a few men who came out and ran just to support) this is the race for you, I would love to come back and race this again. So fun!

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(2019)
"Knocked it out of the park!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

If you are looking for a one of a kind race in Milwaukee...this is it!

Picture yourself running around the inside of Miller Park on the field and then receiving a crazy cool Brewers Medal as you cross the finish line!

This race is one of the most organized races I have seen. From the very first email you receive when you sign up, to the people directing the parking and all the info after and great tailgate party!

Hotel/Travel: It was quite a drive from Minneapolis to travel to Milwaukee. But the hotel selection in and around Milwaukee is great. Many are just a short drive to Miller Park, with great food selections any direction you head.

Packet Pick-Up/Expo: Packet Pick-up was at Miller Park. Make sure to bring ID as they do check. It was an easy in and out to pick up bib. There were a few vendors set up, discounts on signing up for additional area races. Friends/Family can make signs. If you are a Brewers fan. They offered 25% off in the fan shop if you showed your bib at check out! Great perk to get some additional MLB gear!

Parking: I could not have been more impressed with how organized the parking was. Not only was it free, but as you pulled into Miller Park, they had volunteers directing you to an exact parking spot. Saved so much time, it was great.

Course: If there was anything that wasn't thrilling, it was certain parts of the course. Not every bit of the 13.1 was scenic. But still a great course for the most part and many many places for spectators to watch and cheer you on!

Finish line/Tailgate Party: Hello free beer!! Each runner received two free beer tickets. post race stretching done by athletic trainers/PT's was fantastic! And chic-fil-a sandwiches for all!! There was great music, plenty of seats to rest and relax!

Swag: Each runner was give a race technical tshirt. This years shirt color was baby blue. not my fav color. But the medal was amazingly cool and unique. Bling bling!

I really enjoyed all parts of this race. The volunteers were phenomenal, the support of other runners was fantastic. The pacers were such a hoot and made for an entertaining fun race.

I will surely be back!

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(2019)
"Start with a race, end with a party!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This was the first year that I have ran the LifeTime Torchlight 5K. I was excited to get back to running along the river in Minneapolis and experience what it was like to run a race at night.

While there wasn't an actual expo. Packet pick-ups were at multiple LifeTime Fitness locations around the metro. Which really is a great way to do it, and gives runners an opportunity to pick-up their bibs closer to home. Race day pick also available.

Parking was available in the nearby ramps from the Minneapolis Convention Center. While the traffic was a bit backed up as a few roads were closed due to the race. It was within a block from start line and only cost $10. Very cheap for downtown Mpls.

The type of swag that you receive it pretty typical. What made it stand out though is the glow in the dark features on both the shirt and medal! And as you cross the finish line, you are gifted a finisher bag with a few goddies in it from sponsors etc. Near the end of the night as we were enjoying a few beers and the band. There was a gentleman walking around giving out pint glasses. Which was a nice surprise!!

This year the course was changed a little because of construction. And because it was my first year running it. I do not have a comparison to other years. But I enjoyed this course. Its fairly flat. It started at the Minneapolis Convention Center and ended at Boom Island Park. We worked our way through downtown, and then along the river. Not the most scenic, but at along the river are some very nice views. The course follows the Aquatennial Parade route. So it is packed with spectators!

Now my favorite part was the post race party!! Who doesn't love pizza and beer after a hot race? There were a few great spots to take pics. And the band was fantastic. We had alot fun visiting the vendor booths, enjoying the ice cold beer (multiple non-alcoholic options available) and dancing to the music!! This was more then just a regular post race area. It was quite the party in the park!!

Starting shortly after the race ended they started providing free shuttles back to the start line. Because we had stayed until the end of the night. We took the last round of the shuttles running. A bit of confusion as to what time shuttles ran until. Website listed 11pm. Security guards were stating 10pm. As we waited in line we were concerned we had missed the final shuttles. But thankfully we had not. So with a bit of a minor miscommunication, the shuttles were pretty great to have for runners post-race.

I think this race is fantastic!! Running at night, in a great part of Minneapolis, awesome post-race party and the entire race is ran very well! I can't wait for 2020! Easily the best 5K in town!

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