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!

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!

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!

2019 was the first year that I have ran the Red, White & Boom 5K! Often times we travel a lot around the 4th of July. So being in town this year, it worked out perfect to head to Minneapolis bright and early and get in a quick run before the house was even awake!

Right off the bat, the race proves to be a fun way to start off any 4th of July celebrations!! There is something for everyone in the family on race day! A variety of distances, games, great food, music, beer, cool treats and awesome swag!

I wish all packet pick-ups were held at a brewery. That was honestly one of my favorite parts. Heading to Summit Brewing Co. picking race bib, tshirt, additional gear for sale and enjoying a beer at the same time! Kind of genius! Its not always about beer, but its summer and Summit beer is fantastic!

Speaking of summer. I greatly appreciate the early start time to the races as well. Here in MN, the weather is quite unpredictable. And this year the heat and humidity came full force. So being able to start the races before 7am was for sure a plus.

Its safe to say parking in Minneapolis is always a bit of a challenge. And while there are plenty of spaces in the near by ramps to park. Actually getting into them really is time consuming. If you plan to park in a ramp, leave plenty of time to do so. And I'm talking a minimum of a half hour to sit in line to get into ramp. I found a spot a few blocks away on the street for free, that was much easier to get to and didnt involve sitting in line. So if you do not mind walking an extra 3+ blocks, I highly suggest street parking.

The course is great. One steep incline going over the bridge but for the most part its fairly flat. The scenery is great and many parts were shaded. The final part of the race takes you across the Stone Arch Bridge that was lined with American Flags! So fun. And such an iconic feature to that part of Minneapolis. I love when race courses cross that bridge!

While the aid stations were well stocked with water and gatorade. I do wish knowing the temps were high 70’s and very very high humidity that morning, that additional items were considered, (And possibly they were for the half marathon) like ice or sponges. While I realize it was only a 5K. It would have helped immensely to have an additional way to cool off while running. Even setting up a sprinkler near the 1 aid station during the race would have been awesome!

Post-Race:
Can you really ask for any better way to celebrate America’s Birthday?? Beer, hot dogs, burgers, All-American pops, and a donut eating contest!? Woot woot!
As a vegetarian, it was even great to see the option of a veggie dog as well! I had heard many people did not see that was an option. So possibly better signage or volunteers ensuring all finishers know the options before leaving the food area would be helpful. As you could not reenter once you left. You dont want anyone to miss out! There really are not alot of races that offer vegetarian options so this really should be highlighted! It made alot of runners happy!

Between the games, the misting stations, the cool treats and beer tent. It was such a fun way to spend some time after the race with other friends and family and enjoy the weather and holiday!

The only real negative I must state is the decision to not place porta pottys in the beer tent area. No one was allowed to take beer out of the flagged off area. So having to find someone hold your beer and/or food to use the restroom wasnt fun. Especially if you happened to be there by yourself. It just made sense to place at least one or two porta pottys within the area you could drink so no one had to leave angthing unattended or possibly leave early as they drank what they had and needed to use the restroom and decided to just head out.

But all in all, this was such a fun race! The medal was perfect, the weather while so so hot still made for a great summer day. I would absolutely run this again!!