Back story: This race has been on my calendar for years, but I've never found the time to travel to Cleveland. We actually set aside time in 2021 to run this race in person, however, the pandemic had other plans. Needless to say, I was thrilled when this race went virtual for 2021 and I was finally able to participate!

Swag: The jacket is made well, I find ordering a size larger always "fits" better. The design is lightweight and comfortable for lounging or taking a run in brisk weather, the fabric breathes well so it's not too heavy.

The hat! The knit hat is very plush and comfortable. I was surprised how warm it kept my ears during outdoor activities in the snow. I like the "A Christmas Story" logo on the hat, it's subtle and not obnoxious.

The medal for the race is heavy and overall pretty attractive, my only wish was that it was a little more "movie" themed (maybe a nod to the leg lamp? It was a major award after all!).

Overall: While not being able to run this race in person (which I feel steals from the experience), I'm overall pleased I was able to add this to my calendar. I appreciate the race going virtual and hope to one day make it out for the real deal!

I typically run the Philly Hot Chocolate race every year and actually planned on being in Columbus in time for this race, but this year had other plans. I figured I'd take advantage and still register for the virtual race and keep my race calendar active for 2020.

Swag: The jacket! Hands down, my reason for running this series every year is for the jacket! In my experience, the sizing seems to run small for me. My typical size is large, however, I purposely order an XL to take advantage of the extra room and comfort. I find the large is rather form-fitting, so if that's your style order your size.

The medal! Kind of a letdown, but I get it, the HC series is mailing out thousands of these packets so I get that they need to cut costs on some things. I used to look forward to the region-specific medals - I have a handful of Philly-unique medals here and noticed over the past two years they've moved to a more generic design. This year's medal feels a little off - I don't want to say cheap, but it kinda feels that way.

The Chocolate! One thing I enjoy is the finisher's mug loaded with junk food on race day - nothing says "congrats for running 9 miles" than a mug full of hot chocolate, melted chocolate, pretzels, rice crispies, and more.

Since the event is virtual, the HC Series sends you two (2) packets of hot chocolate mix and a handful of bite-sized chocolates. A pretty "sweet" reward for running!

Overall: I would say I'm pleased with the virtual race, I'm looking forward to running it in person and hopefully the medals will return to the region-specific designs.

What an experience to relive the joy of Space Jam! This virtual race has all the swag and then some! I was impressed with the overall quality of the medal and tech shirt, plus the added wrist and head sweatbands were a nice touch.

I was able to complete this race from the comfort and safety of my own running route. I opted to run a 10k for this race, which suited my schedule best. One of the benefits of running a virtual race is having the freedom to run at your leisure!

I chose an early morning start on my run, and thought back to when I was younger in the 90’s watching the original Space Jam! I remember seeing it in the theaters and multiple times on VHS! In fact, I’m pretty sure my parents still have a copy at home!

Since COVID has pretty much knocked out all in person races for 2020 the silver lining is that most races are turning virtual, and now available to all!

The Race to Wrigley combines my love for all things Chicago, and packaged them up in an awesome virtual race experience! The swag is hands down a must for any Cubs fan, and really exceeded my expectations. The medal is high quality, and OVERSIZED compared to most medals. The tech shirt looks like a baseball uniform and is also made from quality materials. Also included was a neck gator (which I've been wearing a lot lately), a bib, and Cubs themed bag!

I was thrilled to see this race go virtual, and I was even more thrilled to have been able to participate from home!

Kennett Square, PA the self-proclaimed Mushroom Capitol of the World is home of the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon! This race takes place the first weekend in November and boasts amazing autumn views and cool, crisp weather!

The event is held in conjunction with The Creamery of Kennett which makes for a great time and great venue to host a half marathon. The town of Kennett and surrounding townships do a great job of keeping the roads clear of vehicles and maintaining a safe course. The course is mostly ran on asphalt with an occasional mile stretch or two on compacted gravel. Overall the course provides ample aide stations and port-a-johns.

The elevation does include hills. Yes, this course has a few hills, which are fairly common for Pennsylvania countryside courses. The biggest hill is around the 8-9 mile marker, but otherwise if you’ve trained properly the course is wonderfully challenging. There are just about equal amounts of uphill and downhill sections, enjoy the ride!

See my full race recap here: https://kenstandsonthings.wordpress.com/2019/11/05/race-recap-mushroom-cap-half-marathon/