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Latest reviews by Alexander Sterczek
Alexander Sterczek recommends this race
(2019)
"Earth Day Trail Races, Crystal Lake, Illinois"
Overall
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Full race recap is here: https://www.mychicagoathlete.com/earth-day-trail-races-2/
This past Saturday found 350 nature-loving, trail racers celebrating Earth Day running the trails of Veteran Acres and Sternes Woods in Crystal Lake, Ill. The event that brought this group together was the 7th annual Earth Day trilogy of races which included a 5 mile, 15 mile, and 50k race. All three races hosted by Ornery Mule Racing started simultaneously at 8 a.m. and shared the same 5.2-mile loop.
I hadn’t run a trail race in quite some time and was looking forward to running this course. I’d heard it was challenging and unique. This course took trail running to a whole new level for me; the race starts off on a modest downhill and across a bridge where runners start to thin out as they approach the steps to a steep climb that leads to the famous “Totem Pole.” From there runners meander their way into the woods for what I’d call a truly interesting and formidable Earth Day experience.
Runners traverse a narrow course that for the most part puts everyone in single file behind one another. I now see why the race field was limited to only 350 participants. We crossed various terrain including a small patch of thick mud while climbing steep hills, navigating sloping downhills and slowing down at times to climb over or go around fallen trees. There were low-hanging branches, slippery surfaces, some deep ravines, loose stones, ditches, and plenty of tree roots to contend with.
I took a tumble over one of those many insidious tree roots as part of what I laughingly now call my initiation to true trail racing. I flew forward after tripping over an exposed tree root and landed onto to my side with my shoulder absorbing most of the impact. Luckily, we were moving slower as we approached another steep incline and the fall was just a wakeup call to stay alert.
The one thing that stands out running this trail race is that unlike a road race where you can just follow the runners in front of you and zone out while listening to music or a podcast is that you really need to be in the present at all times. You need to stay focused, alert and aware of the footing ahead of you. It’s much more mentally as well as physically demanding. Overall, I loved the experience of running this race. Even with the fall and occasional stumble I had a really great time.
After completing my 5-mile race I talked to race director Michele Hartwig. Her enthusiasm and excitement for trail running was immediately evident as we talked about racing and the course. She was genuinely happy for me, high-fived me and asked me what I thought about the event when I told her that this was the my first time. Michele told me that she had been running the trails in this area for some time and noticed that there were not many other runners out there. She wanted other runners to enjoy the scenery and experience these trails as well. So, Michele came up with the idea of creating the Earth Day trail races. The first year brought 75 participants while the second annual event brought out 125 participants.
After the race I walked along the course with a group of other finishers, and we cheered on those who were still running the longer distances. As I talked to some of these runners who mentioned words like Hennepin, Kettle Moraine, and Ragnar I could tell I was in the company of hardcore trail runners. As one of the runners told me, “Trail running is a whole other mindset. You haven’t run until you’ve run trails”.
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Alexander Sterczek recommends this race
(2018)
"Cantigny 5k race recap"
Overall
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Chicago Athlete Magazine review is here http://www.mychicagoathlete.com/cantigny-5k/
The 15thAnnual Cantigny 5k Run/Walk took place Saturday morning on the beautifully landscaped grounds of Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Ill. The event is organized to raise funds to support the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. The race is run entirely on the 500-acre former estate of publishing titan Col. Robert R. McCormick.
The temperature was a crisp 36 degrees at the start of the race, but it didn’t seem to deter anyone from enjoying the morning. I had run in this event a few years ago and was looking forward to another enjoyable race again this morning. Packet pickup at the visitor’s center was quick; participants, families, and volunteers mingled in the visitor’s center staying warm or out on the local grounds until the start of the race.
The race started at 9 a.m. with over 700 participants moving into action after hearing the thunderous boom of the military cannon fired to start the race. I ran the course taking in the scenery and fall colors along the way. The course is paved and offers a few gently rolling hills; it winds through the park’s golf course, and past some buildings and monuments. A crowd cheering on finishers could be heard from a distance as I approached the last turn to the finish line. After crossing the finish line, I walked back up along the course to cheer on other runners biding my time until the 10 a.m. awards ceremony.
Top-three male/female finishers and age-group awards were given out. Alex Bashqawi of Elmhurst, Ill. was the overall male winner. Patricia Harrison of Chicago, Ill. won the female division. A one-mile youth run, and quarter-mile tot run followed the awards ceremony. It was cute to see the little ones take off in a sprint with some of the parents running along side urging their kids to run faster.
After the race activities were over many people headed out onto the park’s grounds to view the military tanks, vehicles and other historic artifacts on display outside. Kids climbed on top of these vehicles as parents took photographs and shouted, “Don’t fall!” or “Don’t hurt yourself!” repeatedly. I along with others made our way to the First Division Military Museum which chronicles the history of the U.S. Army’s First Division unit. All the parks museums and amenities were free to race participants this morning. It was a nice relaxing and educational way to end the morning.
Alexander Sterczek recommends this race
(2018)
"Naperville Trails Half Marathon race recap"
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My race recap published in Chicago Athlete Magazine is here: http://www.mychicagoathlete.com/naperville-trails-half-marathon/
A good race is made up of several things: a safe and scenic course, pleasant weather, enthusiastic volunteers, and solid organization make up most of those components. The 2018 Naperville Trails Half Marathon excelled at delivering on all these this past Sunday at Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton.
The event helps support the Special Olympics of Illinois. The race is hosted by All Community Events, an organization that stages many running events throughout the Chicago-area all year.
I arrived at the race site early enough that I was able to find parking in a public lot about a block away from the race start. The race’s website said nearby parking was limited and once filled participants would have to park at a corporate parking facility about 2 ½ miles away. Free shuttle buses would transport runners back and forth to the start/finish area from there.
Packet pick-up and gear check was quick and easy. There were many volunteers on hand to assist runners. As I went through my little pre-race warmup routine I talked to some other runners about the course, training, and the weather. They were all pleased with the cool morning air; the temperature was 60 degrees with a light breeze and skies were overcast. This made for a much more comfortable race to run in compared to the temperatures experienced in the weeks beforehand.
After some pre-race announcements, runners lined up at the start line according to their pre-determined race pace. I saw many designated race pacers scattered throughout the starting field ready to lead runners who would look to them to finish at varying times. I took some video of the race start as the fastest runners funneled their way out of the start corral and then walked past spectators on the sidelines and found my way into the race crowd. We made our way out of the start area, took a right turn taking us under the Naperville Rd. overpass and onto crushed limestone, and my knees and my feet were immediately delighted. I relish every chance I get to run on a soft surface and this entire course is run on soft, shock-absorbing, cushioning crushed limestone. I knew I wouldn’t have to do as much icing of the joints afterwards.
The course leads you past Rice Lake and at about 2 ¼ miles from the start runners turn around and head back on the same portion that led them to this turnaround. Leading up to this turn-around you can see runners that are ahead of you, and after you make the 180-degree turn on the path you see the runners following you. Sharing the trail with runners going in the opposite direction can make it feel a bit congested at some points along this portion, but everyone managed and filed in behind others where necessary, so everyone could stay moving.
There were no streets to cross or traffic encounters to worry about, so I enjoyed running and stopping along this course to take the occasional pic. Aid stations were plentiful and there were many volunteers along the way to cheer on the participants. At about mile three, a pack of runners came up along side me and I noticed they were being led by two pacers. I recognized one of the pacers from an All Community Events race I ran last year. Jim Gray, an ultra-marathoner was interesting to talk with and I decided to run out the rest of the race with this group. He mentioned his upcoming 40ish miler next week in Tennessee and another 100-mile ultra-marathon race later in the season. I thought to myself “Wow, how does someone do that?”
As the race neared the finish line, the last one-third of a mile is run on a grass-covered equestrian racetrack. This makes for an interesting finish. I spoke with Andy Olson who took first-place in his 30-34 age group and fifth place overall. He told me this was the third time he’s run this race and enjoyed the course very much.
From everyone I spoke to I heard only good things about the Naperville Trails Half Marathon. I would highly recommend this race to a first-timer or a seasoned runner. I’d also like to congratulate fellow Chicago Athlete Ambassador Mandi Florip on her second-place finish in her age group and eighth place female overall. Way to go!
Alexander Sterczek recommends this race
(2018)
"11th Annual Lawndale 5k race recap"
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Race recap can be found here: http://www.mychicagoathlete.com/lawndale-5k/
The Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC) presented its 11thannual Lawndale 5k run/walk event this past Saturday with over 1,300 participants energized and excited toeing the start line. The event raises funds that help provide medical and pharmaceutical services, counseling, and job training. The LCHC complex now has a fitness center, urban greenhouse with a market for selling the locally grown produce. LCHS has grown over the years and is an oasis in this diverse neighborhood.
I have run this race a few times over the years and always had a good experience, so I decided to enter this year again. The entry fee is a nominal $20, and the money supports much-needed programs, and everyone took home a tech-shirt, fandana, and finishers medal.
I arrived at the race site about an hour before the event started. I liked the fact that this was not an early-bird start; the race was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. I easily found parking on a side-street about a block from the race start. Packet pick-up and gear check was quick. I did a little warming up, talked to some of the volunteers and made my way to the start line when race time approached.
The race starts on the north edge of Ogden Ave. with runners heading east for about a quarter mile before they turn north onto Central Park Ave. They continue to Douglas Blvd., turn right and continue to Albany Ave. At Albany Ave., runners hang right, continue for about a quarter mile and make the 180-turn back running the same route back to the finish. The public streets we ran on were closed off for the race and the streets were in decent shape. As the lead runners made their way back to the finish loud cheers went up from the other runners and walkers that they passed.
This is a community-oriented event with many local-residents and their families participating. I saw various youth groups and a few church congregations participate. They were wearing similar shirts with their group affiliation names on them. There were plenty of after-race activities for families and kids to engage in. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and many people stayed around for the post-race raffle. As far as raffles go this was one of the best I’ve ever seen offered at a local fundraising event. About 10 sets of four tickets each for a Chicago Bulls game, a team autographed Chicago Bulls basketball, and a racing bike were raffled off.
I had another good race experience at this year’s Lawndale 5k and will run again next year if I can. The energy, excitement, music made the day for me. I was pumped up enough that I wandered into the LCHS fitness center and ran a few more miles on one of the treadmills before heading home.
Alexander Sterczek recommends this race
(2018)
"Half Madness Half Marathon race recap"
Overall
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Parking/Access
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My race recap published in Chicago Athlete Magazine can be found here:
http://www.mychicagoathlete.com/half-madness-half-marathon/
On Sunday morning, the quiet streets of Batavia were woken with the running of the 11th annual Half Madness Half Marathon. This event, which starts near the Fox River in downtown Batavia, helps raise funds for the Batavia Food Pantry.
I ran this race a few years ago and was familiar with the scenic course, or thought I was until I learned that the finish line was moved to another location about three-quarters of a mile from where previous races finished. This was due to construction work being done in the area where the race ended in past years.
The course takes runners north on city streets before crossing the river and heading north for almost two miles before crossing the river again and heading south for another mile or so. Runners then turn west and make their way through residential streets for approximately four miles. Although we ran through and past many streets, road traffic was very light. This is always a welcomed relief when you don’t have to compete with vehicular traffic for a piece of the roadway. My guess is that folks in Batavia were enjoying their Labor Day weekend Sunday sleeping in late.
As we approached mile seven, we left city streets behind and made our way onto the Fox River Bike Trail. This portion of the route takes us south for about three and a half miles into North Aurora where we crossed the Fox River again and turn north to the finish line about two and a half miles away. This last half of the course is very zen-like; I found my mind drifting as I looked out onto the morning mist covering some parts of the Fox River and watched wildlife along the river’s bank. I kind of lost sense of my pacing, but it didn’t matter — I just wanted to take in all the scenery along the way and enjoy the moment.
The new course ended in a wide-open grove with plenty of room for finishers, family members, and volunteers to hang out. I preferred this finish line to the previous course that seemed congested and compact in size. The race announcer called many runner’s names as they approached the finish line bringing smiles to finisher’s faces. Runners received their finishers medals and walked over to the refreshment area for a cold beer, water and some snacks.
I talked to some runners, took some pictures, did some stretching and headed down the trail for the walk back to my car. I ended up walking the distance along side Bowen Tucker (Bib #164). At age 80, he was the oldest finisher in this race; when we first started talking I thought he was much younger. He told me about his joy of running and staying active and how he had participated in five of the last ten Bank of America Chicago Marathons. He told me about how he was just happy to be outdoors getting exercise and was grateful to be able to continue being active at his age. His enthusiasm for the sport was infectious and his words of encouragement to just enjoy the experience of it all and not get bogged down in details of final time or place were uplifting. We shook hands and parted ways as we got back to our vehicles. My conversation with Bowen was the topping on a great morning and a great race.
I would recommend this event to anyone looking for a relaxing run on a scenic course. You’ll find a couple of hills along the way to add some spice to this mostly rolling course and interesting people that might just inspire you.