Latest reviews by Cassandra Balzarini

(2019)
"Oktoberfest 4 Miler - a BEER-y good time! "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

PRE-RACE: I first learned about this race when I was visiting the Mighty Squirrel Brewery (who hosted the entire event) with some co-workers. I was able to find ample information about the event online via the registration website and facebook. We received an email somewhat late in the evening (certainly could have been missed by those who are early to bed) with a lot of information regarding the next mornings race. A highlight of this email for me was the fact that they describe the course as "a brutal hill from mile 1 to 2 which kinda keeps going up past mile 3." This incredibly honest description cracked me up but also had me feeling pretty nervous for the race. Another quirky part of the pre-race experience was the fact that packet pick-up was advertised to end 30 minutes before the race began. On-site however it did not appear to be largely enforced. Grabbing my packet was easy and despite the event being sold-out, I never waited long in any line.

THE SWAG: There was no swag included in this race, but you certainly can get your money's worth of free beer at the after party. Shirts were available at packet pick up for an additional cost. All proceeds of this race and merchandise went directly to charity, which was a nice element.

THE RACE: They were not kidding when they described the hills of this race as BRUTAL. I actually happen to live along the race-route of this event so I had a general idea of what I was getting myself into and signed up anyway. The hills seem to never stop, which isn't far off from the truth when you consider that hills are at least 3 if not 3.5 miles of this entire race. The course is one large loop which starts and ends at the home of race hosts Mighty Squirrel Brewing Company. Passing through the campus of Bentley University and through several neighborhoods of Waltham the course is largely residential and takes runners both on roads and sidewalks throughout. A downside of this course was how close cars got to runners a few times, I never felt unsafe directly but certainly felt spooked on more than one occasion. I was never really made aware if their were aid stations along this course or not, but there were two staff water stops every 1.5 miles or so.

BLING: Medals were initially available for runners at this race for an additional $5 donation. Unfortunately, they were misprinted and ended up being unavailable for the race.

LINE & POST-RACE: The after party for this race makes the whole hill ordeal worth it. Two free beers and Mighty Squirrels amazing pretzel sticks are available for all runners. I had heard that there was pizza being delivered at 11am, but I never actually saw it or had any. The entire taproom was open for runners and fans and the atmosphere was extremely lively and fun. It was really exciting to spend time with a Fellow Bibrave Pro Danielle who's boyfriend had run the race (we spent much of the course together!) we hung out for several hours enjoying beer and swapping race stories. I had a great experience with this race overall despite a few kinks in their organization and process. For an inaugural event I would consider this a huge success. I look forward to next year!

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(2019)
"Get "Jazzed" for rolling hills - Kansas City Half 2019"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

PRE-RACE: I received entry into this race for being a BibRave Pro, thanks to my pro status. I was able to register for this race nice and early way back in May 2019. In the several months before the race I received a variety of informative emails covering all aspects of the race and multiple FAQs. I also was able to read more into the race through the race website. Social Media for the race was extremely active and clued participants into crucial elements of race logistics as well as this races' many extra fun elements too. This race even has their own podcast!

This race takes place on a Saturday, so the Expo is held the Thursday and Friday prior. The expo is held in Kansas City's Union Station, centrally located in the city with plenty of parking (both short and long term) the expo was extremely easy to access and was open for over 15 hours during the two day span. Although the Expo was smaller than I was expecting (considering the size and scale of this major race) - it was jam packed with a variety of local and national vendors. Packet Pick-Up it self was extremely easy, there were multiple fast moving lines and participants in all the events (10k, Half and Full Marathons) could jump into any line and quickly get their bib's, participant sunglasses and event t-shirts. I was able to spend about an hour within the Expo, connecting with fellow runners and a variety of vendors and staff. It's important to note that there is NO race-day registration or packet pick up for this event. Though, registration does stay open through the duration of the expo.

In terms of travel and lodging (as this race is a popular destination race and a must-run for those looking to check Missouri off their 50 states list) the race is located roughly 25 minutes from Kansas City International Airport and directly near dozens of hotel and motel options. The kansas city streetcar (which is free) can also transport your from a variety of KC neighborhoods to the expo and the start line.

THE SWAG: The swag for this race was some of the best I have seen in awhile. All participants received an event t-shirt (available in both men's and women's cuts) along with a pair of race-branded Goodr sunglasses. These were such a cool touch! Lulu Lemon also sold a variety of additional race themed merchandise - this was available for pre-order and at the race expo.

THE RACE: This race is one of the most difficult courses I have ever run on. Featuring dozens of hills at a variety of inclines and lengths, this course offers a challenge for all. The scenery and history featured along this course is absolutely breathtaking and provides numerous, numerous photo ops. Runners get front row vantages points of KCs Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Westport, 18th and Vine Jazz district, Sunset Hill Neighborhood, Country Club Plaza, and more! I was consistently in awe at all I was seeing along this race route. Even tho my race day took place almost exclusively in the pouring rain, I was still blown away by the beauty of this course. Relief from almost 12 straight miles of hills (both rolling and otherwise) comes around mile 12.5 - at this point runners run almost straight downhill for the remainder of the race, all with the finish line calling to you in full view ahead.

Course support for this race was in ample supply. Both water and powerade were available about every 1.5/2 miles and often included medical tents as well. Crowds and cheer stations along this course varied from neighborhood to neighborhood, but featured many pockets of decently sized crowds and plenty of energy. Despite being a major challenge for me, there was nothing I didn't love about this course and race.

BLING: Medals were available for all events during marathon weekend. The medals were designed in line with the theme of the race seen throughout marketing efforts and the race tshirts. I loved these jazzy medals and appreciated how they offered medals in unique colors depending on the race length.

FINISH LINE & POST-RACE: The energy at the finish line for this race is electric. After flying down the final hill to the finish, participants are able to celebrate a variety of accomplishments by ringing the races giant gong. This made for a fun moment and a great photo op. The post-race party includes a free BBQ sandwich (YUM) and a variety of local KC beers. After eating, there was plenty more to do as well - including tye-dye t-shirts! I had so much fun at this race and absolutely recommend it for anyone looking for a memorial experience.

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(2019)
"Lawn on D Inaugural 5K!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
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PRE-RACE: I first learned about this race via Facebook events, I thought I would be busy with prior obligations but I realized the morning of the race I would be able to participate. The logistics behind this race were simple, with on site packet pick up and nearby pay-stations for parking there was no information needed that I couldn't easily get form the races' website or Facebook event. The Lawn on D itself is relatively accessible and is a short drive right off the Mass Pike. I had no trouble arriving early and registering onsite for this race.

THE SWAG: For a $10 race, I was pretty happy with the swag that was included at this 5K. A long sleeve dri-fit shirt with the race logo came with entry. The shirt was good quality and comfy! Anyone who participated as a member of the Citizens Bank team also received a short sleeve Citizens Bank t-shirt.

THE RACE: I struggled a little bit with the actual race part of this event. The course was two laps around the adjacent Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) followed by a PAINFUL almost one mile snaking loop through the BCEC parking lot. This section of the race was so awful it almost tarnished the whole event for me. I would make a strong recommendation to race organizers that a third loop around the BCEC would be much more welcomed than a back and forth "pacer test" style final mile across sun-drenched asphalt. Aside from that however, I did enjoy the views of Boston that the back-side of the BCEC afforded to runners. There was one water stop on the course ( I think two may have been appropriate) and ample staff present to assist you, since the entire event took place immediately next to "The Lawn" itself, you were never far from where you started. The race advertised up to 1,000 open spots, but I was surprised to see that their were fewer than 200 participants (150 to be exact.) I think that this event can gain popularity as it returns for it's second year and beyond.

BLING: The medal for this race was simple but a nice touch! It included the race's logo and was a nice aspect to a shorter and more cost effective race.

LINE & POST-RACE: The finish line for this race was a lot of fun! The race ends right on the lawn, with a DJ, food and plenty of activities for everyone involved and their friends. I had fun taking pictures on the Lawn's famous swings and hanging out for a bit before heading home.

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(2019)
"A Rockin' Race with Rollin' Hills - RNR San Diego 2019"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
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I had been eyeing a Rock N Roll race for a long time, and I couldn't have asked for a better first experience!

PRE-RACE: It's hard for me to really comment on pre-race communication. I elected to Run this race as a St. Jude "Hero" and raise money for their charity. As a result, I didn't receive any communication directly from Rock N Roll before race day. ( I am not sure how this works for regular field runners.) Rock N Roll however, provides AMPLE amounts of communication regarding their races on their website and via social media. They truly thought of all questions that could be asked and had detailed answers to anything you could need.

The pre-race expo for this event can only be described one way for me OVERWHELMING. The field for this race is absolutely massive, and that is evident by the sheer size of not just the expo venue, but the lines you stood in at seemingly every corner. An annoying aspect of this race for me was the fact that I stood in line at the bib pick up for nearly 20 minutes, only to be give a slip of paper directing me to the charity runners booth. I think that this could have easily been explained via email or in another way instead of forcing those runners to wait in multiple lines just to grab their bibs. Overall however, the expo was fascinating. This was the second largest expo I've ever been too (first being the Boston Marathon expo!) and there was literally everything available that you could ever want or need. I was excited to pick up my first pair of AfterShockz headphones and many snacks and fuel options. At the expo I connected with a fellow "Bibrave Pro" Deidre and we explored through all the booths together, trying all the free samples we could find. We ended up staying at the expo for over an hour checking everything out.

THE SWAG: I wasn't overly impressed with the swag for this race. Half Marathon participants receive a dri-fit t-shirt (which was what I can only describe as neon-snot green LOL). The real bummer was that these shirts were not available at the expo, they had not been delivered on time and so needed to be picked up after the race which was EXTREMELY chaotic. Aside from the free t-shirt there was ample swag to be purchased at the expo. A highlight for me was the swag they sold with the names of all the runners in a particular distance on it (ex: Female half participants) it was really cool to find my name!

THE RACE: This course was easily the most exciting route I have ever been a part of. San Diego shows up in masses for this race. On every street and around every corner there were spectators and fans cheering runners on. A unique aspect of this race (one that I did not partake in) was the numerous roadside bars set up on spectator lawns throughout the course. I discovered that there was an entire group of runners who set out to stop at every single one and still finish the race (I have no idea if they made it ...HAHA!) The energy of this city is unparalleled to anything I have experienced before, and it was truly addicting. One of my favorite miles on this race was the "blue mile" this mile was dedicated to San Diego service Men and Women who lost their lives defending our country. There was an entire section of this mile when all runners ran through a tunnel of american flags, I am getting goosebumps all over again thinking about it. Such a touching tribute to so many heroes. This course had many hills from start to finish and so could feel a bit challenging at times. The crowds really helped me keep the energy high and my pace solid.

BLING: The medal for this race was themed for the city and the "rock-n-roll" signature theme. It was a nice memento to remember the day, but doesn't stand out for any particular reason. A nice element of Rock-n-Roll races is all the different specialty medals you can earn, I saw people decked out in multiple medals for completion of various challenges and reaching certain milestones.

LINE & POST-RACE: The finish line for this race is absolute insanity, there were just so many people! The finish empties out into an extremely crowded street, so if your looking for friends I suggest having them meet you at the after party and not at the finish cute, you can barely see your own feet in front of you! The post-race entertainment was pretty extensive, and there was plenty to do and see. The post-race concert was one of my favorite artists, so that was nice to see! There is a beer garden and other activities for those who wanted to hang out for awhile.

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(2019)
"Holy Shiplap - a truly fun race! "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
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Race Management

The 2nd annual Silo District Marathon weekend was held at the Magnolia Silo's in Waco, TX. This race is created, organized and physically run by HGTV Fixer Upper Stars Chip and Joanna Gaines and raises money for rare cancer research through the "Brave like Gabe" foundation. I was so excited to run this race as I am a HUGE "Fixer Upper" fan. Here are the details!

PRE-RACE: I expected more communication from the race organizers overall pre-race, aside from a confirmation email and some information about opting into fundraising, there wasn't a lot of communication and the website wasn't rich with information either. As the race got closer we were informed that a race app existed, this provided much of the race information I had been hoping to receive (parking, expo, etc.) and 6 days before the race I did receive a pre-race email recapping a lot of what the app had been able to share. Something interesting to note is that the race information through social media comes entirely through the @magnolia account, which can be confusing for those unfamiliar with Joanna and Chips' Magnolia branding. Searching #silodistrictmarathon also allowed me to find a lot of posts about last year's and this year's race.

Although this was the second year of the race, it was the first year that Magnolia Co. had organized a pre-race expo. The expo was modest but still a lot of fun, packet pickup and swag distribution was truly seamless and the small number of (all Waco owned) vendors seemed to really be enjoying the atmosphere. There were plenty of opportunities to photo ops (always a highlight for me) both at the expo and throughout Magnolia Market at the Silos. There was plenty to do at the Market itself too, food trucks, shopping, outdoor activities and more: If you are patient I 100% recommend checking out the Silo's Company Bakery and the Magnolia Table restaurant (just be warned, lines will be long!) Over 6,000 people travel out to Waco for this race so it's really special to be surrounded by so many runners and fans - the atmosphere was so exciting!

THE SWAG: The swag for this race was pretty standard, a dry fit t-shirt and a nice canvas bag. I really loved the material of the bag as apposed to some of the more plastic feeling ones I have received from races in the past. The t-shirts ran a little large but they were willing to size swap the following day for anyone who wanted a smaller size. Additional swag was available for purchase including more t-shirts and a baseball cap (which tbh, I regret not buying). Everything Magnolia designs is truly adorable so I enjoyed taking in all the merch and rocking my race t-shirt for some photos at the vendor fair.

THE RACE: Parking for this race is a breeze, there are two large parking lots about 1.5 miles away from the start line with ample shuttle buses taking runners right to the start, signage was clear and finding parking was simple. The beginning of this race was a little stressful, porta-pottie lines were extremely long and after waiting nearly 20 minutes I actually gave up and made my way over to the start corrals. The corrals were super crowded and it was a little hard to understand where I should go - I definitely recommend showing up at least 30+ minutes early to this race just so you can get yourself situated. The race starts in waves about two or so minutes apart, Chip and Joanna (plus baby Crew!) were manning the start line cheering on runners. The course itself is beautiful, weaving through Baylor Universities campus and various neighborhoods of Waco. Much of the course is shady and green, a nice contrast to the crazy humidity Texas is known for this time of year. It was so humid this whole race that at every single water station I needed to dump a cup of water over my face, it was HOT out there! There was not as many spectators along the course as I was expecting for a race this size, however, aid stations were plentiful and there was water, gatorade, gels, pickles and more available throughout the route. There were a few bands and some entertainment along the course but nothing major. I absolutely loved the inspirational quote mile markers, but did notice that on the Half Marathon route they disappeared after mile 10. I spent the last 5k of the race having no idea how close I was to the end. The route itself has several hills and at least one of them is very steep - the hardest part of the course for me was the very end, for about the last half mile you can see the finish line -- it was absolute torture! Overall I really enjoyed the entire course and the scenery of the race. One of the only downsides of this race is that there is NO race photography on the course, even when I look terrible I do usually enjoy seeing photos of my experience during the race.

BLING: I enjoyed the medal for this race, designed in a true medallion style there were separate medals for the 5k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon races. Each medal had a separate colored lanyard
and there are super cute large medal displays you can take photos with once you've completed the course.

FINISH LINE & POST-RACE: This race finishes back almost exactly where it started, with plenty of fans cheering you on in the finishers chute. The after party at the silos was a lot of fun, I ended up getting some sweets in the bakery and stopping by the awards ceremony. The entire weekend was a lot of fun and I really hope to run this race again next year!

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