This race offers a 5K, 10K, and a half marathon. I ran the half marathon.

This year the route for the half was changed due to construction on the Hoan bridge, which is the main part of the course (Hence the tagline "take it to the bridge!") The new route ran from the south end of the bridge to the north end, where the 10K and the half split and the half went up Lincoln Memorial Drive and up to where Lake Drive curves. That area is nicely shaded with a few hills (including the massive, steep hill by Colectivo on the Lake) and had great course support from spectators as well as entertainment!

Aid stations were very well-spaced out and well-staffed with volunteers. They were very encouraging and had water/gatorade available quickly.

10K and half marathon runners got either a yellow tech shirt with gray side stripes (women) or gray with yellow side stripes (men). Registration fee also includes a free Summerfest general admission ticket and a free Polish Fest general admission ticket.

The expo was great. There were a lot of running-related vendors there including Performance Running Outfitters, one of the more popular running stores in the area. Rock 'n Sole also had a booth where you could buy additional official race merchandise, including tech shirts, headbands, and cups.

I was anticipating parking being a nightmare because the Third Ward's parking is usually a mess. There were two structures near the start line that offered free parking until 9 am and there were 4 lots close to the finish line that offered discounted ($5) parking until 9 am.

After the race, there is a post-race party that includes a free Miller 64 for the runners, food, and entertainment until 11 am-ish.

This race was the first half marathon I ran and this year (2014) will be my third year in a row running it.

The course is beautiful and takes you past the Harley Museum, Mitchell Park Domes, and through Miller Valley. In 2013 the course was adjusted slightly to include more hills. There are port-a-johns a plenty and well-spaced out water and aid stations. When running through the area around Miller Valley, a lot of the residents in the area either have music playing or are themselves playing instruments and cheering the runners on.

Just a word of advice, when you're running down Canal St. and in front of Potowatomi, breathe through your mouth; the slaughterhouse in the area smells nice and ripe on Saturday mornings.

The shirts are awesome tech shirts that fit very well (as someone who is petite, this always makes me happy!)

The post-race party includes massages for the runners, lots of food, and live music.

This was my first time running this race and having to travel to a race (from Milwaukee, WI).

Positives:
- packet pick-up was easy, no lines
- course scenery was beautiful
- course support was fantastic (medics on bikes with almost every pace group)
- clear communication when humidity and temps rose to slow down and drink water
- misting stations were wonderful
- started on time
- medal was awesome and doubles as a bottle opener

Negatives:
- tech shirt was MASSIVE (I got a small and it was twice my size)
- packet pick-up parking was nonexistent
- expo was very minimal, hardly any vendors there
- corrals not clearly marked
- hard to locate gear check
- parking on race day is a nightmare; you have to park several blocks away in a parking structure and pay to park
- post race party was too cramped; it was located at the memorial union and there is simply not enough room for all the runners plus spectators to actually enjoy themselves.
- post race free beer tasted HORRIBLE

All in all, I really enjoyed actually running the race. The course was a little more hilly than I expected it to be, but as this was my first year running it, I was not discouraged by that. The weather was completely perfect; even when it had warmed up, it wasn't unbearably hot. Madison is a beautiful city to be running around on a Saturday morning :)

I ran this 5K two years in a row. The route goes around Miller Park's parking lot (since it's just a 5K) and you get to run the warming track in the stadium.

Since this is a run/walk, there are a lot of people there with strollers, etc. There is not clear communication with the walkers to wait until the runners have started and the walkers just go, which means the runners have to dodge around them and their strollers, wheelchairs, etc. right at the start.

In 2013, the race officials insisted on having participants park in the Yount parking lot, which the course runs around the perimeter of. However, when you as the runner are done and want to leave, the security people won't let you out because the walkers are still going. My husband and I sat in the car for almost a half hour after I was finished waiting to get out of the parking lot and I will admit, I was HANGRY (because I don't eat before a race) and we were supposed to meet people for brunch.

The t-shirt they give you is massive and cheesy-looking. I'd rather have a tech shirt.

Included with your race entry is a hot dog and a beer after the race, except the hot dogs have been made and wrapped in foil for a few hours before you get to eat it.

After my experience in 2013, I will no longer be running this race. It is too disorganized and not worth the hassle. There are plenty of other 5K/fun runs that are worth the money and experience.