Latest reviews by Tim

(2014)
"Great Race Debut!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

WHAT WAS AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE?
For a first time race, I thought it was really ran well. A lot of moving parts once again when ever you involve off-site parking and I thought the shuttles were ran very well. Packet pickup was quick and efficient with parking an issue as well with what might be the first ever drive-thru packet-pick-up. The post-race party was excellent as even though I was freezing and Laura was freezing, I was quite content drinking beer, eating brats, and listening to great music. It was a party atmosphere and it meant to serve as a kick-off to the Packers home season. A great kick-off it was.

WHAT WASN'T SO AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE?
Especially when a race has off-site parking, you need to have somewhere where people can bring an extra shirt, a jacket, post-race needs, etc. I would have really appreciated a gear check so I could have brought my phone for pictures, a couple of bucks just in case (Would have toured the bomber they had, that's for sure. Especially since it was like one my Papa flew.) and some warm clothes for afterwards.

For more, check out my blog: http://tkmarathonman.blogspot.com/2014/10/race-report-prevea-5k-grb.html

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(2014)
"Other Race Don't Compare"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

WHAT WAS AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE
I love the course every year, but this year was great in particular. In year's past, we have done laps around parking lots just to kill time and miles. By adding a mile or two at the beginning and at the end, we pretty much went straight from the neighborhood onto campus and to the lakeshore path. No one racing likes the obvious attempts to eat mileage. This race did a good job of avoiding that.

WHAT WASN'T AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE
I felt like we were curb hopping a lot. We curb hopped with good reason, but I felt like for a race of this size and stature that we curb hopped a lot.

Read more at http://tkmarathonman.blogspot.com/2014/08/race-report-madison-mini-marathon.html

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(2014)
"Everything Was Good But...."
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

WHAT WAS AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE
This year wins for most value in a race that I paid for. First, as we finished, we received this:

It's important that I point out that I hate it when people go to races with a modest spread, grab a box, and then grab a million of everything and fill up their box. That's not cool, especially if you finish in front of a lot of people. This was ONE of everything. Just one. They offered the box at the end and I only took one because I absolutely needed it. We still have some of this food in our kitchen. Second, they brought back having entertainment post-race and it was great band made up of members of the Navy. Add in the free cans of Sam Adams and great weather and I could have stayed there forever. Post-race, we also got free race photos, which I think truly is the wave of the future. People don't want to pay $20 for a 5 x 7 unless it's truly epic. They don't mind a sponsor logo here or there though. Great move and I hope other races do the same.
WHAT WASN'T AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE
It's hard to ignore the race distance issue. It's a weird distance and I understand that. That's a cardinal rule of the race though: you have to nail it. This was also a CARA circuit race, so that makes it almost inexcusable. I love the course and I like seeing different parts of the fort, but if you can't nail the distance, don't move the course around. I still don't know where we lost the mileage in the back or gained it from the front. I can deal with the lack of entertainment or crappy food or some of the other things I have featured during this section of my blog posts. Can't screw up the distance though.

For more, check out my blog, http://tkmarathonman.blogspot.com/2014/10/race-report-fort-2-base.html

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(2014)
"Hot and Steamy Fun"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

WHAT WAS AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE
I'm quite partial to the stadium experience. I've done this race three times now and have rushed the field a couple times. I just love going by Ryan Field. If I didn't, my pocket book would be a lot heavier. They have done a lot to recruit fans at this event. Let's Tailgate as their merch tent set up. They play songs you would hear at Northwestern games. Even Pat Fitzgerald showed up and gave us some nice words of encouragement before he bolted to do the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field. Once again, the family stayed for a few hours afterwards to tailgate in the lots where we are nowhere near to ever affording to tailgate. Having a great relationship with the race director means a lot as well.

WHAT WASN'T AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE
I noticed last year when I didn't own a dog, but definitely now that I do have a dog (Yes, I am and most likely will be that parent), I noticed the total lack of dog activities. The first year, the whole Walker Terrace was practically a dog park. Two removed as the race became more runner friendly, I feel like it has come less dog friendly. I feel bad because I feel like I am part of the problem. It was definitely a very dog friendly event before the runners came into the mix. On the plus side, they still allowed dogs, which are sometimes banned from CARA Circuit Races.

Read more at http://tkmarathonman.blogspot.com/2014/08/race-report-run-for-walk-41-m.html

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(2014)
"Pricey but worth it"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

WHAT WAS AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE?
This race does have one of the best post-race parties around. They took up the entire south lot this year, which if you ask George Lucas. it is quite sizable. The downside was is that they felt like they could handle another 5,000 people which still made it feel crowded. They did fix the problems for the beer and the sausages for the most part, so that was nice. The chicken sausages they served were delicious and thanks to finding beer tickets I had my fair share of freshly poured Goose Island 312, 312 pale, and Green Line. Lots
of great giveaways ranging from popcorn from Garrett's (my favorite thing I think I received to be honest with you) and ice cream from a place that I can't remember off hand. It was good, it just wasn't frozen custard good. Each Big Ten school also had tents where they had more giveaways. Of course, BTN personalities, old players, and mascots appeared as well. The mascots were of course awesome because there were 10 or 11 of them and they were all interacting with each other. Add in cheerleaders from the other three or four schools awkwardly grinding up against them and you get yourself a good time in my book.

WHAT WASN'T AWESOME ABOUT THIS RACE?
It's honestly my favorite complaint: if you're doing what essentially is an out and back course, there's no excuse for trying to make miles at the end via weird turnarounds or switchbacks. This one had a switch back and even though it made for a cool finish, go up the extra half mile or whatever it was.

Check out the rest of my review: http://tkmarathonman.blogspot.com/2014/08/race-report-big-ten-network-big-10k.html

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