I should start by saying that I have very limited experience running 5ks. I’ve never cared much for 5ks and until this race, I haven't seriously raced one since the fall of 2008. I think this race changed my mind about the 5k. Here's why....

PROS
- Weekday evening race! I always love a good excuse to leave the office a little early.
- Reasonable race fee with the option of race day registration; And you can do a timed run or a fun run.
- Packet pick-up at Fleet Feet with the option of race day pick-up without a 'will call' fee.
- 50/50-ish split of the course being run on finely crushed gravel vs. sidewalks. I prefer the sidewalk/pavement but I know the more forgiving surfaces are better for me - this was a happy compromise.
- Clearly marked course with friendly volunteers directing us where to go. I didn't get lost, or maybe I should say all of the runners I was following didn't get lost!
- Fun course. There was a more to this course than just an out and back. (I guess it’s easier to be creative with a 5k than a half marathon…) There were several parts of the course where you could see who was ahead of you and vice versa due to turn around points. I find this motivational from both perspectives – chase those ahead of you, and keep at bay anyone behind you. This race was held in Lincoln Park, rather than downtown, thus, there were trees and grass and you never had to step foot on the lakefront bike path!
- Perfect size race. Not so many people that it felt overwhelming during the race but enough people that I always had someone near me to try and pick-off or keep-up with. (There were just under 500 timed runners. I’m not sure how many fun run runners there were.)
- Women's specific sized shirt. Nothing extra special about these but nothing awful.
- Live band, beer and vanilla wafers in the post-race area.

CONS
- No course map included on the website; I was fortunate enough to know someone who knew the course and mapped it out on the USATF website for me (Search for "Jim Gibbons 5k")
- Free for all start. There's a fun run and a chip timed run and everyone starts together. There are no signs suggesting where to start based on estimated pace. There were a bunch of grade school kids lined up at the very front that made the first couple hundred meters a little tricky. (And don't get me wrong - I think it's great these kids are active but I was nervous I would trip over them and hurt myself or them)

This race was well organized and was executed without a hitch (or so it appeared). I enjoyed myself enough before, during and after the run that after a six year hiatus from the 5k, I think I’ll do a couple more this year! I can only hope they are as great as this one!

PROS
- I liked the shirts more than I have in the past. Simple design and men's and women's sizing.
- Packet pick-up was at Fleet Feet so you could grab any last minute gear/nutrition you needed for race day.
- Shuttle to/from downtown and the race start. I didn't utilize this option but I'm sure it was helpful since the L doesn't go near the race start.
- Lots of porta potties = very minimal waiting, if any.
- Flat course (except for one small hill during mile 10) that was clearly marked, including many uneven surfaces and potholes.
- Views of the lake and a couple of the city helped occupy my mind.
- I think I remember seeing Clif gels on the course. I always bring my own nutrition so I don't remember if this is normal for a half. Either way, it's a nice feature if you forgot yours or don't like carrying stuff during the race.
- Great vendors with freebies in the post race area - stretching and protein drinks/milk. And the pizza and beer.... For those that can handle that in the morning.

CONS
- $25 fee to pick-up your packet on race day. I picked mine up in advance but regardless, this seems a bit steep.
- Definitely no pace teams for 1:35 and I don't think they had one for 1:40 either. But they had a 1:30 and 1:45. This might have been due to a lack of people estimating their finishing time in these time slots.
- Hairpin turnaround (literally 180 degree turn) during mile 8 that interrupted my rhythm.
- No relief from the sun! Minimal shade very early in the race but that's it.
- Mile markers might have been off. Handful of people (myself included) said their GPS watches calculated splits much earlier than the posted signs starting with mile 1, and the total distance was significantly more than 13.1. My Garmin read 13.3 when I finished and I did not do any weaving in and out of people.

This was my 4th time running this race (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014). My half PR was set on this course in 2010. This race was warm (but not brutal) thus good way of easing into summer racing.

Overall, this is a great race and I recommend it!!

I love this race. I always have and I always will. The main reason I love this race because of the greater purpose it serves. I love that Susan G. Komen puts on this race across the nation to help raise awareness of breast cancer and to raise money for breast cancer research. I lost my mom to breast cancer on December 27, 2008. Her battle was short but she was brave and positive the entire time. I ran this race in memory of her in 2009, 2011 and again this year.

I think it’s pretty cool this race is done on Mother’s Day! I also loved seeing everyone dressed in pink, men included. I was dressed head to toe in bright pink... This was only embarrassing as I ran the 5 miles home from the race. The pre/post race area was really big and as with most races, had all sorts of sponsors and vendors giving away things. This is a race that doesn’t attract elite runners and I’m more than okay with that. This gives me a much better opportunity to place well and what better race to do it at?

As much as I love this race, there are a few things I wish they would change – I think they should have separate starts for the 5k and the 10k. There was no way of knowing who was running what until the course split. I thought I was the 4th female for the 10k until I saw each of the three other women who I knew were ahead of me turn and follow the 5k course. By this point, I had already mentally come to terms that I wasn’t going to make my goal of being in the top 3 because these women were moving fast! It was tough to switch mindsets so suddenly.

I also think they could add some extra re-assurance that you’re on the course. There are some fairly long stretches where you just follow the lakefront path (BORING!!!). I usually run races assuming I continue straight ahead unless there’s a sign/person specifically telling me to turn; however, some pink balloons could help confirm I didn’t miss a sign. When you’re in the zone – it’s amazing what you can miss.

The other part of the course they should change is near the Shedd Aquarium. The inbound runners (for a lack of better terminology, I’m referring to those who have already run as far south as the course goes and have turned around and are now heading back towards the finish line) have to cross the path of the outbound runners. I mean, you literally have to say ‘excuse me’ and cut someone off or stop and stand there and wait until there’s a break in the people. It’s annoying and dangerous.

The final thing about the course I would change – they should more clearly mark the finish line. I saw a crowd of people standing at the corner of the street and I saw some timing mats; however, I don’t recall seeing anything indicating this was the finish. I think there was a clock but since this finish line was in a different spot than I remembered from the 2011 race, I thought I had to keep going.

I would also change the shirts. Who likes cotton tshirts for running? I understand not everyone who is doing this race is a runner and wants/needs dri-fit but clearly everyone is active on some level and thus sweats. I would wear my shirt on runs if it was dri fit!

The final thing I would comment upon (and also noticed someone else mentioned it) - the results posted subsequent to the race don’t seem to be correct. I agree with my time and my gender place, but I don’t agree with my overall place. I was NOT the overall winner and you can clearly see that based on my time vs. second place’s time. I was 11th overall. Although this doesn’t really affect many people and it’s not difficult to find where I should actually be, it still required more effort on my part to determine this rather than just reading.

I gave this race an overall 5 stars and recommended others do this race because of the greater purpose of this race; however, it’s not the perfect race.

Race for the cure. Hope for the cure. Pray for the cure.