I can honestly say that the Fort 2 Base race is my favorite after running it the last couple of years. Every year when I'm scheduling my races, I always start with registering for this first. While I like to try and run different fun races every season, I still have a couple that I just have to be part of. The military themed races will always have a special place in my heart. Running from the old Fort Sheridan Army Base to the Great Lakes Naval Base always gives me the chills. I grew up near Fort Sheridan and can vividly remember my many military brat friends and sadly seeing them get transferred out over the years. While it is still a mere shadow of what it used to be, the support is still there.

The race packet pickup for me was downtown Chicago at the Runner's Edge store on Clark Street but there were a couple of dates to choose from including the Libertyville store. There was also a race morning option too right before the race began. The packet came with a great race shirt.

As for the race morning, I parked at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science in North Chicago which was easy parking. From there, you took the plethora of buses over to Fort Sheridan since there was no parking at the start area. The bus ride was pretty short as it was the weekend. I met up with a fellow social media runner Kathy and it was great to put a face with a name! At the start area, there were tons of port-o-potties as well as gear check and registration tables. The race probably has about 1000 runners and the course was a little different than last year due to construction. I definitely liked this years course. The start of the race began with the National Anthem and then off we went! We ran through the old Fort Sheridan parade grounds for about 2 miles before hitting the Sheridan Road trails. Who doesn't love running around Leonardwood loop seeing the old tower and running past General Patton's old dwelling?! After that, the course just meanders through Lake Forest and Lake Bluff along the trail with small crowds cheering you on. There were plenty of residents there to cheer you as you went by and a few kids with squirt guns that actually felt great as humid as it was. The trails are quiet and a few oncoming bikers made it interesting. The volunteers as always were friendly and cheering you on and I thank them for being there for us in plenty of spots.

My second wind came as we finished mile 8 and headed into Great Lakes Naval Base. That's where the support was immense! Running past the greatest training Naval Base in the country with the active personnel waving you on at every turn gives you goosebumps. Hero Hill changed a bit as it was longer but less steep than last years but still a great challenge on the legs. Right about mile 10, there was a water featured banned above you with ice cold water! Loved and needed that! The homestretch is what it's all about. You finish on the parade grounds to hundreds of supporters and military folks. Medals were handed out by the ranking officers from both Military bases. And that medal!!!!

I love everything about this race from the course layout to the support from our military and a great after race area with massage tables, medal engraving, food, and a general merchandise tent. This race will continue to be #1 for me each year as long as I'm able to run!

Wanting to run this venue for a couple of years now, I'm glad I was given the opportunity to be a part of it. As always, RAM Racing always does such a great job with organizing these events with Fleet Feet.

Packet Pickup was a breeze at Fleet Feet Old Town. I think it's pretty smart to have a packet pickup at a store that stocks eye candy. The staff is always friendly and smiling and there are so many goodies for a runner. I'll eventually get in to get properly fitted for some shoes (Like when the Chicago Marathon shoes comes out!) Being overly OCD, I always get there right as the packets are ready. I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes. The packet came with the bib, some advertising, and a great race shirt.

Parking for the event was even easier at the Waldron Deck near Soldier Field and there was tons of parking available. I was already downtown for other business so I got there extra early to stretch and walk the lakefront paths near the harbor. The parking ended up costing only $20 for the night.

The event itself was just one big party with great food, great beer, and some loud music. I met up with my fellow BibRave Pros Eric and Heather. It made the event even more fun to be there with such excited happy people.

My goal for the race was to PR my 5K but I sadly didn't hit it. My legs just felt heavy and I think it was due to over-training for the Chicago Marathon. As for the race and course, it was very similar to other RAM races heading south under McCormick and then turning around and heading back north along the lakefront paths. It's always a beautiful course when you head north and see the Chicago skyline in all of its glory.

The post race party was top notch with plenty of food and spirits while listening to Maggie Speaks playing all sorts of music genres. The Bells Brewery beer was absolutely great and the line was super long but moved pretty fast. I ended up trying the Oatsmobile and it absolutely hit the spot after a race. I mean, come on, a cold tasty Pale Ale after exerting yourself for a 5K?! The sausages were from Amylu and you had a choice between the savory Apple and Gouda or the Spicy Andouille Chicken. I, of course, opted for the spicy and another home run.

I've wanted to run the BTN Big 10K for the last couple of years but my schedule never worked out until this year. I've had friends run this and raved about the whole experience and I was excited to take part. Thankfully, a few of us BibRave Pros were given the opportunity to be part of the RAM Racing event. Even if you are not a Big 10 alumni, the whole college rivalry and support for everyone cannot be beat. There were 2 race distances to choose from. The 10K started at 7am and the 5K started at 8am.

Packet pickup was a breeze at the Fleet Feet Sports Old Town store. You also could have had the packet mailed to you at a minimal cost to save you a drive. I chose to pick up my stuff because, well, it's a running store! There were four days to choose from when picking up your gear and I went on the first day due to sheer impatience and eagerness to see my bib and shirt. The folks there were friendly and it was extremely well organized. I was in/out in less than 10 minutes.

My goal for the race was to hit my 10k PR since I was familiar with the course running many of the RAM Racing events downtown Chicago. Parking was plentiful if you planned ahead. I always reserve a spot early using a parking app on my phone within a 5 minute walk to Grant Park. I woke up around 4:30am to head out and sight see/stretch before meeting my fellow BibRave Pros. There were tons of runners around the streets heading to the race all wearing their Big 10 jersey shorts. You definitely couldn't get lost if you were new to the area by the sheer number of people heading to the start line.

The BTN Big 10K is a much bigger race than I expected and the prerace area was packed with tons to do. Besides taking selfies and scenery pics, you could chat with the alumni at every one of the schools at their respective tents, pick up your school sunglasses, talk with the vendor tents, or just people watch. There was a gear check area organized by bib numbers with extra bags and pins if you forgot to bring one.

The corrals were well organized and easily labeled. There were tons of friendly volunteers doing everything they could to ensure you had a great experience. I was in Corral C and it seemed that there were a few hundred runners in each of the corrals. The start line faced the skyline heading north and these RAM races always do a great job getting you pumped up to start with some loud motivating music and with a great rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. The emcee for this year's race was our own Chicago Cubs Kyle Schwarber.

As for the course, we were lucky enough to have 70 degree weather at the beginning though it definitely warmed up as we raced. The race goes North through the city, under the tunnels of Randolph and Lower Wacker Drive. Most of the races I've run downtown follow similar routes in the tunnels which aren't very scenic. But, when you exit and head south along Columbus, you see the crowds on the sidewalks with their motivational signs and words of encouragement. After a little longer down South Michigan Avenue, you head east towards the lakefront past the Shedd Aquarium before heading north along the beautiful lakefront paths. Running past Monroe Harbor was the best part for the scenery but the path is a little beaten with some decent potholes. There were volunteers near the dangerous areas to warn you about them. The race finishes in Grant Park to a roaring crowd and post race festivities.

At the finish line, you are greeted by dozens of volunteers with cold RAM Racing towels and pools to dip them in. You also have the usual water tables and a well labeled area guiding you to the finishers medal tables. Every school had a small table with volunteers handing out your school specific finisher medal. Then you proceeded to the food area with the bananas and Clif Bars.

Your race entry also gets you a beer ticket, sunglasses ticket, and food ticket all attached to your bib. The post race beer was Goose Island! The sausages were either spicy of savory and I opted for the spicy which definitely hit the spot. If you were a tailgater, then this BTN Big 10k was perfect for you. There were tons of activities to do for all ages. I didn't get a chance to participate but there was a huge tailgate game area with a 40 yard dash area, a field goal area, inflatables area, and a bunch of smaller games for the kids.

All in all, the ambience of this race is just plain old fun. While racing a smaller distance with big crowds, you also get a chance to support local charities like the Special Olympics Chicago as the official charity. I had a ton of fun running with some great people and will definitely be a part of it next year.

The North Shore Classic half marathon run by Ram Racing has been a popular race along the northern Chicago suburbs for many years. I’ve run this race for a few years and it’s probably my favorite half marathon. Besides being wildly popular by the local businesses and runners, the course is just beautiful running through the beautiful suburb of Highland Park. If you haven’t run this race before, you definitely need to add it to your list of must-dos.

Training -
I promised myself that I would train properly and shoot for that PR in my hometown race. Even though I’ve run this race for a few years and know the course layout and what to expect, I still wanted to do my best and take every training opportunity seriously. I knew that the Park Avenue hill would be brutal so I ran hills to gain some speed and strength on every hill I could find. My best previous half marathon time was a 2:04 and I really wanted to break that 2 hour wall. My strength and endurance was definitely where I wanted it to be but my race day mistakes got the best of me. I neglected to eat any breakfast and should have known better that the body needs the calories and energy to sustain distance runs. I also only carried a couple of GUs and took in only one of them. And I wondered why I hit that “wall” around mile 10 for this race…

Lessons learned!

Packet Pickup:
Ram Racing has always done a great job for race packet pickups throughout the Fleet Feet stores in Chicago and Deerfield. I obviously chose Deerfield since it was closer to me. Being super OCD, I’ve always been early to the pickup and while I was 45 minutes early, they were up and ready to go! The staff is always friendly and fast at what they do. This years shirt was pretty darn cool and colorful and I heard a ton of people saying the same. There were also some ads in the bag for future races.

Pre-race:
I woke up for the race around 5:30am and headed in anticipating that I would hydrate and meet some fellow BibRavePros before the race began. It was a pleasure to meet up with Heather (We met at the 2014 Chicago Marathon), Lisa, and Mark. What a great bunch of enthusiastic BibRavers! We met around 6:30ish near the start line to chat and take some pre-race photos. I love hearing what the other runner’s goals are and live vicariously through them. As for the whole pre-race ambience, it just cannot be beat seeing all of the excited faces and outfits that some of the racers brought. The weather was about 65 degrees and overcast at that time with a bit of humidity in the air. I don’t mind running in that weather but you’ll read more about that later. The corrals are well organized and having pacers in this race was a huge help to people. They were so motivating and friendly! Everything began with the Star Spangled Banner and you’re off!

Race Course:
Being from and working in this town still makes me appreciate the beauty that the north shore of Chicago exudes. As I’ve said before, I have run this race a few times and still look forward to running through parts with breathtaking views. The first few miles run through downtown Highland Park heading south towards Ravinia and the small town feel. It tends to get quiet through this part as you head towards Lake Cook Road and always challenges the mind in the beginning of a half marathon. Once you head north for miles 3-7, you run through some beautiful neighborhoods and some very supportive residents with signs and highfives. Then, you hit that infamous Park Avenue hill! Going down is no problem as I like descents but that hill going up just takes its toll on the quads. Once you survive that obstacle, the course runs north towards Fort Sheridan and all of the historic buildings. This is where the crowds seemed bigger and got you more excited for the rest of the course. You pass by a few views of Lake Michigan and then hit the Leonardwood North and South loop through the old parade grounds and some scenic views. Then you head back south towards the last couple of miles and that spectacular finish line. I always seem to find the last bit of energy I can muster on that last mile along St John’s Avenue with the huge supportive crowds. I can’t say enough about the extremely supportive and active volunteer along the course route at the aid stations. They were so excited and all gave some sort of encouragement by saying “Great job!” or “Push yourself!”

Post-race:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…the sight of the finish line gets me every time. The North Shore Classic and Ram Racing gets it right. The intersection of St. John’s and Elm Place is about as nice as it gets for a smaller race. The crowds gather on each side with their inspirational signs and loud cheers. Ram Racing also announces the finishers by name and city as they cross the line and I’m sure it’s not an easy job! Once you cross, you are greeted by the volunteers with your medal and an awesome cold towel. You’re then greeted by the volunteers handing out water and finally you are greeted by the volunteers handing out the goodie bags. You get the usual assortment of chocolate milk (perfect!), banana, pretzels, and bagel.

Ram Racing and Fleet Feet have partnered up for another great event and obviously well organized. I will continue to participate in this race as long as my body holds up!

The Cinco de Miler is a must-do race for the whole ambience and fun race atmosphere. This was my first time running this race but I've always been a huge fan of the RAM Racing series and now that Fleet Feet has partnered with them, it can only get better! This was a 5 mile race (if you didn't translate!) and I overheard a few people saying that they thought it was a 5k. Surprise - two more miles for you! Every time I run one of the races downtown with such a beautiful backdrop I swear I'm moving here. This was such a well run race and the crowds seemed to have a great time even though the weather took a turn for the worse.

When I arrived, the weather was sunny and mid 60's and I thought "Perfect running weather!" As we looked north above the skyline, we saw dark clouds making a quick entrance and a few lightning strikes took center stage. The race organizers took immediate action and guided everyone to take some shelter under the Waldron Deck. Everyone herded across the street and waited out the quick storm. We were probably under shelter for about 10-15 minutes before if passed over us. As we made our entry back over to the starting area, the winds had changed and it was definitely a little cooler out. No one seemed to be bothered as everyone made the best of it and still enjoy a fun race.

The Packet Pickup/Swag - I love when there are multiple dates and locations for the packet pickups and since the Deerfield location was closest to me, I opted to pick up here. I was pretty darn early for my pickup and that didn't even matter. They were well prepared and already handing out the race bags for a super quick process. The RAM Racing bag came with the bib and pins and a super colorful shirt.

The Starting Line - The starting corrals were well labeled with big signs until the heavy winds knocked them down. They were big enough for the groups and each corral was let out every 3 minutes. Before heading out on the course, we were greeted with the anthems from Mexico and the Star Spangled Banner. The announcer really got everyone excited to be out there. He was followed up by some grateful words by the Fleet Feet Owner David Zimmer. After that, the CEO of the 100 Club also thanked everyone for begin out there and a little about the charity.

The Course - After running off the starting gun, you head out south under the McCormick tunnel through a bit of darkness and then south for about 2.5 miles before turning around and heading north along the lakefront. How can you go wrong with the Chicago skyline and running along Lake Michigan? The volunteers did a great job with the water/Nuun stations and seeing all of the excited kids handing out the drinks was pretty cool. I like the mile markers with digital clocks to give me an idea of how I was doing without having to look at my watch.

The Finish Line - To be honest, I've never seen a bad finish line! You don't see it until the last 1/4 mile and once it comes into sight, that last bit of energy kicks in and the crowds lined up a few hundred feet before the end. It's always nice to hear the announcer saying your name as you finish and congratulate you!

The Post Race Area - After you get your medal (Cool pinata!) and you round the corner, you are greeted by more beverages before you go back to the starting area for the post race goodies. This year, the food included a warm tamale, Tostitos and salsa, and Coronas! You get one free beer with your bib ticket but can purchase more tickets nearby. I didn't get a chance to ride the mechanical bull but it sure did look fun.

When all was said and done, I was happy with this race aside from the imperfect weather. Everyone seemed to have a great time. They truly did a great job with the course and entertainment.