Friday July 3, 2015. Sunny, 70 ish and humid.

The race was a kickoff to the Stars & Stripes celebration for the town. It is a fundraiser for Shelter Box.

Registration/Pre-race/packet pick up/ Expo: This is the first year of the race, it is a small town. No expo. You could register online through runsignup, or the old fashioned way by filling out a form and sending in your check. You could also register on race day for the same low price of $15, no price increase. This price also reflects no t-shirt, no chip timing, no extra crap.

Plenty of parking available on the nearby streets for free. Real toilets near the start.

No National Anthem, just a few announcements and a "Ready Set Go"

Race/Course: Run on paved streets, sidewalks and asphalt, along side the Mississippi River.
-un-manned water stops, plastic cups
-course marked with chalk on pavement, miles
-on city roads that were not closed to traffic, no cones, but not a lot of traffic
-most intersections had volunteers, but volunteers were more concerned about safety than telling you which way to go
-no photographers
-flat course, 2 inclines, nothing steep

Finish/post race: If you were a top 5 male or female, you were awarded a prize after you crossed the finishing streamer tape. This tape was re-stretched for every finisher. The area chiropractor was there for post race stretching. With a small walk to the pavilion along the river, you could grab a bottle of water and granola bar.

I finished 4th female with 25:48

Overall: Nothing fancy, but a great price for a race that pushed my pace.

Check out my daily adventure leading up to and after this race at https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/07/06/interact-5k-recap/

Saturday July 11, 2015. 9pm. Eldridge, IA. 70 degrees, HUMID!!! 4 miler

Registration: This was available through the website link to get me registered. Price increased as race day approached. You could also register on race day for $30. Included in registration was a unisex short sleeved tech shirt, reflective arm band, beer ticket, chip for timing, bib, small men's deodorant and some flyers to other races.

Packet Pickup: Participants could grab their gear the day before the race and the day of the race in the basement of the bank. Someone else could grab your stuff.

Pre-Race: There was plenty of parking available at the nearby high school, but it was a short walk to the festivities. There were many port-o-potties available near the start/finish. Volunteers were even keeping them clean!

There were other events happening before the 4 mile race, the 1/4 mile fun run and the 1 mile race. Announcements happened and music played over a loud speaker. With about 5 minutes before the start of the race, people started lining up next to estimated pace per mile signs. The National Anthem was performed live. 1500 racers were then sent on their way.

Race/ Course: One loop on the city streets of Eldridge
-paved, asphalt - potholes or cracks to watch out for, especially as it got darker
-night race, course lined with luminares in most areas, some residents on course decorated with lights
-lots of spectators, handing out beer in addition to high fives and blaring loud music
-miles were marked, volunteer yelling time
-water stops, paper cups
-no photographers
-flat, a few inclines
-Volunteers at all intersections

Finish/Post Race: There was an announcer at the finish, a banner above the street an overall time clock and a giant mural was painted across the street; it was easy to spot the finish line. After the chip was clipped from your shoe, a volunteer handed runners ice cold bottled water. Then there were tables with strawberries, bananas, cookies, grapes and bomb pops. The final thing up exiting the finishers chute was a sprinkler system.

Runners could redeem their beer tickets at the nearby beer tent for a Coors Light, Bud / Bud Light or Mike's Hard Lemonade. Once out of the finishers area it was a little crowded but you could proceed back to the finish to cheer on other finishers. There was a computer set up scrolling results.

Overall: This race is always on my calendar, as I mentioned before, I love a small town summer festival, and when they have races that coincide with them, I try to run them. The price is right, and the organization gives the money back to the community. It's not bucket list material, but if you are in the area, I would run it.

Check out the pictures on my blog https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/moonlight-chase-2015/

Saturday July 4, 2015, Sunny HOT ok it was humid 70 degrees. 9 am.

Registration: This is a small town 5k, so registration could still be done by snail mailing in form with a check. If this was done by June 20, you could save $5 on registration. Otherwise you could sign up online with fees or on race day for $25. Cotton unisex t-shirts were only guaranteed for early registrants, however everyone received a reusable bag with a granola bar and fruit snacks. Also included was a bib with a chip timing strip on the back.

No Expo, all packet pick up was held on the day of race. One port-o-pottie near the registration area, but this took place at a ball complex and real toilets were nearby. All parking was alongside the road near the start/finish.

Pre/Race: There were some announcements and nice words said about the race and the reason we gathered. Then a gun banged, for the bikes, then one for runners, a little confusing.

Race/Course: Run through Oxford, IA then towards the country on an out and back course.

-all paved or asphalt, nearby gravel would be on the roads, roads banked on the sides
-lots of water on course in bottles
-RR crossing
-few spectators, mostly family members
-no official course photographer
-can’t remember mile markers on the course
-some hills, but nothing steep
-course marked with spray paint, but only marked for the way out until the turn around
-Volunteers and law enforcement at the intersections
-no shade

Finish / Post Race: The finish had a clock and timing mats, small chute. Bottled water and watermelon, but had to turn around and walk back to get them. There were awards for the overall winners and the first finisher in each AG. Also a raffle drawing.

Overall: Nice community 5k, average price, but starts too late in the day for July. However a good race to run at least once.

Check out my blog for my personal experience and photos https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/07/06/mll-5k-recap-2015/

Saturday June 27, 2015. Sunny, warm, 70ish degrees

This year I was participating on a relay team to conquer the marathon distance.

Military Style race, meaning there was lack of support. Encouraged to bring hydration and food. The race advertised water at the transitions.

Registration: Available online for $75 or through mail entry form, increased to near $100 on race day. Relay teams could have 2-12 members for $35 / person ($45 on race day). Included with registration was the trail fee, one race bib, shirt (gender specific short sleeve tech), timing chip bracelet, and one medal.

If you were signing up as a team, one person had to do this online. Which meant that person was charged the entire amount. This method was encouraged as relay teams were capped.

Packet Pick Up / Pre-race: You could pick up your packet the Friday before the race or race day morning. The race is point to point, there was a shuttle from Dubuque (finish) to Dyersville (start). You could also make arrangements as parking was available at the start and finish. There were plenty of port-o-potties at the start. The National Anthem was sung live after lots of announcements. A bagpiper played after the start.

Since we were a team, we were given one timing chip (bracelet) and a race belt with one bib. This would act as our baton at the exchanges.

Race / Course: Entire course is run on the Heritage trail, which is crushed limestone & flat. There were paved sections and inclines /declines near major road intersections. The majority of the trail was shaded & flat. There were 6 legs & 5 exchanges for the relays, this is where the water & Gatorade stops were. Liquids were in a variety of cups from paper to plastic. Along the course a ATV handed out bottled water / Gatorade. Some of the stops had pretzels. Each mile was marked with a sign. There were volunteers at the road crossings. One road crossing had a sprinkler set up. There were port - o- potties, but placement was too close to the course. The spectators were in the form of relay teams at each exchange, there were also family members. If you wanted a time split, you could slide your chip across a box at each exchange. The legs were not even, 6.6, 4.4, 3.6, 4.5, 3.4, and 3.7 miles.

We had just enough time to get to each exchange. By the time we navigated around the trail, parked the car and walked to the transition, it was time to change to the next runner. The race caps the relay teams at 100 as the transition areas are very crowded.

There were maps provided for relay teams to follow. If you were on a relay you had to have your own transportation.

Post Race: After crossing the finish line, & sliding the timing chip across the box a volunteer handed the team a medal and a bottles of water, no electrolyte drink at the finish There was an announcer reading names as runners came in. The finishing area was spread out, there was one small tent with apples, bananas, grapes, cookies and pizza. There were also tents for runners to escape the sun. Others brought coolers and beer.

We finished in just over 4 hours. A relay is great to run with friends who have different running abilities.

Overall: Easy flat trail surface, lots of fun as a relay as the time went quick.

More photos and fun on my blog www.marathang.wordpress.com

Friday June 19, 2015. Sunny, 65-70 degrees. 6pm.

Registration: This was available online for $30 plus the registration fee. Included with registration was a bib, electronic timing and short sleeve unisex technical shirt.

If you registered early enough your name was printed on your bib.

Packet pick-up: According the rules on the website, you needed to bring your wavier with you (electronically was fine) or someone could pick up your stuff with a signed wavier. Pick up was located near the start/finish line, not in the same place as the expo for the other races. Pick up closed 15 minutes prior to race start. Warnings were posted to be aware of heavy traffic patterns.

Pre-race: There was parking available near the start/finish for $5. Due to the congested area, plan ahead. Real toilets were available at the convention center. Runners milled about near the "big red boat" or the William A Irvin, the freighter stationed in the harbor. There were announcements and music over the loud speaker. A drone flew over head capturing photos as the National Anthem was performed live.

Race /Course: The 5k, went on an out and back near the harbor & industrial area:

-paved - many hazards to watch out for, lots of railroad crossings
-running around industrial area is not very scenic
-each mile was marked
-a few spectators, guy playing a trumpet
-I don't recall a water stop
-course well marked, volunteers at each intersection
-no photographers on course, but MarathonFoto at start/finish.
-flat, no hills
-on city streets, but all closed to traffic

Finish / post race: The inflatable arch clearly marked the finish along with a clock and timing mat. There were many treats available in the long chute. Bananas, water, clif bars, salted nut rolls. A finisher's video was sent via email with your results after the race.

Overall: Nice race, easy course, boring scenery, competitive price, tough parking situation.

For photos and my personal experience check out my blog https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/william-a-irvin-5k-2015/