(started with 10k). June 6, 2015. Cloudy, humid, rain on the radar. 70 ish degrees. 7 am.

Pre-Race: Announcements and music were made over a loud speaker, however not so easy to hear. There were plenty of por-o-potties with hand washing stations. Parking available for free in nearby ramps. Participants encouraged to get into corrals based on pace. Signs were posted with estimated pace. Pacers were in those corrals. The National Anthem was performed live, but I could not see a flag. Then the race began.

Race / Course: The race starts and finishes at the Crown Center, course is on city streets through Kansas City.
-paved, asphalt, minor potholes and cracks; surface slippery when wet
-lots of hydration stops. Water and lemon lime Gatorade. Most stops were in separate cups, volunteers -shouted what they had. paper cups
-Each mile was marked, pavement was marked with spray paint
-volunteers at most every intersection, law enforcement at busy intersections
-Photographers on course – available free after race
-a few spectators, DJ, drumline
-no food or gel on course, spectators with oranges and candy
-hilly, the name Hospital Hill shouldn’t fool you, there is more than one hill
-roads were closed to traffic

Post Race / Finish: The finish was marked with timing mat, arch and clock. Once across the line a volunteer handed you a medal and a wet sponge. Then you walked the long chute and could gather a banana, Gatorade, water bottle, propel, granola bar, beef stick, ice cream sandwich or peanut butter cracker sandwich. This area could get crowded if people didn’t move along. To redeem the tag for the flip flops it was a small walk the plaza, where there was also coffee.

Up the stairs under the tent was the post race pancakes with sausage and Tang. The massage tent was set up.

Overall: This was the 42nd year for the event, no complaints as the race is organized well. The hills make it a great challenge and it is comparable in price with similar races.

Check out my blog for more photos and my personal recap https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/hospital-hill-2015/

Friday June 5, 2015. 7pm. sunny 82 degrees.

Registration (same for all distances): This was available online through the race website, you could register for any distance. There were also forms at the expo to register. Price comparable to similar races. No race day registration. Included with registration a gender specific tech tee, finishers medal, finishers food, finisher’s flip flops, fleece blanket for re-run, personalized bib with chip timing.

Expo / Packet Pick up (same for all distances): The expo started on Thursday and continued Friday. There was no packet pick up on Saturday. You could park in the nearby ramp and have your ticket validated.

Participants were emailed their bib numbers prior to the expo, but if you didn’t have that with you there was a wall with them posted.

The entrance to the expo, which was held at the race hotel convention center, was lined with a blue carpet. However once inside I never noticed a sign point to the bib pick up, which you needed first to get the remainder of your items. We snaked around, got our bibs, then went to get our shirts, which were put into a plastic Target bag. Then we got our fleece blanket.

The expo had your typical vendors; running stores, running related products and businesses from around the area. There were a lot of freebies. Also water stations set up.

Race/ Course: The course runs a course that starts and finishes at the Crown Center
-paved surface, asphalt. some potholes, nothing major
-on the street – not crowded
-miles were marked with a sign
-one water stop half way- paper cups
-one misting station – created by a resident on course
-photographers on the course
-all intersections had volunteers or law enforcement
-hilly course – race starts with a long slow incline
-a few spectators

Post Race / Finish: The finish was marked with timing mats, clock and archway. After you crossed the finish a medal was handed to you and a wet sponge. Then finishers had a long chute to grab bottles of water, Gatorade, propel, chocolate milk, granola bars, bananas, and peanut butter crackers. Once through this area, you could get an ice cream sandwich, then go up some stairs to redeem the ticket on your bib for post run BBQ, which was a sandwich, baked beans and coleslaw.

A free massage tent was set up, with stretching and ART. Plenty of tables and benches for enjoying the post race. You could check your results with the QR code on the bib. Medal engraving was available.

Great race, even a medal!

Saturday June 20, 2015. RAIN! 7:45 am. 60 degrees

Registration: This was available online, starting at $90 and increasing until the end of may, a cap of 8,500 participants. Included with registration was a bib (name if registered early) chip timing, finisher’s shirt, finisher’s medal, post race beer and festivities.

Expo / Packet Pick-up: The expo was held at the Duluth Convention Center, with a ramp for parking at $5. It was held the Thursday and Friday before the race, up until 11pm to get your packet. You could also have it mailed to you for $25. Someone else could grab your packet with a signed wavier. The packet pick up was in the back of the convention hall, once you had it, the chip on your bib was checked. The bib was in a clear bag that doubled for gear check, also had some paper flyers and a beet juice sample. We also received a virtual bag via email.

The expo included many of the same exhibitors you would see at most larger events. Shoes, head bands, apparel, nearby races. It was a decent size.

Pasta party: For only $12 (tickets could be purchased ahead of time or at the gate) you could choose plain noodles, marinara sauce, meatballs, or gluten free noodles. Then you could have some lettuce, bread, ice cream, milk, or popsicle. It was all you could eat.

Pre-race: Early wake up to board a bus by 6:15 am. The starting point had a lot of portapotties. Bag drop was available, use the bag you got your packet in the night before. There were no pre-assigned corrals, but encouraged to line up by estimated finishing times. There was music over a PA. The National Anthem was performed live.

Race: This was the 39th year of the race.It is a point to point race. It starts in Two Harbors, MN and ends in Duluth. The half marathon starts at the halfway point 45 minutes before the full. You are encouraged to take a bus or the train to the start of either race. Many buses depart from Duluth and Superior, WI hotels.

Course: Run on old Highway 61 along Lake Superior.

-FLAT! Elevation change is just under 200 feet
-paved surface
-each mile was marked with a sign and a yellow balloon
-lots of hydration stops. Water and Powerade in separate paper cups, and at tables with signs.
-Ice, sponges, gels, oranges and bananas
-Spectators! All access points to the course had people with signs, ready to slap high fives. The areas in town had bacon stops, donuts, beer (non supported food) Lots of energy.
-MarathonFoto on course, more photographers near the end
-Port-o-potties on the course
-Views of Lake Superior
-3 clocks on the course
-Volunteers, they were at every intersection and very energetic.
-Road closed to traffic, entire width of road to run on. Open for 7 hours

Finish: This was marked with an arch and timing clock. The announcer was catching names as people finished. Each side was lined with spectators. Once you cross the finish line there was a volunteer with a medal and a bottle of water. Then you went to get your gender specific finisher’s shirt and a beverage ticket. From here you had to continue walking to get a heat sheet, then grab your gear bag. Then you could proceed to the finisher’s food: strawberries, yogurt, peanut butter, chocolate milk, apples, bananas, oranges, bagels, nut rolls. Once through this area there was an alphabetized reunion area, or you could go to the beer tent to redeem your drink ticket. The beer tent area also had live music and a video set up to view finishers. There was a results tent, merchandise tent and coffee tent.

Overall: I love this race, the views, the spectators, the flat course. It would be a great first marathon.

Check out my blog for lots more pictures and my personal journey https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/grandmas-marathon-2015/

Prairie Du Chien Half Marathon, Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. May 2, 2015. 7:30 am. Sunny 60-70 degrees.

Registration: This was available online and on race day. Price in the $50 range. Included with your registration Short sleeve tech tee (gender specific wasn't an option online, but shirts were male/female cuts) chip timing on bib and the world's largest swag bag. The bag had a roll of masking tape, 2 scotch tapes, 2 Futuro wraps, Scotch Brite cleaning cloths, pens, flyers, a Hammer gel, cards, magnet and a drawstring bag. The bag was heavy, but there is a 3M plant in town.

Expo / Packet pick up: There was no expo. You could pick your packet up the night before and on race morning.

Pre-race: Plenty of free parking near the start. Port-o-potties set up with a hand washing station. There were also real toilets at a nearby ball field. Music played over loud speakers. Announcements started about 10 minutes before the start. A recorded version of the National Anthem was played and we started.

Race / Course: The race starts near the Mississippi River and goes north on the road, turns around and then winds around through the downtown, to finish back where we started.

-All paved or asphalt, many potholes (to be expected after winter in the midwest)
-Course marked well, signs on the road and spray painted arrows on the pavement
-Each mile marked with a sign
-Flat, with the exception of one bridge that crosses railroad tracks, you have to cross twice
-Lots of hydration stops, with water and a sports drink - which I think was Cytomax - Attn RD, please tell the volunteers what they are serving, I was told many times it was Gatorade, which it was not. After each water stop was a sign to the next one and the next toilet
-Port-o-potties on course
-Very few spectators, but any easy course to spectate
-Run on roads that were open to traffic, traffic was moving fast
-Volunteers or officers at most intersections. The finishing stretch was on one of the busiest streets, we had moved to the sidewalk to run, and there was no one watching the majority of these intersections, runners had to beware
-No photographers on the course, but they were taking pictures at the start and finish
-No pacers
-Not a lot of shade on a hot day

Post Race / Finish: The finish was marked with an inflatable arch, timing mat and clock. A volunteer handed you a finishers medal. One of Wisconsin's dairy princesses offered chocolate milk. There really wasn't a chute, just the entire road to walk and cool down, not crowded. The food was under a tent off to the side. Bagels, bananas, bars, water.

Awards were handed out at a set time, people were still finishing the race. Overall winners were also given age group awards.

Overall: Given the shortage of intersection volunteers, and strange sports drink, I really like this race. It's laid back and stress free. The price is great too.

For photos and my personal views, check out my blog https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/05/04/prairie-du-chien-half-2015/

Saturday May 23, 2015. Chicago, IL. 7 am (corral / wave start) 55-60 degrees, sunny.

Registration: Available online, starting around $70, increasing to $90 near race day. You could also register at various packet pick up locations, until race was sold out. A $20 Fleet Feet gift card was incentive in the later days of registration. Included with registration was a Nike, gender specific tech tee, bib with timing chip, post race tailgate party with a beer. There was also a Kids Blitz.

Expo / Packet Pickup: No traditional expo. Many packet pick up times. A week before the race pickups were held at Fleet Feet stores in the suburbs. The week of the race you could pick up your stuff starting on Tuesday, daily through Friday at the Fleet Feet in Old Town. You could chose will call pick up for race day options. A friend could also grab your things if they had the confirmation email.

Pre-race: As the race is centered around Soldier Field, you get all the amenities that come with the location. Gear check was indoors, but it seemed backwards as the lowers numbers (first starting corrals) had to walk the furthest to drop off their bags. Clear bags were provided when you picked up your packet. The bathroom facilities were also open. Parking was free in the stadium too, and the nearby lot (however the south lot closed early)

The official race start is at 7 am, but there are 3 waves with 15 corrals. The pre-race time can really stretch out. However the entrance to the corrals is near the post race tailgate area, making it easy to meet up with friends and hang out before you need to head to the corrals. The corrals did close at a certain time, I saw many who did not make it into their corrals, and they weren't letting them through.

The volunteers also did a great job of making sure people were in the correct corral. Nothing worse than someone thinking they are faster than they are, only to stop in front of you a mile into the race. This is a huge pet peeve, most races are chip timed anyway, so start in your corral or a slower one..

The pre race announcements were over a loud speaker that could be heard throughout the area. A version of taps was played followed by the National Anthem.

Course / Race: The race was on the streets and lake front path, heading south, then turning back around into the city.
-Flat, some bridges, but nothing steep
-paved, potholes
-section through McCormick place, dark and lots of potholes, had to be alert
-crowded start, even though started on street, didn't thin out til Lake Shore Dr
-miles marked with signs and a time clock
-Hydration stations with lemon lime Gatorade and water, each in different colored paper cups
-no food or gel on course
-street portions were closed to traffic, lake from path had recreational use (bikes, walkers, runners)
-lake front path had trail / gravel to run on in sections
-Marathonfoto on course
-Not many spectators, but TNT coaches were along the course
-Lots of volunteers
-course well marked, even the turn around on the grass.
-Finish on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field

Post Race / Finish: The big draw for this race is running into the bellows of Soldier Field, then crossing the north end zone to finish on the 50 yard line, what an experience. The stadium feels huge from the field. After you cross the finish line, marked well with a clock and arch, a uniformed service member hands you your finisher's medal.

The finisher's chute and overall area is in the south end zone, while it's encouraged you move along to the tailgate party, it is ok to snap a few photos as you collect a bottle of water. Most spectators of the race can observe the finish in the stands.

Once you proceed off off the field and through a tunnel, you are given the option to chose a cup of Gatorade. There is no re-entry into the stadium, must decide if you want to watch finishers or go to post race party. There were service members available for a photo. Also on the way out was gear check, to pick up your bags.

Soldier Field takes a lot of real estate, and to exit the stadium they took advantage, it seemed forever to get to the right door. Once outside the stadium, finishers were handed a reusable bag, pre-filled with a ton of snacks, easy to carry all the things.. There were a few vendors with samples on the walk to the tailgate party, Dunkin Donuts, Naked Juice, etc.

Tailgate Party: The party had a lot to offer, there was a live band. Lots of freebies, Clif bar, picture opportunities, post race massage. You could also redeem your beer ticket on your bib for a 312 in a can, while it wasn't that cold and was already open, it's nice to have a beer that doesn't taste like water. There were no chairs, but you could sit in the grass, shade was available.

The results were already posted the next day, and MarathonFoto had pictures posted in 2 days.

Overall: This race is well organized, the finish on the 50 is awesome, and the tailgate party is fun for all, The price is a bit steep, but a flat course and scenes along the lake make it a fun race to start summer.

Check out my blog for my personal thoughts and pictures https://marathang.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/soldier-field-10-miler-recap/