I came out to Minneapolis for the 15K. I'm a BibRave Pro, and as a disclaimer I did get entry into the race at no cost and spent time leading up to the race trying to help with social media. So here it goes.

I got here Friday from Cleveland and took a shuttle from the airport to my hotel downtown. Luckily, it ended up being close to the Convention Center, which is where the expo was held. I dropped my stuff off and went to pick my bib and such up.

The Expo: it's a Saturday Race, so the expo is on Thursday/ Friday. It would have been nice to see the expo open an hour or 2 longer for any late comers (I'm just thinking the out of towners or workers), but if friends or family were also running or around, they could pick up for you as well. I appreciate the email that allowed you to download your qvc code to passbook. All you had to do was scan it and it pulled up your information. Volunteers scanned your bib to attach it to your name and put your name/corral sticker on it. You went into the expo for your bag and sweatshirts. Same stuff as most of the prior races this season, but I do appreciate it wasn't he old jackets that didn't fit the women. Expo was small, but had the basic stuff and samples. It was nice to not be bombarded with people.

Race Day Location: Boom Island Park. I can understand wanting to come here for location purposes and to avoid crazy traffic issues. However, there's no parking what so ever here. If you're from out of town with no car, no ,after where you stay, it was a hike. I ended up cabbing it over with another runner and 2 volunteers to avoid a 2 mile walk. People were parking on one side of the bridge and having to walk 1 mile or so over to the start area. They did have a bike check if you biked over which was a plus, but that's something I'd like to see changed. Or at least have be start/ finish closer to the city. I totally get wanting the space for post race festivities but I'm wonder if there are other places around town that could provide the same space. Another idea would have been some sort of shuttle stops because a 2 mile walk back to my hotel post race was blah

The Course: no issues with traffic, which was nice. Really didn't get to see much of the city though. Uneven roads, though no injuries that I could see. I didn't get to see good views of the city until the second half when we ran along the river. Fairly flat, but do expect some hills over bridges and such. I wish I could have seen more as an out of stater :-(. Good water and treat support on course. Plenty of bathrooms and at the last 1/3 mile or so, good crowd support

The finish/ post race: spread out which was good/ bad. Enough room so you didn't feel like a heard of cows, but it was a good 1/4 mile to the post race party and shinnanigans. No problem getting the chocolate goodness, medals were given as you came out of the chute. Plenty of fun stuff for the kids. Decent overall

Maybe minor things/ suggestions, but at least we had good weather Today!

Year number 2 of running the Christmas Story Race. If you live in Cleveland (like me), be smart and look at their website at least a week and a half before the race to see when the early bib pick ups are so you don't have to fight the crowds on race day. I was stupid and didn't check to see that the running store 10 minutes away from me had bib pick up the monday before the race. Whoops.

Parking day of: Got a spot in a lot close to the start. Not my fault the dude collecting the money wasn't there for the first half of us who parked.

Pick up: at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland. Fairly flawless but the bib and the timing chip that went on my shoe were different. The number was random for whatever reason

The start: behind the towers shopping facility (different this year than last year). Also the site of the finish this year.

The course: goes through downtown Cleveland, through Treamont and to the Christmas Story House. The 10K runners circled pack and headed back towards the start of the race where the old Higbees used to be. The course is a fairly flat course. Some hills, primarily when crossing the bridge downtown across from Progressive field and Horseshoe casino. When you crossed the finish, you get the obligatory bananas, bagels and water. They have Ovaltine hot chocolate at the end as well. Be ready to get your medals (though this year, slight glitch with not enough medals due to shipping errors).

Shirts: long sleeved which is a nice break from from the tech shirts

Be ready to look for people dressed up as bunnies, a one legged lamp, fragile boxes and whatever else floats the Christmas Story Movie boat

To say I was skeptical about running anything RAM racing is an understatement. I ran the DC version of the Hot Chocolate 15K in December, 2011 and it was a hot mess and horribly run (another saga for another day and probably the reason there's no longer a run in DC). I know how to hold a grudge and held it for 3 years. I ended up signing up for the Columbus HC 15K on the sheer basis of needing a long run before the Philadelphia Marathon. It was literally their one shot to redeem themselves.

The expo: I can't speak to it as my mom picked up my stuff for me....sorry guys!

The swag: a string bag (in generally, I wish races would find something else. I'm sick of string bags). Additionally, the choice between a male or female hooded zip up sweatshirt. I could have probably fit into a women's small or medium, but I refuse to do pink, so I did the men's medium. Nice oversized and green, which is what I was going for!

Parking: fair amounts of garages around the start/finish area to park. I wouldn't pre pay, as that's what my mom and I did and we ended up parking in a different lot (which got us out quicker).

The start: At North Bank Park in downtown Columbus. 2 waves, one at 730, one at 805 with 6 ish corrals in each wave, let off 3 minutes between each other. We started on time too (soooo did not happen in DC).

The course: flat (relative) with minor hills here and there. 15K and 5K run together for the first 2.5 miles before splitting off, so pay attention to which side to be on, but well marked. only 2 water stops the first 4 miles, but it picked up the second half of the race I thought. 1 stop of chocolate chips, 2 stops of marshmallows, 1 stop of tootsie rolls to boot. Not a whole lot of people out cheering, but you get people here and there, including little kids asking for high 5s. Go through German and Victorian Village towards the end. The 5K meets back up with the 15K right before mile 9, but it's divided so you're not running over walkers. Downhill to the finish.

The finish: well organized this year. Pick up your waters and then head out of the chute to get food that's chocolate related. Some stuff for kids. Would be nice to have some heated areas due to it being cold in November in Ohio.

Bling: one pretty bad a** medal, that's for sure

RAM racing may be working its way to my good side

I've run the Half Marathon a few times when I lived in Philadelphia and I came back to run the Full in 2014.

Price: sign up early as it does get on the pricier side of marathons and there really aren't a lot of promotions (I missed one or two of them). I paid $125 and I signed up in July ish.

Hotels: stay downtown. It'll make it easier to walk to the start at the Art museum and make it semi decent to get to the expo. Aren't to many places that are close to the start/finish though to be honest. If you're local, there are lots and garages to park in, get there early.

Expo: held at the Philadelphia convention center (right next to reading terminal market). Well run this year (compared to past years too). Same old stuff though in terms of venders, but be sure to look for races as some of them offer discounts (read the Pittsburgh Half/Full) that I haven't seen otherwise

The start/finish: At the Art Museum. Multiple corrals, but the start is done rolling style so every few minutes a corral is let loose. Good amount of port a potties but could use more. Don't forget your clear bags due to the events of Boston a few years ago.

The course: relatively flat, though beware for a ridiculous hill around mile 8. The first part of the course runs through historic Philly- think market street, Penn's Landing, Independence Hall, etc. You also run down chestnut street and eventually make your way to 30th street station, Drexel, Penn and the Zoo. You see a lot of Kelly Drive and the river and then make your way back to the art museum, where the half and the full split off. The full marathon course takes you down the opposite side of Kelly Drive and into Manyunk and back. A lot of smaller hills, which feel worse 20 miles in. Mayor Nutter is at the finish high fiving finishers, though this year, Bart Yasso was missed

Medals: good bling this year, the front had the art museum on it

The shirts/swag bags: similar design, different colors every year. Really hoping it gets changed up next year to be honest

Post race: Broth is the best thing ever!!! Especially with a late November race, it actually tastes good. I love how they hand you a bag of food, because the last thing I want to do is pick up food, especially after a full.

Head over to http://drrunner.wordpress.com/2014/11/23/philadelphia-marathon-race-review/ for a full review!