Latest reviews by Jeff Edmonds

(2011)
"DO THIS RACE!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

I love this race and have done it three times, my most recent being 2011. It is an awesome event! (I've never been to the EXPO, sorry.) It's flat, it's fast, you finish on Soldier Field, you run along the lake for the last 5 miles, and there are enough people to make it seem big and important even though it's a quick 10-miler. There is plenty of support along the race, should you need it. (They take the weather warnings very seriously and actually stopped runners when the heat advisory got too severe one year.) The 2013 t-shirt was somewhat disappointing, but the shirts have usually been great. If you don't want to go to the EXPO, you can pick up your stuff at Fleet Feet, which is always convenient.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.
(2011)
"Small & Competitive Race / Out & Back"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This race was small enough that you could be anywhere you wanted at the starting line, but there was also a pretty competitive field of runners. In 2011, it was a straight out-and-back with a long gradual hill ending the first half and beginning the second. I didn't use any aid stations, but I remember them being there. The dry-fit shirt was awesome and there was a free pair of running socks in the goodie bag. Parking was not a problem at all. This race makes a great training run or provides the opportunity to try to PR at the distance!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.
(2010)
"Great Race!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

2010 was the second year I ran this marathon. The shirt this year was awesome! It's the 10-10-10 shirt you see people still wear while running on the Lake Shore Path. This is a great marathon for spectators! Just by using the Red Line and walking quickly, you can usually see your friends run at 3 or 4 places, unless they are really fast.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.
(2010)
"Fast 5K in Humboldt Park"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

This is a really cheap, really small race. I ran it its first year, so things might have grown and changed since then, however. I believe I received a cotton t-shirt for participating, and I also won a plant for getting 2nd overall. The course is right in the middle of Humboldt Park in Logan Square, and it's completely flat. You do run part of the course twice, but it's a 5K so it's over quickly and you hardly even mind. I don't remember there being any race support or aid stations, and they were pretty understaffed at registration and pick-up. There were some local vendors gathered at the finish area with some samples and stuff they were selling. Once again, this race might have grown and changed since 2010.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.
(2010)
"Second Time Around - Bigger Not Better"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

I ran this it's first and second years. During it's second year, the number of runners had tripled from the first year, and it seemed the race managers were not prepared for this type of immediate growth. The course was the same, I believe, and everything was still pretty good. The problem was that some of the areas you ran - pathways through parks, coned-off parts of the streets - weren't wide enough for all the people. We were actually running in the grass at times while in the parks. Still a great race!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.