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Latest reviews by Erin
Erin recommends this race
(2014)
"The local 5K you want to race"
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If you're looking for a small, local neigborhood 5K where you can probably PR and possibly place in your age group, this is the race for you.
Located about 50 minutes north of Chicago the Frosty Footrace is a mainstay of the Round Lake and Grayslake area runners. Held near the end of February every year it's a reason to keep up your training throughout the winter. Especially your hill training. Because there are hills that will make you gasp for air.
Still, much of the course is flat or short rolling hills since it goes through neighborhoods and along a paved path through a local park.
The race only costs $20 if you register in advance or $25 if you register the day-of. It doesn't sell out and they are very accommodating. For that price you get a chip time and a winter stocking cap plus all the soup you can eat post-race.
The race starts and ends at the local rec center where there is plenty of parking and any spectators can wait inside or in their cars to stay warm. There are also locker rooms and indoor bathrooms for runners and friends to use.
Even with the hills and the fact that it takes place in February, because this race isn't crowded and the course is accurate you can still achieve a PR. If you like cold weather running then get your race season started early at the Frosty Footrace!
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Erin recommends this race
(2014)
"The party with a race attached"
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The S-NO-W Fun Run is a unique event. It's very low key with some fun aspects.
1. No race day registration! Be sure to register in advance. Pick up your bib on race day only, though.
2. It takes place at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa so book a room so you can fully enjoy the post-race party.
3. It starts at 2PM. Why? So you can drink all the beer and schnapps you want without thinking it's too early.
4. Yes, I said schnapps. There is a schnapps bar with at least 5 different flavors to choose from at the finish.
5. There are no on-course aid stations and this race will be run in any weather. And if it's snowed don't expect they'll have plowed. The course is mostly an out-and-back on country roads with a hill at both ends.
6. Age group awards are done in single ages, not in ranges. Meaning the top three 30 year olds get an award, the top three 31 year olds get an award, etc. Award winners get their picture taken with Playboy bunny knock-offs since this used to be a Playboy club!
7. No race shirt. Instead you might get a mini statue, a picture frame, gloves, etc. It changes from year to year.
8. The post race party includes burgers and brats and all the beer you can drink. It also includes both a men's and women's dance off. So don't leave it all out on the course or you might be too tired to dance. The winner of the women's dance off gets crowned the Sausage Queen (yes, I won in 2014. It was really my only goal) and the man gets to be the Big Hunk of Cheese.
So, yes, this is really just a party with a race attached. And it's a ton of fun.
Erin recommends this race
(2013)
"The Best Non-Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot"
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How do you know you're a hardcore runner? When the temperature is barely in the teens and you're still suited up to run a race. Of course, there was no way I was going to miss the Lincolnwood Turkey Trot on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite races of the year! In fact, I've run either the 10K or the 5K every year but one since 2009. The shirt is now a tech long sleeved top but it's still unisex so I just give it to my husband. This year we also got luggage tags with the Turkey Trot logo on them!
This year I ran the 10K and, as always, it was a little bit crowded for the first mile or so and then once the 5K split off the 10K course was nice and clear. Some people don't like all the turns but I don't mind them at all. The course is wide enough that you can easily run tangents. And if you have family that wants to come cheer for you this course is perfect for spectators because they only have to walk a few hundred yards to see you multiple times as you run through the neighborhood.
Of course, when it's somewhere between 12 and 15 degrees at the start line you don't do much except show up, get your bib number, run, and go back to your car. Although the race director said this was their largest year ever with 2,000 participants it looks like just over 1300 people actually finished. Too bad. Those other 700 missed a fun time staying warm by the fire pits the race set up near the start line.
Post-race we always go to brunch at Jack's on Touhy and warm up with hot chocolate and pancakes. The race does have food afterward but it's the usual bagels and bananas (and maybe hot dogs?) but at least this year it was too cold to stand around outside and eat!
Parking is really easy in the many lots that surround the park where the race starts and ends. Packet pick-up and registration day-of is easy (although, in the past they've only accepted cash and not checks for day-of registration). They've also made online registration easier than in the past and even offered discount codes!