3 things thursday

1. I haven't blogged in awhile. My bad! I had a really fun Christmas. My bro was in town. We went to my favorite cousin's house. I got the bike trainer I blogged about from Santa. I also got a new pair of running tights (Brooks, my FAVORITE) from the bf. I ran 8.70 miles in the sunshine on Christmas day, because I could. And then ate myself stupid.

2. I'm working right now on some 2012 goals, as I realized today that so far I have none. I hope to post this before midnight on December 31st!

3. I went to the Blackhawks game with the bf, my bro, and my awesome cousin. They lost, but we still had fun. I got to wear my Marian Hossa jersey to a game for the first time :)

a year of racing dangerously - part XII: december

Snowflake Shuffle 5K (Geneva, IL) – 23:54, 1^st place AG

Location – 3. A little far to drive, but it’s in a really pretty area and at a subdivision that has its own golf course. (The subdivision even had its own elementary school. For some reasons, scenes from The Stepford Wives kept popping up in my head.)

Logistics – 5. Parked right in front. Packet pickup was a BREEZE. We got to stay warm inside the golf clubhouse before the race.

Course – 4. Eerily similar to a lot of other suburban 5Ks I completed this year. But run on wide open roads, and even some hills to keep things interesting!

Crowdedness – 5. Not crowded at all. Not even at the start. It thinned out after less than a quarter mile. Now THIS is my kind of race!

Swag – 4. Love the design on the t-shirt, even if it is cotton. At least it’s not white! I won my age group and got a nice medal for my efforts.

Amenities – 5. Indoor toilets, homemade cookies, hot chocolate… I’d say the spread was pretty fantastic!

Atmosphere – 3. It was fun, and put on by a terrific organization. I had hoped that more people from the neighborhood would be outside cheering, but I’m sure the rain kept them away.

Can you PR here? – 3. I know I couldn’t. I ran a great race, but one of the big hills was in the last half mile.

Bang for your buck – 5. Definitely got a lot for the money, plus it went to a terrific charity.

Likelihood of returning – 4. My friend Kim and I had a lot of fun at this one! We are hoping it’s the same time of year next year, so that we can plan a return trip.

Total – 43

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Tucson Half Marathon (Tucson, AZ) 1:50:17

Location – 3. Literally in the middle of freaking NOWHERE. They dropped us off away from civilization, and we had to run back to it. The mountains were pretty, though.

Logistics – 2. I waited 45 minutes for a shuttle bus just to take me to the race start, as there was no drop-off point at the start. I didn’t think the bus was going to come. I assumed I would be a DNS for my Arizona race. Lame.

Course – 3. Bo-ring. Unless you like running down a highway in the middle of nowhere. Uck.

Crowdedness – 5. High marks, as there weren’t a lot of people in this race at all. (Funny story – the bf and I tuned into the Tucson newscast on Sunday night, and they had HUGE numbers flashing on the screen, 3,000 people in the race! Wow! Haha… I laughed for like 5 minutes.)

Swag – 4. I really like the design on the t-shirt… unfortunately, it is white. We got free socks, and the goody bag had actual goodies (Clif Bars and Powerbars) in it. Score!

Amenities – 4. The aid stations were amazingly well-stocked. Some of them even had candy! There were 2 Gu stops – I’m so used to races that promise Gu that never shows up, that I took some from everyone. I didn’t stop in the food tent after the race, so I don’t know what kind of spread was there.

Atmosphere – 5. It felt like your local neighborhood race, not a destination race. Everyone knew everyone else, even at the expo the day before. I saw Marshall Ulrich. The volunteers at the aid stations were really enthusiastic, and overall terrific.

Can you PR here? – 4. Yes. It’s a net downhill, with a few rolling hills at the beginning and then between 11 and the finish. If you are used to running in altitude, air it out, you’ve got this.

Bang for your buck – 3. I registered a little later than I would have liked, and I did pay a lot for this race. But it wasn’t as expensive as Vegas, haha.

Likelihood of returning – 4. Right after I finished, I told the bf never again would I do this one. But as time went by, I decided that I need revenge. I can go under 1:50. I can operate my Garmin correctly. I think I’m coming back in 2012.

Total – 37

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a year of racing dangerously - part XI: november

Hot Chocolate 15K (Chicago, IL) 1:15:40

Location – 3. Love Grant Park, but there were way too many people.

Logistics – 2. Having an expo at Union Station is ridiculous. I don’t know how there were no crowds, when I went at rush hour. Got lucky, I guess. Also, it’s weirdly dim in the Great Hall and hard to see stuff.

Course – 5. I really loved the 15K course… got to start in the front, so didn’t experience any of the crowd headaches that the 5Kers did. Got to see the Hull and Mikita statues outside of the United Center, which was exciting.

Crowdedness – 1. Reading horror stories from the 5K (and listening to Jill and Kari talk about it), makes me realize how ridiculous this race really is.

Swag – 4. I like my windbreaker. They gave away windbreakers in 2009, but in men’s sizes. My new one is a women’s fit and a much better fit. I even raced in it the following weekend.

Amenities – 4. Loved the chocolate at the finish line, and then the chocolate fondue was tremendous. (I ate too much chocolate, and wound up with the stomach flu!)

Atmosphere – 3. Fun, but way too crowded for my liking. There were people EVERYWHERE.

Can you PR here? – 5. Every single time I have run this race, I’ve PRd. (It’s probably because there are hardly any 15Ks around here.)

Bang for your buck – 2. None. Ugh, and I signed up later too, and thus hate myself a little bit.

Likelihood of returning – 1. We’ve already decided to skip it in 2012 and find something more awesome, preferably with beer at the end.

Total – 30

How I did – 5. I kicked the crap out of my PR. It felt amazing.

My advice to you – Skip it. And race directors, make more 15Ks in the area!

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Chicago’s Perfect 10 (Chicago, IL) 1:26:51
Location – 3. I HATE NAVY PIER!

Logistics – 3. I STILL HATE NAVY PIER! 70 billion exclamation points would not do that thought enough justice. But they had race day packet pickup, which was much appreciated. Probably would not have done it otherwise.

Course – 5. Out-and-back that started/finished actually on Navy Pier, which was cool. Loved running past the museums and Soldier Field.

Crowdedness – 5. Perfect size for the perfect 10. Please don’t get bigger!

Swag – 5. Great t-shirt and medal. I love the design of both. I bought a hat at the expo that’s pretty sweet (makes up for not getting one in StL).

Amenities – 4. Well-stocked aid stations with terrific volunteers. Coupons for free McGriddles. Could have used more snack-y stuff at the finish line.

Atmosphere – 4. It was a really fun race, so much more fun because I ran with a friend.

Can you PR here? – 4. I don’t see why not, I know a couple of people who did. It’s flat and fast and as long as it doesn’t get too big, should be ideal. That is, if you like running in November.

Bang for your buck – 5. This race was available on Schwaggle a lot, plus they sent out constant emails offering money off and free shirts. Discounted parking at Navy Pier was much appreciated.

Likelihood of returning – 5. We both decided, upon finishing the race, that Schwaggle or no Schwaggle, we’ll be back next November.

Total – 43

How I did – 4. Not a PR, but a very strong race, and I had fun time running with Renee.

My advice to you – Nice late fall race. Do it with me!

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Edison Park Turkey Trot (Chicago, IL) – Walked w/ Dad

Location – 5. Very close to my parents’ house, but easily accessible from mine.

Logistics – 5. Free parking. Race day packet pickup. Slam dunk.

Course – 4. Same as it always is, a nice neighborhood run. Plenty of straight streets that I could probably CRUSH my PR on!

Crowdedness – 3. The start was PACKED. But since we were walking, no headaches. Dad still passed enough people to make him happy.

Swag – 4. Long-sleeved t-shirt (it’s cotton). I have done 10 of these races, and I still possess 9 of my shirts. (No, I am not a hoarder.) They are awesome. The race organizers change the color of the shirts each year, so that keeps things interesting.

Amenities – 2. Legend (aka my dad) has it that the finish tent is a bunch of old, picked-over baked goods. I’m still bitter over the year I thought I scored a chocolate chip bagel, only to find out it was raisin. YUCK! There were no aid stations this year, but then again I was walking, so they could have abandoned them by the time I got there.

Atmosphere – 5. Gets bigger every year, and with all the money going to a charity, it’s something I’m happy to see. For the first time ever this year, they awarded a traveling trophy to the house with the best spectators. The winner set up a pilgrims and Indians scene on her front lawn, and then dressed herself (and her wheelchair) in costume. SO FUN!

Can you PR here? – 3. I really think so, as long as you start in the front. The race is untimed, however, except for the winners, so I don’t know if it would be official.

Bang for your buck – 4. I signed up a week ago online for $20. If I were running this race, it would be an AMAZING price!

Likelihood of returning – 5. For the 11th year, my first race as a 30 year old next year? Wouldn’t miss it for the world!

Total – 40

How I did – 5. I walked with my dad, and it was fun. It was windy at times (I have the bright red face to prove it), but overall awesome. We rocked that course, and passed up A TON of people. Then we went straight to the bar. Turkey trots are awesome.

My advice to you – Do a turkey trot with your family. Make it a tradition (this was our 10th year!). It’s SO MUCH FUN.

Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon (Schaumburg, IL) – 1:49:48

Location – 5. So close to my house, at a place I sometimes train at. Can you say, HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE? (It’s a real thing!)

Logistics – 4. Love the race day packet pickup (which was a BREEZE!). The new shuttle bus system this year was not my favorite, although I’m glad I parked at the start as opposed to the finish… having to leave the parking lot in heavy mall traffic is no good.

Course – 4. I really liked the changes this year, even though normally I despise point-to-points.

Crowdedness – 4. It was only tight in one spot, near the end, which was not cool. I like races better when there’s room to move around. Especially at the end, when everyone else is tired, and I am running my tail off!

Swag – 5. Cute tech shirt in a women’s size that FITS! (My shirt from last year, a women’s medium, has sleeves that are too short. I upsized this year.) The medal has a nice design, and isn’t as cheap looking as last year’s.

Amenities – 3. The aid stations were in all the right spots, and the volunteers were great. The food line at the end was insane, so I skipped it. But cups of water instead of a bottle? C’mon man!

Atmosphere – 5. I ran into so many people that I knew, both before/after the race, as well as on the course. Like, random people too. As in, people I’d only met once before, at the Cary race, which made me feel as if this is a half marathon for runners. I think that’s what I liked most about this one.

Can you PR here? – 3. I did, 2 years ago. It might be a little too crowded, plus there are spots with 180 degree turns. That does not a PR make.

Bang for your buck – 3.

Likelihood of returning – 5. I love this race. It’s one of my favorites. I’ve done it each year, so I have to keep it up!

Total – 41

How I did – 4. I didn’t get a PR, but I ran my fastest half marathon in nearly 3 months. I broke 1:50. I sprinted at the end. I didn’t die.

My advice to you – Bring your own water. Sometimes races put on by this company skimp on the hydration. While this race was an exception (the aid stations were very well done), I noticed a lot more runners than usual had erred on the side of caution.

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a year of racing dangerously - part X: october

Itasca Oktoberfast 5K (Itasca, IL) 23:28

Location – 5. Itasca is really easy to get to, just a straight shot from my house.

Logistics – 5. There’s tons of parking, race day packet pickup, and it’s easy to get home after the race.

Course – 3. I didn’t like the changes to the start line. It was literally just a line in the middle of the street. If I didn’t overhear someone in the toilet line talking about it, I never would have started in the right place, or at the right time.

Crowdedness – 3. The first mile was INSANE. I was weaving like a drunk for pretty much the entire mile, even though I lined up pretty far ahead. Frustrating.

Swag – 3. Nice long-sleeved tee, but it’s cotton. Got a pair of socks in the goodie bag, which was nice.

Amenities – 4. Brats and beer! And a candy tent! The brats weren’t as good as last year, so I just drank my breakfast instead.

Atmosphere – 5. Fun, fun little Oktoberfest bash, right down to the oompah music and the authentic German costumes. Super fun.

Can you PR here? – 5. Definitely. The only hill is right at the start, and the finish is downhill. The long straightaways make a PR more than doable (I did it last year!)

Bang for your buck – 5. Cheap race with a CARA discount, woo hoo!

Likelihood of returning – 4. This one is always on our schedule because it’s just a really fun time.

Total – 42

How I did – 3. I somehow ran 5 seconds slower than I did last year! BOO!

My advice to you – Stay for the awards ceremony… they give out cool raffle prizes in between awards announcements. Also, the band is actually decent.

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Bucktown 5K (Chicago, IL) 24:01

Location – 4. The Bucktown neighborhood is nice, but the streets are super-narrow.

Logistics – 3. Not the most convenient, but it’s right off the train. I was able to go to packet pickup in Deerfield, which helped immensely.

Course – 3. Crowded. Also, lots of potholes, with no indication that they were coming!

Crowdedness – 2. It’s really, really crowded. The different corrals helped, but I still felt like there were too many people for side streets.

Swag – 5. Track jacket, woo hoo! Then when I went to check my bag, they gave out free dri-fit hats with the race logo on them… a bonus I was delighted with!

Amenities – 3. The whole “Taste of Bucktown” thing is stupid. Also, I am stupid, because I left my tickets at home.

Atmosphere – 3. Fun, but really crowded.

Can you PR here? – 2. Nope, too crowded, even if you start in the first corral.

Bang for your buck – 3. It’s really overpriced for a 5K, but the swag is of high quality. I guess I have no opinion either way!

Likelihood of returning – 3. I’ve done this one for the past 4 years, but might take a break in 2012 and find something closer to home.

Total – 31

How I did – 4. Course PR by 90 seconds! Pretty sweet, especially since all I wanted to do was stay under 25.

My advice to you – Aim for a start corral. Get into it early. Stick to the sides of the road – less people to trip over at the beginning.

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Rock n Roll St Louis Half Marathon (St Louis, MO) 1:53:55

Location – 5. I am a big fan of St Louis. I arrived via Amtrak and stayed with some of my Ragnar girls in a hotel within walking distance of the start/finish.

Logistics – 5. EVERYTHING was within walking distance of our hotel. Do I know how to pick ‘em, or do I know how to pick ‘em.

Course – 4. Loved starting facing the Arch. Also loved that the course was different from GO St Louis. The uphill finish would have been killer, had I not expected that it would be coming.

Crowdedness – 4. Not too bad at all, considering it’s a RnR race!

Swag – 4. The t-shirt has an awesome design, but it’s white. The expo was out of hats by the time I got there. The medal is ridiculously cool.

Amenities – 2. In the weirdest Rock n Roll race ever, more than half of the aid stations only had water. No sports drink in sight! No wonder my face was covered in salt by the time I finished. I didn’t even grab food at the finish line, because nothing looked appetizing. I did, of course, drink my free beer.

Atmosphere – 4. I actually like the RnR races. They are a lot of fun. The bands on the course definitely did not suck.

Can you PR here? – 2. No. Hills. Lots of them. Literally an uphill finish!

Bang for your buck – 4. I signed up when the race was first announced, so I snagged a good deal. For RnR races, the deals are there, especially if you follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Likelihood of returning – 5. Already signed up for next year, using the 11.11.11 discount! It definitely pays to follow them on Twitter!

Total – 39

How I did – 4. Not my best race time-wise, but I ran a smart and strong race, and got to do so with a good friend.

My advice to you – Get to the expo early, as in a day early if possible, as they were out of all of the cool merchandise by the time I arrived. Also, they were out of my size in the cute stuff too, which was good for my wallet but disappointing for me.

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Monster Dash Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) 1:52:49

Location – 4. Going to Grant Park is always fun.

Logistics – 3. The cheap parking in the Soldier Field garage was definitely the way to go, and a nice bonus. I was not a fan of having to go all the way downtown the day before to get my packet.

Course – 3. I liked it, but it was way too crowded at times. My cousin got stuck by a TRAFFIC LIGHT! I missed more mile markers than I saw.

Crowdedness – 3. The first couple of miles were nutso. Then when we got near the zoo, same thing. Some of the paths along the lake are just too small to handle such a huge group of racers. I felt bad for other people using the path.

Swag – 5. Got a fill-zip fleece jacket with thumbholes, that says Finisher on the back. AMAZING swag.

Amenities – 4. Call me crazy, but I’m in love with food bags… quick, easy, and I got one without a banana! Wish there was beer, though…

Atmosphere – 5. Halloween races always bring out the best in people. I ran with the Mayhem guy for a bit, then raced a bumblebee to the finish line. Favorite costume? The 2 ladies dressed as “Toddlers & Tiaras”… HILARIOUS.

Can you PR here? – 3. I thought there would be a decent chance, but it is really crowded on those lakefront paths. So long as you make the traffic light (STILL rolling my eyes about that one), it’s possible.

Bang for your buck – 3. I love my jacket and stained glass medal, but it was really expensive.

Likelihood of returning – 5. Already have my costume picked out for next year. Yes, I will be running in a costume.

Total – 38

How I did – 3. I ran faster than I had the week before, but my foot felt like it was on fire. Le sigh.

My advice to you – Wear a costume. It’s much more fun that way. I was lame because I did not.

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3 things thursday

1. I owe you some race reports. I'm working on them as we speak. I didn't get around to it yesterday because I...

2. ...went to see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo instead. It was awesome. I'm a HUGE fan of the books, and the movie definitely did the books justice. I'm glad we went. I just LOVE going to the movies.

3. Tomorrow is Festivus! I went out and bought beer today especially for the festivities, which involve me sitting on my couch watching bad college football and drinking said beer. I have an old lamp that will serve as the aluminum pole. If you follow me on Twitter, note that I will be referring to everything tomorrow as a Festivus Miracle. You've been warned.

a year of racing dangerously - part IX: september

Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) 1:48:22

Location – 4. I really like running in (this part of) the number streets, passing the Museum of Science and Industry. LOVE that LSD is closed down to runners!

Logistics – 2. Most inconvenient race ever. Packet pickup at (shudder) Navy Pier… race start way down in the number streets. The only nice thing is being able to park in the MSI parking garage, but getting home always detours me through the ghetto since the Drive is closed. Also, the race for the last 2 years has fallen on the Bears home opener. Can we say, logistical nightmare!

Course – 4. That being said, I do like that LSD is closed to cars, because running on it is really fun. It’s something you’d never get to do on the north side. Plenty of space to move around. Flat, fast, and a lot of fun.

Swag – 5. LOVE my t-shirt. And medal. And the extra medal I got since I also did 13.1 Chicago.

Amenities – 5. They really upped the ante this year. I came home with a lot of post-race goodies. Even though I didn’t stay for pizza, the fact that it was there is pretty awesome.

Atmosphere – 5. To the nth degree this year, since the race took place on September 11th. They had one of the trucks from Ground Zero lead the race, which was really moving. They also encouraged everyone to dress in red, white, and blue (which I was going to do anyway, since I do it for all federal holidays) which was a nice touch. Very happy to be a part of something like this.

Can you PR here? – 5. Yes. I have before, and everything about the course is ideal.

Bang for your buck – 4. I was one of the first people to sign up, so I got it for VERY cheap, which is the only way I’d do it.

Likelihood of returning – 3. Since I missed the cheap registration, it is increasingly less likely I will make this one a 4-peat in 2012.

Total – 37

How I did – 4. 3rd best time ever, but was on PR pace before my leg decided it hated me. Seriously, I kicked the shit outta this race.

My advice to you – Stay in a hotel downtown the day before. Then you can hit packet pickup, jump on the shuttle bus, and not have any logistical headaches. If you play your cards right, you’ll be home in time for the Bears game!

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a year of racing dangerously - part VII: august

Terrapin 5K (Chicago, IL) 23:24

Location – 5. Still love Soldier Field…

Logistics – 3. Driving to Soldier Field during rush hour was way inconvenient. So was Lollapalooza setup, which added to our walk time from the train. Good thing we left early! I appreciated the packet pickup in Deerfield, which is right near my work.

Course – 5. South portion of the lakefront path = love it!

Crowdedness – 3. Like all RAM races, it was jammed. Surprisingly I did not get trampled at the beginning.
Swag – 3. I like my tie dye shirt, even though it is boxy and a little enormous.

Amenities – 4. Microbrews at the end? Count me in! The pizza was a puny slice, kinda lame. Also, our coupon code promised us extra beer that never materialized… I was definitely disappointed!

Atmosphere – 5. Really, really fun evening. I enjoyed sitting on the grass talking running with other participants. Didn’t want to leave, but also didn’t want to run around downtown in the dark!

Can you PR here? – 3. Might be a little too crowded for that!

Bang for your buck – 2. Another overpriced 5K, this time because I signed up late. I will do better next time.
Likelihood of returning – 4. I really did enjoy my time here… and the free beer was delicious.

Total – 37

How I did – 4. I was faster than the 5K the week before! And the sun was beating down on me much more than it did the previous week!

My advice to you – Use any time you can to get as far in front as you possibly can. This will save you from being trampled.

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Elvis is Alive 5K (Chicago, IL) 24:23

Location – 5. My first time running a race by this particular harbor. It was a wonderful location for a race!

Logistics – 4. Took the train, then walked to the harbor. We got lucky, as it was a gorgeous night. Race day packet pickup – probably the main reason I love Fleet Feet sponsored races so much!

Course – 4. Loved running along the lake and seeing all the boats.

Crowdedness – 3. It was crazy crowded at the beginning. My first mile was so slow (and longer than a mile) due to all the weaving.

Swag – 3. Cotton tee, but in the fashion of my favorite Elvis era… Blue Hawaii! I ripped my shirt, but that doesn’t stop me from wearing it often.

Amenities – 5. Snagged some iced tea before the race. Goose Island 312 afterwards, my favorite beer ever.

Atmosphere – 5. I need to dress as Elvis next year, instead of just wearing a Rock n Roll Las Vegas tech tee. Yes, I am already planning on a return trip!

Can you PR here? – 3. The beginning was sooo crowded, and I pretty much lined up in the front.

Bang for your buck – 3. Cheap-o 5K, but it was untimed. You take the good with the bad.

Likelihood of returning – 5. Next year, I’m busting out an Elvis costume!

Total – 40

How I did – 3. I wish I could have gone a little faster. The last half mile, I thought I was going to die, and the finish line seemed so far away!

My advice to you – Dress up like Elvis! All the cool kids are doing it!

Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) 1:50:09

Location – 4. Pretty much the same sort of setup as the marathon, which got my stomach in knots just thinking about it!

Logistics – 4. Grant Park, right off the train, which was nice. Getting to McCormick Place for the expo is a bear, though. I loved the setup of the gear check, right by the fountain.

Course – 2. I have a major bone to pick, because the course was most definitely long. Yes, it was more interesting than in years past, but I just wish someone would admit to me that they don’t know how to measure. (I’ll stop, I promise. I ranted enough in the days after the race.)

Crowdedness – 3. Even starting in the front, there were a LOT of people there. I wasn’t tripping over anyone, but I did feel closed-in at times. The proof is in my finisher photo, which looks like Where’s Waldo.

Swag – 4. LOVE my t-shirt, even though it’s a men’s small and a little huge. Holy free stuff at the expo bumps this one up a notch.

Amenities – 5. 2 free draft beers AND a popsicle at the end? Yes, please!

Atmosphere – 5. As with any race in downtown Chicago, the spectators are awesome, as are the volunteers. I love huge races when they are as much fun as this. The bands did not suck either.

Can you PR here? – 3. I’ll stop talking about it.

Bang for your buck – 1. It’s way overpriced for a half marathon, even with signing up early and using a coupon code.

Likelihood of returning – 5. Took advantage of the 11.11.11 deal and am already registered for 2012.

Total – 36

How I did – 4. So close to where I wanted to be, and yet so far.

My advice to you – Do not pay full price for this (or any) RnR events. A Google search will usually yield a good coupon code. Otherwise, ask me. Running friends don’t let running friends pay full price for RnR events!

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Madison Mini Marathon (Madison, WI) 1:48:03

Location – 5. I really love Madison. This is one of my must-dos.

Logistics – 4. Found parking right near the start. I hit mad traffic getting to the expo, which really sucked. Also, the expo was in a weird place.

Course – 5. One of my favorites. Hits all the major sites in Madison, runs through a gorgeous arboretum, and a downhill finish along the lake… heaven!

Crowdedness – 5. Not bad at all. It’s big enough to not get lonely, but small enough to not trip or be tripped.

Swag – 5. Once again, I love my t-shirt. The medal doubles as a bottle opener, awesome.

Amenities – 5. They had bags of chips at the finish line… I was craving salt like no other, and those Fritos sure hit the spot! (Also, I like junk food.) The aid stations were terrific, and very plentiful along the course. Sometimes they were a little too close together, but last year I remember complaining that they were too far apart. Can’t win ‘em all.

Atmosphere – 4. I think the rain delay scared away the pep band, which was my favorite part of last year’s race, running down State Street. I was amazed at how many people still came out to cheer. I high-fived the Brewers racing sausages, but sadly did not get my photo taken with Bucky.

Can you PR here? – 5. Can, and DID! Despite the POURING rain for the first few miles, which left me completely drenched for the rest of the race. Oh, and the hills. (There are lots of those.)

Bang for your buck – 4. I signed up early. Shocking, I know.

Likelihood of returning – 4. Who am I kidding, I will probably say yes.

Total – 46

How I did – 5. I got a PR! On hills! Definitely very proud of this one!

My advice to you – Don’t stay at the host hotel. It’s ridiculously overpriced, however convenient it may be. I stayed on the east side, near the mall (and Texas Roadhouse, YUM!), and thought it worked out much better this way.

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Windrunner 10K (Wheaton, IL) 50:16
Location – 5. I love going to Danada. It’s so pretty there.

Logistics – 5. It’s not a bad drive, the parking is very accessible, and they have race day packet pickup.

Course – 4. Starts and ends on grass. The rest is on crushed limestone trails. It’s not my personal preference by any means, but it sure is pretty.

Crowdedness – 5. A nice, small race. Even the start didn’t have any congestion issues. I ran by myself to the finish line.

Swag – 4. Really nice tech shirts with a terrific design.

Amenities – 5. The spread at the finish line is nothing short of amazing… baked goods, PIZZA, and bagels and lox (if you’re into that kind of thing… I stuck with pizza.)

Atmosphere – 3. Pretty hard core people run this thing, and it’s very competitive, which is not really my thing.

Can you PR here? – 3. For me personally, no. The crushed limestone kills me, but not as much as the grassy sprint to the finish.

Bang for your buck – 5. One of the cheapest races in the area, with really nice swag.

Likelihood of returning – 3. I like it a lot, but it’s not a must-do on my list.

Total – 42

How I did – 3. No PR, and I was thisclose to going under 50… still disappointed that I wasn’t able to do that! (I should cut myself some slack, Madison was the day before.) Also, I forgot my hat, so the sun was beating down on me the whole time.

My advice to you – Stay for the food at the end! The pizza just kept coming and coming. It was great!

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DeKalb Corn Classic 10K (DeKalb, IL) 50:13

Location – 4. I heart DeKalb… possibly because I went to school here for 3 years! But it’s so easy to get to, even if it took almost an hour to do that.

Logistics – 5. I snagged a spot in the high school parking lot. Packet pickup was inside the school. Also – indoor toilets! Score!

Course – 5. Surprised by how much I liked this one. Starts with an out-and-back over the highway (people were beeping their horns like crazy), then through some subdivisions, over to the trails I used to run on as a student, back to subdivisions. Enough turns to keep it interesting.

Crowdedness – 4. On the smaller side, which is my personal preference. Particularly when I was on the trail, I was pretty much alone.

Swag – 5. My shirt is the color of corn, which is what you want from the Corn Classic. Easily one of my favorites of 2011.

Amenities – 3. I was excited about the Propel, but I could have used something more substantial in the way of food.

Atmosphere – 5. It’s so fun. The NIU basketball team has an aid station. I ran into townies I knew on the course. It was like visiting an old friend.

Can you PR here? – 4. If you know the course, for sure. It’s flat and fast.

Bang for your buck – 5. Another cheap-o 10K with fantastic swag.

Likelihood of returning – 5. When faced with a dilemma of Corn Classic v. Windrunner, I will be picking the Corn Classic.

Total – 45

How I did – 4. I ran 3 seconds faster than the week before, and I was more than okay with that, as my PF started to rear its ugly head this week.

My advice to you – Arrive early. Parking in the high school gym lot fills up FAST!

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Peapod Half Madness Half Marathon (Batavia, IL) 1:47:51

Location – 4. Say it with me… FOX RIVER TRAIL.

Logistics – 4. Lucky for the race, I happened to be in DeKalb the day before, so I picked up my packet on the way home. Got a great parking spot on a bridge, facing my preferred direction of travel.

Course – 3. Pretty sure it was short. The race started in the finisher chute, complete with buckets of bottled water. Yeah, it’s true. It was like running around land mines. Also, there were hills.

Crowdedness – 3. The first couple of miles were tight. So was running on the path. I ran into random people that I had met at other races.
Swag – 4. Love the t-shirt and wear it all the time. The medal is also a bottle opener (3rd one for me in 2011), which is nice.

Amenities – 5. Diet Coke and Dominos at the end… plus a beer tent with REAL BEER (Sam Adams), and beer pourers who insisted we keep coming back, with or without tickets. Well, okay then!

Atmosphere – 4. Fun little race. Friendly participants, plenty of adoring fans, and really enthusiastic volunteers.
Can you PR here? – 5. If the course is always this short, sure! (I had it measured at 12.99 miles.)

Bang for your buck – 3.

Likelihood of returning – 2. It was fun, but it usually falls on Labor Day weekend, and that’s when I go to Vegas. Sorry running, I love Vegas too!

Total – 37

How I did – 5. I got a PR and I’m keeping it, short course or not. The last part of the course, on the trail, was downhill, and I was FLYING. Fun finish.

My advice to you – Register early. It’s kind of overpriced for a half marathon in the area, but at the initial rate, it’s not too bad.

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