Chicago is known to be windy so I layered up. By the time it took me to walk from Millennium…read moreStation to my starting coral, I had already warmed up. Ran into a couple of people I knew and joined them in a pre race stretch session. I even made a few friends and we agreed to meet up in October for another race. This was my first time participating in Run Mag Mile; it's amazing how beautiful and peaceful Chicago is when it's shut down. No buses. No taxis. No horns blowing. No noise. Just peace and quiet. Which sets the scene for a great outdoor experience; walking or running. My goal in starting was to walk briskly and finish up with jogging. For some reason, I completely did the opposite. I began with a nice paced jog and ended up walking over the finish line. Either way, there is no feeling like receiving a medal that you earned. And what a beautiful medal it is. Let the festivities begin! Our bib included a drink ticket and two FREE Taste of Chicago tickets. Plan to return next year and beat my time! Wish me luck!

What a FUN race! Granted I'm not an avid race runner so I don't have many to compare this to, BUT I…read morehave worked many races as a brand ambassador or volunteer so I have the post-race after experience to compare. 5K Race itself was well orchestrated and seamless; we ran through Grant Park where the Start line gear check etc was then turned onto Michigan Ave north crossing the river over the bridge and up to the Hancock building where we turned down the other side of Michigan Ave, turning again to the underpass on Randolph then south on Columbus for the finish line. Beautiful morning to do so, weather cooperated and was sunny and a lovely fall 70 degrees. 5K finishers did not get a medal unfortunately; only 10K. Plenty of water bottles and Luna protein bars at the end. No bananas though. The announcer was lively monologuing and saw my bib number 'Kristin we've been waiting for you!' Hah! I about collapsed from laughter and surprise. Afterwards runners can collect a brunch boxed meal and a beer or moscow mule with tickets from your bib. mb financial booth doing some giveaways.

This is a pretty good 5k. The reason I'm giving it 5 stars is because it's one of the better races,…read morebut the time between groups starting the race takes so long when you're the last group. I get why it's like 2-3 minutes between groups, however it's very cold out. I do want to say that the end of the race is getting way better, much more organized. The line to get the finisher mugs went super fast. The race packet pickup was pretty easy. The clothing you get with the packet was nice.

Overall 2.4 stars?! WHAAAAAT!…read more This is my 4th year participating in this event and I can't stress enough of how much I love it. This is not a race where you can truly know what your pace is or get a personal record but come onnn. Hot chocolate as an incentive?! 50,000+ people participating?! There's a reason for that! It's a great experience and the perfect run to appreciate the downtown area for all the beauty it has to offer. The events start at 730am however anticipate starting well after 8am. With 50,000+ people there's just no way to get everyone across the start line at exactly 730. The chocolate, the after party, etc are well worth the wait haha. There's something about running this course that just helps me adore the city of Chicago and love all of its architecture. Roads are blocked off for the runners, it's peaceful and honestly just beautiful. This event/course is one of my favorite 5Ks and I'll continue doing it for as long as I can.

One of the Abbott Marathon Majors which I ran as part of attaining my 6 Star achievement the…read moreChicago Marathon was a fun run for 26.2 miles. The course of very flat, fast, and getting PR's on this route are very attainable. The marathon expo is large and has everything there. If staying in the downtown area the start line is east to get to. You're basically running through all the neighborhoods. The year I ran it was sunny and cool, and even though there were many spectators cheering us on I felt on many parts of the course were sparse and a bit quiet. Still, it's a fun marathon and a great day. Plus, you get an ice cold real beer at the end! Beer and a medal is a win! It's a terrific race course to attempt if you're a first time marathoner since there are few hills and it's considered one of the easier ones. 50,000 runners on average and it was easy to get in through the lottery at the time. Plus, there are many pop up events and marathon related things to attend around town.

This event has a spectator was very well ran. How was mainly upset they closed areas that had…read moreaccess to parking garages but for a large scale event I will say that the organizers did great and they have this event to a T year after year. Everyone here was happy,supportive and motivational to all of the runners involved! If you are coming here as a spectator I highly recommend learning where the public restrooms are at because this city lacks public restrooms and there are about 100,000 people watching this event on top of the 52,000 people that run this event every year! My thing that I will learn for next year is that I will take the METRA instead of driving. Driving to the city wasn't even that bad it was actually very easy because it was Sunday but it's navigating through all the people. Please download the app too that allows you to track your Runner or runners. The one thing that bothered me a lot was seeing a good variety of spectators run on the path when runners are in the middle of the race. People need to be a bit respectful. Thankfully nothing interfered with the race astronomically. Overall, i wouldn't mind coming back next year! I just wouldn't bring lawn chairs but I will stack up on drinks and snacks prior.

Like Andrea H, I have a soft spot for the RnR half because it was the first half marathon I ever…read moreran; it's also why I'm rounding this 3.5 star experience up to 4. Last year, despite a primarily positive experience, I had three main complaints - unisex shirts, plastic cups at water stations, and not enough port-a-potties. They seemed to remedy the plastic cup issue, but I'm not so sure about the other two. Here are some things worth mentioning about the race: + Music along the course keeps it entertaining. - Expensive entry fee - $80-110 for a half marathon isn't cheap and there are definitely better deals to be had. + Scaled back goodie bags. While this is a negative for most, I throw 90% of my bag's contents in the trash anyway and felt less wasteful. - The finish line layout was awkward, almost maze-like. -Unisex shirts, booo! At this price point, they should offer separate sizing; many smaller (cheaper) races are able to accomplish this. Even the smallest mens size isn't that small. + Shirt exchange at the expo - unlike last year, if your shirt was ginormous, you could exchange it on the spot for a smaller, less potato sack like size. - The medals don't list the race year; the cynic in me says this makes it easier for them to reuse next year. - Not enough people/organization at water stations. Many of the early water stations were completely overwhelmed, not being able to pour fast enough to meet demand. Some of the later ones weren't directing people further down the station causing backups. + New, more interesting course. I like the changes and since I didn't really review the course in advance, it was nice surprise. All in all this is a fun race series and I would recommend doing it at least once. However, the more races I run, the more discriminating I become and I'm not sure this is one worth the high price tag.

This was my first RnR race and I was pleased with the event…read more The downside for me was that the 5k path was also part of the 10k the following day. But, we were able to do the 5k and the 10k and get the Remix medal, which brought my broke-pieces much joy.. since a half marathon might not have been do-able. Race organization seemed put together well. The expo was large, which is always awesome. The medical tent after the race was busy, but everyone was being helped. Despite the rain for the 2018 race, volunteers were in good spirits.

I didn't know the existence of this Yelp page. I represented my company and participated "JP…read moreMorgan Chase & Co. Corporate Challenge" this year and had a good time. I'm NOT a trained long-distance/marathon runner, but I do run and enjoy the sport. I also didn't practice or get conditioned for this 3.5 mile run because I didn't really find time to do so. However, I can see the disappointment for serious or competitive runners for the reason of overcapacity. I will delineate the few points on why caused disappontment for a certain number of individuals. Yet at the same time, this event could just deliver "fun" for many people. - Overpacaity: there were over 20,000 people from various companies that showed up and occupied the entire Grant Park and led to some road closures downtown. In other words, we were grouped by numbers and I personally didn't move to the starting line until 7:20pm (the event began at 6:50pm). Of course, the seeded runners took off on time and they were "theorerically" obstacles-free on the path. Nevertheless, after the second groups departed, "walkers" started emerging and some weren't aware of proper runner's etiquette. I really didn't get bothered by it and kind of made it like a game for me to look for gaps for passing. I did walk for about half mile in the middle of race and most of the groups around me were walking as well. I did run and even "sprint" for the last mile. The number of walkers increased significantly toward the end of race and could make it difficult for some runners to do what they needed to do. - Road conditions: Chicago has many roads with uneven pavements. I noticed so many of them, and eventually, I had to lower my head to watch out for cracks while watching who were in front of me. Anyways, no accidents happened and I was glad. - Family fun: I saw stroller walkers with their infants and young toddlers. I have 2 myself so to take a walk on the "race track" was definitely an ok and totally understandable. - Celebrations: the sponsorship company, JP Morgan Chase & Co., had a very large runners' relaxation tent and even hired their own DJ and catering company to serve dinner, wine, and beer after the race! However, these extra perks were their employees only. Other companies also had their own shelters and people gathered together. I could see people socialize and mingle, and that was when the fun began. Overall, we did what we did for a good cause and I was able to get out there, exercise, and take care of myself. I may get serious and competitive if I can find more time dedicating to running as the time goes on and kids grow up.

Did it for the first time this year. Overall, a fun and well run event. However it is BIG and…read moreCROWDED like the Shamrock Shuffle. Not sure if they did corrals or not. Seemed like after the Elites, all other runners were started as one massive group, which made it crazy. I ran the entire race and was still rudely elbowed by a lot of people who just couldn't find a polite way to pass. Never quite experienced anything like that!! I really liked the route as well as the shirt (which I was not expecting!) I would do it again; however, I may have to throw a few elbows myself, though!!! :0p

A year later and not much has improved…read more No expo at Navy Pier this year instead we had to pick up our packets at various running stores, which I didn't mind since I was in and out, but every year they said we need some sort of identification and not once was I carded. I even picked up 3 other packets and they didn't even bother to check if I really knew these people. Last year I complained how ugly the blue race shirts were for the 10 milers and this year I ran the 10K so I got a black long sleeve with a silver front, which wasn't too bad but you're telling me the shirt you gave me was a large? Circulations in my arm felt like they were cutting off and it was tight in the chest area. I decided not to exchange size, which I should of because around mile 4 the neck part was irritating me so badly that I had to continuously pull it away from my skin. I ended up with burn like marks on my lower neck area due to the poor sizing and cut of the shirt, which has NEVER happened to be in the 15 race that I've ran with race shirt provided to me. The race started half an hour late, which I didn't mind and I like the 15 minute gap for the 10mi and the 10K it helps alleviate congestion. The course was the same as last year, however, my biggest complaint is there was a split towards the end of the bridge and some of us went to the left while some went to the right, quite a few of us on the left thought we went the wrong way so we started jumping the fence only to find out we were able to connect at the end, but where was the guidance to avoid such mishap? The lakefront path is way too crowded for the amount of runners registered and the race wasn't even sold out. I felt sorry for the elite/fast pace runners who had to weave in and out of people on their way back. I was glad to finish when there weren't too many visitors. By the time I left Navy Pier and runners were still finishing I felt sad for them because you only knew they were runners because of their bibs, the course should of been fenced off so they can be recognized instead of being mixed in with everyone. I felt like no one cared about them anymore because they're at the end of the pack, which is something you should never feel in a race. The medal was a lot smaller than last year but it does spin although I'm still leaning towards last year's better, but they did take into account of identifying 10k finishers with a red ribbon and 10 mile with a blue. The volunteers passing out the ribbons were just handing out the medals instead of making sure the runners got the right color. Great amount of bagel and bananas for finishers. Would of love a water bottle instead of water in a cup. Overall, this has to be least favorite race. I love love love the fact it starts at Navy Pier but the organization of it needs improvement.

10, yes. Perfect, no…read more I will cut the organizers some slack since this was the race's first year. Overall, the race was fine, but there were definitely some kinks and quirks that need to be worked out. The biggest kink was not the organizer's fault; a few days before the race, the park district forced them to move the start time up an hour. They sent emails and posted notices on the race website; I'm not sure how they could have handled this better, but I know that it was still a frustration for many. 1) I liked the small size of this race, especially because it was the first year. I don't think the race sold out, but the planned cap was 4,000 runners. The small size prevented bottlenecks where the course doubled back; had this race been any larger, it would have been a total clusterf@ck on the narrower portions of the path - especially since the path is still technically open to the public. 2) I don't feel like I got a ton of bang for my buck. I realize that as a late registrant, I paid the priciest entry fee ($70), but taking everything into consideration I don't think this race was worth any more than $55 tops. 3) The expo was unnecessary; there were only a handful of vendors there (Zipcar, Sprint, hippy runner, and the people who are always selling food, clothes and shoes). In the future, they should solicit more booths or scrap it. 4) The goodie bags were a disappointing compilation of race flyers, a coupon for a McGriddle - that had to be used at the Navy Pier McDonald's that day before 10:30, and one sample of Biofreeze. I didn't get a race map in my bag, I found out later that I had to grab one from the info booth at the expo's entrance - lame. 5) The long-sleeve shirts were nice, but the blue 10 mile shirts were kind of ugly; the red 10k ones were much nicer looking. In the future, they could get away with a single shirt for both distances. 6) The medals were nice, but on the website under the FAQ's it said there would be a different ribbon to denote 10k and 10 mile medals. It's not a big deal, but this didn't happen. 7) Updates to the website were poorly maintained. When I didn't get a map, I went to the website and pulled up the map. Not entirely sure exactly where the start was located on the pier, I scoured the website and found nothing. When I checked out the FAQ, I saw this question submitted by another runner, but never answered. In fact there were a number of good questions asked, but never answered. 8) There were plenty of water stations, but it seemed like majority only carried water. The few that did have sports drinks were pretty tight lipped about it - weird. 9) There was only one timing mat, which meant that there were no race splits. It also meant that you could easily cheat by turning around at any point and no one would know. 10) There were plenty of bananas, water, and photographers at the finish line. The weather couldn't have been better for race day; sunny and not too cold, but in the end this race was only ok; however, it has potential. If they work out this year's kinks and make it a better value, it just might be perfect next year.

Other than to obtain the exclusive medal given as part of the Chicago Distance Series for…read moreparticipating in the three premier races: the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Run, Chicago 13.1, and the Chicago Marathon. I felt that it was time to run Shamrock Shuffle being that I have lived in the city of Chicago for ten years now and have yet to run the event. My reason for not running it in the past was because the temperatures were always a complete turnoff during the time of the event, so I avoided it! This year, I proceeded into this event with the Chicago Distance Series being my motivator to take on this 8K run.... and the possible cold temperatures! For the packet pick-up expo, we were required to pick up our bib number and t-shirt from Grant Park, which is the location of Chicago's beloved Buckingham Fountain. Thankfully, it was held inside of a tent because it was very cold outside the day I visited. Inside, the packet pick-up was congested, but not once did I stand in any long lines due to how organized everything was. And for that, I thank the volunteers very much! All that was required is that you present the QR (Quick Response) code sent in the email in order to pick up your run essentials for the event. With the uncertainty of how my legs would perform, I had to dig down going into this run being that I ran the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon the previous weekend which was a much different pace ran. I have been a runner long enough to know that as long as I am mentally strong there is not anything that can break my spirit! The morning of the event, it was Judas by Fozzy that pumped me up prior to walking out the door headed to the event. It was the perfect hype up song prior to me making my way to the starting corral because it put me in good spirits. Speaking of the corrals, they were organized based on qualifying times and estimated times provided on applications. And when the run starts, you can clearly see who put the wrong information on their application. As expected, the temperature was cold outside, but I was well-dressed in layers for the occasion. For me, the Shamrock Shuffle ushered in that feeling that my run season has officially started for the year as I waited in the starting corral counting down the minutes until the start. At the time, I took in the music being played as I either stretched, jogged in place to keep my legs warm, or eyed the other runners in the corral. The run course was relatively flat I must say with some slight incline portions on course, but with incline there is also decline so I reminded myself to just let my legs go on the decline portions. I kept reminding myself to ease my pace until I figured out what was ahead on course, specifically those slight incline portions. I am always patient in the process and take it mile by mile because I will eventually get to that finish line at some point. The course made me think of the Chicago Marathon because it takes you within the downtown Chicago area on portions of the marathon course. It was a very beautiful course, and it even had the final hill that is part of the marathon course, leading towards the finish line. Eek! So, coast that last mile and preserve your energy for that hill, if you are running this event. Even though the distance is an 8K, the Shamrock Shuffle had the spirit of a marathon with all of the supporters; some supporters even holding signs with encouragement written on them. I cannot remember any portion of the course that did not have any spectators on it which was great to see. Along the course, each mile was marked, and there were plentiful hydration stations featuring a combination of Gatorade followed by water; both were identifiable! And the volunteers working those hydration stations were very cheerful and supportive of all runners. Now as for the swag! The Shamrock Shuffle t-shirt was green with the event name written in a circular style with a clover in-between; and it fit my body frame perfectly! The finishers medal featured Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle written out in the middle with clovers underneath, and finisher on the left side and the year on the right side. I am so grateful to now add my very first Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle medal to my run medal collection that goes back to 2007 when I initially started running. With my Garmin 235 GPS watch on my wrist, sparkle in my eye underneath my sunglasses, and Mercy Home Heroes t-shirt on, I took on this 8K.... and conquered it! Yes indeed, I would surely run the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K again. ~Gonna run 'til I don't jiggle. ~ Thomas G

The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k should be on every runners bucket list. I've waited a while…read moreto run this race and this year I finally got an opportunity to do it. This fun 8K (4.97 miles) usually marks the beginning of running season in Chicago. It's one of the more popular races in the city and participation at the very least, is 20K or more. I've done a number of competitive runs in my 3 years of racing and this race is perfect for runners at every level. I'd personally rate this course as easy/intermediate. This course, like many others I've done in the city, is relatively flat. There may be a few occasional slopes but it's not too short, nor is it too long. The slightly challenging part of the course for some might be taking on Roosevelt hill at the last mile. Honestly, I didn't find it to be too bad. It's a long and steady slope but if you push through it, it's manageable. Once you've crossed over the hill and made that final left turn, it's a clear path to the finish line. The strong show of support from passersby; whether it came from signage or the quick shout outs of, "Keep going, you can do it!" helped me make it through the second half. Along the way, I came across bag pipers in full regalia serenading us as we darted through the streets of downtown Chicago and its many architectural wonders. In addition to that, there was an excellent variety of music offered by DJ's along the course ranging anywhere from classic rock, the Top 40's, and the essential Chicago House music. Dress warm because temperatures in Chicago during March/April are a crapshoot. One year we can get sunny temps with comfortable highs in the 50's through 60's; other times, like this year, we saw clear skies but blistering cold winds! Your best bet is to check the weather, wear layers and gloves (when appropriate), and don't forget to wear the green! I made sure to rock my green tutu this year. Other runners pushed the envelope and wore hilarious things like horse heads. I even caught one participant in a full T-rex outfit. That was a riot! If you're curious about the cost, entry fees are cheaper if you sign up early in the fall. I signed up 4 months prior and paid roughly $45. I had to go to McCormick place to pick up my packet and it cost an additional $10 after a reduced event discount. I had some difficulty finding the McCormick garage entrance. My only suggestion for next year is to provide more signage as you arrive off the exit from I-55 or include directions in the participant packet in the days/weeks leading up to the event. This year's packet includes your racing bib, a Nike moisture wicking commemorative t-shirt, and a pair of souvenir socks. Your medal is earned upon completion of the race. Depending on your mode of transportation, you could spend an additional $5-8 for public transport or if you ride share, Divvy (bike share), or rent out a garage spot on Spot Hero, expect to spend anywhere from $10-30. If you really want to save money, your best bet is to get someone to drop you off and pick you up afterwards. Cost might be a deciding factor but the benefits totally outweigh the costs. If this is your first run, you'll be given the wonderful opportunity to run through downtown and get a grand tour of the magnificent City of Chicago. In addition to the cool swag, your entry supports a great cause and tradition which has endured for decades. If you missed out this year, next year would mark their 40th anniversary. I enjoyed participating in the 2018 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, and look forward to returning in the future.

Don't be fooled: it's the Chicago Beer 5K, not the closely named Chicago Bears 5K (which is in…read moreJuly). I love to do these events -as I'm a craft beer enthusiast. I love trying different beers and learning the names and flavor nuances so I can ask for those beers when I go out to eat. This was a great event. It wasn't very big. We ended up meeting some other ladies along the path as we walked to the south end of Grant Park. She said only 400 people were registered, which is considered pretty small by downtown 5K standards. The path was really pretty, mostly along the lakefront. My only feedback is that this happened to fall on the same day as the Walk and Roll Chicago (a cancer charity walk). Therefore, it was a bit chaotic. Both races shared some of the same path.There was a bit of a clogged situation at times, and a runner almost tripped over me. I was walking (nursing an injured ankle) with a 20 lb. "ruck sack" (it's called rucking), so the crowds didn't bother me. It was my first time doing this, so I was taking my time. Hopefully, next year, they will check the calendar of events or change the path to go in the opposite direction of the Walk and Roll. (There was also an event time change due to this conflict but it did not help the overlap. The cancer walk must have gone on for hours. It was wrapping up when we walked back to the car around 1pm or so.) The after party was great. You got a little mug as you finished and could then walk around the little festival and try different beers. There were a lot of great brewers from the city and suburbs and I got to know some new breweries to check out. Loved this event - hoping to make this an annual part of my summer 5K schedule!

Review 500 had to be special…read more "I took up racing because I was too lazy to work and too chicken to steal" -Kyle Petty "You win some, you lose some and wreck some" -Dale Earnhardt We all have a back story a past that formed who we are. Some experiences touch us, some move us. On a few rare occasions we are so inspired by an experience that it literally has the ability to guide our future. I am the only girl; growing up with four brothers was truly something. We would gather around our old floor model tv and watch Nascar with my dad. My brothers loved it. I had no idea what I was watching. My dad would yell "pick a car baby girl". I would yell back "7 or 13". My dad wanted us to experience Nascar in person but there was never enough money for all of us. In 2023 when Nascar came to Chicago, I was so excited! I know I had to be one of the first ten to purchase my ticket. Unfortunately, due to torrential rain I still missed it. I stood at the gate for over an hour in the rain. We were told that because of the lightning, they had to reset the clock on letting us inside. NO umbrellas allowed. I thought they were kidding until I was made to toss it. I walked to my section and was not allowed inside because it flooded. They were waiting for the fire marshals to approve entry. I walked to one of the food vendors and paid 9$ for a hotdog, 10$ if you add mustard. Food and drink were included with my ticket. We were let in a bit after 2. There were drinks but NO food. Frustrated, soaked and starting to feel sick, I left. This year's experience was priceless! I wish my dad was alive to see it. The weather was nice and sunny. Not too hot. My seat was perfect, even better than what I had last year. Made it in time for lunch and there was plenty of GOOD food. Drinks were also in abundance. Loads of snacks including Garrets popcorn. There was a beautiful lounge set up outside with Jack Daniel's seats and our private bathrooms were plentiful. When I was about to leave, they were serving dinner so I stayed and enjoyed a plate. So much to see, so much to do. Games to play, booths to visit, samples to try. Meet new people and enjoy the concerts. This was my first time seeing Buddy Guy in person. He was such a character, loved him. Yes, Nascar. I will be waiting for my email to return next year.

First, I want to say that I'm a big fan of NASCAR. I attended my first race when I was just 16…read moreyears old in Sonoma, California. Once you hear the sounds of those roaring engines you fall in love with the chaos that is about to ensue. I've attended the Phoenix NASCAR event for 4 different years, including 1 year I had pit passes, so I'm a very big fan of NASCAR. Also worked Joliet NASCAR race the summer of 2006. This is my second year volunteering at the NASCAR experience street racing in the city of Chicago. When I saw this opportunity was going to be available for the residence of Chicago to see how awesome NASCAR is...I couldn't wait to be involved. What a joy that this is actually legal street racing. I ended up volunteering last year as I taking a break from work and it was such a good experience that I thought a why not volunteer again. Last year I volunteered on Saturday and was able to see a lot of qualifying races and have a good time, unfortunately they were rained out and I did not get to see the NASCAR event on Sunday last year. This year I have volunteered on Saturday and it was nice to be a part of the NASCAR community and hear live concerts said see demo and get free paraphernalia related to NASCAR racing. This year the weather was beautiful on Saturday and I got to hear, Buddy Guy live, and then also the Black Keys. The food, the energy, the community cannot be understated for this NASCAR event. NASCAR is very diverse and everyone feels welcome. I will say as a person that has attended other NASCAR around the country. What was missing was the tailgating aspect. Hanging out in the parking lot and sharing beers and stories of NASCAR with others is pretty cool element of the NASCAR community. Probably hard to accomplish when you are actually street racing and not at a standup venue however, the fact that you were street racing along the very streets that we drive every day is just undone, especially with the skyscraping views of the city of Chicago. Hands-down, I would buy tickets for this event and just prepare to spend all weekend hanging out with the NASCAR family. If you like cars, if you like live music, if you like good food, this is a place for you. Safety was a priority here and was such a nice place to be. If you plan on getting tickets for 2025 I highly recommend you spend the extra money and get reserve seating as there are no guaranteed seats with general admission. Tip: if you plan on coming to this event, I would highly recommend that you take the Metra as that is the closest entrance to getting into the park.