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.

- Now I've had the Ragnar of my life. - No, I never felt…read morethis sore before. - Yes, I sweat. It's the truth. - And I owe it all to GU. There is a meme by someecards floating around on the internet and it says: My life is just a bunch of "it seemed like a good idea at the time" strung together. I feel this is a pretty accurate description of some of the craziness I get myself into. I'm one of those people who wants to try everything (save for skydiving or petting spiders) and I impulsively jump at the chance for new experiences without really thinking about what that all entails. Ragnar would be a perfect example of one of those bucket list type items that sounded too good to pass up but that I dreaded as it came closer and closer to the actual relay race weekend. Lori L. had participated in the race in 2011 and was talking about how much fun it is and how it really pushes you. I had been training a lot for 5Ks and obstacle courses last year, so I figured if I kept at it then I could easily partake of this adventure in 2012. I told her to count me in and started the planning. Unfortunately, I was having knee problems and starting to doubt whether or not I could really do this. The shortest legs are 13.1 miles when combined and there isn't much time for rest. However, I really wanted to do this, so I just kept at it and went forward with the planning. We had some bumps along the way with other people being injured and having to find volunteers so we wouldn't have to pay more money, but we pretty much got everything sorted out in time and drove up to Madison the night before the race. I was scared shitless. Race day came and time both dragged and flew. It was such a whirlwind of excitement, adrenaline and the hangries. Van 1 started at 6am and Van 2 (my van) met up with them around 11am. We checked-in, got all of our goodies, relaxed before Van 2 took over, and then it was just a non-stop "Friturday" of awesomeness. I loved my team. I couldn't have asked for a better team (50 Ways to Lose a Runner). A number of us were off of Yelp (Lori L, Mary T, Rhoda G, Aurore L and driver Dalibor Z), but we also had 7 other people who knew runners in our group. More than half the people were strangers to me, but we soon became friends and we all got along. There was no fighting and everyone was so encouraging. The other teams were even friendly and helpful. I'd be plugging along at a snail's pace and get passed up by someone who would say, "Good job!" or "You can do it!" For the most part, Ragnar itself was run incredibly well. They made everything pretty easy, but I do have a few suggestions for next year. 1) They need better driving directions and maps. 2) Pay more attention to the shirt sizes. I didn't get the correct size, so I guess trying to fit into it gives me more incentive to lose weight. I would do Ragnar Relay again in a heartbeat. I'm even thinking of going out-of-state to compete in another run in their series either this year or next year.

Ragnar, you sneaky little bastard…read more... You took me by surprise, and won me over with your ragged looks and smelly ways in just over 2 days. So much so that I keep thinking about you, and consider flying all down there this winter for more. Yup, that's intense. Yup, people are going to believe you are cuckoo up there. Yup, being in a van with 5-6 other runners half of whom you have just met quite literally stinks. But oh the fun you'll have! Before you start dismissing this review on the pretense that we don't have the same definition of "fun", listen: I was highly skeptical as well. The first time I read about it, I felt this weird mix of emotions. Anticipation was not one of them. But after giving it some thought, I decided that it was worth a shot - if only for the running experience. I am so glad I did. Running a Ragnar Relay Race is like nothing else. Read the testimonies on the web: people are ecstatic about it. Yes, you have to run 3 legs of various lengths within a rough 24- to 36- hour period (depending on how fast you are), and yes, you have to stay in a van pretty much the whole time. No hot meal, no shower, no mani-pedi, no room service. In a word, no comfort. But the sense of camaraderie that develops in that van, and builds up more and more with every passing mile is unmatched. You live your team, you breathe your team and after a while, you love your team. And it gives you all the juice you need to keep pushing on your legs at 3 a.m. when you pound the pavement of a deserted road in Wisconsin, piercing the night with your little headlamp, trying to avoid the mosquitoes that fly in your eyes (idiots). There is no other word: it's exhilarating. You will get lost, and pile up the u-turns, screaming mindlessly at your phone: "What is wrong with fucking you?" (to which the appropriate response coming from right behind you is, of course: "As far as I am concerned, nothing at all"). You will add your stench to the ones of dozens of male teenagers who sweat there before you while sleeping on the wrestling floor of a high school. You will publicly acknowledge your lack of skills at peeing. You will be spooked on the trail by a snake or a couple of rockets who call themselves runners and leave you (and dust) behind. You will hear in dismay that boobs (bibs?) have to stay visible at all times. You will pass some town folks chilling on their porch who will ask you, "Where are you running to?", and when you answer, "Chicago", you will smile at their incredulous "What the fuck?" You will queue for the porter potties, drink water from the wells, eat pretzels, Twizzlers, cinnamon almonds and spinach pie and call it "breakfast". You will cross the finish line with your teammates at Montrose Harbor, and experience the biggest high of your life. And, just like me, you will sign up for more.

I really liked this race and I'm looking forward to hopefully running it again next year…read more I registered with a discount code and was able to do packet pick-up at the race. They also offered a number of dates where you could go to Fleet Feet and get your gear beforehand. I showed up early on race day and was able to park within 1 block of Registration/Packet Pickup. It was only 2 blocks from the Starting Line and about 2.5 short blocks from Gear Check. Gear Check was also conveniently located at the end of their vendor area, so that was a smart move on their park Like others stated, this isn't the best event to try and PR at, but it clears out after the first mile. As is all too common at other racing events, people love to start out where they can't keep up, despite an official announcement to be courteous to others. I was hoping to do about 10-11 minute miles and went where I was supposed to, but I ended up being held back and going closer to 12-14 min/mi for a half mile and then totally passing up a bunch of people ahead of me and still only averaging closer to 11 min/mi initially. Slower people are also notoriously bad at moving to the right. Luckily, a pretty flat course helped me make up for it down the road. It's a somewhat winding course and lots of neighbors come out to cheer you on. It started out a little chilly but it quickly warmed up. Most of the race is shady, so it didn't get too bad. There's a stretch down Lawrence that is a bit brutal since the sun was shining by then and hitting the pavement. At least that part of the race only lasts for a few blocks and then you're protected by trees again. An advantage of this event taking place in Ravenswood is that there's a lot to do when you're done. If you're faster, you can finish and grab a celebratory pint and/or brunch at O'Shaughnessy's Public House. If you're slower, like I am, you might want to set your sights on River Valley Farmer's Table. They have a great Bloody Mary! If you're feeling adventurous and would like to check out another nearby neighborhood, there's always Lincoln Square. You might even get some ideas of where to go during your run since part of it goes up Lincoln Ave.

I did this run for the first time today. It reminded me a lot of the Bucktown 5K. This was a really…read morenice neighborhood race. They limit the capacity so that it doesn't get too crazy. The race proceeds from the Ravenswood Run benefit the Ravenswood Community Services Food Pantry at All Saints' Episcopal Church and the Student Health Centers at Lake View and Amundsen High Schools. There is also an optional $10 add on for a pancake breakfast (proceeds also going to the above charity). Plus, the shirt is super cute! This was sponsored by Fleet Feet -they have numerous races in Chicago and they always do a great job as far as easy packet pick-up and race organization. The only constructive feedback I have is that it was very casual and there weren't staggered starts. You could just walk up to your estimated mile time and get in line. Since this year it was so popular and sold out, I would recommend at least a 3 minute staggered starts between the mile times. The first mile was pretty crowded but, entering mile 2, things started to thin out a bit. I think it's fair to say that if you are an "elite" runner trying to accomplish a personal best or even win the race, get in the front of the line. Otherwise, you just run it to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and to simply participate, as I did. Despite the initially congested nature of the first mile, I hit my typical completion time. I'm glad I finally did it and am excited to make this part of my yearly race schedule!

Wanna get all glowy and run? Well this is for you!…read more My friends and I decided to run the 5k instead of the 10k and I'm really happy that was the case. The running path was VERY poorly lit, however I do understand that it's a night time run and the point of it is to be a "glow in the dark race" but it's kinda dangerous to do this run because you may end up running into something/someone or get caught in a hole. I'd recommend Firefly choosing a different path to run (that at least has *some* light) and also sending the runners off in waves (maybe like 200 at a time, this would help with the congestion at the beginning of the race). Packet pickup at Universal Sole was very easy. The staff there was super friendly. I love the concept of this race and wouldn't rule it out in the future as long as they make a couple of changes.

First year runs always have hiccups, and Firefly 2012 was no exception. However, for a first year…read morerun, it wasn't that bad at all, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again in the future. Pre-event packet pick up was great. No expo, just simple stop by Universal Sole for your packet. Pre-race packet pick up seemed to run very quickly. Packets weren't extensive, but still nice. Standard cotton t-shirt, bib, timing chip. The best part were the 3M LED reflective (velcro) strips. I'll be reusing those quite a bit since I tend to do my training runs in pre-dawn hours. Gear check was quick for dropping off, but an extremely long line for retrieving gear. It seemed that they were short of volunteers, or at least didn't put volunteers in the right places. I had a friend watching my bag, so I can't speak as to how secure the gear check was, however I did note that it seems to be a completely open tent, no closed off area. The run itself: The 10K started at 7:30. No waves. Very small and tight starting area. The 5K started at 7:45. Again, no waves, very small and tight starting area. They need to have waves, and a bigger start corral area. Runners were having to navigate around race watchers and tables. A night run is fun, but depending on the course can be dangerous. They didn't need spotlights, but they definitely could have used more soft lights along the race path. The paths themselves were a combination of dirt paths and paved paths around Montrose Harbor lakefront trails. Which are notoriously pock-marked and potholed ridden. It can be dangerous enough in full daylight on foot or on bike. At night, with no lights, people were tripping/falling/face-planting. The paths are also narrow. So congestion was an issue when you came up against a pack of joggers/walkers keeping pace with each other. In a wide line. Blocking the path. (Argh). And some near mishaps with strollers weaving in and out of the crowds, trying to avoid the aforementioned potholes. Hopefully the race organizers will make the appropriate changes for both safety and congestion issues. Post-race: The finish line got too crowded. Again, I think they didn't have enough volunteers for crowd control, or just didn't have volunteers in the right places. Post race "finish bracelet" was one of those plastic bracelets that's supposed to glow in the dark. Nothing fancy. There was a tent handing out goody bags, but the line was extremely long, and didn't appear to be worth it for a bag that was folded flat and didn't appear to contain any alluring goodies. (I'm guessing it was probably coupons/fliers inside.) The race organizers had advertised food trucks for post-race food during the post-race party and costume contest. There were a few food trucks, in addition to the two food vendors that are there all season, and the popsicle bike guys. Unfortunately the food trucks didn't seem prepared for the amount of people, and were running out of food before all the runners were even finished. The DJ for the post-race party was good, entertaining, high energy. The costume contest went by quickly, and offered good prizes. The post-race party definitely seemed to wrap up quickly, whether that was planned, or they just ended early because everyone left. Since the food trucks left after running out of food, and there were no beer tents, or additional food tents, and only a couple of sponsors handing out beverage samples, there wasn't much motivation for runners to stay for an after-race party. The atmosphere was more of runners grabbing their gear, maybe a popsicle, and then just going home for lack of anything better to do. So yeah, ups and downs, pros and cons. But none of the cons were too egregious. All things that can be easily addressed as the event staff gain experience and hopefully take into account any and all feedback they received after this year's race. It's a nice location, so close to the waterfront. Ample parking, at least compared to downtown. And it's a fun theme. Saw some great costumes!

About a week before The Morton Arboretum Arbor Day 10K Run I did the Rockdale Ramblin' Run, which…read moreis supposedly the toughest 10K in the Midwest. I'm not fully convinced the title has been appropriately appointed. It could be that I was still sore from the first big run, but I found the Arbor Day 10K to be a bit tougher since it was a lot of low-grade inclines and rolling hills instead of a few big ones here and there. My Achilles tendons were not amused and I ended up having to walk for about 2 songs in my Spotify 11 Minute Mile Playlist. Still, I finished this race in 1:14:06 instead of 1:16:01. I attribute this acceleration to the fact that gravity works in your favor coming down a few of the steeper slopes. Weeeeeee! The course is what makes this worth it. It's absolutely gorgeous and I highly recommend running its sister race, the Fall Color 5K. Your entrance into the race gets you and your car buddies free admission to The Morton Arboretum afterward. I haven't taken them up on this offer yet, but maybe I will after the next race. I think it's a wonderful option. The Post-Race Party is OK. You get a tech shirt from your goody bag but there aren't any medals. They gave out large cartons of water but the food portion consisted of only half a banana and big ass bagels... I burned almost 1,000 calories, can a girl get some cream cheese and a whole banana? ... Nonetheless, all was forgiven when The Hot Sauce Committee took stage and provided the live entertainment for the event. Parking is pretty easy. They've streamlined the process, so you get in and out quickly. I arrived about an hour before the race started and didn't feel rushed.

This is Illinois. The flat Midwest. I don't do hills…read more Apparently, Morton Arboretum didn't get the memo. Hills, inclines, twists and turns. This course definitely challenged my strength and endurance. It was definitely a slow (uphill) and crowded start but typical for any race. Just when I wanted to quit and walk, a cheery volunteer would stick out a hand for a high five and BAM I got my second wind. Water stations were located at the start, mile 1.5, mie 3, and finish. Strollers are not allowed, but I did see 2 pass me by. Damn those fast Lululemon moms! The $33 registration includes free parking and a tech shirt (fits very large! My husband ended up wearing my size small). Finish line. Plenty of water to rehydrate. Whole Foods had a tent set up with bananas and bagels. Athletico had massage tables set up for after race stretching...I did not want to get off the table! Dick Pond also had a tent set up with merchandise for purchase.

Founded in September of 2012, Muddy Monk had a simple vision based on a few loves: people; the…read morecity of Chicago; good beer; and, trail running. So the concept was born that Muddy Monk would design and coordinate trail races replete with aid stations and plenty of volunteers and provide craft beer (following all local rules and regulations) at the end of each trail race. I've had the luxury of running in three of their events (their inaugural Thriller in Schiller, the Frozen 5 Miler, and the Mayday^3 15k) and I'll offer a a few quick points about these guys: Organization: 4.5 out of 5, and getting better each time As with every new concept, there will be growing pains, and Muddy Monk was not exempt from these early learning curves. At the very first Thriller in Schiller, a lot of good work was done up front, and registration/getting to the course itself wasn't an issue. Some of the main concerns that the runners had (and echoed by the organizers after the event) included a shortage of water after the event, and the need for some type of streamlined timing system. As an aside, MM does not use the disposable timing chips that you may find on road races for a # of reasons, some being cost and logistics, but they do employ Race Splitter. The second race I did with them (Frozen Five Miler) was truly a test against nature. The race was set in Poplar Creek Woods (I-90 and Sutton) and it snowed, snowed, snowed the days before with limited snow removal. Combine that with the fact that REI was doing a demo of some type in the same area, and parking was nonexistent at the grove. Here, MM definitely improvised, and had people park at the sports retail center down the road, and sort of came up with a makeshift shuttle system. Did it work? Yes. Was it pretty? Perhaps not, but I have a feeling that if the same thing were to happen again in the same type of weather, they'd be prepared. My most recent race with them was the Mayday^3 15k. Because I had some errands in the area in the morning, I came out two hours prior to race start time, and MM had the operation running smoothly. Volunteers were out helping with registration, the course was already marked, and all of the electronics were working. The organization of this event was spot on and I hope that the upward trend continues. Cost of Races: 4 out of 5 MM's races are reasonable to run from a price perspective, and if you register early enough, a 5 - 8 mile run will set you back about 35 bucks. And you get a t-shirt/hoodie and some type of finisher's award. And snacks/refreshments at the end, along with one craft beer. Race day signup isn't that bad either, as I signed up on the day of the Mayday^3 for the 15k distance and was only set back 40 bucks. I didn't get a finisher's award (pint glass), but I did a shirt. For reference, they are holding a half marathon this summer, and early registration is 55$. I imagine that a good chunk of that goes towards making sure that there are paramedics on site during the whole duration of the race. Technical difficulties of trails: 1 - 5 out of 5 I remember the Thriller in Schiller being a very easy race to run. It was my first ever 5k of any type, and I enjoyed how for all intents and purposes, it was "easy" and I didn't struggle a lot. The Frozen Five Miler, full of slush and snow and ice, was more technical but at least it was mainly straight with very little lateral movement throughout. But oh yes...the Mayday^3, that race was gnarly. The single track was particularly narrow, and oh boy was there a lot of lateral motion to dodge in between trees. Limbs and branches greeted you IN THE FACE if you weren't careful, and there were enough fallen trees that you had either jump over them gracefully, like a gazelle - or if you were tired on the last 5k, come to a standstill, put one leg over, and then slowly put the other leg over. As a general rule, the 5ks I would imagine would be slightly "easier" from a technical perspective, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Fun factor: 5 out of 5 This is where MM shines. There's something a little different, maybe even "off", about trail runners. At the end of the race, we drink a beer and talk about what parts of the course gave gave us the most problems, or compare the amount of mud and cuts that we have. Trail running is just more FUN for me. Selection of beer: 4.5 out of 5 MM and I will just have to split hairs on this one. I personally don't think that Finch's is that good when it comes to competing with the rest of Chicago's microbreweries. This does not mean that I won't drink it, it just means that for a volume to cost comparison, I much prefer Half Acre. But I get it - Finch's is probably easier to get in the 4 varieties that are usually out there, and no one really complains. And I shouldn't either. Moving along... Overall: 5 out of 5 Fun times, fun people, good beer.

Andy C pretty much covered everything so go read his review…read more Muddy Monk puts on A+ events. They are laid back and an absolute blast! The races are well organized and well executed. The courses are extremely well marked. Some of the courses are more technically challenging than others, but they're always a blast to run.

Getting a little bored of the typical hum-drum runs? Need a bit of variety and don't mind getting…read more"down and dirty" while you strive to reach that finish line? Then check your inhibitions at the door, grab your bike, some old running shoes and a good friend because you're about to experience the most challenging course you've ever faced...well, the most challenging course with a mud pit, that is. This is a bike/run race consisting of two man teams with one man on bike, the other on foot, starting out simultaneously. Spaced out randomly along the course are transition points where each participant will find an obstacle they'll need to overcome before they proceed to switch places with his/her team mate in running or biking. Monkey bars, net climb, balance beams, etc., all provide a welcome moment or two or rest before resuming your trek along the miles left ahead...each one, seemingly getting longer and longer as you go. Then, finally at the last check point, both team members must dive head first into a mud pit and crawl on their bellies to the end, crossing the finish line together. When the day is done, you'll have mud, sand and grime in places you probably shouldn't have mud, sand and grime...but with all the fun you'll have along the way, you'll be no worse for the wear. I promise. I've run this Chicago race many times and have even made a pilgrimage out to Colorado for their version, too. Next stop, San Jose!

I did the Muddy Buddy with my friend Scott this past August. I had just heard about it on the…read moreinternet, thought that it sounded completely awesome, and was able to talk Scott into into it. :-) About the race: It's about 10K divided up into 5 legs of running/biking. You'll need to decide on who is stronger in each area, because you end up doing 2 legs of one, and 3 of the other. The course at Indian Hills is beautiful, and it has some massive hills--something that you don't often get to see in Illinois! The obstacle courses are super easy, and break up the running and biking. I think my favorite was a giant blow-up slide that you get to climb up and slide down! It's funny, because before the race I was soo nervous about the obstacle courses and not having the upper arm strength to complete them. I think the thing that surprised me the most about the race was the difficulty of the biking legs. It's soo freaking muddy in some spots that you literally can't pedal. Big lesson learned for next year will be to just get off the bike and run with it for these portions. The giant mud pit is of course the star of the show. I personally was excited to slosh through it. After the race, there are some lake areas you can jump into. Oh yeah, and two free beers for your trouble. Yeah!

The big hype for this is that Chicago is the biggest running city and this group hosts the famous…read moreChicago Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series with a half marathon in August. The new Tune Up Series in June was supposed to offer a taste of what Rock 'n' Roll offers. If this is all they got, I'm not ready to Rock and my list of complaints goes to 11. 1) Parking was a major drag. I showed up with what typically would be more than enough time to park and pay, but the machines in the lot were slow as molasses. They would be much better off making a deal with whomever owns the lot and charging a flat parking fee, say $2.50 or even $5. I'd rather pay $5 than have wasted 30 minutes in line at the pay box. 2) This is another race that organizes bibs by numbers and not by last name. I don't want to have to think about my number. I know my last name whether I'm half asleep or wide awake. 3) I hate races that won't spring for timers at each mile. Letting runners know their time at these marks is crucial to helping someone pace themselves. I don't think they are THAT expensive. I've seen them at races that cost less money and had less attendees. Get on it! 4) Where's the music? I was promised music along the way. One DJ playing top-40s is NOT music along the course or a taste of what the 1/2 Marathon offers. Or is it? I'm confused. One DJ around the 2.5 mile mark and then a band singing covers of some Rock and Country songs at the end does not a Rock 'n' Roll party make. 5) We're near a beach, so I know the track won't be free of debris. But for the love of all that is holy, get a shovel and relocate some of that sand toward the end. I did Warrior Dash on Saturday. I'm not looking for more obstacles. 6) Finish line refresh area was way too small. They had you get in and get out. I was able to grab one bag of Pop Chips and almost didn't get my medal. I wasn't even able to get my banana or water and had to rush out of the pen to make way for others. It was backing up like bad plumping. 7) They had a table full of extra medals after the last person crossed the finish line. I asked if I could have an extra for my scrapbook and I was turned down. They all say "Rock 'n' Roll 5K 2011" on them. Are they really going to use them for something else? They better melt them down and recycle those or I'm pissed. They had no problem handing out extra stupid flip flops with their 2011 logo on it. 8) Most inefficient way to serve beer EVER. Beer bottles were glass and the servers had to open each one individually and pour it out. Just give me the glass bottle, get plastic or kegs next time. They dumped a bunch of the bottles into a larger can while I was there and one broke and hit me. Also, they lied about where friends and family were allowed. I was told they were able to go everywhere except the finish line pen, and Amy H. tells me non-competitors were not allowed in the beer pen, which was all the way at the other side of the race site. 9) Music was so loud we had to go to the beer area to hear each other. I dunno, I guess they are trying to rock it out. But this clearly is not a rock concert and I would like to speak with my fellow competitors. 10) The vendors there were pushing their goods WAY hard. I like to get a little info and see what's what. I do not like to be guilted into buying something or signing up for things I'm on the fence about. 11) Most races like this go until about noon. Almost everyone was gone by 9:30am. That should say something. I was able to find my car with no problem because the lot had practically cleared out. Sorry Tune Up Series, for all the buildup and the price I expected to Rock 'n' Roll all night and party everyday.

This was my first 5K so I can't compare it to others, but here is what I thought…read more Pros: - flip flops (even though the ones I got are way too big for me even though I asked for my size) - medal (honestly what other 5K gives you a pretty cool medal?) - cool t-shirt (also gave away free t-shirts after the race) - the course was relatively flat - easy and cheap parking! (got there around 7ish and parking lot was empty so I got to pick my spot and had no problem with the parking meter!) Cons: - where was the music?! - running in sand is NOT fun - bikers are mean! okay, I get it maybe they were training, but hello we were running a marathon! - free beer, great that its free, but not great that you're secluded from everyone else! the information label of your name, dob, etc on your bib should suffice as an ID as most runners don't run with their IDs so a lot of us left because we didn't have it on us. Overall, I did enjoy the run and I do wish it's back at Montrose Harbor next year because of easy parking (downtown is so expensive!). However, somehow close off the route for the allowed time because other bikers and non-competing runners can get annoying.