What a difference 3 months makes for a race such as this. I got a taste of Warrior Dash at their…read moreMidwest event which was hosted in June. The temperature at the time was in the 90s and it was sunny. Now it's September and I ran in their Upper Midwest event. Supposedly Saturday had perfect conditions for competing. Sunday, the day that I chose, was overcast, cold and raining. That definitely dampened (pardon the pun) my experience. However, they still offered the great obstacles that Warrior Dash always promises, I came out relatively unharmed and I had the chance to run the race with a group of great ladies! Parking was much better here. There were fewer dips and humps, so my car's bottom never hit the ground. They were very welcoming of my spectating boyfriend and my dog. Check-in was a breeze and there were signs everywhere to direct you to the places you needed to be. The afterparty area was a fun time as always, and I got my turkey leg despite the fact that they were supposedly sold out right before I finished my wave. The course itself was a lot of fun, but seemed more dangerous than Midwest's. I saw two major injuries in my wave and banged myself up pretty well. The conditions made many of the obstacles tougher than usual and it would have been nice to see more volunteers on the course to keep an eye on people. I also think they should have scraped off the steps on the vertical wall because mud from previous climbers made it nearly impossible to get up the first and second steps. Many Warriors attempted, failed and skipped that particular obstacle. Otherwise, I was very impressed with what they offered and I'm glad to see it was different than the course I did earlier in the year. It makes each location unique. I think I'll come again next year!

Aah, the Warrior Dash. I was convinced to do it by a friend, and ended up having an absolute…read moreblast. The Good: Costumes. I saw super heros, Gumby, the seven dwarves and of course a lot of beards. The participants were all hilarious and friendly, and it was really fun. Everyone encourages each other in a weird way. Also good - It's only a 5 K plus the obstacles. I really don't think you need to train to complete this, as long as you have a little bit of guts and some pride, but not so much that you need to finish with a good time. Which means you can goad more of your friends into doing it, apparently. The whole event was very well organized. Packet pick up was a snap, staff were friendly, everything started on time. There were thousands and thousands of people there, but other than seeing them, you wouldn't really notice. $65 for the entry was reasonable - I paid extra for the eye patches. Getting to jump over fire and crawl in the mud, and then eat a turkey leg with a beer with 15,000 of your closest friends? Totally worth it. Oh! And the swag was very reasonably priced - most other events a t-shirt is $25 - they were $15 here for a good quality, well-designed one. The Bad: The obstacles were kind of monotonous after a while... I was expecting to jump and run over junker cars, and the tire obstacle was pretty lame. Also, I got completely banged up on one obstacle - the first one was a little dangerous, in my opinion. Most were fun though - including the mud and the fire jumping. The Ugly: The dude in the authentic Tarzan loin cloth. And the dude in the old-school kilt. Grosssss. My friends and I will be back next year - we'll be the ones dressed like ninjas. With warrior beards.

This is the third triathlon I've experienced and it was the best! It was pretty small (but not the…read moresmallest triathlon), casual, and just gosh darn beautiful! The entire race is in Bigfoot Park. Swimmers swim in clear waters where they can see fish near the bottom. They bike on a closed off road that skirts the park and the lake. Lastly, they enjoy a scenic run in the woods to finish. Oh - and the transition area was really well organized. Everyone was assigned a particular spot in transition and (what's more) everyone abided by their placement. Spectators have an easy view of all three events and move around without disrupting the race. There are even picnic tables for them to sit at while waiting. Additionally, there's a ton of portapotties and other bathroom facilities scattered throughout. Besides, there weren't THAT many spectators. It seemed as if many racers came solo just to enjoy the race and not to be cheered on by fans. Since it's a small race, the scores are posted on paper immediately after the race. However, because it's a small race, there also aren't a lot of bells and whistles. Unless you placed in your age group or something I don't think you got any type of award or participation ribbon. The swag bag only contained race related necessities (timing chip and bib) and a Running Away Multisport sweatshirt. No granola bars or chapstick or anything else. At the end, racers received a bag of food (that's where you could get a Silk drink, banana, bagel, and granola bar).

This was an awesome race, great course, and a whole lot of fun…read more Lake Geneva is crystal clear and it was a fun course to swim. The bike course took you out in the country of the best state in the USA. The run was a fantastic trail run with great spectator participation. This was probably my favorite course I've done so far and would do it again in a heartbeat!

This race was really goofy and fun, but I don't know if I would run it again…read more Pros: - Running in a pack of 7500 Santas was hilarious. - Christmas music! - You get a free Santa dri-fit shirt, Santa hat, and beard! - Some people had ridiculously awesome costumes. (ex: Christmas trees!!) - Post-run granola bar and banana really hit the spot. - There was a giant inflatable reindeer. I got separated from some friends and got the best text ever - "We're at the reindeer butt." Cons: - The start line was really crowded and disorganized, and people lined up at the wrong pace marker. I was running really slowly and yet managed to pass a ton of people. - The course does a really tight turn halfway through, and that's where they decided to have their water/gatorade station. Also, they put the water/gatorade tables really close to the trail, so it was maybe three people wide. In short, this area was a crazy bottleneck and people were stopping and stumbling over each other and I pretty much had to walk this part. - How the heck do people eat cookies and candy (M&M mini's) during the course? I thought I would choke on them, so I didn't eat any, thinking that there would be more at the end. Nope :( - They didn't have very many speakers playing Christmas music. Kind of a letdown.

I hate running, yet every year I always get the brilliant idea to sign up for different races…read more.. People in some of the other reviews were complaining about the cold.... But let's be honest, what do you expect when you sign up for a 5k in the middle of Winter?! The beards are really itchy to run in, but it's half of the fun of the race, so don't be a pansy and keep it on! I expected there to be a lot of Christmas music at this event, but that wasn't the case, so that was kind of a downer, but the sound of other runners jingle bells and ho ho hos get ya through the 3 miles! Overall, it's a pretty enjoyable 5k and working out around the holidays when we're all shoving our faces with food with family and friends can't be a bad thing for anyone's health!

Woo Hoo! My 600th review! And I'm pleased to present one of the most fun things I've done this…read moresummer so far. Dirty Girl is a ladies only obstacle mud run. 5K, 12 obstacles. A non-timed event and meant to be a fun run that you can take at your own pace. It was my first obstacle run and I loved that it was girls only--I ran with a team. I definitely think running this with at least one friend is the way to go. I've done regular 5K's by myself, but it's great having someone supporting you as you climb, crawl and slide. And who else is going to tell you that you still have mud on your face when you're still trying to clean up after the run? The obstacles were not hard physically. But once the day gets started the obstacles get muddier and more slippery. So the hardest one for me was the high cargo net climb, just because of my fear of falling onto hard gravel. Other than that, they were just fun climbs and crawls. Other than running, I trained for this by following my toddler through several playground equipment obstacles and I was just fine. Hahaha. This event was held at the Lake County Fairgrounds and although a few of us on our team tried to run as much as we could to challenge ourselves, some of the areas were not easy to run opon. The grassy areas were fine, but there was some gravel-twist-your-ankle-type areas. So walking was inevitable. They suggest arriving there 90 minutes before your start time. Check in was a breeze and we had a lot of down time before hand. But it was nice to get pics done in our clean team shirts before we got all messy. I loved my swag--t shirt and bracelet with a running girl charm. There was a secure bag check and a "shower area' for us afterward. I use shower loosely as it's just a bunch of hoses and cold water--but the tent is huge and although by the afternoon the ground is full of puddles, but I appreciated the astro turf they did lay down to prevent muddy puddles. Some of my observations: I don't know how full the heats get, but I'm glad we got there early because we got to start 20 min earlier than our team start time. Bring some water in a gallon jug and check it in with your bag. It was nice to have some clean water immediately after the race to clean my hands and wash my face since I was getting mud in my eyes. Don't wear anything you are worried about ruining. Even though we wore matching T-shirts, I knew they'd get muddy so we made sure the shirts were not too expensive. Budget some time for the after party. Paul Mitchell was one of the sponsors and they were fixing hair afterward. Have Fun!

Just finished the 2013 Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha, WI on Saturday, 05/04/13, as part of my 50…read moreStates Marathon goal. I had ran the Mad City Marathon in Madison, WI back in 2010 for the state, but heat issues had forced the race to black flag it and made me DNF. With that, I just had to redo Wisconsin. Luckily for me, the Wisconsin marathon and the Kalamazoo Marathon in Michigan were on back to back days, so I got an opportunity to knock off 2 states in one shot. Insane, huh? With their "Mittens Challenge" promotion this year 2013, you'd get an additional medal upon completion in Kalamazoo, MI. The Wisconsin Marathon is held in the quiet town of Kenosha, WI.Just 2 hours from Chicago and Kenosha is considered one of Chicago's many suburbs, just across state lines. I flew into Milwaukee the Monday before, having ran the Kentucky Derby marathon in Louisville, Ky and stayed with friends during the week in Fitchburg. I eventually drove down to Kenosha for race weekend and it was amazing! Packet pickup was held at the Best Western hotel on 6th Street on the Lake Michigan waterfront. The packet pick up was on the 3rd floor conference room. There wasn't much at all, in terms of an expo. I found a couple of my friends there and we were out of there in 5 minutes, after picking up packets and looking around. It was that small. Better to have mailed everyone's packet! The race itself started at 7am, so I was up at 4:30am and got to the start at 6:15am. The first 10 miles, we weaved in and around the Lake Michigan waterfront and the residential neighborhoods of Kenosha, which were already decidedly pretty. Just kept at my own pace. Weather temps that morning were 72/45 and expected to rain, but it didn't! The first 10 miles were an out and back, with the full and the half marathon course together. I would take to first time half and full marathoners there to keep things moving and they were pleasantly shocked at how much marathons and halfs I have done so far. The course split at mile 11.5 bid an end to new friends and onward to the half way point. There were no timing points at 5K, 10K, and 13.1, which was interesting, but not unheard of. I would've thought half way, but I guess this race was small enough not to warrant multiple split points. The last half of the course ran through more neighborhoods, along with a highway stretch that was opened to traffic. Just needed to stay on the right side of the road, although traffic was light on a Saturday. In the later miles, there was gravel surfaces to run on, so that provided much needed relief to my legs. I did meet up with a few of my marathon maniac club friends, so that was a huge boost to my mental stamina, when my physical stamina was waning. At mile 18, there was a short out and back section, which was about a mile and an oddly placed timing point on the course. I guess that's a way of marking who did pass through and not cut the course. The asphalt road was also marked with faded orange arrows, so that helped a bit when all you see is residential neighborhoods and nobody really in front of you. The course support was good, especially in downtown Kenosha, where spectators would line up along the streets and cheer us all on. That was great. The aid stations were adequate and the course Marshals were wearing tuxedo t-shirts. Not sure what the theme was, but it was like that. They were especially helpful with directions on the later miles when it got particularly warm and more tough. Overall, I think that this marathon (full or half) is one to do. If you are looking for a PR course in Wisconsin, this one can provide you with that benefit while giving you the best race ever. Weather can be a factor, but normally it's cool enough for a great experience for the novice or experienced racer. Run More! A+

A pleasant spring marathon. Course is nice in places along the lake but can also be pretty boring…read more/ residential / gravelly in other places. Well supported. Virtually no crowds except in a few select places along the course. Would not travel to run but not bad if looking for a local spring marathon.

Drinks were good and quick, even though they were busy. Great to be able to stop in, warm up and…read morehead back out for a little more skiing.

Hot Dog Mountain is back baby!! Grand Geneva's terrain park is making a serious comeback. The jumps…read moreare insane and the rails are ridiculous. They might have the most rails in Southern WI. They've been making a ton of snow and creating some fantastic features every week. The black diamond is really a black diamond. I'd love to see some of the features become permanent like the giant jump on "A". Thanks for all your hard work! Let's shred the gnar!!!!

This was a pretty cool event. I have not been to the Six Flags theme park in at least 6 or 7 years…read more I'm pretty sure the last time I was there, the water park was not even built yet! The race was very well organized and was not crazy at all -I would estimate that there were about 200-300 participants or so. I like that it was not crazy like some of the bigger downtown Chicago races. The first mile was through the parking lot; at mile 2, you enter the park. It was super cool to run through the park and see how it has changed. The water park portion was so extensive that I definitely want to go back next summer. -Not just for the water park but for the rides too! I had no idea of the additions and remodeling that had gone on. Running through the entire park brought back so many childhood memories for me. It was crazy to see all of the old structures still there as well as many new rides and attractions. If you are looking for some new "scenery" during a 5K, this was a cool event. My only criticism is how they handled packet pick-up: it was only 12-3pm on the Saturday prior in Gurnee. I had to work that day, and when I left to try to make it in time, there was a torrential rain storm and I had to get off the highway. However, I'm proud of the way they handled it -my friend who did make it out to Gurnee said they will let you come to the race early and pick up the packet beforehand. So, that's what I did. No long lines, no drama. Again, a unique event for those looking for something different than the typical neighborhood race.

I wanted to try Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) for about forever…read more The concierge at the Abbey gave me a coupon for a discount rental at nearby Fontana Paddle so I decided to finally give it a go. It was an excellent decision. Rates are reasonable. They fit you with a flotation vest, changing rooms are available and they have small lockers. You do not want to have your smartphone on you in the event you fall in the water on the lake. It is better to lock it up, IMO. The training overview was pretty detailed and there is a lot to remember and coordinate all at once. I liken it to riding a bike or driving a car. Once you learn it, you'll always have it and it becomes normal/natural, until then, you have to remember to switch hands, stay balanced, etc. I did go out too far from where they told me to stay, but that was unplanned. A little wind and then a boat sent me even further out which resulted in my instructor dude coming out on board to see if I was okay and if I could get back in on my own. Embarrassing, but also super cool because he gave me some on water tips that I somehow already had forgotten. Also, the further out you go, the more the wind affects you and there are more boats, so you can expend more energy on balancing rather than paddling enjoyably along. Once my guy knew I was okay and headed more in the right direction he went back and I went on to a very enjoyable experience. Prices are good. Staff is helpful. Get out early on summer weekends, too many boats on the lake will not make for a good SUP experience.

Perfectly located on the shore of Geneva Lake in Fontana. You can walk 20 feet to the lake to…read morelaunch. I have been in the store/shop countless times over the years. They have a huge selection of standup paddle boards, kayaks and accessories. I am actually wearing one of their shirts right now. Cool thing is, I just found out they sell ans rent snow shoes also. Being right on the lake, a hike on the lake path is something to behold anytime of year. A lot of my Rockford, IL friends kayak and have either friended them on facebook, visited the website or store itself. If you have any questions while you are there, which I always have plenty which I think some are kind of dumb, they are right there to answer them. I plan to take my family for lessons this Spring.