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!

I have to say, after a few bumps when they tried to do it the first time, they really pulled it…read moreoff. It was a really good event. Everything as promised. Cute shirt, a great medal, and DJ's every half mile. Tim Spinnin' Schommer was the main DJ on the stage in the after party. We will definitely come back next year and get a whole group with us because it was really really fun!

This race was awesome! Just ran it this morning, 6miles took me 1hr & 15min. The course was through…read morea prairie and a farm. Excellent views & obstacles, will definitely do it again! A+!!

This race is Amazing! To date I have done 15+ 5Ks of all ranges, courses, causes etc. This one was…read morehands down the BEST. I literally can not say enough good things about it, we had zero complaints. It was easy to get to, the directions they had on the website were better then what came up on the GPS. Parking was FREE and there was plenty of spots available. Packet pick up was a breeze, no wait time. Our goodie bag was great. There was plenty to do while we waited for our start time. The course was challenging but not unbearable. First mile was mostly a fast run with a mud pit and a few other obstacles. Second mile was a bit rough, the hills were tough. Third mile just looped around really. Obstacles were everything they should be, challenging but FUN! The end was the best part, giant pool followed by a giant mud pit, then the finish line. The athlete refreshers were perfect for after the race: granola bars, banana, fruit snacks and water. There was a Monster tent handing out drinks, the Subaru swag tent had reusable ice packs for you to take home. The absolute best part was the "car wash" and hoses they had set up for you to clean off all the mud. Paul Mitchell was one of the sponsors, they had gallons of shampoo out by the hoses for people to use, it was perfect. I have been to mud runs before where they had a water tank truck with a guy holding a hose and one person at a time got to rinse off. This was the best set up I have ever seen. It was also a family oriented event. Lots of stuff to do to keep the kids entertained including a kid mud run. I would highly, HIGHLY recommend doing this run. We will be returning next year without a doubt.

Wow! This was quite the event. It was my first time and I most certainly had a blast. I will be…read moreattending these events every year from here on out. The most important thing about it is that it isn't a race but more of a spiritual journey (to me at least). I was able to tap into my inner being and push into the unknown. There were so many motivating people there especially the person who hypes you up before starting the run. The obstacles were amazing and definitely hard. The run itself was challenging but worth all the sweat I produced LOL. Parking was super easy and not congested (luckily). Finding the place was a bit confusing as the address provided takes you to the other side of the airport so you will want to make sure you check the signs and get there a bit earlier for your race (maybe get there an hour early to ensure no hiccups in finding the place. You will get very very dirty hence the name of the event. You will be challenged and pushed to the edge but it is worth it. The other mudders are there to help fallen folks and folks that require help getting over obstacles - I felt like there was a huge sense of community throughout the whole thing. All in all, I had an amazing time and the end of the race was the electric obstacle. I got shocked right in my butt and it took me down so be careful in making your decision LOL. Enjoy the ride and go for it :)

This was a pretty cool race. I have to give them credit -it was super well-organized. We got there…read moreabout an hour early to park in the lot with a shuttle bus that takes you to the start. My parents came to watch and I didn't want them to have to walk very far and this was an excellent service. The other lot option required you to have to walk about a mile, which is too far from them. The only bummer -and this is probably for safety reasons -was that I thought the planes were going to be taking off and landing closer to us. You know how you drive on I-90 or Mannheim Road and the planes are literally 10 feet over your head? Yeah -call me foolish, but I thought that was going to happen as we ran. I just assumed that if they got that close to the major streets, they would just be taking off and landing close to the route. So, you will not be experiencing that -but as far as a unique experience -this was still a cool race. There is a big plane that you can pose next to for pictures and just overall an interesting event because you are accessing areas of the airport property that most people will never see. You are literally running on a runway they close for the event. The shirt was cotton -would like to see a "tech-T" in future years, as they tend to hold up better after multiple washings. After all, it is going to be a fun shirt to wear and a great conversation starter regarding our experience!

This is a classic Wisconsin running event. The 20 mile run has a long history but there is also a…read more10 mile run and 17 mile walk affiliated with the event. The course runs from downtown Madison to Stoughton. Race is part of Stoughton's Syttende Mai citywide festival, so when you finish the race you can have some fun at the festival. The course is very hilly. Participation in the 20 mile run seems to have slowly declined over the years (which I would attribute to the non-traditional distance (i.e., it is not a marathon), adding the 10 mile run, and the difficulty of the course). Entry fee is reasonable (~$60). There is no finisher medal, but you do get a short sleeve tech t-shirt for finishing.

This was perhaps one of the best races I've ever experienced. Located in a quiet room setting, very…read moregently rolling hills provided just enough challenge To make the course something I will remember. I absolutely love this race and hope to return next year and for many years after.

You read the name of this 5K and perhaps you think to yourself, "I've been training my whole life…read morefor this run. I have *plenty* of experience running from the cops." This event is hosted by the Vernon Hills Police Department, but you're actually running WITH the cops more than FROM the cops. We were a little disappointed that officers weren't chasing us with handcuffs and billy clubs. However, I was excited to see that the festival and race have expanded since 2009. Registration fees and donations went to benefit wounded veterans, so you can't go wrong with that. There were service men of all backgrounds there in uniform and repping their units with shirts. It was great to see the community come together to support people who are out there helping keep us safe. And everyone was super nice and helpful. These men and women really do a service for us and their respective titles. The race happens in mid-July, which probably isn't ideal racing weather. It was in the 80s and the humidity was ridiculous. I saw a ton of people on their hands and knees to the side. But the organizers were prepared and there were plenty of paramedics and volunteers on hand to help people out. The course is super easy and flat, but you'd swear this 5K is hardcore when every couple minutes you see someone puking from the heat. I even ended up taking my shirt off the last mile, and this is coming from a firm believer that nobody needs to see that. Post-race area was pretty basic. None of the vendors for the fair were open yet. I think the festival doesn't start until noon, so I wasn't able to get my nachos or my funnel cake on, but I was able to grab a ton of free water, Gatorade and something similar to Muscle Milk and shove it in my nifty, complimentary Sports Authority bag (which was the best bag design ever but quickly fell apart). Corner Bakery was also there with plenty of bagels and cream cheese, pumpkin bites, coffee and bananas.

Don't worry. Yes, you do run from the cops, but there aren't any repercussions if they pass you…read more They don't handcuff you or whack you with their billy clubs. They don't kick you off the course and throw you off to the side of the road either. In fact, it was hard for me to distinguish the police force, which probably was because they started at the very back hence the name of the race. The race is run along Lakeview Parkway, which is also the site for Vernon Hills' annual Summer Celebration. You then run to Gregg's Landing where there are some large and gorgeous houses and into this little subdivision on Lake Charles Drive, which has even bigger and more gorgeous homes and is not even complete yet. There are no start corrals since the race is relatively small. It can be hard to establish your pace depending on where you start. If you are a speedy runner, I suggest lining up near the front. The race is chip-timed so you will receive an accurate finishing time no matter where you start. There is also only one aid station on the course, which is fine for a 5K. However, if you need more hydration along the way, you may want to carry your own hydration. Post race, there were goodies including banana halves, muffins, bagels and coffee from Corner Bakery. The muffins were the best post-run snack I have ever eaten. All the other runners must have loved the muffins too since they were all gone at the end of the race. The awards ceremony was nice and the medals look great and are not dinky like at other races. The race tee-shirt is made of a dry wick material so you can work out in it again if you would like. My only gripe would be that the orange lettering did not really stand out well on the gray shirt. The results were posted in a timely manner and you can also download your race photos for free on the Running Guru website. The total cost for the race was $30 with the proceeds benefiting wounded warriors. Overall, this is an excellent and well-run race. I definitely would consider running it again if it fits into my training schedule. The race is run in mid-July so it can get hot so just be aware of that.

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.

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!