One of my favorite race experiences I've ever had!!

Logistics: This quick road trip to Champaign was a perfect weekend getaway. We got in Friday afternoon and stayed at the Illini Union hotel, which is in the heart of campus. It was inside the student union and you really did feel like you were a part of the community once you checked in.

Expo: It was a 20 minute walk to the expo, which was inside of their Recreation Center. Right when you walk in, there were a TON of volunteers with orange foam fingers who directed you to the right location. There was absolutely no way you would miss where to go with the amount of signs and volunteers, which was my concern in a place that large! There were also a ton of lines to pick up your swag so it was smooth sailing!! The actual expo was full of different vendors and activities around campus! Not your typical vendors either! There was everything from CPR training, to pain relief, to apparel, to people encouraging you to bike to save the environment!! TONS AND TONS of photo opportunities as well. The marketing for this race was AMAZING! Then, I went to a couple of the speakers and I learned so much from the "Benefits of Running with a Pacer" talk and the "Running: Where Psychology and Physicality meet." The fact that they had speakers at their expo was my favorite part and it also gave you a break from being on your feet and just to listen to other people's experiences. BEST EXPO I HAVE EVER BEEN TO!
T-Shirts/Swag: The T-shirts were a tech material (didn't see a brand) and a little bit of a lighter orange. Great fit! I just wish it was a brighter orange for the women's half marathon shirt. BUT, I absolutely loved the drawstring bag. Way better than those you throw away. This one I will keep forever!
Pasta Feed: I can not tell you how many races I have traveled to where my number 1 concern is the pre-race meal. What place is the best? How far is it from the hotel? Is it good? How long will the wait be? When's the best time for me to go? EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. I didn't have to worry about a darn thing signing up for the Pasta feed. For $17, you got a kale-radicchio salad, garlic breadsticks, lemonaide/water, a choice of meat or vegetable lasagna, and a cookie. Best $17 I've ever spent! All we did was walk in with our tickets, go in line to get our food, and sit down. We were out in 20 minutes! 20 MINUTES! Unheard of when it comes to getting pasta before a race, even cooking it yourself. I did not stay for the speaker talk at the dinner, but that's a great idea for a little inspiration before you conquer your next race.
Parking/Access: We walked to the start line and back home not knowing if parking would be accessible. It seemed fine seeing everyone else park, but not sure.
Course Scenary: I did love running through the downtown, the campus, and the trails in the parks. Some of the neighborhoods were really pretty as well. I ran with an alumni, so I got to get his opinion on it and there are some parts of town he didn't even know about. Great way to see Urbana and Champaign.
Aid Stations: Aid stations were about every 2 miles with water and Gatorade, which are my 2 go-tos. I think I only saw GU once on course for the half at mile 7 so that was a pretty perfect spot to have it. Also, spectators were handing out water and fruit at their own houses so that was pretty cool.
Elevation Difficulty: This course is known for how flat it is and it is perfect if you are going for a PR! There is a wee bit of rolling hills here and there but not bad.
Post Race: Loved running into the stadium. It was the coolest finish I've ever had. Loved the PR bell was right in front of you to ring. You got water, Gatorade, and a heat sheet at the end. One thing missing though? CHOCOLATE MILK! There wasn't anything to put the protein back in the tank. And I will say: the one thing (and only thing) that I hated about the entire weekend was that family could not come on the field. My mom really wanted to watch me ring the PR bell and it killed me inside that she couldn't. Or that she couldn't go while I got my medal engraved or anything. I am sure there is reasoning behind it, but I can't say it didn't hurt my experience a lot at the end. The vendors were great at post race with all different food trucks to choose from and I loved that part.
Overall, great experience and I understand how why people love this race so much!