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Latest reviews by KERL
KERL recommends this race
(2015)
"Start of Spring Running"
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2:00 PACER, Finish 2:04:51
All Community Events do a great job putting this race together. I am always surprise by how many High Schools students they find and secure as volunteers for the race. They are so excited to being there and helping runners with information, its addictive. Little do they know that the energy is well appreciated before the race cause we all can make good use of it.
The race through the lakefront is as a joy to run. Great sunny day with lots of participants at the start line for both distances. Aid station volunteers seemed uneventful in greeting runners as they pass by throughout the race. The northern portion of the race heading to the Foster turnaround is a strange zone where beach goers are wondering why their path is disrupted by a bunch of runners. There are more spectators of wonder minding their own business than folks cheering. Be prepared for a lonely run through that zone and rely either on your pacer to carry you through for the occasional runner on the course.
Overall great race to kick off the spring running season.
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KERL recommends this race
(2015)
"Tired, Hungry & Sleepy"
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2:15 PACER, Finish 2:15:28
Team Ortho's race for this 21K always seems quite different than the others. Compared to the Monster & Polar Dash half Marathons, this race sees less runners, participants and fanfare. Guess the 10th generation Irish of Chicago are still in bed.
Nevertheless, once again on Pacing Duty for the race. Running a 2:15 course with my teammate was a joy. Had a stomach bug earlier in the week so motivation was not self inflicted this time. I relied on the crowd as much as possible which was hard to do. Aid stations were well stocked and handled by the volunteers. Had the fantastic motivation to see the fellow Clocktower Runners taking over once again, an AID station near the turnaround point of the course. On a good, crisp day as this was, running along the lakefront can be quite pleasant. And to add another medal and Pacing perfection on time at 2:15:28 is a Bonus.
KERL recommends this race
(2014)
"Promises, Promises, Promises"
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1:50 PACER, Finish 1:49:40
Every year I make the promise of gearing up in an outrageous costume to run this race and each time I'm reminder that as a member of the Pacing Team, probably not going to happen. Running uncomfortably in late November for a Half is not my idea of fun. Nevertheless, because duty calls, its always great to be out there to help other runners get to the finish line on time.
Great scenery once again on the lakefront. Well managed aid stations. We had a good group of runners that jointed the 1:50 group for the Half. I was amazed how attentive they were from listening to my many anecdotes of the course. One always forgets the slight but crippling effects of the minor hills, valleys, bridges on the lakefront. Having a strategy on handling them before and during the race proves beneficial for a successful run. Nutrition and Hydration has little hiccups during the race. 39th street was a good station with lots of cheering volunteers eager to provide liquids and assistance as you wiz by. I am always grateful for their service and continually say thank you for being there.
For a post Marathon run that combines a great theme, fantastic costumes from runners and a great view, this race is for you.
KERL recommends this race
(2014)
"The Concrete Jungle"
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There's something to be said about this race which yearly presents a set of challenges for runners, primarily from the ground surface spent for most of the race..........CONCRETE. Either you're built like "The Thing" from Fantastic Four or your legs will feel the hard, non-giving pounding of concrete for days after the race. Its relentless and being prepare means the right pair of shoes, long term core exercises to handle the stress or just plain luck to not have an effect at all. In the end, concrete will always win.
The course is however, on beautiful lake Shore Drive for most of the way. The clear view to the east and the fresh breeze of the lake is a wonderful thing. It beats running through a tight tree lined bike path of the north shore for another race a few weeks ago. For the view of the race and the tranquility of being next to the lakefront has his strengths. The spectators are not in abundance but the intersections at least offer a great deal of organized spectating worthwhile for runners. For a flat and fast course, this race is as tempting as all of the others for a PR. Only the weather would stand in your way of getting fantastic results. The pacers as always have and will always deliver caliber pacing for runners to reach their goal and CES provides that service fantastically.
I continue to hear of the horrors of Navy Pier and continues to be a not so great idea of organizers to use that place for anything. And to add pain to injury, the expo is so short that you are left wondering "why in the hell did I bother for just this". There are many other venues to offer great opportunities for runners and an experience worth attending for runners. Hope they get the point soon and I mean really soon.
KERL recommends this race
(2014)
"Truly in the Woods"
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2:10 PACER, Finish 2:09:40
I had no idea what to expect for this race. My reason for being there was as a good Samaritan to be a Pacer for the race. Naperville is a nice long ride from the city for a race at this point of the season.
I did not have a chance to make the expo so its safe to say that race morning was going to be chaotic. At 7am, the organizers were still figuring out what volunteers they had and the packet pickup hadn't been staffed for a 7:20 start. The weather was a nice chilled 50 degrees making the start exactly what one would expect. There were some happy faces but most seemed simply exhausted and not sure from what.
The course had a few too many turns and loops through the forest preserve, enough to drive you crazy. If you are a woods person then the constant feeling of being engulfed by the trees would be fine. For the rest of us, we would have wished for a bit of asphalt. Amazingly enough, Pacing the 2:10 finish had its rewards. To my amazement, many of the original group stayed with us or at least within 5-10 minutes. Aid stations were strategically placed but being in the woods turning up and down and around made for a more confusing race.
Its not the best race around but if you are in the west suburbs, this will do just fine. I will likely pace again next year and will be better prepared for the forested scenery along with bringing my nauseating pills.