Loony Challenge

I signed up for the Loony Challenge months ago, when I was skeptical of my interest in running a second marathon this year (Fargo Marathon was a tough cookie back in May) and I thought the 19.3 mile, dual day challenge would be a worthy second best option.  Fast forward to September and my first home purchase and training took a definite backseat.  And by “backseat,” I mean far flung trailer hitched flatbed with wobbly wheels.

 

My own lackadaisical training notwithstanding, the race series was a hoot! I’d never done the 10K, 5K, or 10Mile, so all three were a new experience for me.  Having done the Twin Cities Marathon three times, I was anxious to try out the other races and get a bit of the marathon mojo without losing the requisite toenails.

 

The series began with the back-to-back 10K and 5K in St. Paul. I arrived early enough to get street parking ($15 in the Sears lot seemed mighty steep to me) and then wandered for a bit in my sweats before dropping them off at the ridiculously well-organized sweats check. They had plenty of people volunteering and the folks were super helpful in answering my questions.  I even had plenty of time between the 10K and 5K to drop off my gloves and medal in the checked bag.

 

On the subject of medals, personally, I don’t need 4 medals. The Loony is spendy, justified, I’m sure, because you get 4 medals and 4 shirts (3 each from the specific races and the 4^th for the Loony series).  I would have loved a cheaper option that just gave me the Loony series shirt and medal. I’m a bit overwhelmed by shirts and medals, and it just feels wasteful to me sometimes to keep piling them on. How great would it be to have the option to donate shirts/medals at the race site? Or, pay the full price but have the race donate the proceeds directed to your shirt/medal to a charity? I just don’t need all the “stuff” at every race, and the Loony felt overwhelming in the swag category.

 

But swag craziness aside, the races themselves are lovely and so well organized.  The out-and-back format typically isn’t my favorite, but Summit is such a pretty street and that glorious jog to the finish with the Cathedral to your left and the flag flying before you is second-to-none as far as finishes go. So the Loony was a cool way to experience a great finish three times.

The chill on Sunday made me sorely miss the Metrodome. The huddled mass in the bus shelter pictured in this post clearly shows I wasn't the only one. But chilly starts are par for the course in fall races. The Metrodome coddled us a bit but I doubt anyone would complain much about the weekend weather, once we got moving it was perfect.

 

It’s easy to see why the 10 mile is a favorite for so many people.  You get some of the best parts of the marathon rolled into a shorter, sweeter race. I didn’t expect to see so many spectators for the 10 mile, so that was a welcome surprise, too. The plethora of smiling volunteers, water stops, and exuberant bystanders with silly signs ("Never Trust a Fart.") reminded me for the millionth time why the Twin Cities are such a fantastic place to run. A high five-giving, grinning policeman at the Lexington and Summit intersection was especially inspiring (read: he was hot)!

I thought I would be a bit sad not to be running the full marathon this past weekend, but the Loony was such a fun experience, I never felt down. If anything, it made me excited to sign up again for the full next year, and to talk everyone I know into doing one of the many options the weekend makes available. 

Northgate Brewing

Races with beer at the finish are my favorite races.  It isn't just about the beer, it's that, naturally, the people that congregate for a beer-blessed race aren't taking themselves too seriously.  They're enjoying the sunshine, they're trying a new beer, and they're proud of their shiny new pint glass.

I had the chance to experience the new Northgate Brewing taproom as they hosted the latest installment of the Minnesota Brewery Running Series. Kindly starting at 11 am (because who wants to run a 5K at 7 am on a Saturday?), the race wound around the Northeast area between Broadway and Hennepin. After just-over 3 miles, we celebrated with a pint of our choice at the soon-to-be-all-the-way-open taproom.  I tried the Pumpion, a pumpkin spice beer that probably would have been better suited for a chillier day.  But sunshine and warm weather didn't deter me from enjoying the autumnal pint.  Some may find it on the spicy, bite-y side but I really liked it.  Some pumpkin beers are so heavy, and post-race I wasn't looking for a beer I could chew.  This one was pleasantly light but still had a distinct pumpkin aroma and a cinnamon kick. Can't wait to drink it again when I'm wearing a sweatshirt, instead of sweating all over the table.

The taproom itself is laid back and cozy. It's heavy on a diner/kitchen feel, as opposed to the darker woods that some other local taprooms have embraced.  The bench seating makes it feel like the eat-in kitchen of your Cool Uncle, and I mean that in the best possible way because I love all my uncles, the cool and the less so. This is a place you could hang out for hours, happily.

The taproom celebrates its grand opening on October 10th, 4pm to Midnight. The next Brewery Run is the next day, October 11th, at Pracna on Main. Mark your calendars for a beer-centric weekend in October!

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Trail Mix 25K

I've enjoyed the Trail Mix 25K race on three prior occasions, all at the former Hyland Park location in Bloomington. It was a tough course in a convenient location so it was always a favorite. This year, however, the location changed! Despite the trek out beyond the Western Burbs (whoa!), I was excited to run the race at the new locale.

Lake Rebecca is an equally challenging trail, but different in that the hills were more frequent but less steep. The trail was wide the whole way so there was never any congestion or single track madness. The Trail Mix volunteers and aid station support are always great. Friendly folks offering me flat coke and m&ms will always get high marks. I'm a slow poke, especially on a trail run, so I'm sensitive to that enthusiastic support.  And for anyone who's interested in their first 25K, this would be a great one, especially if you're concerned about being on the slow side.  The 50K relay starts about an hour and a half after the 25K solo race, so by the time the slower 25Kers are finishing up, they're joined by a pack of other runners.  So even if you're bringing up the rear, you don't feel like you're bringing up the rear. ;)

Lake Rebecca was well worth the drive so I'd be happy to run that route again. And as long as you're the embrace-the-mud type, this spring run is a must for trail lovers. 

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TC Valentine 5K

I don't sign up for a lot of 5Ks. I have a host of races I love to do every year and after registering for those and others that tempt me (fie upon you, cute swag!), I just don't have the budget to add a bunch of extra races to the mix. But I signed up for the Twin Cities Valentine's Day 5K for the best of reasons, to run with a dear friend who recently started running.

The organizers can't be faulted for the weather. The negative wind chills were unpleasant, but as Minnesotans we really should know better than to pay good money to play outside in early February.  Weather aside, I thought the race was wonderfully well-organized, a reasonable size, and most importantly, provided plenty of volunteer support to cheer on the crazies who signed up.  Keeping with the cheesy Valentine theme, everyone was encouraged to wear tags on their backs indicating their relationship status (single, taken, it's complicated, and a few unique write-your-owns). We didn't end up with dates but somebody winked at me (or had ice in his eye), so I'll call that a win.

5Ks are a great starter distance for new runners, so I feel like every 5K should recognize that.  Not everyone has done a million of these or understands how a sweats check works. But the TCM crew was helpful, happy (a large feat given the chill), and energized by the crowd.  The newbie runner, Molly, was already brainstorming her next race when we sat down later for brunch, and that's a big kudos to the TCM team for making her first experience so positive.

Hot chocolate and coffee were served at the start, hallelujah, and that took a bit of the edge off.  Molly was excited for her first starting line so we got to there a little earlier than necessary.  But enthusiasm is awesome and I won't tease her too much for my near frostbite. Importantly, the race started on time and despite the usual Lake Harriet parking nightmare, I didn't feel like the off-street parking was that arduous. We got there a bit early but I also think the not-huge size of the crowd helped, too. The shirt and pint glass were cute (still, sucker for the swag), and the post-race Valentine cookies were a sweet touch.

Cold or no, I'd recommend this race for anyone who wants to take a crack at their first 5K or run a pretty winter race that isn't overly crowded. I enjoy a lot of TCM's races, and I'd be happy to add this one to the yearly roster. Hopefully, next year we'll break into the double digits.

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Bear Water Run 20 Miler

It has been nearly a month since my last post and I blame marathon training for that (less eating out, more time spent running, more napping).  It's fitting then that my first post after the marathon training hiatus is a race review for my last big run before race day.

I've done the Bear Water 20 Miler twice before and both those times it was boiling hot and humid.  So I sighed the sigh of the doomed when I signed up a couple months ago.  But evidently God was smiling on we running folk today because it was fantastic running weather, mid-50s at the start, mid-60s by the time I finished.  If marathon day could feel like that or a touch cooler, I'd be thrilled.

The race is hosted by the White Bear Lake Lions Club to support their many charities and they do a wonderful, wonderful job. For a very reasonable price of $45 (or $50 on race day) you get a perfectly supported race, chip timed, enthusiastic volunteers, and a course that winds (twice) around White Bear Lake.  They host a 10 miler at the same time so the lucky 20 milers get to watch the 10 milers cross the finish and wander over for free 5 minute massages from a local chiropractor while they get to start their second lap.

The course itself is fairly hilly, with sizable stretches of flats between rolling hills.  I like that aspect of it because the Twin Cities Marathon is so flat, I feel like White Bear is a tough 20 miles and therefore, a good practice run for the later race. There are water stops every two miles and each is manned by high-fiving, supportive volunteers.  Several stops were manned by local high schoolers in various costumes. The 50s sock hop crew was my favorite, complete with girls in poodle skirts and a cool guy leaning against an old pickup, a pack of cigarettes rolled into his white t-shirt.

The typical bananas, bagels, and oranges are waiting at the finish, as well as an impressive swag bag considering how the race price.  I've been to many $75 half-marathons that give you a shirt and not much else.  For significantly less money (and a significantly longer distance) you get a shirt plus typical race swag bag doodahs.  And I'm a sucker for doodahs.  A water bottle? Seriously? Can I give you a hug? I love water bottles.

Any year I am nuts enough to sign up for the Twin Cities Marathon, I'll be at the Bear Water Run a few weeks before. It always feels like the kick-off to my last few weeks of training, and it was a great kick-off this year.

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Endless Summer Trail Series Lebanon Hills

As I train for the Twin Cities Marathon (gulp!), midweek mileage continues to be a struggle.  Committing to a weekend long run is no problem, I can carve that time out religiously.  But waking up early for 5 milers or begrudgingly tackling them after a long day at the office is tougher.  I do it, but I'm not happy about it sometimes.

Enter, the Endless Summer Trail Series 7 miler at Lebanon Hills. 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night, this "race" (quotes explained shortly) makes a loop around the park, rolling over moderate inclines and enough trail switches to keep you on your toes. It takes something truly special to make me excited to run 7 miles after work, and this race nailed it. Despite a delayed start due to parking issues (hopefully that gets sorted out next year), the crowd was happy and relaxed, no whining about that extra 15 minutes standing around.

This isn't for the uber-serious racer because it starts off with a good half mile of single track, causing an instant bottleneck. If that frustrates you, maybe pass on this one, or make sure you are leading the pack. As I'm very comfortable with my slower-than-average pace, bottlenecks are just a gentle way to warm up. Start, stop, run, jog, stop. Warming up.

Cheaper than most races (you get a cute little coffee mug instead of the do-I-really-need-another-tech-shirt tech shirt), supported locally by Rocksteady Running and TC Running, beer and pizza await you at the finish.  Sure, it's Dominoes, but if you're a snob at the finish line I probably don't want to be your friend anyway. It's a casual, friendly run with wonderful volunteers and organizers. I'll give an additional plug to the race director as he did me a wonderful favor when I accidentally signed up for the race twice (genius) and canceled the second transaction before it was processed.  Such is the benefit of a small-ish, local run. The community is warm and inviting and the organizers really want everyone to have a great time (and not accidentally pay twice for race entries). The small size also makes it a great race to do solo.  Instead of being swallowed whole by a throng of thousands, I chatted with a couple women on the trail and others at the finish. No pretension, no show-offs, just a great bunch of folks enjoying a beautiful summer night on the trails.

The fourth of the Endless Summer Trail Series, this was the only race in the series I did this year.  But my experience at Lebanon Hills pretty much guarantees I'll be signing up for the full series next summer.

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Lola's Lake Waconia Half-Marathon

This was my first time running Lola's, in part because this is only the second year of the half-marathon's existence. Those who ran it yesterday were reminiscing (not particularly fondly) about last year's weather, which was hot and humid. I suppose one benefit to our slow summer warm-up this year was a beautiful Saturday morning for a very challenging course.

Starting and finishing in downtown Waconia, blocks from Lola's Lakehouse, the course is hilly. I thought the Minnetonka Half was hilly. Nope, not by comparison. Lola's is just packed with rolling hills, sharp inclines, and miserable grinders. But you've also got a beautiful view of the lake for a large portion of the race and a comfortable number of participants.  My only complaint was the starting procedure.  As Lola's hosts a half-marathon, a 10 miler, a 5K, and a half-marathon relay, there are a lot of moving parts to understand race day morning. The half-marathon and 10 miler started 10 minutes apart.  I had friends who did the ten miler and their experience was that they "wandered/ran several blocks before running over the starting time pad." They didn't really understand where/when the race actually started.  The half-marathon start was a bit smoother but we still wandered around some before actually arriving at the start line.  I'm not sure what the remedy would be, fewer individual events, better directions about starting locations...

I liked the size of Lola's.  Some half-marathons are so huge they're unwieldy and the check-in and get-out processes are just a nightmare.  But Lola's is a smaller race with the same amenities (if not better) as the larger races.  The race shirts were cute, the medals were nice, the water stops were stocked and supported by friendly faces. All racers were invited to a post-race celebration at Lola's for drinks and lunch, something that is untenable with the larger races. It makes for a friendlier, small town feel, and that's a welcome comfort after battling those gnarly hills! This is one I will definitely do again.

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Trail Mix Trail Races

This was my third time running the Trail Mix 25K. My first attempt, three years ago, goes down in history as the muddiest of my races, and the only one where I had to sit in my car for 10 minutes afterwards with the heated seat blasting before I stopped shaking long enough to drive home. Last year's race was significantly better, drier afoot, almost humid, and I crossed the finish in a tank top. 

This year, as evidenced by the photo, was its own bag of ridiculousness.  I've never run on trails with 4-6 inches of snow and I think there's a reason for that. It wears a body out! But the Trail Mix remains one of my favorite races in town and one I know I'll sign up for every year. Hosting three races with staggered times, a 50K, 25K, and 50K relay, runner traverse four, two, or one lap around the park, respectively.  And I use the word "traverse" because I did not personally do a heck of a lot of what would be considered running on my second lap.  A rolling course with few flat patches, one lap is a doozy of a workout without snow, much less with the added friction and instability of trails packed with the white stuff.  Short bursts of paved trail at the beginning and midway through the lap allow for a quick reprieve from the trail, which I think would bother me in a non-snowy race as I prefer 100% trail, but today I was thankful for brief breaks in the unsteady, exhausting snow slogging. 

The race is well-organized, especially given how cheap it is ($37 is a steal) and the organizers/volunteers are enthusiastic, trail-loving cheerleaders for all racers.  Three water/snack stops pepper each lap, with serving of trail mix (of course), bananas, flat coke (a race fave of mine), water, and gatorade and each stop. One thing I love about trail races is how genial everyone is, how supportive.  I routinely bring up the rear in this race and was passed often but the number of runners that call out a "good job" as they speed past me is encouraging.  Road runners just do not do that. 

If you're looking for a first foray into trail running, the 50K relay would be a great place to start. One lap, or 7.75 miles, is doable for anyone who has a 10K under their belt. Just keep in mind when you sign up that late April is clearly a crapshoot. Snow? Mud? Some combo of the two? Exciting!

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Goldy's Run 10 mile

When I signed up for this 10 mile race I imagined I'd be pounding the pavement on a cool spring morning, maybe starting off somewhere in the mid to upper 40s, possibly 50s! It was 28 degrees at the starting line and it was snowing (or ice pelleting) at the finish.  So needless to say this race had weather working against it today.

But I'm going to try not to hold Mother Nature against Goldy's Run and give it a fair review without the usual angry-fist-to-the-winter-sky griping. This was a new race for me, though it's not new to the rest of the Twin Cities. Still basking in affection for the TCF Stadium at the University of Minnesota, many have made the 5K or 10 mile a yearly tradition. 

Packet pick-up on Friday was a bit messy, despite my getting there right at the beginning.  One frustration I tend to have with races, Goldy's not being the only one with this habit, is when they assume location knowledge of all runners.  I don't know anything about the area around the U. I'm not from Minnesota and didn't attend the U for school.  So some of the directions for packet pickup were a bit vague for my liking.  And just a word of caution for runners picking up packets before race day, 80% of the people in line in front of you are actually picking up for themselves plus at least five other people.  I've heard patience is a virtue. :)

Race day, having figured out parking the day before, went pretty smoothly. I arrived around 7:10 for an 8 am start and found parking easily at the stadium and $4 isn't a steep price in my mind. It would have been nice if other doors into the stadium had been open so that we didn't have to wander all around the outside before getting to the door by the start line.  It was cold!  But had it been a pretty day I wouldn't have cared, so I'll chalk that up to bad weather luck. 

The course was hillier than I expected but I really love the races along the river, especially when they're point to point like Goldy's and don't consist merely of one out-and-back stretch.  So I appreciated running on the West Bank because it seems like most races stick solely to the East.  As should be expected with a purely downtown race, there were a fair number of short stretches and turns, especially through campus.  I didn't love this.  But I could also see how if you went to the U or knew the area well, this would be a cool jog through memory lane.  As someone with no emotional attachment to the school, it just seemed kinda choppy.  

But the best part of the race is at the finish!  My picture is crappy as I'm evidently unskilled at simultaneously running and picture-taking.  But all finishers get to run their way to the 50 yard line, see their grins on the big screen, and get a high five from Goldy.  Even as a non-Minnesotan, that just feels cool.  

Definitely a race anyone that attended the U would want to make a yearly habit, and I always like seeing alternative distance races (not a 5K, not a 10K, not a half-marathon), so the 10 mile is a cool option for anyone training for upcoming longer distances. 

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Get Lucky Half-Marathon

Last year's Get Lucky Half-Marathon was nearly 50 (fifty!) degrees warmer than this year's 20 degree start.  March is a complete crapshoot, I realize.  Maybe it'll be 70.  Maybe it'll be snowing.  But this morning I lusted for the warming tents Team Ortho supplies for some of its other races. I have few complaints about this race, as Team Ortho does a great job running a smooth race worthy of its admittedly steep price tag (roughly $70 for the half). But I wonder if it would be possible for planners to look at the forecast and plan for a few warming tents at the start if the temp is going to be sub-30 (and windy). I know I would have been super appreciative and given the number of crazies in kilts, I'm positive I'm not the only one. 

The only other stressor that I feel like could have been avoided was a bizarre line for the bag check.  Bag check should not take any time.  It appeared that only two people were working the table so perhaps the team just suffered from a few volunteers not showing up, which could certainly happen on such a cold morning. But there was a lot of griping in the bag check line and that could be avoided with more helpers and/or gear bags given at the packet pickup. 

I think the Team Ortho events on the whole would be great races for beginner racers.  They tend to be huge and the crowd provides a great deal of adrenaline and excitement pre-race. There's a decent amount of community support, even with sub-optimal weather.  And the cheeky revelry of running leprechauns and/or halloween costumes (a la Monster Dash in October) allows new runners to relax a bit.  This race was one of the slowest I've had in years, thanks in part to a fall at mile 10 that caused a good deal of limping the last 3 miles. Ice is no joke.  But even a slowpoke like myself didn't bring up the rear.  And even if I did, the running community in the Twin Cities is such that I wouldn't much mind.  

All in all, one of the more expensive half-marathons in town, but usually worth the expense. Great swag, good organization, and salted nut rolls in the post-race goodie bag. Solid. 

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100% Irish for a Day 10 Miler

I'm not a stranger to Twin Cities in Motion events as I've run the Twin Cities Marathon twice and the Red, White, and Boom Half-Marathon.  This was my first Irish 10 miler, however, so I was excited to see how the experts behind the marathon would execute a smaller race with equally variable weather.

The reason I've avoided the 10 miler in the past is because it tends to fall within a week of the Get Lucky Half-Marathon, which I've done the past three years.  I'm signed up for that one again, a week from today.  And as I've been a bit remiss in my training, I thought a 10 miler this weekend would give me the boost (or the reality check) I needed to dig in and get excited about the half.

The 10 Miler is far smaller than the Get Lucky, which is nice in a lot of ways.  The crowd is much more manageable and you can navigate the first mile without dodging people left and right.  I imagine this year was a little lower in attendance just because the weather left a bit to be desired. Race organizers were getting word out in the days leading up to the race that canceling was a possibility due to the threat of an ice storm. March is a crapshoot in Minnesota.  It could be gorgeous or it could snow like mad or we could get sheets of ice so in the grand scheme of things I suppose a rainy 35 isn't too awful. And I really appreciated how communicative organizers were about the cancellation possibility. They assured runners by email, by posting on their website, by tweet, and on facebook, with easily 2 hours to spare before gun time. It's never fun to wonder whether a race will be canceled, but the organizers handled it great.

As a slow runner, rain and sub-40s can be a recipe for nearly 2 hours of misery.  Luckily, the rain held off until the last couple miles and even then it was more mist than solid rain. It was enough to get my pigtails wet, but not enough to have to wring out my jacket sleeves. And having bag check right at the finish, before the throng of people gathering for food and beer, was genius.  I was able to throw on a warm sweatshirt immediately.

I appreciated that the organizers gave two opportunities to pick up packets before race day and offered race day pickup, too.  I was able to check out Marathon Sports, one of the sponsors, which I'd never visited before, and having my race bib in hand gave me a smidge more sleep-in time this morning.

I wouldn't have minded one more water stop.  The 10 miler had water/gatorade at mile 3 and 6.5. Not bad, but one more would have been appreciated.

A 5K was offered this morning, too, and the organizers did well spacing the starting times and designing a course (one loop around Harriet, one around Calhoun, one back around Harriet) that didn't cause a lot of overlap between races.

All in all, a good race, and one I'd repeat.  Cheaper than the Get Lucky, a bit smaller and easier to manage, and a course with which most area runners are very familiar. The free Finnegan's pint is an appreciated bonus, too.  I'll just hope for better weather next year! Sunshine, pretty please!

Monster Dash Half-Marathon

It's not every day that a grown woman has the opportunity to dress up like a leopard and run around in public.  A few days before Halloween, I joined a host of SuperGirls, 80s fitness instructors, cats, dogs, mice, Dr. Seuss characters, and at least one complete set of presidential hopefuls for a 13.1 mile trek through St. Paul.

This was my third year doing the Minneapolis Monster Dash, which hosts not only the half but a 10 miler and 5K, as well.  One of the bigger races I do in town, the Monster Dash also happens to be one of the best organized.  However, I do miss the course from a couple years ago, when we finished around Lake Harriet.  I just find that finish to be infinitely prettier than the Science Museum ending of the current course.  I imagine the newer route has a lot to do with the size of the race, hard to squeeze all those folks around Harriet.  And the 5Kers, at least, get to enjoy the lake.

I'll keep running the Team Ortho races, pricey though they may be, as they remain the best organized races of this length in town.  And I'm a sucker for groovy swag, this year's finisher jacket is going to be a fall favorite.

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Surly Trail Loppet Half-Marathon

It helps to balance out the ridiculous number of food-related entries with proof that I also do a good amount of running, right?  I wouldn't want anyone to think all I do is eat cupcakes.  Although, now that I think about it, that wouldn't really be a bad life.

Cupcakes would be an excellent addition to the already fantastic race sponsored by Surly in Theodore Wirth park.  This half-marathon was the first trail half I ever did two years ago and it was the race that opened my eyes to what has become my favorite form of exertion.  I just don't think there's a better feeling (in terms of exercise) than pounding down a leaf-strewn path, hopping over tree roots, and listening to your own breath with each swish of a tree branch. It's almost spiritual to me. And Surly does a great job supporting an awesome location for a trail race.  This year there was lefse (complete with butter, sugar, and cinnamon) pre-race and spectators and runners alike were rewarded with several Surly brews at the finish line.  I'm lucky enough to have someone in my life who is happy to clap at the finish regardless of the presence of beer, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the promise of a Surly keg (or two or three) may make cheering my slow self on a wee bit more enjoyable.  And I must say, a bit of Surly Hell (my new favorite) at the finish softens the aches and pains quite well.

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City of Lakes 25K

I run a fair number of races in town, mostly half-marathons.  And while I don't plan on saying much on this blog about my training, etc., I do feel like this would be a good place to review some of my experiences at various area races.

First off, you really couldn't ask for a prettier urban race.  Two figure eights around Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, on a day as sunshiney and autumnal-feeling as today, made for a pretty perfect experience.  The roads around Harriet can be a bit potholey, as proved by my stumble around mile 7, and a chunk of the route around Calhoun is run on concrete, quite possibly the most annoying surface to run on, but these were both minor aggravations. They probably don't even rise to the level of being aggravations, just less-than-perfect.

Another thing I really loved about this race was the swag.  I need another race shirt like I need another pair of black heels (I have roughly 6 pairs of black heels).  So I'm pretty stoked by the pint glass and key chain alternative.  These are two things I will actually use, instead of a race shirt that will likely 1) fit funny and/or 2) be ugly.

The MDRA always does a great job organizing their races, so I should probably get crackin' and become a member instead of paying full price for most of the races they host. And this experience may have been the one to push me into membership territory. Great organizers, great volunteers, and a route that proves, once again, that Minneapolis is a fantastic place to be a runner.

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