TD5K Race Recap

Overall: Ok

Shot Recap:
Sign Up Process: This was a fairly easy process and I was able to complete it for my mom and I.
Price: $22 a person ($7.10/mile). I remember that I had a coupon that was emailed to me from a friend. I believe it was $5 off.
Communications: They didn’t send out too many emails, however all their emails looked like junk mail and I missed the pick-up information the 1st time I read it.
Packet Pickup: Super easy. I walked in, stated my name, and walked out with two bibs, two shirts and tons of pins!
Gear Check: This was also easy. They placed my bag in a bag, which was nice as they then put it directly on the ground.
Route: We were able to run along Lake Shore Drive, which I had never done and the traffic was light on Thanksgiving morning so there were no issues with cars zipping by. We then turned around and came back on the Lake Shore Path. It was fine, but my Garmin stated that it was 3.6 miles long.
Water Station: By the time I got to the station, there was no water….fail!
Swag: The shirt is nice, but is just cotton.

Full Recap
On Thanksgiving 2012 I completed the TD5K. It was a beautiful fall day in Chicago and a perfect day to run outside! I believe this pulled out more people than they were expecting, at least that is what I’m hoping because the logistics were not the best. The lines to pick up the packets the day of the race were extremely long and I was once again thankful that I don’t rely on this to get my bib. My mom joined me for the race so we walked around and chatted a bit before it was time to get in line.

My mom was walking the race and I am on the slower side of the races, so we lined up near the back of the pack. There were no pace markers or anything to determine where people should line up. They were letting groups go every few moments to ensure there were no clogs along the route. Once we crossed the start line (about 11 mins after the start), I started running and had to pass a lot of people already walking from the group in front of me. Also, I was being passed by a number of people that were much faster. This is where the chaos started. They really should look into having pace makers in the starting to space people out based on their pace time. That way I wouldn’t have to pass so many people carrying children on their back or 100% walkers or be passed up by super-fast people.  People were passing on the left, or the right, stopping in the middle of the road, walking 6 across….doing everything you “shouldn’t” do in a race. It was frustrating to have to run around everyone and push my way through people just to avoid running in traffic. I understand that this is a lot of people’s 1st race (a Thanksgiving day race was my 1st just one year ago), but some things should fall under common sense (i.e. don’t take 5 kids with you and then run ahead of them making them cut off adults, don’t take the entire width of the path for you and your stroller and your friend and her stroller). Maybe races should include a “how-to” guide on race manners for these types of races.

By the time I got to the water station, there was no water. FAIL! I’m not sure how you can run out of water at a race. It’s water and the only thing necessary for a race, otherwise, it’s just a morning run with a ton of other people. I’m glad that I wasn’t father back or that it was a super warm day. I knew that I would be fine, but it sucked that they ran out about ½ way through the runners.

The rest of the race was fine. Nothing special to report. My Garmin stated that the entire route was 3.6 miles and not 3.1, but it could have been due to running around people and weaving in and out.

After crossing the finish line I was hit by a wall of people just standing around in the finish shoot. The announcer told them a number of times to move, but no one really listened. Once again….Tips on Running a race would be great!

Overall it was a fine race – mostly due to the fact that the weather was beautiful and I went with my mom. The price was nice as well and I’m happy that it was on Thanksgiving (opposed to the “Thanksgiving Day” race in Grant Park on Saturday). I would do a Thanksgiving Day race again (I LOVE starting a day that is traditionally full of gluttony with a healthy 5k race), but I think I’ll try one of the other ones that are in the Chicago-land area.