Jeremy Naylor's Staging Area

First time running Chicago and it was everything (except for my time) that I had hoped. Race day logistics and organization were great. Easy to find family at the finish and the starting waves appropriate to starting times for the most part. Tremendous crowds; may be blasphemous to say, but better than Boston! Humungous field but never felt boxed in. Course was easy as advertised, winding through the city. I preferred the downtown and the lake side winding back through Wrigleyville to the less picturesque miles 15-22 of the race, but the last few miles coming home were great.

Expo was a disappointment – difficult to get to unless you take a bus or uber (no subway?) and Nike did not stock nearly enough non-apparel (e.g., hats/branded souvenirs). Race swag was just ok – t-shirt and a few random runner centric things – better swag at Boston or in many half marathons.

All in all, a great race and glad to grab another Star.

First time for me at the Falmouth Road Race. Logistics are a bit daunting, especially if coming from out of town – get there early to avoid traffic before the race. Buses take you from Falmouth to Woods Hole (like Boston). Start line is VERY crowded. If you want to actually race you need to line up as early as possible; otherwise the first 2-3 miles will be a lot of bobbing and weaving.

Major drawback is no mail option or same day option for race numbers. Same day is understandable, but they really should offer mail as an option for those who don’t want to make the extra trip.

Overall, a classic NE race, but organization could be better.

The Boston Bulldogs running group put on this annual run to benefit its recovery programs and celebrate and honor those whose lives are touched by addiction. Race takes place in Franklin Park on a modified CC course. Was very wet and cold race day so not the best conditions, but still lots of fund.

Low frills swag and setup but with good food and a nice ceremony afterwards

Well organized as usual, nice t-shirt, improved medal this year. Tons of port-o-potties to use before hand. A mix of fun run folks, serious runners and folks using this as a Shakeout for Boston (like me). Highly recommended – sign up for the Distance Medley and you get access to a tent with coffee, food, water and gatorade before and after.

2600 + runners line up on Linden St in Wellesley for the Annual Turkey Trot. Quick moderately hilly course takes you through downtown Wellesley and through Wellesley College.

Swag is minimal – a t-shirt but you need to sign up early to make sure you get it

There is a kids’ fun run as well which is great for the 10 and under crowd

The Ryan Shaw Memorial 5K is a wonderful casual race along the Charles River in Boston put on by Ryan’s family and his Northeastern University fraternity members to raise money for charity in honor of Ryan who tragically passed away while in college. The race is high energy with lots of folks in their early to mid 20s, lots of folks with dogs and lots of walkers.

The route is along the Charles River and loops from Boston to Cambridge and back. It’s a lot of fun with a great t-shirt, beer and snacks afterwards and a post-race party at a local brewpub. 3 water stations along the way although you don’t need them for the easy route.

Great for families and people of all ages. Highly recommended.

The race production is pretty bare bones, but you can tell a lot of love goes into it. Unfortunately, this year’s 10K/Half Marathon had a very unfortunate incident precede it – a fatality on the course the night before the race. The race director, Gary, must have had a traumatic morning setting up the course when a car flipped over and crashed right in front of him. Kudos to Gary for being able to keep his head straight and somehow have the race come off albeit with some course changes, in the middle of all of that trauma.

As for the course/race: Tough – hilly. Very humid. Basic swag. Don’t run it for an “event” feel. More a small town feel.

tl/dr: Race seems to be a labor of love. Rough circumstances this year. Would run again.

The 5K is part of the Half Marathon weekend and was well organized and a great race overall. The course takes you from downtown out of Sonoma through some lovely countryside to a turnaround near a wine estate. Overall a fairly flat course with one hill at the halfway point.

The swag is good and the glass of rose at the end is not to be missed. Overall a very fun, chill and well produced race.

The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day 10K is an annual event occurring the day before one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in New England. The race itself winds its way from downtown Holyoke (with a helpful staggered start by estimated time) up through the city, past the community college to a very fast downhill finish where hundreds of screaming spectators urge you to the finish. There are fun, beer drinking, music playing fans all along the way. The city truly turns out for the event.

The race organization is top notch and the course is hilly and challenging, but with the last mile almost all downhill.

I have run this race a dozen times and it does not disappoint. The swag (only a t shirt, no medal) could be better, but otherwise it’s a fantastic race.