Jim Lawson's Staging Area

The run is on a paved road that runs west out of Surprise, AZ. Although it appeared flat, most of the course is either gradual up or down. The race started promptly and was well managed. It was a beautiful, cool morning with nice scenery of the sun rising over the mountains and desert.

45th running. Well managed, classic Michigan run. Hot and humid race day. Happy to have survived. Nice expo the day before, decent bling. Actually received a medal in the mail after the run for finishing fourth in my age group.

Fun run on a golf course. Two laps to make 5K. Starts in waves, but can get a little crowded on the second lap. Whiskey shots at the end. Your medal is a flask.

This is a flat course that runs up and back on the canal path. Flat and fast with no traffic concerns. Well organized with immediate results available.

Great to back on the course after COVID year off. Unfortunately, 75 degrees with 92% humidity. Survival mode for most of us. Plenty of water and support on the course. Well managed, as always. Still my favorite race.

5K course this year. Two loops on cart trails on a golf course. Rolling, lots of turns. Huge medals, whiskey and beer at the finish. Age group award medals also gigantic.

A COVID compliant live race. Start line was open from 9am to 11 am. Chip times were recorded after all had finished. Course was basically on mowed farm fields with some very hilly sections. Footing was tough, but we all shared the same conditions. They did a great job organizing this race and making it enjoyable and safe. Participants ran in support of either the University of Michigan or Michigan State University, a fun rivalry.

This race was entirely run along paths on Tempe Town Lake. The course was flat and fast. Many vendors and food trucks were represented. Run by Startline Racing, so was well organized.

5K around neighborhood surrounding Warwick Hills Golf Club associated with PGA Senior Tour. Beautiful neighborhood. Basically out and back course with some long hills. Well organized.

Organizers added an 8K this year in hopes of drawing more runners, unfortunately the race was still not well attended. The course was hilly and scenic through Kensington Metropark. The course was entirely on bike paths, so footing was not an issue. These people put on a good race and deserve a better turnout next year.

This was the inaugural event sponsored bu Founder’s Brewery. It was well organized and enjoyable. It all took place on Detroit’s Belle Isle, a city park recently elevated to a state park. The course was flat and fast, with nice views of the Detroit River, Windsor, Ontario, and the park. T-shirts, medals, and Founder’s beer awaited you at the finish line. It was a nice way to spend a summer Sunday morning.

Annual event to raise funds for cancer research. Start and finish outside Chase Field. Course is flat and fast through the heart of Phoenix. Large crowds. Festive atmosphere. Runners were allowed to take a lap around the warning track on Chase Field after the run.

Race begins at Arizona Falls and runs out and back along the canal path. It is totally flat, about 1/4 dirt, 3/4 concrete. Well run, with awards 3 deep in 5 year age groups and plenty of raffle prizes at the end.

Tough course in the desert. First few miles mostly downhill, then hilly to the end. They ran out of water at aid stations between 2 and 8 miles. Not a good thing for a race in Arizona. Fun finish line festivities with a beer sponsor.

Run from the Presque Isle Lighthouse, out and back. Flat course. Small community race to raise funds for Fourth of July fireworks. Low key. Lots of fun.

This is a well organized race as part of a series of night runs. The course is out and back entirely on a bike trail along the Salt River. Although it is at night, the path is well lit and suitable for fast times. Medals to all and a raffle of cool stuff after the race. Well worth the price.

The Crim is my favorite run every year. This year things got a little dicey. Due to thunderstorms, the race start was delayed 1 1/2 hours. This is after the wheelers and veteran runners were already on the course, and the elite runners were called back in the 1st mile. Other than these unusual circumstances, the race is usually well organized. A hilly, challenging course through Flint, Michigan with huge local support. Definitely a race worth traveling for.

This local race on Thursday evenings is a tradition. Well organized by the Riverbed Striders, it’s a great way to get in some speedwork when summer weekends are often busy enough. This year they had a little trouble getting timely results, which is unusual for a Striders’ event, but otherwise was well managed and enjoyable. Plenty of pizza was available for runners and walkers after the event.

Riverbend Striders race, so you know it is well organized and accurate. Flat course through Swartz Creek neighborhoods. Plaques to age group winners. Like the option of no T shirt. This year it was HOT and humid. Not a great setting for a PR, but race directors don’t have control over the weather.

Good value. You start by getting a free pasta dinner the night before when you pick up your race packet. The race itself was entirely on the beach. The sand was sometimes a little challenging, but we all faced the same conditions. There was one water station at the turn around point. The course itself was a little short. There were nice awards for winners, but the age groups were quite broad, but considering the size of the race, quite appropriate. All in all, I would recommend this race for a fun, low stress, run on the “World’s Most Famous Beach”.