I have to say, after a few bumps when they tried to do it the first time, they really pulled it…read moreoff. It was a really good event. Everything as promised. Cute shirt, a great medal, and DJ's every half mile. Tim Spinnin' Schommer was the main DJ on the stage in the after party. We will definitely come back next year and get a whole group with us because it was really really fun!

It's great running the SF10 after a two year hiatus. What a great way to start off the holiday…read moreweekend. This year, a 10k was offered along with the 10 miler. I did the 10k and had a similar experience (and medal) as if I had done the 10 miler :-). The best part of finishing in Soldier Field. Great job to the event organizers and volunteers! It was an amazing Saturday morning and perfect for the run.

Fantastic event! So wonderfully organized! Hope to experience this again! Perfect way to honor…read moreyour veterans!

I was inspired to get into running after I saw that movie about that mentally-handicapped guy who…read moreran really fast and ended up joining the football team. You know, Rudy? But when it comes to RAM Racing, you could say I have a love-hate relationship (similar to when I dated that bi-polar woman). I'm happy to say they got this race right, though. Packet-pickup was at the event, held right next to Soldier Field. They even changed the event name (formerly "Terrapin 5k"), joining a long list people enjoying success after a name change (e.g. Christopher Kutcher, Elizabeth Fey, Osama Seacrest). For participating, you got a long-sleeved shirt with the race's slogan, "Run, Rock, Relax," but it was obvious that people were taking it easy. Many drank their free beer before the race, thus carrying on a tradition of athletic events in/around Soldier Field where people were just there to have fun and couldn't care less about the outcome. Of course, the notable difference is this athletic event wasn't a Chicago Bears game and these people weren't the Chicago Bears. The race is divided into corrals. Corral "A" is where you find all those folks who put stickers like "26.2" on their cars' back wind-shields. Even though I ran in corral A, they were sold out of those stickers when I went to the store. Luckily the store had a few "Total Douche" stickers still in stock. If you're not a runner, corrals go all the way back to "L", where we are reminded that it is difficult to get a second wind when you never experience a first one. The race around Museum Campus and back to the stadium is easy enough, and at the end, you receive corn and a hamburger, served to you on a Frisbee. Man, that took me back to college, and the farcical lengths people went to save money on plates. Also, it reminded me how much I hated eating at our cafeteria. The "Rock" part of the race is the post-race band, "Big Head Todd and the Monsters." The event offered a $25 entrance fee for those people who were only there for the after-party, which I thought was good. It would have been unfair to make Big Head Todd and his monsters pay the full fee considering they didn't even run. I'm sure the band was not accustomed to playing in front of so many in desperate need of a shower, but at least now they'll be ready for those gigs at retirement homes or in eastern Europe.

Similar to a previous review, the pre-race communication is lacking. I registered using a Black…read moreMonday code. I selected a packet pick-up date that I forgot to put in my calendar. I totally forgot about packet pick-up leading up to the race until I coincidentally saw something on Instagram about the last chance for packet pick-up the day before the race. No reminder email about packet pick-up...just a random chance of checking Instagram having not used Instagram in many years. Mind you they charge you if you have to do race day pick-up after missing the previous pick-up chances. The race itself has drastically declined ever since the founders left the race group. The founders were eager to improve and ensure an excellent race experience. The current group does not care. No post-race survey to fix the low hanging fruit issues. The noticeable difference with the race itself is the finish line. Finishers hang out right at the finish line so you finish and run into runners and spectators blocking the area just over the finish line. That is a safety issue especially since the temps were well below freezing so couldn't see if people spilled water. The is also incredibly inconsiderate to block the finish chute after running a half marathon into a headwind. The last thing I want to do is have to navigate through a crowd to get water or my medal. The race course itself is the usual lakefront course with spectators blocking the path at multiple spots and at least one car driving on the lakefront path during the race. Not only was packet pick-up nearly missed, but I selected the Fleet Feet gift card in lieu of a shirt during registration. They ran out of gift cards at packed pick-up. They were supposed to mail me the gift card after the race. Packet pick-up was on Jan. 30 and race on Jan. 31. I emailed on Mar. 5 saying I never received my gift card. I emailed again on May 11 saying I still have not received a gift card. Finally, I received an email on Jun 5. saying the gift cards were mailed out. I received the gift card early last week. I opened the envelop yesterday on Jul. 1 and find out the gift card was valid 1/1/2026-6/30/2026. Them emailing me on Jun. 5 was their reasoning of giving me a heads up about the expiration date. To their credit, the race group did respond to emails every time I pointed out their failed promise. However, 4.5 months later to resolve an issue of their own doing is pathetic. I was given a discount code for the next year's race so kudos for them, but I had already decided that last year was my last F^3 race. The race is not worth me spending any money on. Compared to my first F^3 Lakefront Half in 2014 at Montrose Beach exposed to the Polar Vortex, this race and race group have really gone downhill. There are many other races in Chicago that offer a better overall racing experience so run this race at your own discretion or at least set the bar very low for your expectations.

I ran this race a few times before Covid and it always was a unique and fun one. For the 2022…read moreedition, F^3 was a slap in the face. They were sending out race emails BCC'd (instead of paying for a trusted sending service) so everything went to spam. The only important email that went through, on 1/21, provided 24 hours notice for the last Chicago city packet pickup. However, the more important detail shared turned out to be that the event would be 100% outside with no use of the United Club: "We will be conducting the race outside this year. After consulting with our medical director and team, we will not be using the indoor United Club in an effort to mitigate COVID risk during a time of high community spread. We furthermore will recommend face coverings while in corral areas." Despite how massive of a convenience this was, organizers seemed incapable of communicating in a timely fashion on Facebook or on the race website. I perceived this as a sly way of minimizing blowback. My position is that if the organizers didn't have to completely eat the fee for canceling the United Club week-of, they should have credited some portion of entry fees for those who wanted to run the next year. That would be in an ideal world though. In this world, the next "Race is On!" email participants received was telling us to take public transportation to the race and to gather at a bar after the race. So much for those doctor's recommendations! When complaining about this online, someone in the Chicago running community mentioned that this "independent" organization was actually bought out by some national group or private equity firm years and years ago but continues to hold on to the "independent" branding. I've been unable to verify it, but, man, being a distance runner during Covid was a frosty experience.

Don't be fooled: it's the Chicago Beer 5K, not the closely named Chicago Bears 5K (which is in…read moreJuly). I love to do these events -as I'm a craft beer enthusiast. I love trying different beers and learning the names and flavor nuances so I can ask for those beers when I go out to eat. This was a great event. It wasn't very big. We ended up meeting some other ladies along the path as we walked to the south end of Grant Park. She said only 400 people were registered, which is considered pretty small by downtown 5K standards. The path was really pretty, mostly along the lakefront. My only feedback is that this happened to fall on the same day as the Walk and Roll Chicago (a cancer charity walk). Therefore, it was a bit chaotic. Both races shared some of the same path.There was a bit of a clogged situation at times, and a runner almost tripped over me. I was walking (nursing an injured ankle) with a 20 lb. "ruck sack" (it's called rucking), so the crowds didn't bother me. It was my first time doing this, so I was taking my time. Hopefully, next year, they will check the calendar of events or change the path to go in the opposite direction of the Walk and Roll. (There was also an event time change due to this conflict but it did not help the overlap. The cancer walk must have gone on for hours. It was wrapping up when we walked back to the car around 1pm or so.) The after party was great. You got a little mug as you finished and could then walk around the little festival and try different beers. There were a lot of great brewers from the city and suburbs and I got to know some new breweries to check out. Loved this event - hoping to make this an annual part of my summer 5K schedule!

This is a pretty good 5k. The reason I'm giving it 5 stars is because it's one of the better races,…read morebut the time between groups starting the race takes so long when you're the last group. I get why it's like 2-3 minutes between groups, however it's very cold out. I do want to say that the end of the race is getting way better, much more organized. The line to get the finisher mugs went super fast. The race packet pickup was pretty easy. The clothing you get with the packet was nice.

Overall 2.4 stars?! WHAAAAAT!…read more This is my 4th year participating in this event and I can't stress enough of how much I love it. This is not a race where you can truly know what your pace is or get a personal record but come onnn. Hot chocolate as an incentive?! 50,000+ people participating?! There's a reason for that! It's a great experience and the perfect run to appreciate the downtown area for all the beauty it has to offer. The events start at 730am however anticipate starting well after 8am. With 50,000+ people there's just no way to get everyone across the start line at exactly 730. The chocolate, the after party, etc are well worth the wait haha. There's something about running this course that just helps me adore the city of Chicago and love all of its architecture. Roads are blocked off for the runners, it's peaceful and honestly just beautiful. This event/course is one of my favorite 5Ks and I'll continue doing it for as long as I can.

I really enjoyed this 5K Race! It started and ended at…read moreSoldier Field. There were people dressed up in Donut and Coffee Costumes! The participants were individuals, groups, and families. After the main 5K Race there was a Kid's Dash in which they also received their own medals. I like that parents pushed their children in strollers around the course which wound around behind The Field Museum and along Lake Michigan with views of Navy Pier, people fishing for perch, and then the loop continued back up behind The Field Museum to the grassy park behind The Chicago Bear's Stadium. There were donut and water pit stops through the 5K Course. The medals were Pink Donuts with Stan's Signature Logo. I liked that the 5K was a money raising opportunity to support Cal's Angels-a cancer supporter of children battling this disease and their families. Already, I am looking forward to next year's race! FYI-The Race was SOLD OUT!!!!

This was my 2nd year volunteering with Stan's Donut 5K race. I received an email a few days before…read morethe race in details for the volunteers to be there around 5:30 A.M to set up. I get there in time to check in and get my tee shirt and assigned duty. Only to stand around and be eating by mosquitos. Everyone was running around trying to get things organized but failed to allow some of the volunteers to help. I just went back to my car and waited until 6:30 and went back over to my station. Still No Donuts had arrived. So, me and a few other volunteers just walked around with no directions or duties to be filled. A few runners were beginning to check in and vendors were setting up stations. Finally around 7:15 here comes the donut truck and we were able to help with bringing the boxes over to the donut station. It's a nice race for a good cause but I just felt that the set up could of been better organized this year. I didn't wake up early to just stand around and do nothing and when the volunteers asked to lend a hand we were kind of brushed off. The details from the email didn't align up with the duties that were given to the volunteers I loved the fact that the runners did acknowledged the volunteers. After the runners had finished their race and came over to the donut station. Each runner said Thank you and We appreciate you coming out so early to support and help with this race. That's the only reason for my 3 star review the cause of this race and the love that was shown from the runners.

Chicago is known to be windy so I layered up. By the time it took me to walk from Millennium…read moreStation to my starting coral, I had already warmed up. Ran into a couple of people I knew and joined them in a pre race stretch session. I even made a few friends and we agreed to meet up in October for another race. This was my first time participating in Run Mag Mile; it's amazing how beautiful and peaceful Chicago is when it's shut down. No buses. No taxis. No horns blowing. No noise. Just peace and quiet. Which sets the scene for a great outdoor experience; walking or running. My goal in starting was to walk briskly and finish up with jogging. For some reason, I completely did the opposite. I began with a nice paced jog and ended up walking over the finish line. Either way, there is no feeling like receiving a medal that you earned. And what a beautiful medal it is. Let the festivities begin! Our bib included a drink ticket and two FREE Taste of Chicago tickets. Plan to return next year and beat my time! Wish me luck!

What a FUN race! Granted I'm not an avid race runner so I don't have many to compare this to, BUT I…read morehave worked many races as a brand ambassador or volunteer so I have the post-race after experience to compare. 5K Race itself was well orchestrated and seamless; we ran through Grant Park where the Start line gear check etc was then turned onto Michigan Ave north crossing the river over the bridge and up to the Hancock building where we turned down the other side of Michigan Ave, turning again to the underpass on Randolph then south on Columbus for the finish line. Beautiful morning to do so, weather cooperated and was sunny and a lovely fall 70 degrees. 5K finishers did not get a medal unfortunately; only 10K. Plenty of water bottles and Luna protein bars at the end. No bananas though. The announcer was lively monologuing and saw my bib number 'Kristin we've been waiting for you!' Hah! I about collapsed from laughter and surprise. Afterwards runners can collect a brunch boxed meal and a beer or moscow mule with tickets from your bib. mb financial booth doing some giveaways.

Review 500 had to be special…read more "I took up racing because I was too lazy to work and too chicken to steal" -Kyle Petty "You win some, you lose some and wreck some" -Dale Earnhardt We all have a back story a past that formed who we are. Some experiences touch us, some move us. On a few rare occasions we are so inspired by an experience that it literally has the ability to guide our future. I am the only girl; growing up with four brothers was truly something. We would gather around our old floor model tv and watch Nascar with my dad. My brothers loved it. I had no idea what I was watching. My dad would yell "pick a car baby girl". I would yell back "7 or 13". My dad wanted us to experience Nascar in person but there was never enough money for all of us. In 2023 when Nascar came to Chicago, I was so excited! I know I had to be one of the first ten to purchase my ticket. Unfortunately, due to torrential rain I still missed it. I stood at the gate for over an hour in the rain. We were told that because of the lightning, they had to reset the clock on letting us inside. NO umbrellas allowed. I thought they were kidding until I was made to toss it. I walked to my section and was not allowed inside because it flooded. They were waiting for the fire marshals to approve entry. I walked to one of the food vendors and paid 9$ for a hotdog, 10$ if you add mustard. Food and drink were included with my ticket. We were let in a bit after 2. There were drinks but NO food. Frustrated, soaked and starting to feel sick, I left. This year's experience was priceless! I wish my dad was alive to see it. The weather was nice and sunny. Not too hot. My seat was perfect, even better than what I had last year. Made it in time for lunch and there was plenty of GOOD food. Drinks were also in abundance. Loads of snacks including Garrets popcorn. There was a beautiful lounge set up outside with Jack Daniel's seats and our private bathrooms were plentiful. When I was about to leave, they were serving dinner so I stayed and enjoyed a plate. So much to see, so much to do. Games to play, booths to visit, samples to try. Meet new people and enjoy the concerts. This was my first time seeing Buddy Guy in person. He was such a character, loved him. Yes, Nascar. I will be waiting for my email to return next year.

First, I want to say that I'm a big fan of NASCAR. I attended my first race when I was just 16…read moreyears old in Sonoma, California. Once you hear the sounds of those roaring engines you fall in love with the chaos that is about to ensue. I've attended the Phoenix NASCAR event for 4 different years, including 1 year I had pit passes, so I'm a very big fan of NASCAR. Also worked Joliet NASCAR race the summer of 2006. This is my second year volunteering at the NASCAR experience street racing in the city of Chicago. When I saw this opportunity was going to be available for the residence of Chicago to see how awesome NASCAR is...I couldn't wait to be involved. What a joy that this is actually legal street racing. I ended up volunteering last year as I taking a break from work and it was such a good experience that I thought a why not volunteer again. Last year I volunteered on Saturday and was able to see a lot of qualifying races and have a good time, unfortunately they were rained out and I did not get to see the NASCAR event on Sunday last year. This year I have volunteered on Saturday and it was nice to be a part of the NASCAR community and hear live concerts said see demo and get free paraphernalia related to NASCAR racing. This year the weather was beautiful on Saturday and I got to hear, Buddy Guy live, and then also the Black Keys. The food, the energy, the community cannot be understated for this NASCAR event. NASCAR is very diverse and everyone feels welcome. I will say as a person that has attended other NASCAR around the country. What was missing was the tailgating aspect. Hanging out in the parking lot and sharing beers and stories of NASCAR with others is pretty cool element of the NASCAR community. Probably hard to accomplish when you are actually street racing and not at a standup venue however, the fact that you were street racing along the very streets that we drive every day is just undone, especially with the skyscraping views of the city of Chicago. Hands-down, I would buy tickets for this event and just prepare to spend all weekend hanging out with the NASCAR family. If you like cars, if you like live music, if you like good food, this is a place for you. Safety was a priority here and was such a nice place to be. If you plan on getting tickets for 2025 I highly recommend you spend the extra money and get reserve seating as there are no guaranteed seats with general admission. Tip: if you plan on coming to this event, I would highly recommend that you take the Metra as that is the closest entrance to getting into the park.