Woo Hoo! My 600th review! And I'm pleased to present one of the most fun things I've done this…read moresummer so far. Dirty Girl is a ladies only obstacle mud run. 5K, 12 obstacles. A non-timed event and meant to be a fun run that you can take at your own pace. It was my first obstacle run and I loved that it was girls only--I ran with a team. I definitely think running this with at least one friend is the way to go. I've done regular 5K's by myself, but it's great having someone supporting you as you climb, crawl and slide. And who else is going to tell you that you still have mud on your face when you're still trying to clean up after the run? The obstacles were not hard physically. But once the day gets started the obstacles get muddier and more slippery. So the hardest one for me was the high cargo net climb, just because of my fear of falling onto hard gravel. Other than that, they were just fun climbs and crawls. Other than running, I trained for this by following my toddler through several playground equipment obstacles and I was just fine. Hahaha. This event was held at the Lake County Fairgrounds and although a few of us on our team tried to run as much as we could to challenge ourselves, some of the areas were not easy to run opon. The grassy areas were fine, but there was some gravel-twist-your-ankle-type areas. So walking was inevitable. They suggest arriving there 90 minutes before your start time. Check in was a breeze and we had a lot of down time before hand. But it was nice to get pics done in our clean team shirts before we got all messy. I loved my swag--t shirt and bracelet with a running girl charm. There was a secure bag check and a "shower area' for us afterward. I use shower loosely as it's just a bunch of hoses and cold water--but the tent is huge and although by the afternoon the ground is full of puddles, but I appreciated the astro turf they did lay down to prevent muddy puddles. Some of my observations: I don't know how full the heats get, but I'm glad we got there early because we got to start 20 min earlier than our team start time. Bring some water in a gallon jug and check it in with your bag. It was nice to have some clean water immediately after the race to clean my hands and wash my face since I was getting mud in my eyes. Don't wear anything you are worried about ruining. Even though we wore matching T-shirts, I knew they'd get muddy so we made sure the shirts were not too expensive. Budget some time for the after party. Paul Mitchell was one of the sponsors and they were fixing hair afterward. Have Fun!

This was a pretty cool race. I have to give them credit -it was super well-organized. We got there…read moreabout an hour early to park in the lot with a shuttle bus that takes you to the start. My parents came to watch and I didn't want them to have to walk very far and this was an excellent service. The other lot option required you to have to walk about a mile, which is too far from them. The only bummer -and this is probably for safety reasons -was that I thought the planes were going to be taking off and landing closer to us. You know how you drive on I-90 or Mannheim Road and the planes are literally 10 feet over your head? Yeah -call me foolish, but I thought that was going to happen as we ran. I just assumed that if they got that close to the major streets, they would just be taking off and landing close to the route. So, you will not be experiencing that -but as far as a unique experience -this was still a cool race. There is a big plane that you can pose next to for pictures and just overall an interesting event because you are accessing areas of the airport property that most people will never see. You are literally running on a runway they close for the event. The shirt was cotton -would like to see a "tech-T" in future years, as they tend to hold up better after multiple washings. After all, it is going to be a fun shirt to wear and a great conversation starter regarding our experience!

This was a pretty cool event. I have not been to the Six Flags theme park in at least 6 or 7 years…read more I'm pretty sure the last time I was there, the water park was not even built yet! The race was very well organized and was not crazy at all -I would estimate that there were about 200-300 participants or so. I like that it was not crazy like some of the bigger downtown Chicago races. The first mile was through the parking lot; at mile 2, you enter the park. It was super cool to run through the park and see how it has changed. The water park portion was so extensive that I definitely want to go back next summer. -Not just for the water park but for the rides too! I had no idea of the additions and remodeling that had gone on. Running through the entire park brought back so many childhood memories for me. It was crazy to see all of the old structures still there as well as many new rides and attractions. If you are looking for some new "scenery" during a 5K, this was a cool event. My only criticism is how they handled packet pick-up: it was only 12-3pm on the Saturday prior in Gurnee. I had to work that day, and when I left to try to make it in time, there was a torrential rain storm and I had to get off the highway. However, I'm proud of the way they handled it -my friend who did make it out to Gurnee said they will let you come to the race early and pick up the packet beforehand. So, that's what I did. No long lines, no drama. Again, a unique event for those looking for something different than the typical neighborhood race.

You read the name of this 5K and perhaps you think to yourself, "I've been training my whole life…read morefor this run. I have *plenty* of experience running from the cops." This event is hosted by the Vernon Hills Police Department, but you're actually running WITH the cops more than FROM the cops. We were a little disappointed that officers weren't chasing us with handcuffs and billy clubs. However, I was excited to see that the festival and race have expanded since 2009. Registration fees and donations went to benefit wounded veterans, so you can't go wrong with that. There were service men of all backgrounds there in uniform and repping their units with shirts. It was great to see the community come together to support people who are out there helping keep us safe. And everyone was super nice and helpful. These men and women really do a service for us and their respective titles. The race happens in mid-July, which probably isn't ideal racing weather. It was in the 80s and the humidity was ridiculous. I saw a ton of people on their hands and knees to the side. But the organizers were prepared and there were plenty of paramedics and volunteers on hand to help people out. The course is super easy and flat, but you'd swear this 5K is hardcore when every couple minutes you see someone puking from the heat. I even ended up taking my shirt off the last mile, and this is coming from a firm believer that nobody needs to see that. Post-race area was pretty basic. None of the vendors for the fair were open yet. I think the festival doesn't start until noon, so I wasn't able to get my nachos or my funnel cake on, but I was able to grab a ton of free water, Gatorade and something similar to Muscle Milk and shove it in my nifty, complimentary Sports Authority bag (which was the best bag design ever but quickly fell apart). Corner Bakery was also there with plenty of bagels and cream cheese, pumpkin bites, coffee and bananas.

Don't worry. Yes, you do run from the cops, but there aren't any repercussions if they pass you…read more They don't handcuff you or whack you with their billy clubs. They don't kick you off the course and throw you off to the side of the road either. In fact, it was hard for me to distinguish the police force, which probably was because they started at the very back hence the name of the race. The race is run along Lakeview Parkway, which is also the site for Vernon Hills' annual Summer Celebration. You then run to Gregg's Landing where there are some large and gorgeous houses and into this little subdivision on Lake Charles Drive, which has even bigger and more gorgeous homes and is not even complete yet. There are no start corrals since the race is relatively small. It can be hard to establish your pace depending on where you start. If you are a speedy runner, I suggest lining up near the front. The race is chip-timed so you will receive an accurate finishing time no matter where you start. There is also only one aid station on the course, which is fine for a 5K. However, if you need more hydration along the way, you may want to carry your own hydration. Post race, there were goodies including banana halves, muffins, bagels and coffee from Corner Bakery. The muffins were the best post-run snack I have ever eaten. All the other runners must have loved the muffins too since they were all gone at the end of the race. The awards ceremony was nice and the medals look great and are not dinky like at other races. The race tee-shirt is made of a dry wick material so you can work out in it again if you would like. My only gripe would be that the orange lettering did not really stand out well on the gray shirt. The results were posted in a timely manner and you can also download your race photos for free on the Running Guru website. The total cost for the race was $30 with the proceeds benefiting wounded warriors. Overall, this is an excellent and well-run race. I definitely would consider running it again if it fits into my training schedule. The race is run in mid-July so it can get hot so just be aware of that.

Modeled after the television show The Amazing Race, the Amazing Milwaukee Race is the local version…read moreof the race. Trust me, it's a lot of fun! The Amazing Milwaukee Race is a great way of meeting people and to learn about Milwaukee. It also brings more awareness to community activities, various restaurants, non profits and places you probably would never have visited otherwise and make a difference in the Milwaukee area (such as donating to the Historical Society to upkeep a memorial, building a prop for a local acting company, or spruce up a wall of a school by painting it). Per The Amazing Milwaukee Race's facebook: "Teams of two experience Milwaukee landmarks and businesses on an amazing urban adventure with clues: activities, puzzles, & checkpoints that challenge participants to get from start to finish. Inspired by the TV show's design, it is a one day "Amazing Race."" I strongly recommend you participate in it to not only learn about Milwaukee but just to have fun!

I attended a conference here and thought it was a cool site for a group of 40 or so if you like…read moretrendsetting. The event ran smoothly and they never ran out of refreshments

This is the third triathlon I've experienced and it was the best! It was pretty small (but not the…read moresmallest triathlon), casual, and just gosh darn beautiful! The entire race is in Bigfoot Park. Swimmers swim in clear waters where they can see fish near the bottom. They bike on a closed off road that skirts the park and the lake. Lastly, they enjoy a scenic run in the woods to finish. Oh - and the transition area was really well organized. Everyone was assigned a particular spot in transition and (what's more) everyone abided by their placement. Spectators have an easy view of all three events and move around without disrupting the race. There are even picnic tables for them to sit at while waiting. Additionally, there's a ton of portapotties and other bathroom facilities scattered throughout. Besides, there weren't THAT many spectators. It seemed as if many racers came solo just to enjoy the race and not to be cheered on by fans. Since it's a small race, the scores are posted on paper immediately after the race. However, because it's a small race, there also aren't a lot of bells and whistles. Unless you placed in your age group or something I don't think you got any type of award or participation ribbon. The swag bag only contained race related necessities (timing chip and bib) and a Running Away Multisport sweatshirt. No granola bars or chapstick or anything else. At the end, racers received a bag of food (that's where you could get a Silk drink, banana, bagel, and granola bar).

This was an awesome race, great course, and a whole lot of fun…read more Lake Geneva is crystal clear and it was a fun course to swim. The bike course took you out in the country of the best state in the USA. The run was a fantastic trail run with great spectator participation. This was probably my favorite course I've done so far and would do it again in a heartbeat!

Generic lakefront 10K course, but worth checking out if you are into Big Ten competition as most…read morerunners show some school spirit during the run. Fun event at the end with free beer and sausages. Nice finisher medal for a 10K.

I ran this run in 2015, and will be running it again in 2016. It's a competitive, and huge race;…read morealong with a dream come true for any Big Ten sports fan. As long as I'm living in Chicago I plan on running this every year, because I love the environment. This race combines my first love (running), with the Big Ten. It's a great feeling representing your favorite sports team in the Big Ten; wearing their colors and competing against other Big Ten fans. Many post race activities with the mascots on stage, games, and plenty of opportunities to take a picture with your favorite Big Ten mascot or cheerleaders. This race is crowded, so if you're a competitor you might want to get there early to reserve a spot near the front. The course is out-and-back, and gets crowded near the finishline due to there being two races on course; the 5k and 10k. Enjoy!

I have been to K1: Buffalo Grove and K1: Addison in the past and never really had an issue, but I…read morehappened to see an e-mail for their Karting Academy so I thought it would be a good way to introduce my 15 year old daughter to Go Karts. She didn't end up making it, but the staff was able to give me a more than fair equivalent for the Academy tuition, already above and beyond just at the check in expereince! Academy started in the classroom to learn the basics. Surprisingly, the information dump was not overwhelming and we were lead to the track for a warm up so the staff can study our pre-existing driving habits. At the academy, individual strengths and weaknesses were identified and we got LOTS of laps to practice. I was physically sweaty and tired by the time we finished! I look forward to bringing my daughter back!

A lot of fun!!! Great place for teenagers Birthday! I like…read moreto visit them just for racing with my daughter and son. We had a great time there/ Thank you guys!

great rec center ,has everything you need at a great price for residents…read more Nice staff, its clean and the work out floor is being totally updated

Love this local rec center for Highland Park! Great small local place for sauna and swim.read more