The race is completely flat, as far as I'm concerned. I've read repeatedly about the incline up…read moreSummit Ave. around mile 20. But other than about a short hill a block long, I don't recall any other "hills". (Keep in mind, this, coming from a San Franciscan.) The tour of the lakes was a treat, as was the various neighborhoods the course wound through. Out of the 35+ races I've done, this is my favorite, thus far. I'm a big fan of well-organized races that are smaller and more low-key. But I forget how a huge amount of support can help. I have never done a race with this many spectators lined up from beginning to end, cheering for YOU. After awhile, you zone out--especially in those latter miles when all you want to do is finish--but whether you realize it or not, their enthusiasm certainly keeps your morale up. Thank you, MSP, for your Midwestern hospitality!

I had a great experience running the Twin Cities Marathon this year-so glad I signed up!…read more Email updates were helpful and timely, my corral placement (there were 3 and I was placed in 2) was fair, and I love that I didn't need to enter a lottery to enter like I had to for Chicago last year. The expo (held at the St. Paul RiverCentre this year) was busy but pretty well-organized, if you knew to head past all of the booths to the packet pick-up. Participants had to self-scan their bibs to activate the timing chip, but that only took a second and there wasn't much of a line. Wide variety of cool running apparel/gear and marathon essentials sold, along with lots of freebies (yay Clif bar samples, Caribou coffee, and other swag). I found this expo much less stressful than Chicago's. The race course is absolutely beautiful, taking you from downtown Minneapolis to St. Paul. After some hard-core googling for previous marathoners' accounts of this race, I psyched myself out about hills, especially on Summit Ave. My take on this after running the race: don't worry! There are some hills, but nothing crazy, and the course is quite flat for the most part (and there's an downhill finish that makes you feel amazing crossing the finish line). Running around the lakes was probably my favorite part. Crowd support was amazing (lots of funny signs, kids offering high fives, and nice spectators offering hugs/water/donuts/beer/fruit/etc.), and the volunteers made the race go super smoothly! Powerade/water stations were labeled clearly and staggered appropriately every few miles (along with port-a-potties), and the post-race refueling options were great (bananas, fruit cups, chocolate milk, soup, coffee, water, chips, nut rolls, etc.). Got an emergency blanket, and the finisher medal and long-sleeved tech shirt I received are pretty and of good quality, too! I also love that as a spectator or runner, you can sign up to receive mobile text notifications on up to 3 runners-that way you know when runners pass certain points and finish the race! My results were also available by the time I got back home from the race, and the photos should be up within a few days. (Instant gratification is my fave!) Would definitely return to attempt a PR on this marathon. Highly recommend for marathon newbies or veterans!

actually insane that i did this…read more as someone who doesn't workout (like i literally just walked around lakes everyday for a week to "train" for this) this wasn't as bad as i thought it was gonna be. i did all of the obstacle courses except for tear gas and electric shock. luckily i was with the HOTWORX team so it helped a lot since you really need boosts to complete a few. i was fully prepared to just check this off once but i would do it again.

Super fun race! I wish it was 50 and sunny like last year in November but the weather didn't deter…read morethe racers! I did the 10k and the course was beautiful, definitely a good number of hills which gives it a bit of a challenge. The finishers mug was also a nice warm treat after which made pushing through the cold worth it! My only feedback is the finish line was a little bit of a walk to the area where you get the finishers mug and we only got water bottles at the finish, it would've been nice if they were a little closer or get a banana or something small at the finish. Otherwise it was a fun race and well put together!

A lot of broken promises. I finished first in my age group. Ram Racing…read morestates that they will mail me information on my jacket, voucher for next year and medal? Received nothing. If you want to remember the race you have to buy a shirt/sweatshirt. This was the most expensive race I have ever run and I didn't even get a T-shirt. Corporate greed at its finest.

We booked a private party for adults at Pro Kart and had an awesome experience from start to…read morefinish. The booking process was super easy, straightforward, and pleasant. They send the check-in form ahead of time, so once you arrive it's quick and seamless, no standing around filling out paperwork. You can bring your own helmet or use one of theirs, which is nice, and I loved that you can choose between different course and race options. We booked the Grand Prix package and it was perfect. Tons of lap time, a great mix of practice, qualifying, and racing, and plenty of time actually on the track. They also have an option to show up and drive also for spontaneous dates. The karts themselves are great. Fast, gas-powered, and really fun to drive. The track setup is well designed and makes the racing feel legit, not gimmicky. One of the best parts was getting to see all the stats afterward, lap times, rankings, and performance breakdowns. It adds a competitive edge that makes it even more fun for a group. The staff were super friendly and helpful throughout the whole experience, and everything ran smoothly. This is such a great option for adult group events, birthdays, or date night. We would absolutely do this again.

First time visit! I was super intimidated going on the track especially figuring out the helmet,…read morecart, and remember the flag colors but the staff is helpful, easy going, and attentive. I felt like I got plenty of track time and overall a fun experience!

I love this race. I've only run it once, but having downtown Minneapolis shut down to allow folks…read moreto run a fast road race was a blast! Runners are broken up into various waves. I was in the 40+ masters wave, and was able to nearly toe the line. Some slower milers were up front as well, so that would be a strike against the organizers. Each 1/4 mile is marked off with a timing split, tho I somehow missed the first 1/4 mile marker. Not sure what happened there. Maybe the haze of lactic acid build up was messing with my vision? After you are finished, you can watch the elite women and men race. I feel fortunate that I've seen 5 or 6 people race a mile in under four minutes by attending this race. Not too many people can say that, you know

I had not been to Canterbury in 10 years. We won tickets and were able to rent a clubhouse table on…read morethe glass. It was so fun to have a higher level view of the whole track, with a mini TV to see up close. We were able to order food and drinks to the table, which was good. I had never bet on horses before but the teller was very kind and helpful when I told her it was my first time. We also played blackjack in the casino which was so fun, the dealers made it a great experience for it being my first time as well. When we went to watch down by the track, we randomly got selected to participate in a wheelbarrow race and ended up winning concert tickets for Canterbury park. That was a major plus!! I love that you can watch the horses walk the circle before they race.

It's been years since we last watched/played the horses. Our son invited us and while a lot is the…read moresame, important parts have changed, namely the betting. The food is standard stadium fare. If you're seated in the enclosed grandstand you'll enjoy table service, full bar, and convenient bet placing! Save your winning tickets the cashier is on the level below the table service area, but you can place the bets in a variety of areas!

I absolutely adore the MN State Fair! Trying new food items and getting the fair staples are a…read moresummer highlight for me. Make sure you're comfortable, hydrated, and hungry are big factors of having a successful trip. TIPS: 1. It can be HOT - Reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat are definitely necessities. Maybe even a UV umbrella? 2. Cash - Some vendors are cash-only, so it's always good to have some on hand. 3. Shoes - The state fair is HUGE, make sure your feet are comfortable! 4. Ziploc bags - If you're not a big eater/didn't go with a large group, taking the food to-go is not a bad idea! 5. Planning - The MN on a Stick app was very helpful for planning my route at the fair as well as tracking the food and activities I wanted to do! 6. Parking - We used the Park-and-Ride which was extremely convenient! We were shuttled on very comfortable and air conditioned buses to the fair by Gate 16.

Always a great time at the great mn get together!! Love trying the new items each year. The crowds…read morekeep getting bigger and bigger! Lines get longer but the booths do a great job at changing it the next year to relieve the lines for the popular places. This year we spent a lot more time on the attractions than food, time well spent. Very exhausting day but worth it! Love the free park and ride options!!! Wish it wasn't in August when it's 90 degrees out!! Maybe us Minnesotans will one day get what we want, a longer state fair that's later in fall!