Des Plaines River Trail Races 2013

So many distances to choose from; half-​marathon [13.1miles], marathon [26.2miles] and the ultra (crazy) marathon [50 miles].
It’s a trail run, the course runs in a loop for all three races. The race size is pretty small… for now until it starts to get popular like nearly all races do. Parking was okay, it was tight in some areas closest to the start but there was plenty of parking lot space a little farther away. The start was done in waves; the 50 milers started at 7 am followed by the marathon at 8 and the half at 9. The course is great, it was déjà vu because it’s the same trail/​park as the Muddy Monk, only the start/​finish are located farther south.
The aid stations are more spread out than normal races… it seemed they were every 3 – 4 miles or so, but the weather was cooler and I typically don’t need to worry as much about fluid intake when it’s colder out. Again, it’s a very small race operation, I think of this as the true running experience. You won’t find bands or music at mile 9 to motivate you to get to the finish line and there aren’t cheerleaders or large groups of spectators along the course. It’s just you, the runners around you and mother nature. This is running in it’s purest, rawest form… and I loved it!
The post race goods were basically lunch… or dinner if you run 50 miler. Burgers; beef, turkey or vegetarian bean burgers, beverages, cookies, chips and half bananas. I just don’t understand why bananas get cut, they end up with a gross looking brown butt. Please, stop cutting the bananas!
Awesome run with very simple, efficient race support.