pumpkins in the park 5k recap

Disclaimer: I received an entry for Pumpkins in the Park 5k to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

RAM Racing Pumpkins in the Park 5k took place on Saturday, October 21 with a race start of 4pm (2:30pm for the Kids Spooky Sprint). I love afternoon/evening races, so this is ideal for me (though traffic around/in the city on a Saturday afternoon is not ideal. 



We got to the race site around 3pm (parked in the Lincoln Park Zoo lot) and grabbed our packets. The line was pretty long, but went quickly. We stopped back at the car to get race ready and then wandered the zoo a bit before heading back to the race. They also had packet pickup on Friday at Fleet Feet Old Town, but I wasn't able to make that, so I was very glad they did race day and I didn't have to pay $15 for shipping.



I met up with fellow BibRave Pro Bree for a quick chat and photo, and then it was time to line up. We were in corral C, which started a few minutes after 4pm.  The course is below, but it basically wound around the park, went north, turned around and came back south till the finish.



The course was a bit narrow at times, and you had to be careful of your footing because it wasn't always a smooth surface (cracks and bumps, sometimes pavement, sometimes dirt). It didn't seem as congested as the year before, or maybe it was, but being prepared for it had my expectations on the same level.

It was fun to see all of the families and different costumes. At the finish line, we received a cup of Nuun, bottled water, a taffy apple covered in sprinkles, mini Clif bar, and individually wrapped mini pumpkin pies (two in a package). Yum. I found Bree again and we talked about our race, then she had to get going. We initially were going to grab beers, but then saw the very long line (as they were checking IDs and doing wristbands), and since we were hungry for dinner, decided to leave. They were also making popcorn and handing that out.







For dinner we went to Burger Antics in Brookfield, which has some amazing food and beer. I couldn't decide on a burger, so I got the three slider option where you can choose different ones. It was awesome. We then had some pumpkin pie cheesecake for dessert. Great way to celebrate my birthday - running, burgers, fries, beer, and pie.

Favorite burger? The one on top with FOUR different cheeses.
Get in my belly!

If you're looking for a fun Halloween race, you should give this one a go in 2018. They also have a costume contest, so bring your A game and win some prizes. I think there were also awards for the top 3 women and men, but don't quote me on that.

friday five: halloween

Happy Friday, my friends! Per usual, I am linking up with the lovely ladies of DC: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. This week's theme is "Halloween", so I'll just talk a bit about what I like (or dislike) about the holiday along with this time of year in general...

1. Halloween/costume races. I ran the Monster Dash 5K last Saturday. I loved seeing all of the costumes! Plus, at the aid stations there was trick-or-treating aka we got some candy :)

2. Fall weather. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned my love of fall weather before, but Halloween usually means fall weather is in full swing. Some years, it even means winter is close (or has already shown itself). Luckily, fall has been around for most of October. There have been a few warmer days, even getting into the 70s and 80s, but October weather this year in Chicago has been near perfect, in my opinion. 

3. Darker days. Daylight Savings ends on Sunday, which means it will be a little lighter out earlier in the day than it currently is, but night time will fall on us even earlier. I have a hard time with leaving work and it being dark out. With the cooler temps and dark night hours, I'll be spending more time at the gym during the week and trying to get my long runs in on the weekend outside, even if it's cold.

4. Candy. I know this shouldn't be in my top 5, but I love candy, especially the fruity, chewy kind (Starburst, Twizzlers, Swedish Fish). I'm always happy when we have leftovers after trick-or-treating ends. I like that it's the small pieces, so it's easier to take one to work as a snack and eat them in moderation.

5. Trick-or-treaters. I love getting home in time to see the last of the trick-or-treaters. Seeing the adorable costumes the kids in the neighborhood are wearing is so fun. I especially love it when they're extra creative. When our first dog was a puppy, she was able to fit into a large dog sized costume that was a monkey. She looked a bit more like a bear unless the banana was nearby, but it was so adorable. Now, her and her sister are too big for even the largest dog sized costumes. I always think about trying to make something for them, or just get the kind that could strap around their bellies, but I forget about it until it's too late. Maybe an adult sized costume would work ;)

What do you enjoy about Halloween, or this time of year? 

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun (and if you aren't – how come?!). Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups :) 

Also, in case you missed it, here are my posts from the week:

Week in Review

Weekly Chase #30

And some product reviews:
Jabra Sport Wireless+
Hoist
Zensah Ultra Compression Leg Sleeves
ENERGYbits

Have a great weekend, everyone!