Terrapin 5k

Nice course, otherwise thoroughly disappointing. Inconvenient packet pickup, cheap shirt, lousy bands, bad food, expensive parking. Won’t be back next year.

Great race… fab shirt, great course, fantastic green field after party! Nothing better that running in Chicago in the summer

Terrapin 5K is not recommended. This is not a race that was planned out with the runner in mind. The race start area was very narrow, and when the race started, people were funneled down to an even more narrow path. Too many people for this type of setting. The race has obviously outgrown its location. Then the course passes through the McCormick Place drive through area. The problem is that in the summer, when it is hot and humid, the McCormick Place pass-​through gets unbearably hot/​humid. This is not what I call a user friendly course. Also, Packet pick up was very poorly operated, with only a few people at the tables, and this caused very long lines. Lines for beer were ridiculously long. Again, not enough support personnel. The running shirt was terrible. I ordered an XL, and I could hardly get my head through the opening of the shirt. With this race you get the minimum for the maximum. Minimum service. Maximum dollars spent.

Amazing course!
Amazing concept (running past twirling hippies, hell yeah son!)
AMAZING gear check (other races need to take a note on how quick and efficient the volunteers at this race are… STELLAR!)
A free Magic Hat beer? Why thank you!
A slice of Home Run Inn pizza (you might want to wait a little while after running to eat this or it’ll sit like a rock in your stomach…)
An awesome band (Mr. Blotto played here for the 2011 Terrapin)
Amazing staff, seriously just so f’n nice!
Even if I tried, I can’t find one bad thing to say about the Terrapin… Excellent race RAM…
p. s. Ladies, the *shirts* (not jackets) that RAM orders are a bit on the big size so go one size down for a better fit. (this is for all RAM races, not just Terrapin)

I had to review this because there were a few «thumbs-​down» moments. First, it would be nice if there was a packet pickup location in the Loop. The location/​time for pick-​up was not convenient. Second, the Home Run Inn pizza was LOUSY. Literally tasted like the cardboard it was served in. (Didn’t stop me from having more than one piece though). Third, no banana and/​or bagel tent? Thought that was a given at any race. Fourth, no race results kiosk? Also, thought to be a given. Fifth, beer tent lines were ridiculous. Set up more than two tents if you can. Last but not least, DRI-​FIT shirts are a must. 100% polyester running shirt? Thumbs down. I’d pay the extra $ 5 for a better shirt.
The course, location and band were fantastic. Parking was also readily available. Despite my review, I will run this next year. Hopefully, these comments will be taken into some consideration.