This past weekend I ran in Ackley, Iowa’s “Run Your Buns Off 5K” as a part of their Sauerkraut Days community festival.  This is a great community run and this is the third time that I’ve run it!  However, this will be my first official review!

Negatives:

• No chip timing.  I know that not every race can have chip timing, but the longer I race, the more I wish that everyone did use it! 
• The miles weren’t marked.  I wear a watch and like to know my splits (it doesn’t do distance) and would have liked if they would have marked the miles out.
• There was no clock at the end of the race, nor was there anyone yelling out times.  If I hadn’t had my watch on, I would have not had any idea of where I finished.  I know that others in my group were frustrated because they didn’t know how they had done.
• There was quite a wait after the race to get finishing time along with the medal ceremony. 
• Refreshments were limited:  they had water, bananas, and Little Debbie snacks like oatmeal cream pie, nutty bars, and brownies.  I would have liked a bagel, granola bar or something in between a banana and a Little Debbie snack!  I would also like oranges…those are great post-race foods!

Positive’s:

• The atmosphere!  Because of the small community that it takes place in (and being close to home) there are quite a few people from the community that run or walk or both!  Its always great to see people at races throughout the summer!
• Registration was well-organized.  Those who were pre-registered got a goodie bag and those of us (I had dropped the ball this year) were quickly registered and still got a t-shirt!
• This race is the first in the Miles of Smiles series this year.  Miles of Smiles is a race “circuit” that one of the dentists in the area has put together to promote the support of local races and promote health and wellness.  There is a a whole break down of points given for each race you run, each time you place, etc.  Plus, if you run at least 3 of the races in the series, you get a commemorative t-shirt. (The dentist also is there with free toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss!)
• The snacks….yeah, I know what I put in the negatives, but come on….they had Little Debbie’s!!
• Great Course – it’s a trail run, but a pretty mild trail run…it involves hard packed dirt trails along with gravel and paved trails!  It’s a fun shaded, pretty flat course!

Overall, I love this race.  It’s not fancy, it’s not big and flashy, but it is so much fun!!!  It is definitely on next year’s agenda!