Event and Race Reviews This is a growing collection of Race and Event Reviews. All of these reviews were written by our members and represent each author's experiences and opinions only. Back to Events Listing
Boxing Day 10 miler
(Hamilton, Ontario)
Author: kmiklos
Date: 2006-12-27
I'll post my shorter, less detailed review that I included in my race report.
I agree with Kristi's review, especially her observation regarding the commercial nature of this event: it was nice to see that this race was not about advertising! No race kit is nice and what is even nicer is that they give you the option to pay for just the bib and chiptiming, without making you pay for a shirt/fleece you don't need. I hope more races will start to do that.
Race rating:
Race course: nice course, a mix of downtown Hamilton, waterfront paved trail, golf course gravel trail and neighhbourhood streets.
****1/2
Course support: pretty good policing at the intersections, so traffic control wasn't too bad. But as far as water/gatorade stations, well, they could certainly use at least one more station. They only had gatorade at the last water station, which I would have prefered to see at mile 3 and 6. I was a bit dehydrated.
***
Venue: I love the Y, there's plenty of room for pre-race and post-race socializing and chatting.
****
Post-race food: they served tomato soup with crackers, which is nice after running in the cold. They also had water, buns, bananas, oranges and an assortment of local apples. ATB should really take notes!!
**** Author: Kristi
Date: 2006-12-27
I don't think that we have a race reveiw for this one yet, but we should because it's a good race!
This run is a low key, very well organized race with lots of history - this year was the 86th! It starts at 11am on Boxing Day, so you don't have to get up too early on a holiday. Race headquarters are at the Hamilton Y, so there is lots of parking nearby and a nice warm facility to get ready. I had heard that this was a very fast field - only the hardcore runners would come out on Boxing Day! I think that might be changing a bit as the race is growing each year. The race kit pickup was very well organized and I got through the line in under 5 minutes.
Swag: No race kit! Which means that you don't leave with a bagful of flyers that you are are just going to thow out. However, the traditional race shirt is abandoned for something much nicer. This year was a very nice fleece hoodie, last year was a wind vest.
The sponsors: this must be the least commercial race that I've ever seen. It had no running store logos anywhere. It was nice to do a race that was just a race, not a marketing opportunity.
The race bibs: very cute, with a little snowman on it!
The course: It starts off with some gentle inclines and declines through the city, then a long downhill takes you to the marina. Following the water for a little while, the course winds around the marina and through the waterfront park. Coming out of the park between mile 5 and 6 is a long gradual uphill to take you back into the residential area. Mile 7 is pretty much all uphill. It starts gently and gets steeper. At the top of the hill, you hit a gravel path and are able to enjoy a gentle downhill for the next mile on the path. For the last mile, you travel back towards downtown with some gently inclines and declines and then some very sharp turns and are surprised with the finish line since you make the last turn and realize that you are at the end! It's a nice course that takes you through parks, downtown and residential areas. It is also very well marked with race marshals or cops everywhere that was necessary.
Food: the aid stations were good - not too many of them, so if you frequently drink while running, you may want to consider bringing your own. For a cool day running, I found that I didn't need any more than what was offered. Gatorade was only at the last water station at Mile 8. The post race food consisted of soup, fruit and bread. Very well organized!
Volunteers: very friendly volunteers and police officers on the course. Lots of smiles and cheers from them!
Overall: Put this race on your calendar!! 10 miles is such a nice distance and this race is very well organized!!
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