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Aug 31, 2013

Why the HELL am I doing a trail full.......?

Of course, it's to have fun and the North Country Trail marathon looks like an incredible race but I'm running the trail marathon as a training run.  I've decided to do this trail marathon because I need the practice.  The practice for this:

Dances with Dirt 50k

Not that any trail marathon is going to prepare me for it but it's a start.  It looks like right now I have one other crazy soul, my running buddy Kevin, that will(hopefully) join me in this crazy adventure.  I have to say though, that I'm looking for more recruits.  I think it would be fun to have a team of 3-5 of us out there to keep each other company.

Here's a couple pictures from their website to give you an idea of what it's all about.





The goal for this is just to finish.  I don't care how long it takes as long as we make the cut offs to finish as official finishers.  It will be my first 50k, an Ultra!  Woohoo!  Yeah, I don't choose easy for my first race distance like this, huh?  Of course, I'm getting a little ahead of myself as they have not even done this years race but I'll assume it will continue next year as well.

Running fit had me with the Sleepy Hollow Trail Half(full review HERE) and I plan to do several of their trail races next year.

So?????




Would you run it?  Have you run it? What's your opinion?








Interested in learning more?  Go to their website HERE for more information.

Finally, I want to thank Stephanie from In Steph's Shoes for convincing me to consider this race.  I was chicken at first but facing my fears is something I'm learning this year.  Go follow her blog - she, her husband and her Dad are amazing and talented runners!

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Aug 30, 2013

My first trail marathon!!!!


So if you follow me on Facebook, you will know that I signed up for my first trail marathon.  It's the 15th year of the North Country Trail run in Wellston, MI.  I've run the half there and it was a hot and hilly race.  I finished in 2:18 so that tells you how tough it is(for me anyway).  That's slow for me!

Check out a couple pictures of me last year at my first all trail half marathon:
I got to meet Marshall Ulrich, an amazing ultra runner
The bling is incredible!!!! 3rd largest marathon medal in the country!
Anyway, I've been longing for some trails and just love being out there on them so what better way to force me out there in training than signing up for a trail full.  I'll definitely be training on those trails and hills next year and plan to do several trail races next season.  Yes, you heard that right, the race is not until August 23rd, 2014.  This is an amazingly popular race and you need to sign up quickly in order to get into it.  There's still openings for the full and Ultra(50 miler) but their first wave of the half marathon is already closed and sold out in hours.  They have a second wave but it will also likely sell out quickly.(it was open still at least when I wrote this post)

The race is very well run by an ultra runner and the swag for this race is the best I've seen for any race that I'll have done.  Check out the list of stuff you get if you register by 9/15/13:

Gender specific Race polo shirt
Race sweatshirt
Souvenir pint glass
Race hat(all runners get this regardless of when they sign up)
Race tech shirt(all runners get this regardless of when they sign up)
Third largest finishers medal in the country(largest half and ultra medal in the country) - they are talking even larger for the marathon in 2014! Wow!

Interested in visiting Michigan?  This is your chance.  Come run it with me!

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!



Aug 29, 2013

More news on Spartan Races......and a new giveaway!!!!

 

As you've seen me post in the past, the Spartan Races are one that I'd have an interest in doing.  While there is one in Indiana I could go to, I have not been able to make the time commitment to go to one of these.  They really look like fun and I've seen people around the blog world and racing world doing these challenging events.  I'd also love to earn that medal.  The Spartan Races have a new partnership with NBC and will be having a TV special about it.  It should be interesting to watch.  Here's the details:

Spartan Race and NBC Sports Network are collaborating on a television special which will feature the World Championship and focus on the sport of obstacle racing.  This event, the culmination of the 2013 Reebok Spartan Race Series, will take place on September 21-22, 2013, in scenic central Vermont, near Spartan Race HQ in Pittsfield.

Tens of thousands of obstacle racing competitors and enthusiasts from around the world will converge on New England, where $250,000 in cash and prizes will be on the line.  At the World Championship, top-ranked Reebok Spartan Race athletes, Olympians, and amateur athletes alike will compete side-by-side, assuming they have the brawn, guts and intestinal fortitude.

Spartan Race has partnered with NBC Sports Group to chronicle the amazing people and stories behind the race series and the World Championship, culminating in a 90-minute TV special that will air on the NBC Sports Network on October 19, 2013.

Share your story about how Reebok Spartan Race has changed your life, for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent Spartan on camera at the World Championship Race in Vermont!

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Anyone can join on this event and I for one can't wait to see the special in October.

The organizers at Spartan have shared another giveaway with me for a race entry that can be used in one of their 2013-2014 events in the Continental US.  I'm sure you will be able to find a race close to where you are.

So here's the rules -
1) Go to the Spartan website(HERE) and tell me what you think you would like most about the event.(1 entry)
2) Go to Detroit Runner on Facebook (HERE) and "like" my page, post on my page you saw the contest on the blog, and come back here and comment about it.  (2 entries)

That's it!  I'm keeping it simple!  The contest will end Thursday, September 5th at 5pm and a random winner from the entries will be chosen on Friday, September 6th.
For those that don't win the entry, I also have a 15% off Coupon code for all that are interested.  Just click HERE and it will give you a code to use for when you sign up for one of their races.

Good luck everyone!

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!





Note:  I received a free race entry to giveaway to a reader in exchange for this post.  I was not compensated in any way and was not required to give any particular opinion on the race organization.

Aug 28, 2013

#RunChat Wordless Wednesday 8/28/13

My #RunChat Tattoo for the Michigan Mile and Crim 10 miler last weekend

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Aug 27, 2013

Saucony Ride 6 shoe review......

Saucony Ride 6
About four weeks ago I received the Saucony Ride 6 courtesy of Onlineshoes and Saucony in order to do a review of the shoes.  To give you a little background, I started running in the Saucony Ride 2's years ago.  Since then, I've run in the Ride 3, 4 and 5's as well.  The Ride really has been a staple in my running arsenal.  Ive run three of my four marathons in the Ride and my plan is to run in them for marathon #5 coming up in November.  Needless to say, I was very excited to try out the Saucony Ride 6's.

Cutouts to reduce weight
First impression is that they are really nice looking.  I like the black, white, red color combinations.  I do have to admit that the Ride does not come in really bright colors like the Kinvara's but that not really the most important part when choosing a shoe - I need comfort!

The shoe itself is lighter and Saucony also incorporated the power grid into the shoes with this version.  This allows for a lighter shoe but also allows it to maintain its cushion better than the pro grid.  It's the lightest Ride Saucony has made to date with a weight of 9.9 oz(men size 9).  I wear an 8.5 running shoe and these fit true to size.  I've worn an 8.5 in every Saucony Ride I've owned and there's been lots of them - so many I don't even know how many(at least 10 pairs).  The Ride is so comfortable!

The last two versions(5 and 6) of the Ride have changed to a lower 8mm drop from a traditional 12mm drop.  Initially, I was really concerned about this but over time, I've grown to love the lower drop since I'm now used to them.  I like the lower drop and I can tell its helped me become more of a mid foot striker.  While I do tend to land mid foot typically, the reason I like the 8mm drop is that when I get tired, I tend to move back to a heel strike.  The higher drop helps keep my feet and legs comfortable as well as the nice cushion it provides for long distances.

While I also like the drop of the Kinvara 4, which is a 4mm drop, I keep these mostly for shorter and faster distances of under 13.1.  The Ride gives me what I need for the marathon distance.

There are three things I look for in a running shoe.  The first is for my heel to stay in place when running.  The Ride 6, while not narrow and also not wide, provides the perfect fit in regards to the heel.  It just feels right and does not move around when running.  Saucony has also incorporated a new HydraMAX collar lining which is very comfortable around the foot.


The second is an open toe box.  This has a very comfortable toe box with plenty of room for my toes to move.  This is a must for me and I've got to have it.  If you've run in the Ride 3's, those tended to have a fairly snug toe box but Saucony went back to more room in all later editions thankfully.

The third item is the mid foot.  I like the upper to be snug around my foot so it feels like the shoe is wrapped around my foot.  While the upper is really comfortable, I'd like to see Saucony start to move the upper closer to the Kinvara.  It's not that I'm looking for a minimalist shoe in the Ride(I'd prefer it stay at 8mm drop) but it seems that could be the place to start to reduce the weight of the shoe even further while maintaining the excellent cushion, drop and slight support these provide(the Ride is a neutral shoe)
The flat laces stay tied
I also like the flat laces, which are not new to the Ride 6, but happy to see they kept them with this version.  Once you tie them, they remain tied.

Another thing I love about the shoes is the sole of the Ride 6 as they have incorporated the triangle pattern similar to the Kinvara 4's in the mid-foot landing area.  Of course, the Ride shoes do not give quite the response the Kinvara does, given the additional cushion, but it does promote a mid foot strike and I can tell that this feature, along with the lower drop, is helping to make me a more efficient runner.


The sole also has a couple areas on the heel and forefoot to provide some additional smoothness in the shoe so you don't feel the pounding as much.  Saucony calls it their SRC(Super Rebound Compound) Impact Zone.  I call it a softer landing when I heal strike.

Since I've received the Ride 6's, I've run in them ten times from distances of 3-16 miles and have put 75 miles on them already.  I've also run on cement, asphalt, and crushed limestone as well as just racing in them for the Crim 10 miler this past Saturday.  They have performed flawlessly and I'd expect nothing less from my "go-to" brand.  The more I run in them, the more comfortable they become as has been the case with all the Ride versions I've owned.  As I said, the Ride has been my "go-to" shoe for anything over 13 miles and the Ride 6 version is the best they have made to date.  I can't wait to run my next marathon in them.

If you are interested in checking out the Saucony Ride 6, go to Onlineshoes to choose your pair.

You can find their Facebook page, HERE.

You can find their Twitter page, HERE.

Thanks to Onlineshoes and Saucony for the opportunity to review the latest version of the Ride.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!




* Note - I received a pair of Saucony Ride 6 shoes from Saucony and OnlineShoes in exchange for this review.  All opinions on this blog post are my own and I was not paid or required to give a particular opinion on the product.

Aug 26, 2013

The Road to Indiana.....week #8!


Week #8

Another week in the books - seriously, it's flying by!  Here's the schedule and actual week.

Monday 4 miles (Actual - 10 miles, yoga)

Tuesday 8 miles (Actual - 8 miles, weights, yoga)

Wednesday 4 miles (Actual - 7 morning miles, 4 afternoon miles for 11 miles todal)

Thursday 8 miles (Actual - 4 miles)

Friday Rest (Actual - Yoga, weights and Michigan Mile race)

Saturday 17 miles (Actual - 16 miles on trails)

Sunday Rest (Actual - Crim 10 mile race)

Total mileage: 44 miles

Another big week for me.  My biggest in a long time in fact.  Overall, I'm still feeling pretty good.  My quads have given me a little soreness this week but otherwise no issues.
Yes, I skipped my long run this past weekend opting to race both Friday and Saturday; however, I added all the lost miles in runs earlier in the week.  Since I ran 33 miles before the two races and then raced I felt the same effect that a 17 miler would have given me(well, at least that's my story and I"m sticking to it.)  I actually only raced the 1 miler and the 10 miler I pushed it hard.  You can read my review of the races HERE if you missed it.

This week coming up is a cut back week and I'm ready for a few less miles but only a few less.
Oh, and the significance of the Indianapolis beer in the picture above?  I have vowed to not drink during this training cycle......at all!  Not that I drink that much but an ice cold beer sure sounds good.  I was so tempted yesterday with free beer at the race.  Why do it?  Just because I'm disciplined and no other reason.  I can't wait for a cold one after the race though!  It will be the sweet taste of victory no matter how I do in the race.

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Four miles done this morning.  A little sore in the left hamstring.  I took it much slower today.

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Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Aug 25, 2013

Michigan Mile and Crim 10 mile race reviews....


Short Version

Michigan Mile
Finished in 6:47 (official time); A new PR since I've never done a mile race.
Overall place: 43/1007
Place for Men: 41/372
Overall Pace: 6:47/mile
Age Group place(M40-44): 6/42

Crim
Finished in 1:19:41 (official time); no new PR(1:18:19 is my PR)
Overall place: 1029/7944
Place for Men: 844/3885
Overall Pace: 7:59/mile

Half split: 39:09
Kind and Queen of Bradley Hill: 6:35 and (673/3000); assumed they stopped at 3,000 people
Age Group place(M40-44): 115/502

(Placements are still unofficial until next week due to changes/adjustments)

Race #52 and #53

It was the first time I've ever run a one mile race.  It was fun to see how fast I could go.  Despite my slowness, I was racing it.  Haha!   It was a fun time and a cool medal.  For $20, it was worth trying it.  The Crim 10 mile has always been an excellent race and one of my favorites.  Even though the distance is 10 miles, it feels more like a half marathon with the crowd and hills.  This was my third time running the 10 mile and I've never had a bad experience.  It's a race I will do again for sure.

Long Version

Registration/Packet Pickup(Both Michigan Mile and Crim 10 mile)
Because I was able to work that day in Grand Blanc, which was 8 miles away, I went to pick up my race packet on Friday at lunchtime.  If you have never been to downtown Flint, you would be pleasantly surprised as the downtown area as well as the University of Michigan campus is very nice.  Packet pickup has been at the same location at least since I've been running the race and its very easy to get in and out.
Sign in downtown Flint near packet pickup that I love
Let's go!
Has always been in the same place, so easy to find.
This is actually one of the larger expos that I've been too.  You would not think it would be so large but its bigger than many marathons.  The 10 mile race draws people from around the world including several Ethiopian and Kenyan runners.  It's not surprising to see the large expo since they were expecting over 15,000 runners this year.
I'm in the right place!
Entrance
The race has you wind through all the vendors so you can see what they were offering(kind of like Disney but in reverse).  If you've been to a marathon, then you know that they have all kinds of vendors related to running merchandise as well as other local races talking about their race.  They usually have some good deals on stuff, and I looked briefly, but really did not spend much time going through everything.   I did pick up some freebies from the vendors which is always nice to try some new products.  The race was also selling shirts from previous years.  They had last years tech shirt for only $2 - an outstanding deal - but I have a thing about wearing a race shirt I have not run so I didn't get one.  There was a good variety of stuff to buy though and a runner could go crazy in there.
Drooling over stuff
crowded!
Once you made your way through the vendors, you could get your race bib number in order to get your packet.  As you can see, there was lots of runners doing this race.  After you got you number, you went to the volunteers to give them your number and they pulled out your bib and some pins.  You then made your way over to where your shirt was located.  The race is very accommodating and allows other runners to pick up friends packets so I also picked up my running buddies.  Then I got in another line to get my one mile race bib and shirt.
Bib numbers
pickup
 I made my way back that evening and was able to park right at U of M which was only two blocks away.  I couldn't say the same for the 10 miler.  We got there at 6:30am on Saturday morning and they had already closed many streets so we ended parking about a mile or so away.  It still was not too bad.  The race also offered a shuttle if you parked where they wanted you to but we didn't want to take it.

Start Area(Michigan Mile)
The one miler was Friday evening.  They had several events going on that evening with the one mile.  They started with a race for the Special Olympics and I'm so glad I could spectate for this.  It was truly inspiring seeing the participants run their races and how much fun they were having there.  I found myself tearing up as the crowd was so loud and cheering for all of them.

The race had everything set up for the one mile race afterwards.  Since I had time, I strolled a little down the sidewalk to keep my legs moving so I was somewhat warmed up.  They already had the port-o-potties all set up near the start area.
My first 1 miler
Don't you take pics of port-o-potties? Long as the eye can see
Special Olympics - so inspring
Huge crowd for Special Olympics/pros/us regular Joes!
After the Special Olympics, the professional milers were up next starting with the men.  The men's winner finished in 4:05.59 - an incredible time.  Even last place came in at 4:26.60 - haha!  I would have loved to see them finish but I could not get to the start of my race fast enough so I just took pictures of them starting.  The guys look effortless and their form is something every runner desires.  Up next were the women with the winner coming in at 4:47.27 - another amazing time with last place coming in at 5:01.27.  It was fun to see the pros warming up and racing.
Pro men
Pro women
There was also a high school challenge which went just before the open mile.  Next up was us regular people.  Now I have to say that in a normal race, I would never, ever line up near or at the start especially with the amount of runners(over 1000).  I just don't have the speed to compete with top runners.  However, after looking around at the runners, there were many kids and people that likely were not going to be running that fast and I was looking for a PR.

I was talking to another runner who was concerned with the same thing and thought we should be more up front so I went with it.  He even said something to a Dad with his two smaller kids and the Dad said, "You can run around them."  Not a wise decision on his part to put his kids in that speed.  We moved in front of them and he was not too happy about it but we didn't want them to get run over.  While there was an announcement about where to be based on your pace, it seems many just ignored it so I went near the front.  Given my place overall, I think I made the right decision.  Please keep in mind that this was a competitive race and was not a kids fun run.  It was not labeled a fun run but competitive.
My view at start
My view behind me
Course(Michigan Mile)
As you can see, a couple quick turns and you're done.  I'm sure the times would have been slightly lower had it been a straight mile without turns.  Not much to the mile except, well, one mile.  The course took you from downtown and around U of M and finished on campus.  From the finish, we walked back downtown for the after party.  The pace on the my Garmin shows faster given the course showed a little long but I'm very happy with my 6:47.

The one thing I was worried about was the weather.  At 77 degrees at the start, while I knew it could be worse for an August day, I thought it would slow me down. I rarely run in that warm of temperatures or that time of day since I'm a morning runner.  Fortunately there was a nice breeze and it did not feel as warm so it worked out great.

I went out super fast and was just following the crowd but I was only able to keep that sub 6 minute pace for about 0.20 mile.  My lungs were on fire!  I was breathing really heavy and could not catch my breath.  Wow!  The mile is a really hard distance to run if you really do try and race it.  I wasn't really thinking about my legs much because everything was over so fast.  Before I knew it, the finish was there and we were done.  Yes, I drove an hour there and back to the race that evening for a less than 7 minute race and it was worth it!  I had a blast.
Course per Garmin
Splits/weather
Pace(sub 6 at start!) and elevation(lack of)
Note:  When I take pictures during the race, I don't change my pace or stop in the interest of safety.  I just keep running and I get what I can get from the pictures.  Some come out better than others but they give you a great idea of what the course is like.

As you can see, there's not many course pictures but its just too short of a race to get too many.  Considering my pace, it's pretty hard to concentrate on the camera - haha!  I got one about the half way point and then near the finish.  You can see how many people were at the finish line to see us come in.
Great day considering it's August - about 1/2 way there.
At the finish already?
Aid Stations
None for the Michigan Mile since it was only a one mile race.

Finish Area(Michigan Mile)
The finish area was quite small(as you can see above) but the race was not really large either.  It was really popular and I could see this race getting really large over time.  It was a beautiful night and I took a picture of the river next to the finish area before walking back to the food area.
Finished by the river - beautiful night
After the race, I grabbed a piece of pizza and a water.  I was starving since I didn't eat dinner.  I saw Alexis from Get2fit2quit after and we talked paces for a minute and I was in a hurry to get home.  Why you ask?  To do this all over again the next day for the 10 milers.  I headed home and got to bed for an early morning.

The next morning started at 5am.  I went to pick up my running buddy and we headed back to Flint. We got to the race about 6:50am and they had already closed the streets so we ended up parking over a mile away but it still worked out good.  It's a good thing I picked up our packets the day before because we never would have made it back to the car with our packets and back to the start area in time.

Start Area(Crim 10 Mile)
We did get a nice walk through the U of M campus on the way to the start area.  We made our way to the bathrooms.  That took about 25 minutes and then we got into our corral which was corral B(second to start).  The race started the wheelers and then the 36 year runners which were people who have run all the Crim races.  Very inspiring!

The race did a great job enforcing the corrals as they had volunteers looking at our bib which had our letter on it.  We were able to get a good spot and the runners were all placed great since I didn't have to run around hardly anyone.  This was a big improvement since the last time I ran the races when they let everyone go at one time and there was not much organization for start times.  Letting the corrals go out one at a time really helped reduce past years congestion - it was a great improvement.
Part of course now goes through U of M
Wheelers getting ready
Port-o-potties - now there's a line
My view at Start
Behind me at start
Course(Crim 10 mile)
This year was also a modified course and I thing it's much better.  We get to start out running through U of M's campus which was a great way to start the race.  It was a big improvement.   I had decided that I would run with my running buddy and he was saying a 1:20 goal.  I was happy with that.  We took off so fast in the first three miles and I was not planning for my running buddy to start so fast.  Regardless, I ended with a sub 1:20 so I was happy with that.

While I did push myself harder than I would had this just been a training run, I felt really great finishing a little over a minute longer than my PR for the 10 mile.  When I got my PR, it was at this race two years ago.  I had only run about 18 miles that week before the race and also took off a day before the race too.  Given that I had run 33 miles this week before the race, including the race the day before, I feel like my running condition was pretty good.  In addition, I have not been running many hills this training cycle and, given the hills in this race, I feel I took them pretty well.  I know had I really pushed hard, I could have pushed for a new 10 mile PR but it was not that important to me.  The race still helped me gauge where I stand physically - better than two years ago but probably not as strong as I was this time last year.

It was a perfect day with a starting temperature of 59 degrees but there was a bit of humidity.  That's a dream for August in Michigan as sometimes it's close to 80 at the start.  I tried to keep the pace fairly consistent after the first three miles.  I don't know what happened in mile 8 considering it was not even that hilly there.  The last mile, I could feel my muscles becoming fatigued and slowed the pace a bit, not because I wanted to.  As you can see from the elevation chart, half way through is a nice hill.  If you have not run this race, don't be scared of the hills.  Yes, this is a challenging course but it's one that everyone should do at least once.
Course per Garmin
Splits per Garmin
Pace/elevation per Garmin
We start downtown on the bricks.  It's gives you a great feeling running on them knowing how old they are and the history behind them.
A quick start on the bricks
Headed through U of M
You will notice a couple things in the picture below.  First is the blue line that is not only across the street to mark the first mile but also the mile marker sign to the right.  These are permanent signs like street signs!  I've never seen that in a race before.  I wonder if they keep them up all year so runners can run the course all year.  The thing to notice is the other blue line along the street.  Just follow the blue line from start to finish and you won't get lost.  You will see the blue line throughout the course pictures.  I've also never seen this throughout the race course.

The race also has lots of police support and entertainment throughout the course.  They also have plenty of port-o-potties along the course and lots of hoses to run through that many of the residents put out for runners.  Speaking of that, many of the residents also come out to spectate and cheer on the runners.  The entire city backs this race and you can tell the whole way through running it.
Mile 1
Lots of entertainment - at least 10 that I can remember
Police support everywhere
Plenty of Port-o-potties on course
Lots of hoses to run through
Mile 3
Lots of spectators
Follow the blue line
Mile 4
One new thing, at least to me, was the Bradley Hill challenge - King and Queen of the Hill.  The Bradley hills are a stretch of the race that is very hilly at the 5-6 mile mark.  The challenge was to see who could run up the hills the fastest.  I think they were giving money away for it as well.   I didn't even come close to the top - haha!  I was about twice the time as the fastest time.  Oh well, regardless, it was fun!
Kind and Queen of the the Bradley Hill challenge start
The below picture gives you a good idea of the hill going up it with the balloons being at the top of this hill.
Climbing Bradley hills
Mile 5
Timing pads several spots
As I mentioned before, here's a better picture of the permanent signs.  This shows the direction for the 10 mile and 8k course.  Wow - that's impressive.
Permanent signs?
I'm a sucker for an American Flag - it gets me every time.
Cheerleaders cheering and more police support
Beautiful area
Mile 7
We passed this wheeler working his way up this hill and people were very encouraging.  It looked really tough to get over the hill and I'm sure his upper body strength was incredible.
Inspiring wheeler
Lots of spectators in this area
Mile 9
One of the best parts of the race is near the finish when you get back on the bricks again.  The crowd is huge and is fantastic at keeping us runners motivated all the way to the end.
Back to the bricks
Huge finish line crowd
Finish! 1:19:41 chip time
Aid Stations(Crim 10 mile)
The aid stations were plentiful!  I'm not sure exactly how many there were but I would guess one every mile.  They had many group out there volunteering and cheering us on and they were all fantastic. Here's just a few of the pictures I was able to capture of the stations.  They offered water and Gatorade and the volunteers were all well organized.

Finish Area(Crim 10 Mile)
The finish area was incredibly organized and the volunteers helped keep runners moving through the line.  Right after the race, they had ice cold wet towels which was nice.  I've only had that at one other race for the Back to the Beach half marathon.  Then they gave out medals.  Food - water, bananas, granola bars and Popsicles were next.  A nice cold Popsicle is a great way to finish the race.  After this, next to the finish line, you could go through another line to get a beer/pop and a piece of pizza.  When we finished, it was an easy in and out through the beer/pizza line and was not busy but we passed it later and there was a huge line waiting.

Tim Hortons and McDonalds were also offering free coffee/donuts and smoothie samples.
Watching finishers
Onto the food - at the white tent!
More food! Race was also selling clothing at the tent
Beer me!
Pizza
Free donuts/coffee
My running buddy was also part of a team challenge, and with that, we were able to go to a special after party.  They had some really good food including sandwiches, potato salad, macaroni salad and desert.  They also offered water and beer as well as some speciality beers.  It was a nice treat that you don't get typically after a race.

Unfortunately my running buddy was not feeling well after the race so we didn't stay there long but I was able to eat enough to make it my breakfast and lunch for the day.
An awesome spread
Amenities
For your race entry, you received a race shirt.  The Michigan mile is a 50/50 blend shirt and the Crim is 100% polyester.  As you know, I'm not a big fan of white shirts, especially cotton, so it's likely this won't get worn much.  You can see both shirt I already own from 2010 and 2011 at the bottom of this post.  While the Crim shirt is supposed to be a tech type shirt, I would not wear it to run.  Both the Michigan Mile and Crim shirt are the same front with the back indicating the distance.

This is my third Crim and both other shirts were a runners, Brooks tech shirt that I wear all the time and one is a green color so they are nice.  This years design is ok but previous years designs were incredible.  I also received a few freebies that I've shown below.  There may have been more freebies but I didn't look too hard at the expo for them.
Michigan mile/Crim shirt
10 mile shirt back
One mile shirt back
Free stuff - cool! A great giveaway!
More free stuff at the expo
Ok, one of the main reasons I ran the Michigan Mile was for this awesome medal.  Check that thing out!  Really, really nice to have that for a short race like this and for such a low price.  I'm sure many of the runners did the mile just for this.  The Crim medal is also quite nice.  It's a little smaller than previous years but its made very nicely and both ribbons on the medals are nice as well.
In addition to the medals and shirts, you got a world class organized event.  There was full police support and a certified course that was at least the distance promised.  It had awesome entertainment throughout the course and a great finish line spread for both races.
Michigan Mile Medal
Crim 10 mile medal

Michigan Mile medal front
Michigan Mile medal back
Crim 10 mile medal front
Crim 10 mile medal back
Both medals
Organization
Given the Crim has been doing this for over 36 years, you got exactly as you would expect.  A world class organization that was organized in every way.  The organization has an excellent website, Facebook page and Twitter page.  The communication is excellent with emails and information on social networks.  The start line, course, volunteers, finish line, and food were superbly organized.  It's why I came back for my third time as I've never had a poor experience with the Crim.

Overall
Michigan Mile - overall a really fun race.  I'd like to see them corral this race as well to help people line up.  This would keep walkers at the back of the race.  For the money though, this is a great value.  You can't beat a race shirt, medal(and not a cheap one) and finish line food for $20.  One of the best values in races I've done.

Crim - as expected, overall this is a race that every runner should do.  If you run and you live in Michigan(and even if you don't), this is a must do race.  It's worth getting up early and the price is also a value($40).  You could also sign up for a package deal but I had already signed up for Crim before I decided to run the Michigan Mile so it would have been even less money.  The course is a challenge but you feel great when finishing it.  This continues to be one of my favorites.
Finished with the mile
Finished with the 10 miler
Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!