Firefly Run

Fun idea but way too crowded for the course. Running at night in the dark on uneven, broken walkways, potholes, ruts, fallen small children, had the potential of being dangerous. There were so many people packed on the course that my 5K time was 4 minutes slower than usual. Gear check pick up was horrendous with wait times of a half hour!
Despite all this, I had a good time. I would do it again if I got the steeply discounted price, didn’t check any gear, had a group of friends and didn’t expect any PRs.

Wanna get all glowy and run? Well this is for you!
My friends and I decided to run the 5k instead of the 10k and I’m really happy that was the case. The running path was VERY poorly lit, however I do understand that it’s a night time run and the point of it is to be a «glow in the dark race» but it’s kinda dangerous to do this run because you may end up running into something/​someone or get caught in a hole. I’d recommend Firefly choosing a different path to run (that at least has *some* light) and also sending the runners off in waves (maybe like 200 at a time, this would help with the congestion at the beginning of the race).
Packet pickup at Universal Sole was very easy. The staff there was super friendly.
I love the concept of this race and wouldn’t rule it out in the future as long as they make a couple of changes.

First year runs always have hiccups, and Firefly 2012 was no exception. However, for a first year run, it wasn’t that bad at all, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again in the future.
Pre-​event packet pick up was great. No expo, just simple stop by Universal Sole for your packet.
Pre-​race packet pick up seemed to run very quickly.
Packets weren’t extensive, but still nice. Standard cotton t-​shirt, bib, timing chip. The best part were the 3M LED reflective (velcro) strips. I’ll be reusing those quite a bit since I tend to do my training runs in pre-​dawn hours.
Gear check was quick for dropping off, but an extremely long line for retrieving gear. It seemed that they were short of volunteers, or at least didn’t put volunteers in the right places. I had a friend watching my bag, so I can’t speak as to how secure the gear check was, however I did note that it seems to be a completely open tent, no closed off area.
The run itself:
The 10K started at 7:30. No waves. Very small and tight starting area.
The 5K started at 7:45. Again, no waves, very small and tight starting area.
They need to have waves, and a bigger start corral area. Runners were having to navigate around race watchers and tables.
A night run is fun, but depending on the course can be dangerous. They didn’t need spotlights, but they definitely could have used more soft lights along the race path.
The paths themselves were a combination of dirt paths and paved paths around Montrose Harbor lakefront trails. Which are notoriously pock-​marked and potholed ridden. It can be dangerous enough in full daylight on foot or on bike. At night, with no lights, people were tripping/​falling/​face-​planting.
The paths are also narrow. So congestion was an issue when you came up against a pack of joggers/​walkers keeping pace with each other. In a wide line. Blocking the path. (Argh). And some near mishaps with strollers weaving in and out of the crowds, trying to avoid the aforementioned potholes.
Hopefully the race organizers will make the appropriate changes for both safety and congestion issues.
Post-​race:
The finish line got too crowded. Again, I think they didn’t have enough volunteers for crowd control, or just didn’t have volunteers in the right places.
Post race «finish bracelet» was one of those plastic bracelets that’s supposed to glow in the dark. Nothing fancy.
There was a tent handing out goody bags, but the line was extremely long, and didn’t appear to be worth it for a bag that was folded flat and didn’t appear to contain any alluring goodies. (I’m guessing it was probably coupons/​fliers inside.)
The race organizers had advertised food trucks for post-​race food during the post-​race party and costume contest.
There were a few food trucks, in addition to the two food vendors that are there all season, and the popsicle bike guys. Unfortunately the food trucks didn’t seem prepared for the amount of people, and were running out of food before all the runners were even finished.
The DJ for the post-​race party was good, entertaining, high energy. The costume contest went by quickly, and offered good prizes. The post-​race party definitely seemed to wrap up quickly, whether that was planned, or they just ended early because everyone left.
Since the food trucks left after running out of food, and there were no beer tents, or additional food tents, and only a couple of sponsors handing out beverage samples, there wasn’t much motivation for runners to stay for an after-​race party.
The atmosphere was more of runners grabbing their gear, maybe a popsicle, and then just going home for lack of anything better to do.
So yeah, ups and downs, pros and cons.
But none of the cons were too egregious. All things that can be easily addressed as the event staff gain experience and hopefully take into account any and all feedback they received after this year’s race.
It’s a nice location, so close to the waterfront. Ample parking, at least compared to downtown.
And it’s a fun theme. Saw some great costumes!