Crystal Lake Half Mary

Well, I'm biased because I live in CL and the race is on my home turf, so to speak.  It's not fancy and last year it was drizzly/rainy so there weren't many spectators at all.  There were plenty of volunteers.  You can read my race report here if you like.  Great story about a fireman doing the race in full gear.  Probably the biggest negative was how the early miles were marked short and the last 2 miles seemed to take forever - but overall the course was dead on.

I think of it as mostly flat with a few rollers but someone from Chi last year thought it was on the hilly side.  Nothing extreme, just not as flat as she was expecting.  I can't really tell you if the post race food was any good but it seemed like they had plenty there. 

This actually works out great for me to do this race because it is a recovery week on my marathon plan so I only run 12 miles that day anyway.  I'll just be running it easy instead of racing it.  Well, at least that's what the plan will be. 

I've done both races, and this year (since they're on the same day - doh!), have chosen to do Chicago instead (sorry, HL!).

They are both great races, just completely different ends of the spectrum.  CL is fairly well supported, but to me -- being from a very flat part of IL -- the course was hilly.  Like HL said, the early miles were marked way short, and later miles marked way long, but it was a dead-on 13.1 miles overall.

Value for the dollar in CL is awesome.  As I recall, it was really cheap for a half mary.

I'm doing Chicago because I'm really hoping to PR... the hills in CL wouldn't provide the best opportunity for that.  Also - Chicago has pace groups, which have helped me in the past.  Another factor for me is that I enjoy being social during longer races, and Chicago gives me more people to bother talk to.

Either race is a fun experience, though.  Just depends on what kind of race you're looking for.

I don't think the water stops were that often but I can't remember what they were.  Maybe 3-4 over the length of the course?  Not sure.

I can't say for sure not having done either race in Lake Zurich, but my guess would be that LZ is a little hillier than CL.  There are parts of CL that are pretty hilly but this isn't them.  Like I said before, I live here and I think it's just this side of a "flat" course with a hill or two and some rollers.

Maybe for one of my next long runs I'll run this course and tell you what the Garmin says for profile/elevation.

Yea, I did CL last year, and will do it again this year.  HL and StartingtoTri already nailed the description of the race.  I think the course is right in between what they both are saying.  The first 3-4 miles were flat (through park gravel trail).  Then there were some rollers, and a few longer climbs but only of the 3-5% variety.   Rollers and some bigger rollers, but 60% flatter, if that makes sense.  No really huge climbs.

You could try and map it out on mapmyrun, based on the website roads.  mapmyrun.com does have elevation.  Should answer your question.