General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Team Ortho Monster Dash Rss Feed  
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2010-10-09 7:17 PM

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Eden Prairie, MN, Minnesota
Subject: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I just signed up for the 10-miler.  It'll be my first running-only race since high school.  Anyone else in for this one, the 5K or the 1/2 mary?


2010-10-09 7:34 PM
in reply to: #3143052

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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I might think of the 5k or 10miler, if i do the 10 i gotta get my act together asap
2010-10-10 3:12 AM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I am signed up for the 10 miler.  I don't necessarily feel that I have been doing enough training for it but I guess there is still a little time.  Good luck to you both on this one.  If you have never run a Team Ortho race before, you will have a blast.  They throw out a good time/race/postrace.
2010-10-10 9:23 AM
in reply to: #3143446

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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash

I'm skipping it this year - too crowded.   It's a pretty course with some good challenges, but I wasn't up for the crowd again.  If you are going for a good time, just put yourself right in the front at the start.  In general, I find people aren't very good at seeding themselves and this is a particularly narrow course at the beginning.

2010-10-10 9:45 AM
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Dodge County, MN (out in the corn)
Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I did it last year and it was a fun race, but really crowded.  Instead of going back this year, I opted for the Mankato marathon (and half marathon) on Oct 23.  Jeremy is in for the full and I'm doing the half. 
2010-10-10 10:37 AM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
This is a great fun race, but if you are looking for a PR or otherwise "serious" race, then it's wayyy too crowded.  But it is a very fun & festive event to be part of!

I'm volunteering instead of running; I'll be helping at packet pickup Friday night, and then a course marshall somewhere out on the course.

Hope to see some of you out there!

Cheers, Chris





2010-10-11 10:15 AM
in reply to: #3143052

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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I'm in for the 1/2. 3rd year in a row. This might be a first in costume!
2010-10-12 3:30 PM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I'm doing the 10 miler - my first at this distance. I've had a lot of good training days during this beautiful fall so I hope to have some fun out there. Good luck to all of you racing.
2010-10-12 8:37 PM
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Valparaiso, IN
Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I'm in for the 10-mile -- my (so far) longest running distance ever!  I did the 5k last year, and that was super crazy crowded.  I was hoping that the longer distances would be a little less crazy at the start -- not so true?  Either way, it's not like I'll post a stellar time, so really I'm just going for fun :-).
2010-10-12 9:02 PM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I am in for the 10miler now, hope It will turnout good
2010-10-30 4:03 PM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
What a great day for a race!  I was still in line for the port-o-potties with about 200 other people when the gun went off for the 10-mile race.  This turned out to be a blessing in disguise - the crowd had thinned out quite a bit by the time I hit the course so I could keep a faster pace during the first half.  Or, at least a faster pace than I was expecting.   My goal was 1:31:00 and I pulled in a 1:30:10.  Sweet!

Unfortunately, the last-minute changes to the course and logistics didn't turn out as well.  After watching the 5K start, I waited in line over 90 minutes with a few thousand other folks to take the shuttles back to Nokomis. 

With all the costumes and 3 different distances, it was a great 'fun' race, but I'll probably look elsewhere next year for a late-season longer-distance race.  I DO like the hoodies though.


2010-10-30 6:21 PM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I liked the race alot, but it was a bit over crowded. I ran a 1:28 which was below my 1:30 goal which made me happy. The water stops were a huge mess. people just stopped and drink and was impossible to get a cup which was a huge pain in the butt to deal with, i skipped a few of them because of the hassle.

But besides that it was a great day for the race and i seemed to have a good time. and I like the lightweight hoodie too.
2010-10-31 8:55 AM
in reply to: #3186720

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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash

I wondered about the crowd and logistics.  I looked up the results to see how a friend did, and saw there were about twice the number of finishers from last year - and I thought that was crazy!  If I did this I would have to arrange for a ride, the shuttle thing is crazy. 

Glad you guys had good weather and enjoyed yourselves, despite the challenges!  I was intrigued by the different route.

2010-11-01 8:04 AM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
My wife and I did the 10 miler and I can't imagine ever doing that race again.  Are other ortho events that unorganized?? 

The shuttle situation was really a cluster.  One sign directed us to a parking lot but after standing around for 25 minutes we realized no shuttles were coming.  Then we went to the actual pick up spot and had to wait in line forever.  Did they not realize how many people were running??   Once the buses finally did start arriving, they didn't have streets closed down so the buses were getting blocked by other cars - finally the Park Police came and took control. 

All told it took close to 2 hours to get back to our cars after the race. 
2010-11-01 8:30 AM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I am happy I had a ride to leave the race. I think every race that uses shuttles will be a headache
2010-11-01 9:29 AM
in reply to: #3188149

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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash

I find the Team Ortho stuff to be mostly frustrating like that - too big for their britches, usually.  They change things so much from year to year to accommodate more people, they run out of supplies often (took months to get my Monster Dash shirt last year, still haven't gotten my gift from the Mpls Du in August), etc.    If you like the "big race" mentality or don't know better it can be fun, but I think for veteran racers it's not good. 

DB - 2010-11-01 8:04 AM My wife and I did the 10 miler and I can't imagine ever doing that race again.  Are other ortho events that unorganized?? 

The shuttle situation was really a cluster.  One sign directed us to a parking lot but after standing around for 25 minutes we realized no shuttles were coming.  Then we went to the actual pick up spot and had to wait in line forever.  Did they not realize how many people were running??   Once the buses finally did start arriving, they didn't have streets closed down so the buses were getting blocked by other cars - finally the Park Police came and took control. 

All told it took close to 2 hours to get back to our cars after the race. 



2010-11-17 9:16 PM
in reply to: #3188376

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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I did the Half Marathon at the Minneapolis Marathon and it well organized by Team Ortho.  I think a lot of it has to do with the actual course itself and how many people it can handle.  
2010-11-18 7:34 PM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I received this e-mail today from the folks at Team Ortho.   It's promising to see that they're addressing some of the major concerns, especially for the longer distances.  It also looks like they'll be doing away with the 10-mile race for next year.  I hate to see that distance go, but with participant numbers continuing to grow, it's probably a pretty smart move.


"We want to take the time to thank the nearly 8,000 people who came out to participate in the Monster Dash Half Marathon, 10-Mile, 5K and 5K-9 on October 30th.  Many of you came with great costumes, a passion for a healthy, active lifestyle and in the mood to have fun! 

We also want to take the time to acknowledge some of the specific concerns racers had at our event.  We apologize for the long lines at our shuttle pick-up location.  Many of you waited for a very long time.  We should have had MANY more buses rolling that day to ensure a more timely pick-up and drop-off.  We already created a committee with runners who experienced this delay to come up with the best plan to ensure we have enough buses so not participant will wait longer than 25 minutes in 2011. We also will also increase the number of port-a-potties at the start and are changing the way we distribute food and water at the finish. 
 
 As for the Half Marathon and 10-Mile courses, many of you have actually said you enjoyed this year's beautiful point-to-point course, but some found the loop and lanes around Lake Nokomis frustrating.  As many of you know, multiple authorities have jurisdiction over public events in Minneapolis and we had to change from our 2009 Monster Dash course when were told it would not be approved. Our new course provided one way traffic on most of the course, which provided a better flow and safety for the race and shorter road closures. For 2011, instead of having both a 10 Mile and Half Marathon, we will only have a Half Marathon."
2010-11-18 8:16 PM
in reply to: #3143052

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Maple Grove,MN
Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
I got the same email too, I even filled out the survey they had attached to it. I hate to see the 10miler go, but there is always the tc one few week earlier
2010-11-19 7:35 AM
in reply to: #3217576

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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash

I think it's a shame they dropped the 10.  There are a few good options for a half, but VERY few for a 10.  The TC 10 Miler is not a good substitute because they are on a lottery.

If anyone has not yet done their survey, and can add comments, please consider saying something about keeping the 10.

I don't see why they couldn't just have wave starts.  At least in 2009 it was basically let everyone line up wherever, with a bunch of folks starting way too far forward, and then a mass start.  DUMB.

2010-11-19 9:54 AM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
DB - 2010-11-01 8:04 AM My wife and I did the 10 miler and I can't imagine ever doing that race again.  Are other ortho events that unorganized?? 


Yes.

I have talked to several people who have done the MPLS half more than once, and not ONE of them came up with an accurate course measurement on their GPS (and not by a little, but a LOT. And I know these are folks who run every tangent exactlyascloseaspossibleb/ctheyareanal). Hell, it's marked long on the map on the website.

If you asked me to choose Vacation Sports Race or Team Ortho...I'd be hard pressed to decide. Vacation Sports you pay less for the chaos. Team Ortho you pay through the nose...but you do get decent schwag.




2010-11-19 9:58 AM
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Subject: RE: Team Ortho Monster Dash
Gotta throw this out...  Mankato Marathon and Half Marathon just one week before Monster.  Lovely course, great support, very well organized.  And much cheaper.  I did Monster in 09 and Mankato this year.  I would go back to Mankato, but not Monster. 
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