For the past two years I've loved this race. Any marathon kicks your butt, but the scenery and the crowd truly make this an amazing experience worth the pain. You know that feeling of excitement you get when you first run past the start line? You get it again at mile 8 when you hit Boystown - where cheerleaders and performers greet you alongside families, drag queens, and friends. Just as you're starting to hit a wall around mile 20-22, you run through Chinatown, where the energy and the sights, colors, and music get you pumped yet again. And while the Michigan Ave stretch is rough, and Roosevelt hill feels like a mountain, there's nothing like the burst of emotion you get when you see that 400m sign as you hit the midpoint of that hill. The post race is great, and the swag always delivers. All around, an amazing marathon.