As a longtime Austin resident, I will say that this race in its current course is a great tour of our city. It starts in downtown and heads south along S. Congress. As you come back into downtown on S. First, you get some amazing views of the skyline. Next, you travel west along Lake Austin blvd where to your left and straight ahead you'll see some beautiful scenery along Lady Bird Lake. Next you head though an old Austin neighborhood as you get back into downtown. From there, you head north though the University of Texas campus and along the drag, which is a common area for UT students. You then wind through another historic Austin neighborhood known as Hyde Park. Some of the most beautiful homes in the city are in this neighborhood. You'll then travel back south and then into the East Side. You'll get to see some historic sites and awesome graffiti art. The final stretch to downtown is along Cesar Chavez blvd, which is home to many small local eateries and shops. Then finally, you make your way back into downtown via the legendary 6th street and through the Red River Cultural District before running past the State Capitol building and to the finish line.

This route is hilly, particularly the first half to 18 miles. Some hills are more gradual (along Guadalupe) while others are dramatic (Enfield/15th). Though there are some pretty good downhills, particularly along S. First. But that's part of the majesty of this city. If you run this marathon, you'll definitely feel like you saw a good part of this city.

The Expo is pretty easy to get through to get your bib and other swag. There are lots of good vendors there. Under Armour has a big presence in Austin, so they promote the race's t-shirts and other gear. Fleet Feet just recently opened up in our city, so they have played a big part in the event too.