Austin is a fun place to spend a couple of days, and this race does a good job of capturing the city's energy and giving you a nice tour of the area. It is very well organized, especially given the size of the event. The most significant downside to this race is that it really is a difficult course. Miles 12-18 are rollers with some pretty big climbs and an overall uphill escalation. After mile 18, it does go downhill pretty much to the end, but this is also the most boring and least scenic part of the course. So between wearing yourself out on the mid-course and the lack of anything to distract yourself, the last part of this race is mentally tough. Overall though, a fun experience. Just review the elevation course beforehand and do your hill work. MM#9644.