I started running in mid 2013 and signed up for this to be my first half. After overtraining I decided the half would be so easy that I would make it a challenge and do the full. I have lived in Houston (too damn long) and never looked at the course. The course is boring lots of turns and while I had a horrible run time wise I would NEVER suggest this course for a person trying to check off TX on the road to 50. Do the Cowtown it's a much nicer course better time of year (Jan for Houston and Late Feb for Cowtown) which means you get to start training later in the year for people living in hotter areas you can start training in August vs. starting in late sept means the temp drops a few degrees and it helps