This was my sixth time running this race, so I knew what to expect course-wise -- a flat, fast course that offers no protection from the sun on a warm day but offers plenty of running space and a smattering of on-course entertainment.

Others have posted on the pros and cons of the race, and I agree with those. Here are a few additional thoughts I have:

- I know there are not a lot of options but, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, please try to improve the Navy Pier packet pickup routine. It's hard to get in and out, parking is expensive for the ten minutes you're in there and the expo quality has gone downhill. There is not much to see. I know that the vendors help pay the bills and therefore they want some foot traffic by their booths but this expo has gotten so weak that it hardly makes sense to hold one anymore. Charge a few extra bucks and mail out the packets filled with vendor marketing stuff. Please. Just don't make me go to Navy Pier again.

- The shirts this year were a nice departure from the color-blocked ones ("Oh, let's do the same shirt as last year, but in GREEN!!") they've used for the previous years. It's a nice, high quality polyester that (presumably) wicks moisture. It is, however, really heavy. Like x-ray machine lead vest heavy. Good for strength training I imagine.

- The water cups - guh. They had the standard green paper cups for Gatorade but, for whatever reason, they put the water into clear plastic cups, leaving you no way to do the on-the-go squeeze and funnel technique without the cup breaking into shards of palm-slicing plastic. Those clear cups suck. Don't do that again.

Overall, it's a well-organized race that is situated at a great time of year, but it will never be one that knocks your socks off with views, entertainment, post-parties. It's the Honda (Hyundai?) of road racing - relatively affordable and reliable but not thrilling.