This was my second time running this HM and it was very different than the first time. While 2014's race ended up with a very warm finish where I ended up with some sunburn, the 2015 race was very wet, cold and windy, with thunderstorms and lightening 3 hours into it that resulted in a race cancellation for the marathoners and HM'ers still on the race course.

However, the race experience for me was a great experience! The course was well staffed, despite the weather, with plenty of fan support along the entire way! Many, many people stood out on the light rain that turned heavy at times, under umbrellas or tents, waving signs and cheering for the runners. I think we had it easier than them, for we were all moving and do keeping warm.

The course itself is very interesting. It starts off through the main streets of the campus, passed student housing, through downtowns of Champaign and Urban and back through a residential neighborhood. Around mile 8, the course enters a beautiful park with winding paths, mild hills and gorgeous scenery. Then it transitions back to the neighborhood before hitting campus and the road that takes you to Memorial Stadium. Then the grand entrance onto the football field, the former home stadium of the Chicago Bears in 2002, where you finish on the 50 yard line under full view of the 200 foot wide jumbotron TV suspended up in the rafters! Magnificent!! It really is a thrill and I still get goosebumps thinking about it! The finisher's medal is awesome. The T-shirt is a Brooks technical shirt with a great logo on it. Marathoners also got a fleeced logo blanket. Very cool.

Post-race support is fantastic. Lots of helpers, lots of fluids and great good awaits inside the Great Hall. For the 2015 race, the football field was evacuated and everyone swarmed the inner halls of the stadium. Plenty of room for many people. Lots of hugs! Although I felt bad for the runners who had their marathon cut short. Very hard to see the disappointment on their faces.

All in all, it was a great race and I would do it again!