This race was my first ever marathon and I was so super nervous leading into it. I ran the 5K years ago and I remember it being such a packed race and constantly being in "battle" for position with other runners. I was so pleasantly suprised this wasn't the case this year. They've recently changed the 5K to another night completely to help ease congestion of both parking and the race course. After the half marathon split, the course was pretty much wide open with very few runners around me. I really enjoyed the aid stations and the enthusiasm of the crowds in the neighborhoods.

The only con to this race (for me) was that you have to attend the expo to pick up your packet and there is no "day of" pickup. I live an hour and a half from the race site and it took me 4 hours total with downtown traffic to pick up my packet. I was in the expo for five minutes. It was a total waste of my time on a hot afternoon.