Great race for a first-timer, and I can understand why people think it's a special race to do every year. I didn't particularly like the no drop off at the start (you had to take a bus) and no bag drop. Expo is small (thought the swag was sweet!). Course is nice - great for variety of flat and hills and road and trails. No real time tracking; many aid stations ran out of sponges and electrolyte drinks by the time I got through them (sponges were a necessity this year, given the heat). Nice that Exile brewing is near the finish, passing out beer samples (if that's your thing). Though, I don't know if it's a race that I would do again.