The slogan for this race is run faster in Toledo, and it's true. There is one or two hills, but they are not very big or steep, so if you are looking for a PR or BQ (obviously not in the half), this is a great race to try. It's flat, so it's not fast in the sense that it's downhill, but it's a fair test for any runner that doesn't really want to tackle a lot of hills.

Pre Race
I didn't hit up the expo, so I can't tell you anything about it. The one thing I kept hearing about the race is that traffic can be a nightmare the morning of, so pay close attention to the road closure warnings. Feel free to reach out to the race on social media and ask for parking recommendations. They provide a map, but they can also let you know what's going to be easiest. I parked in lot 25 and had zero issues with traffic by coming to the campus from the north on the west side.
My only issue with this race was bag drop. When I went to leave my stuff at bag drop, I was cutting it close, so there wasn't much time. Bag drop was not located where they said it would be, so I ran up and down the street until I found it. They reached out to me on social media saying that they will ensure the location and instructions online line up next year.

In Race
Because of the bag drop issue, I got started 3 minutes late, which meant I had to weave through a lot of people. It did give me a chance to see the sheer size of the race. There are a ton of people running this race which is always fun. It's not crazy, just bigger than I expected. The course weaves through the UofT campus and then into residential areas. These neighborhoods are more well to do and bigger homes, so it's a really scenic run even though you're in the city the whole time.
April weather can be hit or miss. Our day was absolutely perfect. It was a sunny day, but much of the course is run in a shaded area, so it's not beaming down on you the entire time. I would say more than 10 miles were in the shade. I would guess that this would also offer protection from the elements if it was a bit of a messier day.

Post Race
Getting to cross the finish line on the 50 yard line in the football stadium is so cool. There's plenty of room to meet up with friends and cheer on the finishers. After you exit the stadium, there is a big finishers area with post run food including pizza and you can cash in on the 2 beer tickets that come with your bib. I was done around 8:30am (7am start) so not really a big beer drinking time for me, but it's there. Also loved the band that was playing post race. They were a lot of fun.

SWAG
I loved the shirt I got, simple and not too many ads, so I'll wear it a lot. In addition to the shirt, you get a glass mug as you exit the stadium which is a cool personal touch to Glass City. I must say, the medals are HUGE!! They're in the shape of Ohio, but they look really cool and if you do the marathon, you won't believe the size!

I wasn't fully tapered for this race and still came within 17 seconds of my PR. I have multiple friends that PR'd and I believe close to 30% of marathoners BQ'd, so if you're looking to hit some goals, I highly recommend this race!