The Hartford Marathon, Half and 5k are wonderful events that every runner should run at least once. I got to pace the two hour group at the 2015 half marathon and had a great time.

Location – Hartford is a small city with a big heart and lots to do. I drove into town but there are nearby airports for those who need to fly. Because it was a holiday weekend, there was plenty of traffic so if you are driving, I might recommend leaving a bit early. New England's fall weather was perfect with changing trees to top off the city's good looks.

Expo – I didn't attend the expo because as a pacer my packet had been mailed to me in the weeks before the race. This option is available to all runners but I'm not sure I'd have taken it if it hadn't been included for me. I'd have liked to walk around the city and explore a bit but things turned out OK after getting stuck in traffic coming into town.

Accommodations - There are lots of hotels within walking distance of the start and finish. Many have lots of marathon spirit with special rates for runners, pre-race carb loading buffet dinners and extra early breakfast offerings.

Start – I jogged to the start from my hotel as a nice warm up on a cool morning and was happy to see a wonderfully organized area. Bushnell Park, home to the start and finish, was teeming with runners warming up, dropping gear at the convenient gear check, grabbing water from the pre-race hydration stations and using the Port-a-Potties that didn't have massive lines.

Course – The course stays inside the city for most of it's length, traveling through adorable neighborhoods and a beautiful park. The half breaks away from the full about a mile in and that's where traffic goes away, giving way to fully closed roads and lots of running room. There are a few soft, long climbs and several rolling hills that break up large flat sections. The last hundred meters are downhill, giving a little assistance to finish strong.

Course Support – Course support is, like the start area, well manned and well organized. There are plenty of well stocked hydration stations, small banks of Port-a-Potties almost every mile for the first half of the race and many enthusiastic cheer groups. Through neighborhoods, there were lots of people hanging out and cheering from their front lawns with bike assistance and medical readily available throughout the 13.1 miles.

Finish - A green event, Hartford's finish chute was one of the best I've seen. After receiving a big shiny medal, there were heat sheets, water fountains and race logo emblazoned reusable water bottles filled with 20 ounces of water for each runner to get their fluids. Receiving the race logo water bottle not only saves hundreds of things from being thrown away but gives you a souvenir you're sure to show off at your upcoming group run. Next up were the snacks. Instead of grabbing 10 different items, post race treats were already packed in a reusable bag for each runner. This definitely expedites the finish chute process and keeps traffic to a minimum. Loved it!

Post Race – Bushnell Park is home to both the start and finish but large enough to handle the load. There were large recycling bins for used heat sheets as well as tons of spots of plop down on the grass to stretch, change shoes and put on dry clothes. Walking around the post-race party area there were lots of vendors with samples and treats.

I had a fantastic time running the Hartford Half Marathon and would love to run it again. A friendly city, a beautiful and slightly challenging course, great organization, a green event and awesome medals make this a must do for anyone looking to explore the cool New England fall.