This was my 6th marathon. I made some mistakes I should have known better about, and consequently my performance blew up early on. But as a race experience it was unforgetable in a really positive way - the volunteers as well as race staff were helpful and friendly, offering support even when I was plodding on after the clock stopped. As a course, there are a few minor hills - the slow ascent in mile 1 is totally do-able, and the dreaded hill at mile 15 is actually quite short. Burlington is a lovely city, and the early miles wind through pretty neighborhoods of Victorian houses, the mid-part gives some lovely glimpses of Lake Champlain and the final 4 miles are along the shaded bike path with the lake on one side. There is good crowd support in a number of places - at the start, going up and down Church St. and the neighborhood at the north end of town where people are lined up on their lawns celebrating marathon day and the runners who come by. I WILL be running this one again!