This is my third time running a distance at this event. My review may sound repetitive, but a great race is consistent!

The 2018 event took place on Sunday, November 11 at 7:10 am. (The full marathon started at 7am, and the wheelers started 5 minutes before each distance.) It was a cold, temps in the 20s and cloudy, eventually the sun would come out.

The race is part of a race series. You can complete distances at the spring "Run Madtown" events to earn an additional medal.

Registration: This is available online, and closes a few days before the race. However, you can register at the expo the day before the race. The price increased as race day approached. Included with my registration was a personalize bib with timing strip, a long sleeve gender specific shirt (very soft), along with a bag of flyers. A virtual event bag was sent a few days prior to the race via email.

Expo/ Packet pick-up: The expo was held the day before the race at the Monona Terrace. It's an event space, parking is attached for $5. If you wanted to walk, you could park downtown. The expo was the only place to get your packet unless you paid extra for race day pickup. Someone else could have picked up your bib if you had a copy of their ID.
*I was unable to attend the expo this year and took advantage of having someone else picking up my things. I sent a picture of my ID to my friend and they had no issues.

Pre-race: The race starts and finishes at the Capital, which is the heart of Madison. Surprisingly enough on street parking is free, just blocks from this area, but arrive early before the roads are closed. Gear check was set up, and you could use any bag, just had to attach the number from the bottom of your bib. There were a long line of port-o-potties set up, with minimal wait. An information tent was near the back of the corral areas.

There was no actual corral start, but there were pacers in the corral area you could line yourself up with. The marathon started first, with the half 10 minutes later, so you had to pay attention to what you were lining up for and where you were seeding yourself, as the corral system was the same for both race. There were some announcements and I don't recall listening to the National Anthem. The corrals are also "back fed" meaning you enter in the back, so if you are faster you have to snake through the crowd to get to your pace area.

Race/Course:
-Terrain: The entire course is on pavement. There are spots that are new smooth asphalt, but other areas with potholes, nothing major, just pay attention. I also noticed some banked roads.
-Elevation: Madison has hills, they were on this course, the biggest being around mile 8-9. (This is the thing I heard most about post race, does anyone read my reviews? Madison is hilly!)
-Photographers: on the course, and photos were posted the next day online FOR FREE!!
-Aid Stations: There were plenty of hydration stations on course, each had Gatorade- lemon lime, and water. It was water, Gatorade, water at each stop. The first few were very organized with liquids in different cups. However, the last few were a mix of what was in each cup. The Volunteers were vocal as to what they had to offer. There were a couple stops with gels. The aid stations were also prepared for the cooler temps as they had ice melt thrown on the ground to prevent icy spots.
-Spectators: there were a few here and there. Most people on course were family of runners. It was colder, so might limit who was out an about, there were no spectator aid stations on the half route.
-Volunteers:Friendly people on the course, there were law enforcement at the major intersections helping cars across the streets.
-Course markings: Each mile was marked with a sign. There were cones on the roads that were open to traffic, closing off just parts of the roads.
-Race tracking - App available to download to track runners
-Scenery- This course is different from the other races, it does not go down State Street or near any UW features, instead it's near the lake and through residential neighborhoods.

Finish/Post Race: The starting area is the finish chute, so the arch with a timing mat are easy to spot. Once across the line, a volunteer handed you a medal. There was a table with bottled water. Then a photo opportunity with the backdrop. If you wanted a foil blanket you could get one. Then you keep walking to snag an orange slice and banana. Then you could chose your bagged Panera lunch (ham, turkey, or veggie sandwich, bag of chips and a cookie.) There was a table to claim challenge medals and an area to snag a chocolate milk. There were tables here to sit and drink your beer. This year they had a radler available too, but the person ahead of me go the last one. Race merchandise was available for sale too.

My Race: This was my 50th half marathon. I just wanted to finish, I didn't have a training plan or any goal. I knew the course as I ran it last year. I was in it for the medal - they started a 4 year medal series last year and I have to complete it.

I struggled with what to wear. If this was January the race day temps would have been warm, however it's the first few cold days of the season. This issue had me walking to shed a layer halfway in the race.

I said this last year and I can say it again this year - I really did not care for this course. It was one of the more boring routes I've run in Madison, just running busier roads, so I welcomed the hills as something different.

I finished with a time near 2:20 on my Garmin, but because I used the facilities I had an official race time of 2:22, which is fitting as that is the time I ran my first half marathon.

If it were warmer I would have tried harder to get my hands on that Radler, but instead I went to sit in the car to get warm as I waited for some friends to finish the full marathon. Maybe this Radler is a hint for better beer in the future.

Also - I am not sure if it was an error on my part, but I failed to realize there was a challenge medal up for grabs for running the spring race events and the fall half marathon. I thought it was just for the fall full marathon. With the proper papers, I could have received another medal. Why is this important - I noted this on twitter and the race management sent me the challenge medal!!!

Overall: Before this race I counted and I have run over 10 races in Madison. I keep coming back, and I will be back next November, if not sooner. I also need to continue my medal series. This may not be the most scenic Madison route, but they know how to put on an event.