This was my 5th marathon, and overall it was a pretty good race.

Pros:
The Madison Marathon is a really nice course, as it winds throughout the city and the University of Wisconsin campus. There is one stretch of about 3 miles through a kind of blighted area (Sherman Ave), but other than that it's a very scenic (and fairly hilly) course.

With only 1500 runners, parking and race day access was very easy. Plus, lines at the porto potties were really short - I loved that :).

Cons:
My biggest pet peeve about this race was the use of plastic cups at aid stations. Plastic cups are SIGNIFICANTLY more difficult to use, as you can't pinch them to drink. So that means you pretty much have to walk to drink, and slowing down to walk at each aid station will cut into your time if you are trying to run a fast marathon. Paper cups are pretty much standard these days, and for good reason.

Also - there was an aid station placed in the middle of a large hill! That's crazy, because running up a hill late in the race is tough. But to have to stop, and then try to get started again UP HILL is even harder. This is pretty basic - aid stations should be at the top or bottom of hills.

Overall - it was a good race with a few basic race management flaws. Really though, it's hard to complain about a race through such a good-looking college campus that begins and ends at the state capital building!