Racing a half marathon in the middle of August is almost asking for a hot race (and if you've ever suffered through the Chicago Marathon in 85 degree heat you know that early fall can be iffy, too), but if you're just running to get a good workout and have a good time, this race is hard to beat- even with the potential for a race day heat wave. In running the half each of the past two years, the temps have been warm, but not hot. The average low at this time of year in Madison is 56°F with an average high of 82°F and this year fell right in line. Race day saw temps in the low 70s at gun time (7 am start), steadily moving higher as the race went on. Thankfully, the organizers make use of all of the shade that Madison has to offer, so the sun wasn't beating down on everyone as they ran. The race starts in waves, so the course was never too crowded, and the 5k race does not interfere with the half, so congestion is avoided in both events. Each mile is marked with a running clock, there are plenty of aid stations with water and Gatorade (I don't recall seeing a station with energy gels but that's not a big deal for a half) and the areas closer to the college had nice crowd support. The course itself has some rolling hills and is a nice mix of urban and outdoorsy, with the finish coming after a stretch through the heavily shaded UW arboretum leads to a great post race party at Memorial Union Terrace overlooking Lake Mendota.

This is a very well organized, easy to get to, reasonably priced race with a small-ish expo. The race shirt could be improved upon- nylon is always a less desirable option than mesh tech fabric, but the finisher's medal doubles as a bottle opener, so you have something to open your post race beer with (you do get a freebie at the finish line in a collectible plastic mug as well). I'd normally hesitate to recommend a summer race of this distance, but this race is both challenging and fun and definitely deserves consideration for anyone looking to push themselves and enjoy a rewarding finish line experience after.