For years, friends of mine had told me to run Twin Cities. They all said it was one of, if not the top, of their favorite marathon list. Somehow, I always seemed to have a work conflict for that day, so I never was able to run TC until this year. It definitely lived up to the hype!

The weather was 100% perfect. About 30 degrees at the start and probably high 40s at the finish. A little wind, but nothing to write home about. The only negative, I thought, was that we couldn't go into US Bank Stadium since the Vikings had a home game. But that's so minor. Otherwise, the start was probably the best and easiest start line I've ever navigated for a marathon. Super-easy and very helpful volunteers.

The race itself was superb. Easily the best crowd support I've ever had in a race and it isn't even close. There was only one stretch I remember, around mile 19 I think, where there weren't people everywhere. Great atmosphere. The hill right after mile 20 is brutal. That part is the only hill to speak of on the course, but it comes at a wicked time. I trained to run up the hill, but not to run over the hill (if you will). Those last three miles killed me.

The post race chute was long, but that's to be expected for a large race. I wasn't the biggest fan of the finishers shirt as they seemed to run small (anyone else have this issue...or just me?). But I loved getting a knit hat in the race bag. It came in useful after the race standing in the finisher's chute. Oh and the Caribou coffee was amazing at the finish.

All in all, I loved this race. I don't know if I'll do the full next year (who knows what my schedule will have in store), but I would like to at least be in the Cities for the weekend.