I ran this race as my first marathon back in 2010 and it did not disappoint me. It starts just outside of Milwaukee at Grafton High School. The location is perfect because there are a ton of parking and bathroom options [they let you in to the high school to go to the bathroom and warm up].You take off from the high school and start making your way towards downtown Milwaukee. The crowd is sparse in some parts but you're still running alongside others so you don't feel alone. There were members of the neighborhoods and other bystanders offering encouragement and kleenex [which I took ;)] along the more "back road" places of the course. As you round to the finish you are running along the lakefront. The temperature drops a little bit but between your adrenaline and thoughts of a finish you should be warm enough to keep going without making changes. You end along the lakefront for post race food, drinks, and entertainment.

The expo was my first so I didn't really have expectations. Now that I've gone to a few more expos it was pretty standard for a race of this size. The "swag" was average but I really did love the shirt. I continue to wear it to this day and not just because it was my first full :)