I signed up for this race because I've heard great things, and I was not disappointed! This race has been going on for over 30 years and it is put on by folks who know what racers need.
I wasn't crazy about the color of the long sleeve finisher shirt, but the shirt itself was great.
Aid stations were fewer than I remembered, but exactly what is needed for myself. I had a plan for when to take hydration and nutrition and it worked out perfectly at the aid stations they had set up. I am a sub 2:35 runner, so I do not spend a lot of time on the course. If you are looking for a race with water stops every mile this is not the race for you unfortunately.
Beautiful course! This is a mid-fall race, typically with great temperatures, and great colors on the trees. It was a little wet on the course from raining the previous evening so if that happens you have to be careful of wet leaves on the road.
Expo was what I expected from a small marathon. Not very big, but they had run specialty store vendors and other races advertised. Easy to navigate through.
This course is a net-downhill. Big drop about 2 miles from the finish line makes for a fun finish. A few short hills mid race takes the monotony out of a totally flat course. There are also plenty of easy turns so you aren't running a straight away the whole time.
The race starts at a high school outside Milwaukee, with plenty of parking, buses to take you there in the morning from the city, and most importantly: BATHROOMS! Tons of bathrooms for a race this size takes a lot of stress out of my pre race routine. (One of the important factors I consider when choosing races)
Finally, I am giving 5 stars to the race management team here. They have lead bikes for the both the lead males and females. (Being in second for most of the race I also had a biker in front of me) They have sentries posted at all intersections, even driveways, to keep the runners safe. The course is not a closed course. You are running on the left side of the road for the majority of the race with the occasional car going by. This makes the course very spectator friendly! My family was able to see me 6 times along the course by driving up ahead of me every few miles.
I will definitely be running this race again!