Expo: easy to get to from the light rail which is a plus. Bib was easy to pick up. Not much to see among the vendors, but no complaints in general. Given the small size, they could probably hold it at a hotel downtown which would be more convenient in general.

I opted for the pre-race VIP package. I arrived right at 5:30, when it opened (1 hour prior to start) which was a good idea. There was a crowd and the hot coffee and seats near the heaters went very quickly. The restroom line was pretty long even in the VIP section. Location was convenient for the start and the gear check was easy. Overall, worth the money, I think.

Course: I think my main complaint with this race is that it is heavily geared toward the half-marathon distance and the marathon feels like an after thought. The ratio of half to full runners seemed about 10 to 1. They crammed most of the entertainment and the pretty parts of the course into the first half. There were some big but short hills in the first half, but nothing unmanageable. The full marathon broke off right at mile 12.5 and much of the remaining miles were a long and painful slog on the viaduct. There were some nice views, but the wind was howling and it's tough pounding on concrete for that long. There was a short loop in Woodland park around mile 21 that was scenic and peaceful but absolutely dreadful in terms of elevation change. It was on narrow, rocky trails that were steep going up and down. Everyone I saw was walking both down and up. The last 2 miles are an easy downhill slide (except for a 0.2 mile hill at the VERY end. There were plenty of on course aid stations and port-a-potties. The on course gel was disgusting so glad I brought my trusty sport beans. Some intrepid spectators were handing out donuts and bagels on the aurora bridge at mile 23. Amazing! Great fan support overall.

Recovery/finish line: immediately handed my medal and drinks which was nice. No blanket or jacket though to warm up which was a real problem for the full marathon. A rainstorm blew in at mile 23 and the temperature dropped 15 degrees, gusty wind and pelting rain. I was near frozen by the time I crossed the finish line and everyone in the recovery area seemed perplexed that I was cold. They probably should have prepared for that ahead of time and been ready to hand out wraps. I was absolutely frozen by the time I made it to gear check.