Except for the windy second half, I don't really have many complaints about this race. Everything meets my expectations and the medal is such a beauty.

Course

Pretty flat (415 ft+ according to my Garmin), the biggest "climb" takes place in the first couple of miles. While the race is called "waterfront", you don't really run by the water at all. The closest you get to Lake Ontario is Mile 7-10 running out and back by a waterfront park. Other than that the course is pretty urban.
- Race day conditions: 8°C to 10°C, mostly cloudy. The sun came out for a bit during the first half, then it got cold and windy during the second half.

Logistics

- The Marathon starts and finishes at Nathan Phillips Square in the city center
- There are start corrals and we were able to get into the corral pretty close to start time. The fastest pace group at 3:10 (full) / 1:30 (half).
- Overall the crowd support is decent, but there are some sections that feel quiet (e.g. a long industrial section of Lake Shore Blvd E)
- Plenty of aid stations, full road closure.

Expo & Swag

- The expo is held at Enercare Centre, close to the city center and accessible by public transit. The venue is very spacious.
- Different from most races, the swag shirt is a cotton tee.
- Medal of this year is a real beauty. The round, golden medal looks like an Olympic gold medal!

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