I have run the Detroit Free Press Full Marathon 3 times now. The first time in 2013, second in 2014, and then I took a year off and came back this year. Taking the year off definitely gave me some perspective on how this race is managed.

The expo has been changed for the better as a previous reviewer mentioned. They now funnel you right to the packet pickup station and you can take care of that right away. I never had much of an issue with the setup before, as I like to walk through and see the vendors. They announced several weeks before the race that tech shirts would be delayed until after the race and mailed directly to our homes. Just as FYI, it is November 28th today and the race was October 16th, I have yet to receive my shirt. I registered for this race on New Years Day 2016, it is really bad that they messed this up.

Race day itself is fine, for the most part the course itself is well organized. The parking they try to "recommend" is bad. Parking in one of the free garages downtown at MGM led to us being stuck is said garage for 90 minutes after the race. Myself and other runners were doing group stretches in the parking garage to avoid having our muscles lock up because we couldn't leave. I parked in a lot where you pay a private attendant in 2013 and 2014 and would recommend that instead of using one of the casinos.

Photos for other races are available MUCH faster than this race is. The website said 48 hours and it was definitely more like 72. The runner tracking is also very bad and lags terribly. My spectators were concerned I had fallen at some point because it wasnt updating with my progress! My spectators should not have to be concerned that something happened to me, thats ridiculous.