There are few runners in this marathon, and it's an out-and-back course that the half marathoners do once and the marathoners do twice. So, you end up running each stretch 4x. The course is nice and flat - it's well marked with plenty of aid stations. I found the late start (9 AM) meant that we ended up running under the heat of the noonday sun. This caused me some problems, but not the 'heat lovers'! The organizers put a lot of effort into it. It's a nice small race and worth the trip to Washington - a fantastically beautiful state with much to see and do in the vicinity (Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Rainier, the Pacific Coast).