First, the bad news: Back and forth and back and forth, around orange cones and a cloth 'scrunchy' each time to prove that you have been there. And the race is held on an elevated expressway where no spectators are allowed. And while the course is fast (with few inclines), as with other CTRRA races, distances are annoyingly marked only every 5km and there are no clocks except at the finish line. And yes, no ChampionChip, so your watch is all you have.

The good news: It's flat and the weather is mild at this time of year. Also while the course is an elevated expressway, it's actually more scenic than Taipei - you get to see mountains on your left and the city on your right, including the two 'beautiful' manmade landmarks: the Shin Kong Life Building and the 101 Building. Drink and sponge stations are plentiful, although water is basically the only liquid provided.

Overall, it's functional and given the weather and courses in Asia, it's about as fast as they come.

This marathon course is not exciting at all. Straight out and back, twice. If you are looking for a scenic, bucolic marathon, Taroko in Eastern Taiwan is *the* race.

However, if you want to run a fast time on a course that lets you get into a good tempo w/ no distractions, this is it. Flat, fast, even surface w/ no traffic, and no people cutting across the course. There is nothing fancy about this race, and the support is minimal, but adequate.

Your satisfaction w/ this race depends on what your goals are and why you run:

If your motivation is to have fun and enjoy the event/scenery, skip this one.

If your motivation is to get a good time in a race that has fairly good conditions, a fast course and some decent competion w/out being a complete zoo (e.g. London, Paris, NYC, etc), then this is a superb choice.

This race embodies Taiwan itself - no frills, and execution that meets most peoples' minimum requirements for their own goals.

If you want to be entertained, run elsewhere.

By all means, come to Taiwan--this is not China!!!--and run a breath-taking marathon--in the fall, at Taroko Gorge--the most beautiful marathon in the world.

Taipei? Here's a different idea: let's run down an expressway, with an airport on one side, and open, smoggy, congested expressway lanes on the other. There are no points of scenery, no spectators, and when I ran in 2002 it was raining, as it frequently is in Taipei at this time. If you like noise and asphalt and drizzle and air pollution, this is the place for you.

The city puts zero effort into this race. Even the finishing medal is cheesy.

It's an out and back course with nothing to recommend it, and that expressway goes up and down more times than you might think it would. A real mental challenge.

Taipei's a beautiful city. Mayor Ma should be embarrassed to have a race like this take place here.

No English anywhere, by the way. Very odd.

I ran 5 marathons in 2002. Taipei? Never again. Never. Ever.