Road2Hope Hamilton Marathon - Race Reviews

The race is well organized with runners getting access to a nearby community centre prior the race start. you park at the finish line and shuttles take you to the start. lots of food at the end of the race and water stations every 3 km. It started raining hard right at the start. The 10km of downhill after the half way point was welcome. More hills than I remembered in the first half but pretty flat the last 10 km. The scenery along the waterfront is nice at the end as well.

The views from the escarpment and along the waterfront are superb. I actually liked the cold, rainy weather. My only negative comment concerns the course changes which I was told happened about 2 years, adding significant hills in the first half, which is not what is advertised.

This was my 33rd overall Marathon, and I truly enjoyed it. I decided to complete the 'Hammer the Hammer' Challenge (5K and 10K on Saturday and Marathon on Sunday). I won the event, and brought my best 5K, 10K and Marathon times in over 5 years. The Race pick-up was small, but very quick and well organized. You can really tell how the volunteers really love the event. This is an awesome race if you want a well-organized, small-town feel for a Marathon. The medal and shirt were very nice, with a unique 10th Anniversary logo. The course was very well marked, with lots of support from the volunteers and fans near the finish. The weather didn't co-operate this year, but it wasn't a big problem to battle through. I loved running on the Red Hill Expressway and the last 10K of the Marathon is truly amazing with views of Lake Ontario and lots of green space. The Finish line was well supported with hot soup and lots of nutrition and drinks. Excellent job to the Organizing Committee and the City of Hamilton. Truly a gem!!

I ran the half here last year and ran the full this year. Shaved over 20 minutes off my Ottawa Marathon time. This race is well organised. Aid stations are evenly spaced out. Route is well marked and has excellent course marshalls. There various sections of the course help break it up. The downhill portion on the Red Hill Valley parkway is fun to run. How often do you get to run on a highway? You do not get the kind of fan support you do at bigger races, but there were a lot of volunteers at every aid station that were supportive. There was another comment that didn't like the shirt. I'm the opposite. I LOVED it. It was the 10th anniversary of the race this year so they chose a unique design. It was very windy and rainy this year but nothing you can do about that. One of the race directors, Gord Pauls, was there still at the start, and was one of the key people helping people as they crossed the finish line. I love the personal touch of the race! The post race food was perfect. A hot soup to warm you up, replace fluids and salt. I had 3 cups of it! They had lots of other food options (bananas, apples, pizza, protein bars) which I took to go as my system didn't want the solid food right away. They had an RMT in the medic tent who helped me a lot. There are free massages in another tent too They also has a Tim Hortons truck giving away free coffee and hot chocolate. We Canadians LOVE our Tim Hortons! The medal was good quality...quite solid. Free race photos were really appreciated. I feel fortunate to be part of the hometown crowd here and I echo othe centiments about the race directors. They care so much about this race and the charities it supports. I will be back!

With the warmer-than-average temperatures that we had in the area this fall, I wanted to push my goal race as far back as possible in hopes of cool weather, while still being able to stay semi-local to keep logistics easy. This is no big-city race, but it doesn't need to be. For someone who just wants to show up and run a fast race, Hamilton is perfect. They allow morning-of packet pickup, which was ideal for someone like me, coming from Buffalo. It was very easy to find the finish area and park (although I would recommend coming early as I heard minor grumblings that the area got tied up at a certain point with all the shuttles going out and cars coming in). The shuttle was quick. Having the arena to wait in right next to the starting line was amazing, especially on a cool, windy, and rainy morning like the one we had. The course itself is a mix of scenic rural roads and more suburban areas. The views off of the escarpment early in the race were really beautiful. The first half has a few more rollers than I was expecting, but they're all very gentle - just enough to give the legs some variety. The wind made for some challenging sections, but there are enough turns that we were never stuck in a headwind for long. The water stops were plentiful, and the volunteers were fantastic. My only (minor) complaint is that some of the smaller intersections were not traffic-controlled. Luckily drivers were patient, but it still made me a bit nervous. I loved the downhill Red Hill Valley Parkway section - such a neat experience! The short off-road section after the parkway wasn't as tricky as I was expecting based on some comments - the cobblestones weren't great, but those sections are extremely short. At a 4-hour pace, I did catch some half marathoners there, but there was plenty of room to pass. The final stretch along the lake was beautiful, even if I was in too much pain to properly experience it. Like the previous commenter, I was surprised by the number of people cheering considering the weather. The was a nice post-race spread (including soup, which is objectively the best thing ever after a marathon). They had a big tent with plenty of chairs so we could sit down and get out of the weather. Also, a shoutout to the bag pickup folks - I came staggering in, still very tired and disoriented, and they read my bib number and shouted for my bag, and they had it ready to go before I even got to the table. That's service! After I changed and ate, I was back in my car and on the QEW within a couple minutes. Super easy. Another nice touch that the race offers - free photos! They only had a couple photographers out, but that's still nice to see. Overall, I had a fantastic experience at the race and ran a 14 minute PR despite the weather. This race doesn't appear to be very well-known in Buffalo compared to Niagara Falls International and TWFM, but you can bet that I'll talk it up whenever I get the chance!

I've run the Hamilton Marathon three of its ten years, and I love it more each time. The course is touted to be the fastest Boston qualifier in Canada, and it certainly is a course that lends itself to a BQ. That said, it is NOT a breakneck, quad-trashing, ridiculous descent that some 'fast' marathons choose to use, but rather a gentle, easy descent over 8km. I'm writing this the day after running the marathon and my legs feel better than they have at any other marathon. There is so much to love about this race. It's small and intimate as marathons go, which I happen to like, though I admit some people do like the crowd support of the major marathons. That said, there were a surprising number of people standing out in the wind and battering rain yesterday to cheer on the runners, all along the course. The staging area for the start is a rec complex, which means a warm place to wait and yes, indoor plumbing. You can go out the doors to the start line 5 minutes before start time and it's as easy as that. The course is in a word, lovely. The first 15 k or so are all on rural, largely flat country roads, with a few stretches of splendid views out over lake Ontario, all the way toward Toronto. Then you do 8k in rural/suburban but still quiet areas before heading down the Red Hill Expressway at 22km. This 6km descent is entirely closed to traffic, and it's quite fun to run down the highway as the traffic in the upbound lanes beeps horns in encouragement. At Barton Street (28k) you leave the expressway and do 2km on trails, which is a really nice change of footing. Nothing technical, but a great way to change it up and give the legs a bit of a rest. Kilometres 31 to 36-ish are done along the waterfront trail and Beach Boulevard. There is a timing mat at the 36k turnaround, then you head back along the waterfront trail toward the finish line. You are literally running right alongside Lake Ontario. There could be few prettier places to run a marathon. Yes, weather is a crap shoot. November in Southern Ontario could be anything from Summer to Winter. Roll the dice and see what you get on race day. The three times I've run this race were basically three different seasons. And the 2017 version was VERY windy and VERY rainy. Yes, the wind is a factor. But look at the course map and you'll see that headwinds and tailwinds basically average out. There will be some tough kilometres. But there will be some easy ones as well. Last year, 2016, we had a headwind going down the Red Hill, and it seemed to mitigate the speed of the descent. This year, 2017, we struggled against headwinds from kilometres 9-14 and again from 36-42, but kilometres 22-30 down the Red Hill were a sturdy tailwind. The post-race care is exceptional. Right at the finish line there is a big tent with people handing out soup and pizza and other comfort foods to help warm up the cold, tired runners. The very best thing about this race, though, is the intangible, human factor. The Pauls family is a running institution in Hamilton; they are all passionate runners and triathletes; they operate the Runners Den stores, they have sponsored and supported African runners who need to find their feet in Canada, and they have organized this race and others such as the Ancaster Old Mill race, for many years. They have always been inspirational for what they give back to the local community and to other charities, such as relief work in Haiti in the case of the Road2Hope races. They have created a cadre of dedicated volunteers who genuinely want to be at this race and make sure that the runners have a positive experience, as was witnessed at the 2017 edition of the race. Given the weather conditions, I fully expected some water stations to perhaps be understaffed, because volunteers had cried off, but this was far from the case. The people standing out there in the rain were enthusiastic and kind and very much appreciated. And I think it's this quality that speaks to the city of Hamilton as a whole. They're simply good, kind people. I almost want to be selfish and not post this review, because I feel like the Road2Hope marathon is indeed a little gem of a race, and it's like a secret that I want to keep all to myself. But at the same time, they deserve the accolades for what they've accomplished.

I am from the uk. I came to canada on vacation and this was my first ever marathon. I thought the whole event was well organised and had plenty water and washroom stops on course. I enjoyed completing this and came over all placed 780 with a time of 4.43.13. I really enjoyed this day although i couldnt walk for days after it. I ran this race in 2011 and it was a great experience for me knowing i completed my goal of finishing a full marathon. I loved the canadian people that much from my time here i actually now live in nova scotia and have done since 5 months after completing this marathon. I would recommend this marathon route to anyone thats doing it first time. The terrain is all roads thats closed and mostly all flat which helps use less energy and to complete it in a park. I cant remember the name of it. It maybe confederation park but the crowds there were amazing. Giving out heat foil blankets and water and most important my finishing medal. I thank the organisers and the canadian people for their great event and support all along the way. Thank you Steven Dunn

Runners in Toronto are spoiled. They get to run some good races with only a tank of gas in the fall. You have the new MEC marathon in TO in September, London, PEC, Toronto Waterfront, Niagara Falls and Hamilton. The race is underrated. Fast and easy packet pickup with free parking, free parking on the race day and brilliant views. There was a strong head wind this year and I thought some of mile markings were off. They ran out of water and honey max near the end so I cramped up. Lots of pizza and soup at the end for 5 hour plus runners so I was happy. The t-shirt needs to go. It seems more like an afterthought. Something gaudy and obnoxious that screams I just ran 42.2 km in November.

The course was a lot more scenic than I expected. Looking over the lake at Toronto on the other side is a great way to keep your mind off of racing. The course layout is perfect to approach mentally with several different transition points. I found the marshalling to be very good and there was never any doubt about the next turn. We had near perfect weather at -2C to start. There was enough wind to be annoying and I think it will generally be against you but given the huge downhill it is a fair tradeoff. The water stops were enthusiastic and well placed, spectators are sparse but as expected in a marathon that isn't Boston or Chicago. The finish line soup is a nice touch to get some heat back in the body. I think the overall organization was very good. I'm not a huge fan of half marathons being run on the same course as marathons but given the later half start it isn't a major issue. I did experience some congestion on the path system in the park on the way out towards Burlington but it was manageable. Washrooms could always be more plentiful but people really need to arrive early and plan properly for themselves. Many people lined up for the indoor washrooms when the portapottie lines were moving quickly. The start line was not immediately obvious and could have been set up a little earlier in order to let people corral up. Several buses also showed up just prior to the start which delayed the start by a minute or two. Not a big deal just could be a bit smoother. Nice smaller race on a great course well set up for a good time. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I really liked this race. Plenty of free parking, plenty of food at the finish line and easy race kit pickup. Having the finish line close to the highway was a nice touch as well. The only minor improvements would be a space for emergency contact info at the back of the bib. Also maybe a later start time for half so the washrooms are not so crowded. Well worth the trip to Hamilton. Check out the burnt tongue resto afterwards

I ran the half-marathon in Hamilton this past weekend and it lived up to the hype of being scenic and fast. However, I thought there could be some improvements to be made - mainly with the water stops. I don't know what the sport mix was, but it was terrible. The volunteers did not put near enough water in the cups at the stops. In my opinion, they could have used one-two more water stops along the way. But, otherwise, a nice small race...and really beautiful!

I ran the half, rather than the full, but I loved it. The warm wait before the race started (on a cold day) was great. The wind breaker instead of solar blanket at the end was a great idea. There appeared to be lots of food and drink after the race.

This was my second Road2Hope marathon and my first in several years. I enjoyed the course changes and the organization was top-notch. I found the volunteers to be outstanding and the spectators, although sparse, were typically enthusiastic. One word of warning to those thinking of Boston qualifiersI was very much looking forward to the 4 mile downhill stretch of parkway to make up some time, but found that because of the strong headwind and the lack of anything to block it, those were actually my slowest (and mentally toughest) miles. I also have one piece of constructive criticism for race organizers for next year: as the runners exit the parkway and start down the narrow gravel trail that follows, there is a very short, sharp downhill stretch that is 'paved' with uneven concrete blocks that have various patterns/holes in them. I found it very hard to keep my footing there, and it might be useful in the future to find some sort of padding or runner to lay over that small stretch so that people don't twist an ankle (much like some of the big-city marathons do over bridges with uneven surfaces). Just a thought. All in all, it was a nice day and a good race. I'd love to run it again, hopefully on a day with a little less wind!

Very fast course. first 13 miles is mostly flat with a few rollers tossed in. Next 5 miles are downhill. Last 8 miles are completely flat. I will definitely be back. Only thing that may concern people is that they use this honey based electrolyte drink instead of a more traditional brand. it worked out fine for me, but If people have sensitive stomachs it could pose a problem. Hey, I am all for Go-Green and eating healthy, but I don't think a full marathon is the place for non traditional products.

I thought this was a well-organized little race. It was a cold day and I appreciated having an indoor space to hang around in before the race was underway. Bag check went smoothly on both ends and I liked my shirt and medal. The course was well-marked and although the spectators were sparse, the ones who were out there were enthusiastic. I see some folks below were annoyed with the gravel pathway part of the race, but I rather liked it. It allowed my legs to recover a wee bit from pounding the pavement. If you're going to run this race, you need to enter it understanding that it's small and won't have the panache of the larger marathons, but, if you're there for the run, not the frilly stuff, you'll enjoy yourself just fine. My only teeny-weeny suggestion (if possible) is a couple of extra mats on the course for splits (10 km, half, etc.).

Ran this 42.2 when NYC was cancelled. Conveniently located only an hour away (Toronto). Very bleak course. Almost no spectators. Lots of slow halfers to get around. 3k of gravel trail is terrible. Out and back...and out and black is brutal so late in the race (comes at 30k). The 6k downhill is generous, but trashes the legs. Times will be fast but not a great experience. Would NOT run this again.

When I ran Hamilton in 2010 and 2011, it was a well organized race with a course that was fun to run and just happened to be fast. Now, it just offers a fast course. The race has gone downhill faster than an elite on the Red Hill Valley Parkway. PROS - you will get a better result than you would get on a neutral course because of the 6 km downhill - bag check was efficient CONS - to avoid problems with train crossings that had plagued previous races, the course was re-designed to include (1) a narrow gravel-paved portion, and (2) a double looped out-and-back - the double loop caused serious confusion, and it was discouraging to be sent back out for another lap - the narrow sections of the course were littered with slower half-marathoners that clogged up the path for passing marathoners - at times it was a serious cluster - parking at the finish was terrible - there were serious safety concerns as cars were parking on the shoulders of on-ramps to the highway - drink tables were too short - there's not much opportunity to grab a cup I skipped this race last year for fear of a train interrupting my race. I came back this year to find that the changes to the course were definitely for the worse, and the organizers have tried to cram too many people on to it for the race to be enjoyable. This used to be such a nice little marathon. Now, unless you want to make the Faustian bargain in pursuit of a BQ or other PR, I think you'd have a better time running one of the other races in the region.

I would like to thank the organizers of this marathon for making a quick decision to add 250 spaces for displaced New York City marathoners. I was so excited to be able to run after 3 months of hard training. I even ran a personal best.

This was my 3rd 1/2 marathon, and my second Road2Hope. I loved it. There were over 2,000 in the 1/2, and everyone seemed very relaxed. The volunteers were great. There were lots of water stations. Beautiful waterfront finish, and I cut 5 minutes off my finish time from last year.

This is an amazing and beautiful race run by some of the nicest folks I've ever met. With the closing of the 2012 NYC Marathon, we scrambled to look for other marathons going around the same time. My girlfriend and I hopped in the car and fled to Canada! We were thrilled that they added 250 spots for New Yorkers (all were filled), and they went out of their way to find us lodging and give us a warm welcome to Canada. I ran the half, my girlfriend ran the full, both cover roughly the same course with the marathon having a longer out and back along Lake Ontario, and an additional loop at the start. Almost all of the course is downhill, leading to fast times and many Boston qualifiers. I think we both wished there were more spectators, but you get the sense that everybody in the town who would be cheering is with you in the race! This is an impeccably run race that raises money for a great cause. Everyone involved is incredibly nice, from the organizers, to the participants, to the city of Hamilton. If you train, you will PR on this course. We can't wait to come back!

Pros -Fast course with a nice 7km downhill stretch. -Buses fromthe park to start were very well run -Lots of space at community centre to keep warm before the race -Line ups for bathrooms were minimal beforehand Cons -In my opinion, the biggest mistake the organizers made is having the half marathon runner/walkers start 15 min AFTER the full marathoners. Since part of the route is different for the half marathoners, faster runners (<3:30) will have to pass the slower halfers TWICE. This becomes tough towards the end, with the last 7km run on a waterfront trail. I was weaving much more than I would have liked towards the end and on a couple of occasions I had to ask for walkers to move to the right so I could pass. I have no problem with walkers, but either have them start earlier so we don't have to pass so many or have course marshalls move them to the right so runners can pass. 2 minor areas for improvement - there was no room for spectators to park at the finish line. We were told there would be plenty of parking, but that was not the case. - if you consider running this marathon, study the course beforehand. There is a double loop in the second half. I saw one runner take a wrong turn and get called back, while I heard of another runner who missed the loop and was DQ'd after crossing the finish line after 38km. Overall a good and fairly well organized marathon. A simple adjustment by having the half marathoners start at the same time, or even 30 min after the full marathon, would eliminate the frustration of weaving through walkers on tired legs.

This was my 8th marathon. I rank it very highly. A small expo but some good deals. Extremely well organized, with a big school to accomodate everyone pre-race. Excellent shuttle service to the starting line, with a fine young man on the bus describing his charity work. Well run baggage checks. A long downhill makes this a truly fast marathon, although it does have some hills - so it gives and takes both. The one recommendation for improvement would be to provide a more popular sportsdrink such as gatorade and to offer more fluid per cup. A nice grassy area for relaxing afterwards with good live music. I enjoyed this small event more than the big-city Toronto Waterfront. Congrats to all the people who worked hard to make it a success. Good job.

Though small, this marathon was as well organized as any of the big ones I've done. The course was pleasant, with countryside for the first half and a nice lakeshore park trail at the end - and the 6K downhill in the middle was almost like cheating! Volunteers were all great.

The course was beautiful and very easy. I improved my best time by 14 minutes and got a very strong BQ as a result. Very happy. I found the spectators to be very enthusiastic and encouraging. Yes, there isn't a huge crowd out there, but we're in Hamilton, not Toronto. The cheers I got were more than enough for me. Thank you to whoever was out there cheering for us! Organisation was #1. Nothing bad to say about it. Water and e-load at every 3km was fine with me. In November, no need to drink every 10 minutes... E-load instead of gatorade is fine, no problem for me with that. The volunteers were extremely pleasant and worked hard for us. I'm very grateful, thanks guys! Finally, the size small shirt I received was the first TRUE size small I have ever received. Thank you! Finally a shirt I can wear. I love it. I will be in Hamilton next year, for sure. We loved the town, did the Warplane Museum, great restaurants, etc... Don't miss this awesome marathon!

My 33rd marathon! The racekit pick up was easy and the free parking and buses were nice. I liked the fact that we started at the school. Some of the signage for parking was a bit confusing but this can be changed next year. I wish the course had more water stations (every 2 km) and used Gatorade instead of E load. The shirt was nice and the medal was fine. Great to see a monkey run a marathon! Host hotel was very accomodating and well priced. The race expo could have used a few more vendors and the fans were very sparse.

It was a good marathon. Downhill - no uphill. Nice country view. There were no more cookies at the post party by the time I finished the marathon. There should be more cookies for all of the marathon runners - even the ones who came in late. Water stations were good.

Good race overall. Lots of toilets, free parking, and a warm school to wait in. Running down the mountain on the highway was also pretty cool. One problem: There needs to be more liquid in the cups at the stations. I don't think I got a full mouthful of liquid at any of the stations. At the finish line I was given one bottle of water but that's all. There was nothing else to drink available (I even asked several volunteers). Again, good race but it needs to offer more to drink.

At 29K a train crossed the course, and delayed me by over 4 minutes. It's hard to take an interruption like that in the race. The RD did respond to my enquiry, so I appreciate his courtesy. What it amounts to is that CN Rail would not commit to avoiding the crossing during the race. Also, they serve something called e-Load at the event. It is clear, and served in the same cup as water. Makes it hard to navigate the aid stations. They should put the carb drink in a colored cup. And pick something more common, like Gatorade or PowerAde. Course is good, 'cept for the train.

This was a nice, small race on a relatively flat course. Only complaint was with the information provided to me prior to the race regarding fluids on the race course (was told it would be Gatorade, only to later find out it was GU). Also, the website could use a little more info -  e.g. printable race course map with kilometer markings on it, etc. Overall, though, it was a nice, small race and I love that it's run in early November!

The scenic views were great and the 3-mile friendly grade downhill made it easy to enjoy. The water stations were fair and they seemed to be trying to conserve water - I had to take 3 or 4 cups to get my gel down. The second half was also a bit rough, but maybe that was due to some construction. The race finishes along the lake and that was beautiful! Maybe a pasta dinner the night before would have been helpful as many Italian restaurants were full. I would recomend this race as well as the Holday Inn Express that could not have been more convenient and hospitable - with a late checkout at no extra cost!

As others have mentioned, the course is great, fast and scenic - from rolling country roads to the downhill parkway to the flat waterfront. The run was a good experience. However, the swag was the pits; there was no difference between the medals or shirts for the half and the full. The post-race food was pathetic, and get rid of the eLoad and bring on the Gatorade. I needed to visit the medical tent for a few minutes when I was done and the team there was great. The weather was perfect and I qualified for Boston by running my first marathon in seven years. Overall, I would say that I'll be back, however; you've got to improve a few things if you want people to keep coming back and if you want to be considered a quality marathon (for more than just the fast course).

I had a wonderful race. I ran it very conservatively with an eight-minute negative split. I didn't hit the wall until 38 KM. In the future, please keep bikes off of the race course for the last 5 KM (I almost got hit as I couldn't move fast enough). Thanks for everything else!

If you are looking for thousands of cheering fans and all kinds of cool scenery, do NYC, Boston, Chicago or Marine Corp. However, if you are looking for a nice, well-run race where you have a very good shot at getting a PB or a BQ, then this is the race!

Great race. The 21.5K-27.5K stretch on the Red Hill Valley Parkway has got to be my favorite part of any race course I've run to-date. Steady downhill on new pavement on a freeway closed for the race, and the view there is much, much better than one would expect on a freeway - great views of Lake Ontario, with fall colors and some of the natural rock formations cut into to make room for the highway. Rolling hills in the country for the first half, downhill on the freeway for 6K, starting with the only significant net downhill of the race - and for that first 4K on the freeway, you are flying. Then you have 4K through the city, 4K near the beach, and 6K on the beach. Organization was fine, including a warm school to stay inside until 60-90 seconds before the start. Fans were sparse as one would expect for a third-year marathon - but those out had cowbells, high-fives and banners from overpasses. Check this one out; there is a reason this one doubled in size from 2008 to 2009.

There was lots of free parking at the finish area with shuttle buses to the start. The indoor waiting area at the start meant we were able to keep warm, which was really great! The race course had fairly flat country roads for the first half and then a long, beautiful downhill with amazing views of the water and fall color. The last section was along the waterfront trail. A really nice mix of areas covered kept the race interesting. The half marathon had a separate start in a different direction, which meant there was no bottleneck to get going. It doesn't get any better than this. Water/aid stations were well covered with very enthusiastic volunteers - thank you! The spectators may not have been plentiful in areas, but they were very encouraging (even the bicycle patrols cheered us on). The finish area served the usual fruit, cake, donuts, cookies, pizza, etc., but what I really loved most was the hot soup. The race organizers have done a fantastic job. I would do this race again in a heartbeat.

Lets see, where to start? This was my 2nd marathon (1st was Mississauga in 2008) and I PB'd by 15 minutes and BQ'd. What more can I say? What more could you want? Beautiful, flat, country roads for the start; there are no uphills anywhere. Then there was a nice downhill, and a waterfront finish. OK, so there was some wind. Not sure how the organizing committee controls that. No rain, cool - perfect. Water stations were well stocked, and having parking at the finish with buses to the start means that all of your dry clothes are waiting for you. Everything was great. AND the sponsor hotel (Holiday Inn) gave all runners FREE late checkout, and there was FREE breakfast. (It was 2 minutes from the finish... how could this be better??) One question: Was the lady on the bike "Elvira Gulch" - see another's comment - from the Wizard of Oz??? That got me laughing a lot every time I saw her. If it's not her, it's her twin sister. Room for improvement: finish photos could be better. All in all, a great experience.

The course was nice - especially the country roads and the waterfront at the end. There were too few spectators - even ones at the finish were kinda quiet. Volunteers at water stations were just awesome, showing great enthusiasm. The gel stop at 28K was great, but too many half-marathon walkers were crowding the area. Gels should be for full marathoners first. Not much schwag for the $90 entry fee - no foil blankets at the cold, breezy finish area, and only a coupon for small fries at a Hamilton McDonald's. What's up with that? OK otherwise.