Beat The Blerch Saturday Marathon

I am a running purist, but certain aspects of this run would probably entice some runners (e.g., junk food at aid stations, two day event with races both days). This being said though I enjoyed this run very much. The course as one of the prettiest I've run and I've completed nearly 100 marathons. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery the course offered- for ALL 26.2 miles. There were 3 different turnaround points that were clearly marked and easy to follow. Nine total aid stations were enough for me but some runners might like more. Packet pick up and pre-race logistics were well communicated. Having packet pick up at a running store always puts my mind at ease too, in case I forgot something. The spacing with the half marathon made the last few miles a little tight at times, but most everyone cooperated and left space so it was all okay. Post-race food was also sufficient, at least for me. I rated spectators as a 5, but that's because the people that were out were all incredible. If you want a lot of fans on the course, this is not the race for you. But if you want a truly beautiful course on a great surface, it's well worth the trade off. Race day parking was also easy- if, like me, you miss the deadline for a parking pass to be purchased, never fear- just read the website and follow the map, and the 'main lot' really is not much further away than the parking pass allows and is the perfect distance to stretch the legs a bit and/or warm up. While this was more of a 'fun' run than I typically do, the important things were all there and I was very impressed. I'd return for the course alone!