This was much first marathon and it was an awesome experience. The course and crowd support was top notch from beginning to end. Water and Gatorade were plentiful.
I do wish the finishers medals were a bit more elaborate for such an elite world class event. At the finish line, runners

Having done a few indoor triathlons, I decided to try the Flat as a Pancake as my first outdoor sprint. Swimming in the bay was a little tough for a newbie, but otherwise the race was great. Set-up was easy; the bike and running courses were truly flat, and

I've participated in this race for the past 4 years and I love it! The course contours the lake, people are walking with their dogs, and the weather has been perfect each time -- even the race held in late October. This group of folks put on a superb