This was my second Chicago Marathon and I wish I could this one every year! A flat course, aside from Mount Roosevelt placed conveniently at mile 26, makes for a nice fast race. You can’t get any better than the spectators in Chicago, they are rows deep throughout the entire way. The energy they exude is toxic and just what any marathoner needs, especially as the miles tick away and fatigue sets in. I didn’t have a good race day but the spectators were so spectacular that I loved every minute. The aid stations are frequent and long, giving plenty of time and space even during the early miles before the race spreads out (which with the wave start, is never an issue to begin with) that you can grab multiple cups if needed. If there is just one marathon you do, make it Chicago!