First, the good: The marathon course provides a great view of Milwaukee and its neighborhoods. Since it's not a massive field, it's easy for spectators to find the runners they came out to see.

Unfortunately, the most important aspect of the marathon was wrong. For the second year in a row, the course was the wrong length, this year coming up short by more than a half mile. This would have otherwise been a great experience for my first marathon, but the incorrectly measured course tarnished an otherwise worthwhile event. In the future, I think they should keep this to a half marathon until they can figure out how to properly ensure the marathon is the correct distance.

This was my first half marathon, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The weather was as good as can be expected for a Chicago summer morning. The on-course entertainment makes a huge difference. It really keeps you motivated throughout the race. The aid stations were great, plenty of Gatorade and water at each one, and cool, wet sponges being handed out in the later miles. The course is a beautiful run that really shows off stunning views of our city. Highly recommended.