Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
Even though it's on the shoulder of the road, there isn't any camber to speak of, and hardly any cars on the road. The shoulder was repaved prior to the 2013 race which made the running surface much better.
Run the first half conservatively, take it easy after the turnaround for the next 3 miles uphill, and then pick it up for the last 10 gradual downhill.