Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
Very good course route. The start is a little hectic running through the downtown streets with lots of turns. After the first km the course straightens out and becomes great. Long straight sections and a couple of hills. The hills weren't to steep so they didnt kill your legs to much however it was easy to attack them (which hurt me in the last couple km).
There were marching bands and lots of big groups out to cheer you on. There was a couple of sections without people however because it was an out and back the runners were great cheering you on.
One thing is that the half and marathon start at the same time. The start was good but when the end came in they did'nt have the last 3 km split. I finished sub 2:40 so there was a large speed difference between myself and the half marathoners that were finishing. However, all the half runners were great and stuck to one side giving me lots of room to pass making it safe.
I'll absolutely do it again.
The course was fairly fast and hit a lot of the areas in Calgary. Was very disappointed with the very low numbers of Calgarians out to cheer the runners on.