Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
I liked the small town feel. The first half of the marathon course was mostly flat with a few hills. The second half of the marathon course was mostly all hills. I would not recommend this marathon as your first.
The aid/water/gu stations were incredible. They provided more than enough that I wouldn't have I only had I don't know how well supplied they would be. The course was nice and I like the out and back part which meant we got to cheer each other on. I did not expect as many rolling hills which made it tougher, and I would have liked more food at the finish line after completing 26.2 miles instead of just a bag of pretzels, a kind bar and an apple. The race itself was great. The after finish line needs some work.
Rolling hills. Use their gu and even take some extra to keep for future runs (there's plenty and it's like runners gold).
There were problems with traffic and parking because it was the first year that they started at this new point. This led them to push the race back a half an hour. Ugh. So give your self at least an hour for just getting into the parking lot once you get off the freeway.
Beautiful, great atmosphere
Tons of rolling hills, potential for strong winds.
Professionally organized. Hard to get to the starting line, but once there was good. Nice expo at the finish. Around mile 20, you rejoin the 1/2 marathoners who start 30 minutes after the marathon (they're at mile 7). Most of the 1/2 marathoners you catch are walkers or slow runners. On one hand, it's nice that there are lots more runners on the course (I think there are about 700 marathoners and 2000 1/2 marathoners), on the other hand, you're passing so many, they can clog up the course. For a new marathon, the first was in 2012, it's run very smoothly. The weather has been perfect the first two years; low 50's with fog or a bit of overcast to keep it cool. They're moving it a few weeks later this year (2014), so we'll see.
Train for those hills! They may not be big, but you're always going up or down and can really wear you out.