6:15 AM Internal monologue: Thhhhhpt. Mmmmmph. Ugh. Starting Line: Start. On time. Warmed up, stretched. Pants on right. Realize that my "day of eating" on Saturday ended at about 5pm with a small bite of pasta after having a scone and some brown rice, tofu and veggies earlier in the day. Also realize that I am completely fucking dehydrated. My mouth is sticking to itself actually. Probably because I took PM's to get to sleep the night before, which are also making me feel like an enormous, lumbering muffin. Wonder why I am doing this since I know I can and it's cold and early and what the fuck am I trying to prove anymore? Halfway point: Want to die. Praying for the table full of free GU (www.guenergy.com), as I have ripping cramps in my sides because my body is trying to eat itself. Passed by a "little person". She takes three strides, I take one, we cover same distance. That kind of little person. Yes. A midget passed me. I am 5'10". Mile 7: Knock bitches over to get to the GU table. Mile 11: My left foot starts doing that thing were it feels like there is a hot stone in my shoe right under the balls of my feet. Toes cramp, yadda, yadda. Two stupid miles to go. Stop running and walk for the first time ever in any race. Considering going to a friend's house near by when the little person comes up beside me (apparently I had overtaken her at some point.) LP: Come on! We only have two miles to go! ME: My foot feels like its on fire, it sucks. LP: But you've been my pacer! COME ON! ME: ........ Um, you go girl? *get all verklempt for reasons I can't explain.* Mile 11.45692 or something: Come to the point in the race where a couple blocks up a hill is the friend's house and a mile and a half or so down the hill is the finish line. And at the finish line is my shiny, shiny, medal. *BUSTS A MOVE DOWN THE HILL* Finish: GIVE ME MY FUCKING BLING BLING AND MY BANANA. 2:17:15 - so I lost some time - I walked for a about a 1/4 mile so it doesn't fucking count. I call it even with last year. So there. And in my defense, she was a taller than average midget. Totally over the thought of doing the full. read more

EXPO: For a day or two before the race, this is where you go to pick up your number. A number of other marathons will advertise here. Note that they will try to sign you up BEFORE the race, because afterwards you will want nothing to do with a marathon. The goodie bag at the Seattle Marathon is middle of the road and contains some helpful items (Band-Aids) and those of more dubious value (List of top 10 ways to recover: "1. wearing crocs") NIGHT BEFORE: There is a sponsored meal that you can attend for healthy eating. Me? I never attend these and just eat my regular meal. I figure that my body runs on nachos 364 days of the year, I don't want to shock it by suddenly introducing it to fruit. As for the half marathon itself, here are a few highlights: MILE 1: Even though it's crowded at the start with nearly 8000 runners in the half marathon, it's still the fastest you've ever made it through downtown Seattle. As a plus, on some years you'll be able to wave at tourists trapped in a stalled monorail car. MILE 4: Mount Baker tunnel. The first few miles of the race take you through downtown Seattle and onto the express lanes of I-90. Running through the tunnel is rather cool: one of the few times in your life that you can run down the middle of an interstate without being filmed on an episode of COPS. MILE 6: Lake Washington shoreline. At the middle of the race, your mind wanders a little bit ranging between "the scenery is absolutely gorgeous here" (yes) and "I wonder if I could afford any of these homes" (no). In the mile 5-6 range they have energy gel that you can try. With a fairly dry mouth, these can be a bit difficult to get down. If you've never done this, it's about the same as trying to drink a warm gummy bear that has melted in your pocket. MILE 9: Arboretum. You're surrounded by lush trees with a fine November mist that seems like scenery out of a movie. Of course, by mile 9 you may be tired and that movie might be Apocalypse Now. FINISH LINE. Hey, you made it! One of the cool things is that while you're recovering, they've got the finish line on a big screen where you can watch all the different runners coming across. I think the most heartwarming was when one of the runners got down on all fours after finishing and kissed the ground, like a just-released hostage getting off a plane. read more

This was my first marathon and from some of the reviews about the hills and lack of spectators was considering doing a different marathon. In the end I decided it would be nice to do one local and kinda big. EXPO: Seemed well organized to quickly run in, grab my packet, a nice running shirt and a "goody" bag. On the way out two women smile seductively at me while rolling a pipe on their legs. START: The weather was pretty ideal this year. It misted a little bit right before the race but then stopped. No fog either. At the start there were about 40 spectators for about 4000 runners (which was true for about the whole race). MILE 4 (Mt. Baker Tunnel): The main thing I remember from the tunnels was the water stations, which having never done it before were a bit confusing. I tried to drink some gatorade while running and just ended up splashing it all over my front. At this point I'm running right next to the 3:45 pace marker, which at this point since I've feeling very strong, seems right. MILES 4.5-8 (I-90 Bridge): No fog at all this year which made the views amazing. At this point I'm just loving running. No pain in my ankle and I'm remembering how enjoyable my longs runs have been. And so I make a stupid mistake and pick up the pace to about a 8:20 mile pace. MILES 9-11.5 (To Seward Park): Still flying along at a 8:20 pace. Love views along the park, and there are actually quite a few spectators. The GU was good and tasted a bit like the liquid form of a cliff bar. For a few miles a woman in a blue cap and I start pacing each other and it feels like the pace we're keeping is sustainable. MILES 12.5-14 (Seward Park): I hit the 1/2 point at 1 hour 50 minutes, which is about 10 minutes fast than any 1/2 I'd ran in training, but I'm still feeling pretty confident about this pace. MILES 14-18.5 (Back to I-90): Here is where it all starts to fall apart. My ankle starts to hurt pretty bad which I thought at the time was just my achilles tendon acting up again but turns out it was the strap on chip timer they were using. After the end of the race I end up with a big cut right on my ankle. I also start feeling the effects of having ran 15 miles at a pace I'm not too comfortable running. MILES 18.5-22.5 (to Arboretum): So I knew the hills were going to be bad. In fact it was the one thing I envisioned alot while doing hill training. And they were bad. I got through about 1/2 the way of the first one without stopping to walk, but just couldn't do it after that. My decision was made a bit easier by a number of other people walking. MILES 22.5-23 (Arboretum): As the hills start to let up I start running in earnest again, but it feels like I'm just on fumes at this point. Runners are passing me constantly and I'm feeling pretty down. I know my family is waiting for me at mile 23 so I pick it up for that part and feel pretty good for a little while. I imagine the scenery would have looked nice if I wasn't so frustrated with myself. MILES 23-26.2 (Back to Seattle Center): I really wanted to finish under 4 hours and keep tell myself to just run a little bit more and I'll be fine. Sadly there is just not much left (and probably better not to kill myself going too hard) and so I stagger in at about 4 hours 5 minutes. It still feels pretty good to know that I can do it. FINISH LINE: As a first time marathoner, after I got done it was all I could do just to drink water, grab some of the best tasting instant coffee ever, and eat a bit of sample granola. It seemed very much like a disaster scene and the red cross was there to serve us. Afterward the thing that hurts the most is the cut from my chip timer. So if you do run this marathon, and they use those strap on timers again, make sure it's securely attached and not digging in to your ankle. read more

Seattleites that like to run should try the Seattle marathon at least once. Sure, it's cold and can be a little wet but it was high-energy, organized, and a load of fun! The start line is smack-dab in the middle of downtown. My husband was kind enough to give us a ride (a good drop-off place is the Starbucks on 6th & Stewart, that way your ride can easily exit the maelstrom.) To find where you need to go, just follow people wearing more expensive running gear than you. There were plenty of porta-potties which added to the good vibe. A runner's panic (at least mine) is that I don't get to go to the bathroom RIGHT before I go for a long run. I don't like stopping along the way unless I have to...maybe I should consider astronauting it and wear a diaper. Running through the streets of Seattle on a protected path is a great experience, you really get a different perspective of the city and peace out--despite being surrounded by people. And you may have heard about the hills; well, there are some steep hills but not hurt-your-feelings steep. And when you get to the last mile or so, you get to sprint down a REALLY steep hill EXHILARATING! So steep and lengthy that your legs flail in all different directions like a baby horse. Ahhh then comes the finish line! And for a split-second, you consider running through the arc a la Forrest Gump because you feel so damn good. Volunteers medal you, give you water, and a foil space blanket. I'm telling you: The minute that you stop running you're going to feel every breeze and drop of moisture in the air. Luckily, you can go inside and visit the expo inside the building where more refreshments await. I'm doing it again this year for sure! read more

I like the format Doug C. used for his review so I'm going to copy that... EXPO: Well organized as always. I did my best to get in and out as quickly as possible to avoid vendors trying to sell me $200 fruit slicers and other overpriced junk. START: I'd like to give mad props to the guy in the Santa suit, the guy who didn't wear any shoes, and the guy who wore Crocs even though I think they're all crazy...especially the guy wearing the Crocs... MILE 4 (Mt. Baker Tunnel): It's cool to say you ran through the tunnel, but I didn't really enjoy doing it that much. It was fume ridden and dark with nothing to look at. MILES 4.5-8 (I-90 Bridge): The views would have been breathtaking if it wasn't for the thick fog which blocked out everything passed about 100 feet. MILES 9-11.5 (To Seward Park): This was my favorite part of the race. It was flat and I was flying at this point of the race. By my mile 11 the leaders were already on the return trips from Seward Park though. At the time I thought to myself, oh, well, I guess I'm not going to win the race (/rolls eyes). They were also handing out packages of GU during this stretch of the race which I avoided like the plague. GU is basically water so saturated with sugar that it has the texture of syrup. MILES 12.5-14 (Seward Park): Like with the bridge, the views would have been breathtaking if it wasn't for the fog. MILES 14-18.5 (Back to I-90): Another long flat stretch, yah! MILES 18.5-22.5 (to Arboretum): I just ran 18 miles and you expect me to deal with these efing hills...thx course planner. One of my friends was at the turn before Madison and when he saw me coming, he looked around the turn up towards Madison and then back towards me with a sympathetic expression and I knew I was in trouble. MILES 22.5-23 (Arboretum): Finally a break from the hills. In my opinion this was the most scenic part of the course since the earlier water views were blocked by the fog. Also, props to the couple giving out baggies of gummy bears near Roanoke Park. MILES 23-26.2 (Back to Seattle Center): At this point of the race I just wanted it to end, so I didn't really think about much else besides getting the finish line. Generally, I thought that this was a very well organized event. From start to finish it seemed like they had every aspect planned out (unlike the Seafair marathon). My only qualms were with all the hills being on the second half of the course (my first half split was 1:42 vs. my second half split of 2:11) and the fog obstructing a lot of the views which I can't really fault the organizers for. read more

Wow, some of the complaints are just...wow. It shouldn't surprise me that people nitpick, however I always find myself surprised when I read some of these reviews. I ran the Full Marathon in under 4 hours and I want to be straight up with you: this Marathon is not for the faint of heart, it's not for someone looking to party R-n-R style, and it's not a generally pleasant experience weather wise. The hills and inclines are brutal, often, and come along when you don't want to see them. That is, they come in the latter half of the race. That said, this is the Marathon for those that want to find out exactly what they're made of. It's not easy, it's not a party, and I'm not even sure if it's fun. And that's why I'm in love with it. It's an emotional and physical gut check. The reward comes with reflection and I wouldn't trade this race for anything in the world. The volunteers, staff, traffic blockers, and anyone else associated with this event were absolutely amazing. Thank you for your hard work! There was plenty of water, chocolate milk (fortified with protein too!), bananas, soup, bagels, smoothies, and medical aid upon finishing. Don't even worry about that. You will be taken care of. If you're confused about anything, ask someone. You will be helped. Expect to be tired, sore, a little grumpy, a little happy, and a little proud upon completion. You've earned that right. read more

This was my first marathon and I enjoyed the experience. If you live in town it is a rather a pain to come downtown to pick up your number at the expo but they had a big screen TV that was showing the Apple Cup and the video of the course (sped up to driving speed) was worth watching. It was hard to find a volunteer who knew anything about the race. If you are running the marathon I would suggest getting there after the half marathon has started and crowds departed. It is easy to park on the street a few blocks west of the Seattle Center (the only place I looked), gear check is quick and there is no wait for porta-potties; one could park 30 minutes before the start and have plenty of time There are no corrals at the start but is just about works. Most runners self-organize based on the Greenlake Runners pacing groups each of which carries a sign and the road is reasonably wide - my guess is that the half marathon, which is significantly bigger, is is bit clogged for the first mile or two. The course is good with great traffic control, lots of well-manned refreshment and medical stops (annoyingly the gatorade comes after the water which makes it hard those who want to rinse out salty sweet taste), friendly volunteers, and a reasonable number of cheering spectators once one gets off I-5 at mile 8. There are 3 Gu stops (mile 10, 15 and 18) and you have to ask for more than 1 but they will give it to you. The last 6 miles are tough. The finish is nice in memorial Stadium, again with plenty of volunteers (I was given a nice medal and wrapped in a space blanket within 2 seconds of crossing the line and handed 2 bottles of water 5 seconds after that). The indoor recovery area is a good place to get warm but having read stories of after race food I was rather disappointed - dole fruit cups, bananas, doughy mini-bagels with no filling, a Darigold milk-based protein drink, and Folgers coffee packets (this is Seattle not an I-5 rest stop). The Seattle Marathon Association should consult with the Cascade Bicycle Club (STP organizers) to learn how to parlay hordes of willing volunteers into a more enticing buffet for thousands (hot soup, bagels with something in them, decent coffee - Starbucks as a sponsor? - etc.) When you are thrashed after a race it is extremely painful to climb and descend the steps of the stadium stands to get your gear and I left wondering why gear check couldn't have been in the recovery area given how little was there. read more

I was scared when I woke up and the temperature on my phone said it was 52 degrees outside. 52?! No way. This is going to be a cluster fu**! This is my third year running it, and it has ALWAYS been miserably wet. Granted, I said it was "perfect" before but that just meant no ice-rain. I enjoy running in the rain! So I meet up with my pace group and start (very sloooowwwly) down the familiar course. Then it hit me. The wind started on I-90 and threatened my already lousy balance, then came the rain on the switchback. Ahhhh, I thought, I'm home, I am alive. This marathon isn't for everyone. It is hilly, wet, windy, and sometimes snowy-icy. By the time I crossed the finish line, the temp dropped almost 10 degrees. It is hard and it is challenging and you are a bad-ass for finishing it and not quitting. There it is. All the rest of you can do the Rock & Roll in your perfect weather, I enjoy the challenge. read more

I've lived in Seattle since 1999. I just tried the Seattle Marathon half the first time this year. I am a fan of this race because this is such a beautiful and challenging course for both full and half. I hit every single water station along the course. There's a great group support of volunteers. I really appreciated their time and support. The course is challenging and there are a lot of rolling hills. I guess, this is what makes this race a great race. Well, It's definitely a very well-organized event and it's also a Boston Marathon qualifier. However, I wish they would have some kind of corral system so runners won't get all packed up. Another thing is, they may need better pacers. I was following 10:15 mins/mile pacers but she was running 9:30 mins/mile. I was totally lost in dust!!! Reliable pacers can actually be recruited in local running groups. Their Expo was nice and mellow. I didn't get a chance to go to the race day expo because I spent a good amount of my time in medical tent due to ankle injury. I totally loved the volunteers in the medical tent. They made sure I got taken care of. Before I took off, a volunteer physical therapist helped me and gave some tips and advise on my ankle. It was great! I signed up for a full for next year for $65. You can't beat that price!!! I might also make this my yearly tradition. read more

I ran the Seattle Half Marathon yesterday and had a lot of fun. Granted the weather was awful, but the race was well organized and the course was beautiful. There were also options for a half-marathon walk and a full marathon run or walk. You can't pick up your chip and your bib on race day, so you have to go to the expo at the Westin hotel the day or two before and pick it up. That was fairly well organized and there were a lot of good booths at the expo. As for swag, you get a long sleeve tech tee and some free samples. (Just a warning - the time chip was a house arrest style anklet and seriously chafed my ankle. Would recommend using bodyglide around it!) On race day we arrived early and didn't have any trouble finding parking - we parked in the garage on Mercer right next to the race start. The race started on time but I found the line up to be a bit confusing. The pace groups were all over the place and the start wasn't lined up to mile time or anything. Surprisingly went pretty smooth after the gun though. There was plenty of on-course support in the form of volunteers and spectators. The aid stations and port-a-potties were plentiful. On the website it says the course is "moderately hilly" ... well ... yeah. It seems like it's either moderate or sharp inclines and then steep downhills for the most part. The last half is the hilliest and there is one hill where you feel like you will want to die. But - the views are beautiful and the course is so varied that you won't get bored. The weather is out of the control of the SMA - but it was pouring! Be prepared for any type of weather. Once you cross the finish line in Memorial Stadium you will go to the indoor Victory Recovery Area. It's a pretty small space for the amount of people but there you will find food, race results, and a changing area. I would imagine they might run out of food before the marathon finishers start arriving though since some booths were running low when I finished the half. Overall, I enjoyed this race. Such a beautiful yet hilly course. I am so happy I finished 13.1 miles! read more

The great: Finishing at Memorial Stadium. I loved having a nice warm area to change in after a very cold race. The good: in all, this race does a great job of showing off the city. A good portion through downtown, along the water, and through city parks. You get a great feel for Seattle. The water stops were well run. However, one tip for the organizers: when the temp is below 32 consider throwing down some salt. You were taking your life into your own hands as you were weaving around the water tables as the area became an ice rink because of the spilled water. Packet pickup was a breeze, and the expo was nice. The bad: The tunnel was boring. Lack of corrals. Fortunately it seemed like most runners found the area they should be in, but a bit more organization for the start would be appreciated. The medals were lame. Runners want bling! My race: Finished in 1:58, which was a touch slower than I wanted. But considering it was my first half post injury, and a 27F starting temp, I'll take it. I probably won't do the race again, though. read more

Ran the Half Marathon this last 2015 Thanksgiving weekend. 1. Cold in the morning. Wear a long sleeve technically shirt and leggings. Probably no need for gloves. Probably 30-35 degrees in the AM. You can walk there or ride the monorail. 2. Finish line is in a stadium and huge crowds at the end. Not the best finish line but good enough. 3. Beautiful medal. 4. Pre-race registration and expo was medium size but easy to navigate and effortless. Worth it. Run it! read more

The Seattle Marathon is a well run race. The course support is absolutely stellar, with aid stations every couple of miles. The race is big enough to be exciting but small enough to be manageable. It's large enough that I was consistently surrounded by other runners and chatted with several of them, but we weren't so crowded that we were running on top of each other. It was easy to get to/from the starting line and the finish via car and the gear check was quick and easy. The finish festival was stocked with tons of goodies (and had a plethora of chocolate milk and bananas--my favs) and offered free sports massages to finishers. The fans were fun and supportive, however there were several miles in the middle of the race (around miles 12 and 22) where we ran on trails and there were no fans. The course is extremely scenic, and given how hilly Seattle is, it's incredibly flat, with only one huge hill around mile 21 (if memory serves me correctly). Oh, and there are a ton of porta potties along the course, most having no lines! Conversely, the expo was difficult to navigate. It was held in a downtown hotel in a space that was far too small for the number of exhibitors and runners, and it was difficult to find parking nearby. All in all, this is a well run race, and I've never enjoyed running 26.2 miles this much (which isn't saying much, but still! :) ) read more

If you are a Western Washington native or love the challenge, this is the Marathon for you. Be prepared for rain, fog, cold temps and lots of hills. And, if that doesn't scare you, you're going to have a lot of fun! This year was my 1st Seattle Marathon, actually HALF Marathon. For years I have considered it, but chosen not to because, quite frankly, I was afraid of the weather and just not up to it - right after Thanksgiving and Black Friday - 2 of my FAVORITE days (I've completed many other 'warmer' Marathons)! I was fortunate enough to enjoy cool temps, fog and no rain ... and, learned that historically (this Marathon's been around for 40+ years) the weather has been in the 40's with little to no rain. Hmmm ... not as bad as I thought. Although the Marathon has a local feel (not all the pomp and circumstance of the Rock & Roll Marathons), it has a strong support of the running community, and the entire event seemed to run quite smoothly. The EXPO, always at the Westin, is nice with a lot of vendors and SWAG. The start went well, there was a lot of support including water stations and porta pottys. The race starts by the EMP & finishes nearby at Memorial Stadium -- which gives you this kinda cool track star allure. As an added bonus, the recovery area is INDOORS at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall & has a changing area and Live Results Terminals -- you don't have to wait for your phone to refresh on a clogged website or crawl over people to see your name on an 8 x11 piece of paper!! And, yes, there are a lot of hills, but you get to run down 5th Avenue, on 1-90 and all along Lake Washington and the arboretum. Bottom Line - it's fun running through downtown Seattle with thousands of other runners in the fog and the holiday lights ... Although I seriously considered stopping at Vivace for a cup of hot coffee (heck it was only 2 blocks away at mile 12). Did I mention it is a Boston Qualifier? And, if you know anyone who runs in the Seattle Area, you can pretty much bet they will be there the Sunday after Thanksgiving every year with all their friends -- all 10,000 of them. read more

Great race and course, the organizers are annoying. Good food at the finish, bad entertainment and non-existent award ceremony for the half. Results are taken down from the internet a month after the race and the head race organizer stands scowling at finishers at the finish line. My wife and I saw her grumpily ordering half finishers around when they accidentally went through the marathon finish line (the same line - just the left side vs. the right). Not exactly the greeting you want after accomplishing something as big as running 13.1 miles. It was one of the less fun events that I've participated in. read more

I'm relatively new to the half and full marathon running. My first half was the Rock N Roll in Seattle (2011), and I just tackled the Seattle (full) Marathon yesterday. The Rock N Roll was so well organized and thought out that I guess I got spoiled. The Seattle Marathon was not up to that standard. For one thing, the pacers didn't run at the proper speed. I saw one of the pacers cross the finish line a good 10 minutes after the time he was supposed to finish. At first, I thought it would be cool to finish in a stadium. But when I got a look at it before the race, I saw that the final 200 yards was on astro turf. This is an open roof stadium and obviously, it's Seattle in November so it's raining. Whose idea was it to have your final 200 yards when you're trying to put on a brave face and finish strong go across a slick surface like astro turf?! I managed to cross the finish line without falling and once there, a space blanket was draped over my shoulders. I looked desperately toward the recovery area and saw that all that awaited me was a bottle of water. My friends led me up a ramp into the Convention Center where I found some bagels. But that's it. After RNR (where they had mountains of bananas, granola bars, chocolate milk, bagels, nuts, gatorade), this was not quite the victory welcome I expected. The event guide said that clothing check would be moved into the warm, dry Convention Center after the race started so that runners could pick up their things and head straight into the changing area nearby. But it was not moved and after running 26.2 miles, I had to go back outside and scale the stadium steps to reach my clothes, freezing all the way. Then I had to descend those stairs to get back into the Convention Center to get changed. Another issue I wasn't pleased with was the method they used for timing. They used the chips that you velcro to your ankle. It's a little archaic (especially considering how much we paid to participate) when most races use the chip you can put through your shoe laces or the kind that adhere to the back of your bib. I deal with enough chafing as it is, I don't want to have to suffer it on my ankle, too. Which brings me to my final complaint: Seattle Marathon promoted their new app with great aplomb, seemingly to demonstrate how modern the race was. It had great appeal (especially given the weather)-- your in town family and friends could track you live from their phones and friends and family all over the world could follow you on facebook. My dad, who couldn't make it up to Seattle but was desperate to participate in my race somehow, bought the app especially so he could follow along and make sure I was making my splits. But the only time the app showed was the half way point and obviously, that doesn't do much good for friends waiting out in the cold, windy, rainy day who are trying to figure out where I would be along the course so they could see me. Pre-race, when I tried to link it to my facebook, I kept getting an error message. So basically, all of my friends, my dad and I shelled out 99 cents for nothing. Not that it is a lot of money by any means, but after I paid so much to participate and had my friends spend their entire day out in the elements, it was very disappointing. I don't see myself doing this marathon again. read more

Ran in the half for the first time this year and was really impressed. I had never run a half marathon before but the organizers made it a clear and unconfusing experience for a first timer. The course was really interesting (complete with the legendary hills) and there were frequent water areas and a great positive vibe the whole way - I will defintely be coming back again next year! read more

My husband and I walked the Seattle Marathon. It was well organized. My only complaint is that it is not set up to accommodate walkers who walk at a moderate pace. Towards the end of our walk (the last 6 miles or so) the medical and water stations started to disappear. And during the last two miles, the directional cones were being removed. We didn't even know which way to walk for a bit of it. Luckily we ran into some people walking home from the marathon who gave us directions. The recovery area was shutting down when we got there. If we had pre-paid for a massage, we would have been very disappointed because there were no massage people and not even any medical people available when we arrived. I was ready to pay any amount for a massage after that walk. I was grateful that someone was there to hand us our finisher medals though. We rode the last bus back to the hotel (VERY grateful for that!!!) with one of the organizers. He was very nice and we enjoyed meeting him. read more