Skagit Flats Marathon, Half & 5k

This was my first Skagit Flats Marathon, having been on my list for a number of years. The course is F-L-A-T, this one certainly lives up to its name, but it's somewhat boring. Apart from a few pretty spots it is mainly farm fields & not a lot else to look at. Spectators are few, but the enthusiasm of the plentiful aid stations & road junctions are bright spots. It's definitely a 'Put your head down & run' kind of race. Especially if you do the full marathon as you will leave the crowds of runners behind when they split off to do the half. Mental toughness time. I definitely didn't like the 8:15 start time, it's way too late & is just an invite to slogging it out through growing heat & humidity. For early September race a 7am start is needed, IMO, preferably with a 6am early start option, too. BTW the finishers medal was GREAT, it made me smile. Will I do it again? only if the Start Time is changed, otherwise it's too masochistic for me.