Good first time marathon in spring

I did the Wisconsin Marathon last year.  It was pretty good.  It is May 1st.  The Illinois one on the UI campus is also on that date.  I have also done the Rockford marathon, which is on May 16th.  Wisconsin is very flat, Rockford not so flat. 

I will be doing the Illinoismarathon again for the second time.  Last years first year turnout was great for a beginners race.  This year they are expecting a 4k max cap on the marathon.

It is a flat course!

Leaning towards the Illinoismarathon. what am I getting myself into

I did the half @ Illinois last year. It was loads of fun. And FLAT FLAT FLAT. Entirely flat. Except for one little stretch where you go under a bridge or something... but the rest of it was flat... and lots of concrete.

There is another race that is not well known.  Its called the Equestrian-connection trail marathon.  Its small only about 50 - 100 people do it but its fun.  I even got 3rd in my age group one year.

I was going to do Lake Geneva on 5/9/2010.
Has anyone done that race?
Thanks in advance.

I agree.....I did the half also and look forward to running it again next year

When and where is this one?

Also for the OP - the one in Louisville Ky is pretty good from what I hear.  I have not done it personally.  It is the week before the UofI (Christie Clinic)

I did the Lake Geneva half marathon in 2008. It was really hilly, and there wasn't much water. The half marathon went from the town of Lake Geneva to Fontana on the south side of the lake. The full marathon continued around the north side of the lake back to Fontana.

It's a strange race. They have a bunch of different races all going on at the same time, and it's a little confusing where to go.

You don't see the lake except at the start and end. The middle is all through corn fields.

i maybe planning on doing the rockford half on  may 16th

I did the full distance for the Illinois marathon last year. There are a few more false flats in the second half the course, but it's definitely not hilly. And it was a great race. The crowd support was much more than I expected for a smaller area and for an inaugural event, and the volunteers were wonderful.

I believe the race he is referring to is the Equestrian Trail Marathon or Equestrian Connection Trail Marathon (it appears to have gone by both names). It is in Libertyville, Illinois and is usually the last weekend in April/first weekend in May. They have both a half and marathon distance.

I don't see a date for the 2010 race but it is sponsored by these folks http://www.equestrianconnection.org/so I would check there for updates.

Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha is also May 1 - this will be its second year.

Oh.  Well, I just signed up yesterday for the Illinois half and it is May 1.
Thank you