Firstly it sits there in the Australian calendar in early January with no similar races anywhere near it. This means you can get a quality road marathon in with 11 and a half months left in the year.
Secondly, the conditions in Hobart in January aren't too bad. In 2011 we had about 15 degrees at the start warming up to mid twenties by race end.
Thirdly, the race is quite well organised on a course that is basically a double loop. It starts at the famous Cadbury Chocolate Factory and then you run some hills, some flats, some hills, some flats and then finish with some hills as you return to the Chocolate Factory. More a challenging course than a PB course...But one well worth the run.
For me it worked as it produced a sub 4 hour result ( the fifth state / territory in the bucket list of one in each of the 8 states / territories in Oz under 4 hrs ) so mission accomplished.
It is of course in Tasmania, which is a long way from most places - but as far as marathons go, its 42.2 kms worth going.
Finish time 3 hrs 56 min 58 sec
