Holy Toledo!

I really want to run the Chicago Marathon, but it's so expensive and so crowded! I am having second thoughts. A friend ran the Glass City Marathon in Toledo and recommended it. My sister in law (who ran her first full last year in about 3:50) is running the Toledo as we agreed we would do that race..me doing the half and her doing the full. BUT now I am thinking, why not just run the full marathon as I can train in the winter/early spring?

My list of pros/cons

pros - Toledo
- flat course
- cheap race
-friend and sister in law running it
- scenic
- cool temperature assured for race day and training
- C's old neighborhood and memories of us living there

cons
-small crowd, not a lot of fanfare
- not a big city

I think i'm going to just go for it...then I can always run the Chicago half in the fall or try to run the full if there are spots!? So I will start my Novice training plan this week....I need to decide if I want to to Novice 1 or Novice 2. I am just worried I won't get my long runs in during the weekends with the kids/schedules.....I have to do this. I just feel the time is right and this March will mark my 2nd year of consistent running.