The half marathon in 2012 was my first ever, and I enjoyed it so much I returned in 2013. While the course is not the most scenic (basically running through Tempe and Scottsdale), the enthusiasm from the bands, DJs and volunteers make the route fun.
Along the mostly flat route, there are plenty of aid stations where you can get water, Gatorade and a bit of cheerful encouragement as well - thank you volunteers! My favorite part of the race is the P.F. Chang's section around mile 10-11 which includes taiko drum players and funny/motivational signs posted along the road and held by volunteers including "3.1 miles to go - you got this!" and "Chuck Norris never ran a half marathon". My personal favorite was "run complete stranger, RUN!"
A huge improvement this year was repositioning the starting line - a year ago the start times were significantly delayed due to trains! The on-time start this year was greatly appreciated. Overall, the event is well-organized - from the check-in at the Expo to crossing the finish line.
Looking forward to doing it again next year!