Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Richard Aston
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Edinburgh should be ashamed of its marathon
In full: This is not an Edinburgh Marathon. It is a coastal run that starts in Edinburgh but does not even finish there. It is difficult to get to the start and the finish this year was a shambles designed for 1000 runners, not 10000 or more. Transport from the finish is a joke. Give it a miss unless you enjoy waiting and walking after 26 miles of running. Incidentally, they don't even give you a dedicated marathon medal at the end. It was just a medal. Soooo disappointing.
Date of review: July 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: wriggle
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Obviously twinned with Cardiff Half Marathon - i.e. dire
In full: All the bad things about this marathon have already been said, repeatedly, and in some detail. They're all true.
Date of review: July 5, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: sarah osborne
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: Started with an early start at 8am. The first half of the race was quite nice running around the palace at the bottom of the royal mile and arthurs seat, but the second half of the run was quite dull along the sea front. That last three miles was the worse - running out on a pointless bit of road, to turn round and run to the finish. Spectators were not allowed at the finish line either. The goodie bag at the end was quite exciting and the t shirt was good quality. The baggage collection point was chaotic - with bags thrown on the floor (dont leave anything valuable or breakable as a few looked like they got trodden on
Date of review: June 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: pcphil
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Disappointing
In full: Was really looking forward to this great city but never saw it the finish area was awful my t-shirt was not even for a marathon finisher, would love to come back but only if the course and finish changes.
Date of review: June 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: boyband6666
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: If only it were in Edinburgh... and organised... and cheaper...
In full: Should be renamed 'pikey village in Scotland marathon'. My personal favourite was the derelict factory, though the power plant does rival it. While it started so well - the pens were great, and firs few miles lovely, after 3 miles we left Edinburgh never to return. Even if you wanted to at the end there were no extra trains (Sunday service, 1 per hour), and the roads clogged. Not to mention the fact spectators were BANNED from the finish.
All this for the princely sum of £42, you couldn't make it up! Save your money and do a great half (Reading), or a well organised marathon (Nottingham), this one is not worth your time.
Date of review: June 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: David Sturrock
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Rubbish for spectators
Date of review: June 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Ian Rodgers
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Poor finish area lacking atmosphere and badly organised transport to get home
In full: Other than fact I had a bad running day, this was one the least inspiring of the 30 marathons or so I have done to date. It started off well, good start area, refreshments were good, just the finish area spoilt what could be a potentially good marathon. Edinburgh is a beautiful and historic city, we never saw it! we finished on a road in Musselburgh, had a mile walk to the reunion area, a 2 mile walk back to the buses, followed by an hour wait to get on the bus. Why was there an empty spectator stand at the finish area? could no one get there? Please please change the finish area and run a little around the city. If we could finish where we started, there would be no need for a overpriced bus service to get us all back. Would love to do this again, but not in it's current format.
Date of review: June 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Caroline Diggle
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My first marathon, apart from 'the wind' I loved it.
In full: I really enjoyed this race, my first marathon and certainly not my last, can't wait for the next one. I would defiantly do this one again. The only problem was the bottle-neck after finishing, waiting for t.shirts and goody bags and making my way to my husband but I was so happy I didn't actually care.
Date of review: June 7, 2011
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2009 race reviewed by: runlozrun
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very Very Hot
In full: This was my 1st marathon but very pleased I chose Edinburgh. The day was really hot with one of the water stations running out of water but the terrific atmosphere pulled you through. Great finish at Musselburgh racecourse.
Date of review: June 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Simon Astbury
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: shambles at the end of the race
In full: It’s called the Edinburgh Marathon, but it should be renamed the Scottish Coastal Marathon as at no point did the city itself come into play, which was disappointing. It could be brilliant if they took a leaf out of Paris or London’s book.
The race itself was fairly well organised but crowds were thin on the ground due to the remote location of the run. The wind (howling hurricane) really took its toll on everyone on the return leg, but you can expect this with running on the coast most days, the weather was a major part of the race. Drink stations were well run, but the end of the race was a complete shambles, the runners were funnelled through a small area to collect, medals, goody bags and then your belongings after which you hit a metal barrier which allowed one person at a time out! This was a disgrace as family and friends were stood on the opposite side which backed onto a road and it was crowded and unsafe. There was a meeting point, but due to the confusion most people seemed to miss this, my wife with a pram and child came to meet me at the end, but we could not find each other. Runners then had to walk about 2 miles, to catch a bus back to city centre! Why the organisers thought it was a good idea to finish the race in the middle of nowhere and make runners walk miles to catch a bus I will never understand, Once at the bus area, you had to join very long lines to wait for your bus and after running a marathon, this was the last thing anyone wanted to do.
Date of review: June 6, 2011
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