Virgin London MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1962 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Ali Dutton
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic uplifting support - hardest & most fulfilling race I've ever done.
In full: Crowds are amazing - I felt like an elite athelete even though I'm far from a record breaker & it was my first Marathon - the support carried me through the final 6 miles. Organisation was superb. Charity runners brought a tear to the eye. Coach to the blue start was a little early - 6.30am & arrived before the Marshalls! But I had the best weekend. Thank you.
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Curlytwinkletoes
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: One to tick off the list!
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Alex Lane 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: The Bald Assasin
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: If you only ever run one marathon this is it.
In full: First timer but will be back. Its impossible to describe how overwhelming the noise/support/atmosphere is and it made me more mentally than physically tired but I will know better next time and its still a PB ;-)!
The organisation after the finish does need some fine tuning, felt we were all left to fend for ourselves but thats easily sorted. If you are, or ever aspire to be, a runner get a place and go for it you wont regret it.
Bring on the 2013 ballot!!!
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Keebsy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: So many runners/walkers - staggered start required!!
In full: Always a great experience, excellent organisation, very friendly and helpful volunteers and supportive crowd.
However, very disappointed to start from the blue start and grind to a halt after 2 minutes and walk for quite a while. This just should not happen during such a major marathon. The rest of the route felt like rush hour in London too - getting nowhere fast!! For so many runners there has to be a staggered start in future or proof of peoples finish time, when the pen numbers are dished out. Otherwise there is no chance of achieving your best time at this marathon, unless you are elite or a celebrity at the front of the pack!!
I think I would be tempted to go back to Brighton if I run another marathon, you get just as much support from the crowd down there and pretty much free rein of the course, sorry!
And the t-shirt, well it will just be another bit of bed wear, how many people does one size actually fit??!
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Michael Botham
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Brill
In full: Loved it. Really don't think there is antything like it in this country. Might not be best for PBs due to the sheer numbers of people involved and the difficulty in getting past everyone at some stages, but the organisation, the crowds and the joy of running through london was amazing.
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Eloise Lee
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fantastic atmosphere, had such a great race! Organisation was brilliant.
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Stuart Heys
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Another fantastic London Marathon, amazing race, amazing supporters, amazing race!
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: treadmiller
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Worth doing more for the atmosphere and occasions than the 'race'
In full: Start area very well organised, and baggage buses easy to find and well signed. Slow start and a little crowded in places with bottlenecks and stop starts with others stopping without warning and some runners going four abreast, must have covered about 28 miles in all. Support all around magnificent and plenty of sweets/oranges etc on offer from spectators. Water and lucozade plentiful. Meeting area could have been policed better, introduce a one way system perhaps! An event rather than a race for me, but worth doing at least once.
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Chris Bassett 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A must do race
In full: Fantastic event. If you only ever run one marathon this is the one. Organisation is second to none cheerfull marshalls, endless water/fuel etc etc. Yes the finish area is a bit of a challenge but what would you expect with 37k runners and all their supporters. Always crowded on the course but you can get a PB if you train hard. The only negative for me is the number of runners who think they are going to run a 'KENYAN' time and somehow promote themselves to the faster pens and then walk or run at 5+ hour pace from the start. Perhaps a stagered wave start may ease the bottle necks in the early stages. As ever the support on the course was incredible. Thank you to all those who came out and cheered on all the runners.
Date of review: April 23, 2012
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