Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: yo panda
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: could be so much better
In full: i would only recommend this marathon to people who live close to Edinburgh or East Lothian. Compared to every other big city marathon that I have run, this is a real disappointment that seems designed to cause as little disruption to the city as possible, this is why it rushes you out of the city, down by the seafront and out to East Lothian.
Date of review: June 5, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: ogden runner
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Reasonable course but could have been much better organised!
In full: Supposedly the fastest marathon in the UK and although it felt reasonably undulating I did not notice a general overall downhill feel. Knee problems slowed me down from mile 17 and I struggled with a painful last 9 miles so psychologically didn't feel my best on the day. The coastal route was reasonably scenic and you certainly cannot blame the organisers for the weather but the route felt a little contrived and just knocked together to make the mileage fit. Crowd support was good but sporadic and the finish area was an absolute joke due to total mismanagement. Love the city and love the people but unlikely to run this event again unless the organisers get their act together. If GNR, London and Dublin can all put big successful running events on that make me want to run them again then why can't Edinburgh?
Date of review: June 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: nippersmith
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Kind of laid back and low-key but that's fine by me
In full: I thought there were improvements on the previous year eg baggage lorries were much closer to the new finish this year; also not running on those bouncy mats at the finish was a real treat. It's not London and it doesn't pretend to or aspire to be either. The Edinburgh marathon is more relaxed and support is better if the weather is. However the t-shirt is horrible. It does not even commemorate that you have run a marathon on it though, come on. I will come back but would like a nicer shirt please next year.
Date of review: June 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Cath McInally
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% |
In full: go to London and see how a marathon is run poor show Edinburgh
Date of review: June 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: TigeRunner
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very poor organisation. Terrible for family and friends to watch. Doesn't take in the sights of the city. Very windy. Awful finish. Expo weak. Directions and marshals pre race not helpful. A great shame
Date of review: June 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Russell Nimbus
| | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Disappointing
In full: I quite liked the course. It is fast and flat with a few undulations in the second half. The start is quick and un-congested. Unfortunately we all suffered with the strong wind this year which I suppose is always a possibility on a coastal route. What let this race down was the lack of atmosphere mainly due to the supporters could not being able to get around the course. It really felt like a low key event. Actually it felt like the organisers had organised a marathon at the lowest possible cost. There was no heart or personality to the event. It was a bit of a 'non-event'. The finish was congested and I believe the spectators were unable to get to the finish line to see their loved ones. The big screen had also failed so they couldn't see them cross the finish line. Our medal confirmed the race was run to the narrowest of margins, a cheap design very similar to the 5K/10K/Half medals. I believe some runners didn't get medals or t-shirts. It wasn't a complete fiasco but it also wasn't anything special and that's a shame when runners have trained so hard. One big positive though, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to visit. I wouldn't recommend this marathon especially if it's your first and you want it to be special.
Date of review: June 3, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Alex Prettyman
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A race worth doing once
In full: A race worth doing once but for anyone else traveling from further than glasgow it's not worth more than once. disapointingly it didn't include any of the obvious sightseeing oportunities (castle etc) but rather went out and back along the seafront for 20 miles. super fast course but for slower runners it could be really demoralising seeing people 10+ miles ahead of you.
n.b. downhill overall, so i'll always feel like there's an asterix next to my time.
Date of review: June 3, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Paul Gunning
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Terrible organisation. FInish was very poor...miles outside city and a long walk first to water and then to buses. Ruined the experience. Def not doing again.
Date of review: June 3, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: DarloRunner
| | 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: poor organisation and too expensive for what you get!
In full: Race itself is ok, but once you get over that finish line thats when things take a tumble, t-shirt and medal a lot worse than last year, cut backs made but yet a steeper race fee!
Not the same without the grandstand finish
Date of review: June 3, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: BirminghamOwl
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: I was looking for a fast, flat marathon which, baring the weather, this should be. Drinks stations were plentiful and everything ran smoothly until the end. Being around the 3 hour mark I was spared subsequent problems at the finish. Many people have reported problems for friends and spectators but this did not affect me either as I was on my own so I was lucky.
The fact that it goes out of the city for most of the run makes it a potentially fast run but will spoil it for some who are looking for the big city feel and some sightseeing.
If it is always windy in Edinburgh then changing the course to give some shelter would be good. I have never ran into anything like that before for the last 8 miles.
Date of review: June 2, 2011
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