Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1532 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Ross McElhinney
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good race, friendly area and friendly competitors.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Ross McElhinney
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good race, friendly area and friendly competitors. Just won't do it again as this is my second in a row.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Keith Ainslie
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A vast improvement on last year
In full: Following the chaos at the finishing area last year, I didn't have high hopes, but I would have to concede the organisers seem both to have taken on board the criticisms and done somethong about it.
The start was good, the baggage trucks worked well and there were plently of toilets. As for the route, well yes the marathon starts in Edinburgh, but one look at the route map before hand should tell you it's a tour of the East Lothian coast.
The support was fantastic, yes there were patches with no support, but since I always try to say thanks to supporters it gave my voice a bit of a rest. The people who'd set up garden hoses deserve particular thanks, they were my lifesavers.
The marshalls and stewards were really supportive; plenty of water stations and the free energy gels were good too.
The finish area worked really, well huge crowd support for the last 100m or so, first aid on hand immediately after the line (thankfully I didn't need it), nice open area for medals and t-shirt collection, plenty of space to sit down if required and no crush to exit the runners only area. Different medals and t-shirts for relay and full marathon runners. Baggage collection was excellent, my bag was handed to me as soon as I walked over (well done to the Scouts manning the trucks).
I even managed to find and use the showers this year, and yes even if it was a cold shower, it was heaven.
Even the queue for the beer tent moved really quickly.
Plenty of space in the re-union area, only minor gripe is that the signs could have been on taller poles as you couldn't see them when the field filled up.
Yes there is a bit of a walk to the bus area, probably about a mile (and up a hill), but I can't see any way round this other than perhaps the organisers highlighting this in their blurb.
Whilst I can understand the comments about starting at 8am, our party travelled by bus and we were up at 5am to make it to Edinburgh for the 10am start, I suspect if the start was 8, we'd give it a miss rather than fork out for accomodation, so its a difficult balance for the organisers to strike.
As to comments about this being a money making event, an event of this size has to be commercial and if you wan't a good, smooth running event of this size, you're going to have to pay for it.
So in summary, I gave this race an appalling review last year, rightly so.
This year I pretty much couldn't fault it, yes the weather made it challenging but organisationally they've pretty much got it sorted, would I do it again YES.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: zoe swales
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: great if not sunny
In full: 8am start would be far better as if it is hot there very little shade. thought the finish area was good, but the pre-book buses inflexible and not great value for money.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Tim Cook 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Flat - could be quick if not run in the midday sun!
In full: 2nd time I've done Edinburgh and the 2nd time that it's been run in scorching temperatures. Obviously not the organisers' fault, but they could start 2 hours earlier and it would have been much better.
The relay runners are incredibly annoying. Having somebody with fresh legs joining the race and cutting you up on a regular basis is not ideal for getting into a rhythm.
The support in the towns and at the finish was excellent, but there were miles of solitude in between.
I'd do it again, but only if they move the start time forward
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Berger
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hot. Flat. Not in Edinburgh. A ridiculous walk to the buses after.
In full: Good start set-up, twin starts. But why start the half at 8, and the marathon at 10, esp. when heat and exhaustion is far more likely in the much longer race?!? Presume it's to do with money. Course wasn't unattractive, support good in the towns, non-existent for large parts though.
Finish area was fine, but such a pain when you're hobbling to walk over a mile to the extortionate buses to get back to the city you thought you were running in!
I was chuffed to run a big PB, but the race is run for money, not for runners unfortunately. Call it the Lothian coast marathon - would be more honest.
Date of review: May 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: ADuck
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fantastic Race- well organised, well supported, fast course with a great tshirt and medal too
Date of review: May 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Kirsty Young
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic race, well organised. Flat fast course. Would come again.
Date of review: May 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: alan young 7
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Organised to make money not provide a good race for runners
In full: This should be an amazing race, but it isnt
Firstly, it isnt in Edinburgh, not even close, it starts on the outskirts of town and heads east. Its a good course and this isnt necessarily a problem
The start time is a huge issue, 10 ocklock stsart in summer is a joke. It is often warm this weekend in Edinburgh ( Im local ) and as often as not the race is run in full sun and heat. To me it is indicative of the whole race, the half starts at 8:00 to get more money in at the expense of runners.
There were hardly any toilets at the start, no isotonic drinks en route and the water ( plentiful ) didnt come in sports bottles.
The relay is a total pain in the ass, as fast relay runners pick a route through the slow marathon field, again nothing but a money making exercise.
The finish is good, no signposting to the reunion area though. Good T-Shirt and a rubbish goodie bag.
This marathon is more expensive than London.
Edinburgh deserves much better.
Date of review: May 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: barnaby lamb
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: only ran the half mara this weekend but a pb by 16 minutes! loved it really
Date of review: May 27, 2012
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