Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1532 votes). 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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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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