Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Hillheader
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Brilliant start on Princess street and excellent support for the slower runners
Date of review: June 19, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Naughty Cat
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great race, fabby support.
In full: Loved starting in Princes Street and finishing in Holyrood Park with lots of other great sites round the route.
The crowds this year were fantastic and the kids with the hoses were life savers!
The organisation gets better each year but still needs to improve. More toilets and water stations please.
Do this race, you won't regret it!
Date of review: June 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Dawn Grant
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic first marathon
In full: Well organised despite reports to the contrary.
Plenty of water and energy drinks - I welcomed the different flavours on offer.
Great support from onlookers - thanks to all who brought out jelly babies, mars bars and fruit and a big thanks to those with the hosepipes in the last few miles.
I also got caught up with relayers at the starting pen but it didn't spoil my day. It's chip timed and I was never going to be first.
Maybe for next year though a better goody bag (I did the relay last year and it seemed better then) and a different t-shirt for full marathon runners. I resent someone who ran 3.5miles getting the same t-shirt design as me.
It would be a real shame to lose this event especially given the income it generates to the city.
Date of review: June 16, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Yellman
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A really good run round a beautiful city
In full: This was my first marathon, and I approached the start line with trepidation due the distance and the searing heat waiting for us once the sun got properly up.
The water provision and the lucozade provision was excellent. I personally was quite glad there were different flavours, as I find the orange stuff bogging!
There are never enough toilets at the start of a race and this was no exception, and I got a better goody bag off my charity than I did the organisers (Splenda low calorie sweetener?!?!?!).
All in all though I had a great day and finished it with a smile on my face when I could have so easily been greetin. Thank you, Edinburgh. Don't know if I'll make it again, but I hope the race survives and would recommend it to anyone
Date of review: June 16, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Sarah Appleby 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Plenty of space, plenty of positives, thoroughly enjoyable!
In full: Edinburgh is a lovely city - couldn't believe I hadn't been before - and this is a great marathon for a first-timer like me: easy to get into and up there, well organised, relatively flat (honest) and plenty of room to run your own race. Also plenty of water stations and I was impressed with the heavyweight medal :)
- Couple of niggles but hey perfection isn't always possible:
I found it a bit cheeky that lots of the relay runners were walking in the middle rather than getting over to one side.
- At times I found running back on yourself demoralising but it was also nice to spot people you know and see the elite men early on!
- The Expo was a bit far out but the Baxters store at Ocean Terminal was fab and made the trek worth it.
One last thing: The undulations at the end were tough but make the end that little bit sweeter I reckon.
Date of review: June 16, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Choccy E-clair
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Scenery in places was amazing, the crowds make an enormous difference.
In full: As with many other reviews, if the organisers pay attention this could be a great marathon. The scenery in places was amazing, and then as the miles become difficult (and longer and shorter and longer again) the scenery becomes less impressive. Toilets at start were very busy, but adequate although could not find many on route. The expo was unnecessary and time consuming. But people were friendly, helpful and the runners seemed to look out for one another. The volunteers were encouraging and did an amazing job.
Date of review: June 16, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Phil the runner
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Reasonable but Edinburgh needs to try harder
In full: Mile markers - need to be accurate, and preferably both sides of road (I agree witht he comments about misplaced markers - I managed a sub 6min mile apparently!)
A bit narrow on parts of coast run where both firections on same path (and depressing on the way out)
Uphill finish is challenging but the location good
Finish should be organised like London with designated meeting places - after all there is plenty of room. It was very chaotic from my perspective
Water stations very good and frequent.
If it is going to be hot 'run through showers' should be added - the residents who had water hoses playing on the course are to be congratulated - they were really needed.
Edinburgh is such a nice city I look forward to coming again.
The Expo is not really needed - though my wife jumped at the pportunity to do some shopping! However, it was useful as I had forgottoen a vital bit of kit I realised at that point! It would be better if organised in the centre of Edinburgh
Date of review: June 16, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Dan A
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Enjoyable - but needs to observe runners' comments if it aspires to being a target big city marathon
In full: A race review often reflects how well you run it; easy to accentuate the positives if it goes well, while equally simple to criticise if it doesn't.
I get the impression that Edinburgh is stuck between a large local event and one which aspires to grow into a major city marathon. As the former it is pretty good (if pricy), as the latter it doesn't quite cater for those travelling long distances to compete.
On the whole I really enjoyed it (weather,atmosphere, drinks, scenery all great),but their are a few constructive criticism's:
Good challenging course, but I feel the description of "flatter/faster..." on website is deliberately misleading. Regular marathoners want to know in advance if the course if PB material before committing long in advance.
Expo unnecessary - we all know what the purposes of these expos are. No problem with having one, but don't force people to go if they don't want to. As one of many who flew to Edinburgh, additional travel to the Expo proved troublesome (had to get someone to go on my behalf due to timings)
Mile markers - most runners, both fast and slow, rely on accurate pacing/timing. Don't under-estimate importance of accurate mile markers if you want to be a serious race. Mile 11-12 took me a little over 3 minutes!!
Kit bag too small - being from out of town, I had to leave additional bag elsewhere.
Split timing mats - why not at half-way and/or 10k intervals? We runners like to analyse.
Otherwise, thoroughly enjoyed it, and will probably be back.
Date of review: June 15, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Krasse
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: God it was sunny
Date of review: June 15, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: g100
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Super race that keeps growing. expo needs a bigger venue.
Date of review: June 15, 2006
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