Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Luke Gow
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Poor organisation marks this out as one to avoid in future
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Robbochef
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Shame about the finish..and not good for your spectators - £40 plus for a medal without the year on !
In full: Overall a very enjoyable marathon, but and well documented in other comments room for improvement. Very difficult, if not impossible, for family and friends to cheer you on, other than in one position along route. They were disappointed they could not see the finishing line.
Mileage markers not always that obvious.
Great to see runners coming the other way, wasn't sure at first but gives you something else to concentrate on.
Where were the blankets to keep you warm at the end ?
The medal was very disappointing and having to pay a further £4.50 for a sticker for the year you have completed it.
Thought the text with the time on so soon after the race a nice touch.
The start was very relaxed and easy to find. Also great for spectators to stay close by.
but those last 6-8 miles with the wind in your face !
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: LancsLass
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I enjoyed it - but I'm slow so didn't suffer the congestion!
In full: I agree that the finish needs a revamp and I was disappointed to be handed a half marathon t shirt - I have emailed and requested a marathon version. However, this was my first marathon and I really enjoyed the experience. There are some advantages to being a pack of the pack runner; I didn't have to fight congestion at the finish. I'd do it again.
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Jazzmoose
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Event has outgrown the course. Poor organisation. 'East Lothian' rather than Edinburgh Marathon
In full: My 1st marathon so will of course be memorable for the mental journey and I enjoyed running along the coast despite the weather.
Good points:
- Stewarts beer is lovely.
- Goody-bag & T-shirt
- marshalling
- crowds on home stretch and Long Niddry loop
- liked the contra-flow - saw some friends en route and was uplifting when on return leg
Bad Points:
- expensive. Insulting having to buy bus ticket on-top and photo costs prohibitive
- only spotted about 5 mile markers - demoralising
- if it had been a hot day there wouldn't have been enough water
- treacherous surface round Gosford House - saw several runners fall and heard friends twisted ankles
- course too congested - was boxed in for 1st 15 miles then struggled with relay runners pushing past
- bottlenecks at end unacceptable - badly needed to eat and get bag from friends
- friends couldnt get to finish and big screen broken
- left in middle of nowhere - this marathon needs to finish at City Centre e.g. Holyrood Park
- disappointed that medal was same whether it was 5k or full marathon.
Overall felt slightly exploited to profit GSI but despite that had an amazing experience and raised £2500 for my charity.
Would only do again if course changes and finish organisation is sorted out.
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Stuart Rogers
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% |
In full: If you saw a marshall you were lucky! Start pens were a free for all, mile markers were hard to find and the queues at the end for the tee shirt etc were just a joke, my friend took nearly an hour to get from the finish line to the meeting point which again was a joke. The buses seemed like miles away. The run was nice and a PB possible apart from the very narrow areas slowing every one up. There were relay runners mixed in with everyone and I thought it would have been a good idea to let them go 10 minutes before the bulk of the runners.
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: sideshowbob
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bottle necks, poor end organisation, unclear mile markers,
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Neil Robinson 17
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: decent race, poor finish!
In full: Well organised start, decent run but failed to see most of the mile markers although i did enjoy the race. The problems started afterwards, ive never walked so far at the finish of a marathon before it took too long to get a drink, queues for tee shirts were far too long and the lack of information just made it worse. Then had to que again to get through a small gap to get to the meeting area, then go back on myself for a 2mile walk for the bus back, wasted money on a bus ticket as didnt see anyone show one to the driver (my bus then went on to break down!) so was not having much luck on the day! If the problems with the finish were sorted it would be a decent overall marathon.
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: gasmeter53
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: good race bad finish
In full: Very good start plenty of room plenty of info.Shame that the weather was so windy as i'm sure that it would have made a really picturesque course.Crowds were good in places but very thin in places maybe down to the winds.What reaslly let it down was the finish a pretty long walk before a drink then just a confused muddle no signage about drinks or T-shirt sizes and Full t's running out before the last runner was in altho Half runners earlier in the day had been given Full t's.Then a walk to the meeting points which took you away from the Shuttle buses making it a real hike to them.I really enjoyed the run but the organization at the end was really bad. I MIGHT THINK ABOUT RUNNING AGAIN IF THE END CAN BE SORTED
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Bobby McDougall
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: This was my first marathon so well pleased to finish in a half decent time. I enjoyed the buzz at the start. It spoilt it for me and my family at the end. It was such an anti climax. I was running for charity close to my familys heart and they were proud i was doing this but so upset not to even see me at the end. Poor poor organisation and not worthy of being promoted to others. Dont do it try somewhere else.
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Mark Cook 9
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Organisation at finish was criminal
In full: Too many races and runners led to narrow course and post race organisation was shambolic
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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