Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1532 votes). 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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2011 race reviewed by: pdmancs
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Same kind of thoughts as everyone else
In full: No real need to add to what everyone else is saying but these are my biggest bugbears:
- 2 starting points and 2 bag drops at start confusing if you don't already know the locations
- no feeling of being in Edinburgh
- tight, narrow turns when doubling back
- runners going in both directions is demoralising
- section of off-road terrain not a good idea, especially at that point in the race
- finishers area far too small. No space to sort yourself out/stretch down etc. I struggled, and I finished in the first few hundred. Must have been crazy later on
- ridiculous bottleneck to get from finishing area to reunion point/catering etc, poorly stewarded with prams smacking in to everyone!
- the beer tent wasn't much more than an open air trestle table. Great beer, great guys but they were totally overwhelmed
Plus points
- helpers were great
- best finishers tee shirt I've ever received
- photos, finishing times communication etc was spot on
- with a few tweaks, it could be tons better
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: John Grundy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: good race spoilt by abysmal post race organisation.Will need improving before we do it again
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Wexter
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Edinburgh needs to think bigger
In full: My first marathon and incredibly pleased with a 3 hr 54 minute time. Edinburgh is an amazing city and the marathon should play to the strengths of this. Enjoyed most of the course though found the second half mentally tougher and not as good as the first half. Thought event was not well supported or publicised and if I were to be tempted to go back would only be if they utilised the city more and had a better finish.
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: MAB
| | 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: The physical constraints of the finish area let the race down otherwise great!
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Hillheader
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Steadily deteriorated over the years but still worth doing
In full: Too many events on same day.
Very poor finish design. Even without the race course finish could have been much better (medal and goody bag area was a disaster)
Should be able to remove the out and back along a side street. London road start is poor (beside a busy road).
However, the marshalls are great, there is generally a good atmosphere and the course is fast. With better thought about the finish the race could be much better.
Date of review: May 25, 2011
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