Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A curates egg - good in places!
In full: I did the first leg of the relay and did not experience the significat problems that happened in the other stages of the race - of which there were many.
Date of review: June 7, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A good, fast marathon in a nice place.
In full: After fixing some of last years problems (buses, toilets etc.), they were faced with some new ones (water being nicked etc.). Still don't understand why they squeeze us into a small area at the finish, when there is a whole race-course available.
I still enjoyed the race, generally well organised, a fast scenic course. Very good for a PB and a nice place for a long weekend.
Date of review: June 7, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: After a gap of 15 years since my last marathon (London 1995), I wanted to do something special for my 50th birthday -and this was it!
In full: Loved all of it! Enjoyed the start, even though it toom 15 minutes to cross the start line.

Having only been able to train for a spasmodic 6 week period due to a hamstring injury sustained in the Leeds half marathon in September 2008 (supposed build up training for this event), I was pretty dubious and fully expected to be swept up in the sweeper van by 10 miles.It didn't happen. My friend and i joined three other ladies who were running to a plan: 9 minutes runing and 1 minute walking. This got us to about 17 miles, where we naturally split up.
Thereafter I walked, talked and jogged to the finish, in 5.17 - much better than the anticipated 6.30.
The crowd were very encouraging, shame about the water crisis, as 3 stations had run out of supplies for me, and I loved the route. One of the hardest parts was running on whatever was laid on the run up to the finish:it felt a bit like ruinning on a trampoline, the last thing you want after 26 miles.
Would I do another marathon? Yes, my plans are for the Snowdonia before I'm 55.
Date of review: June 7, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Not enough water!
In full: http://www.waitup.co.uk

On race day I got up at 0630 for a light breakfast of brown toast and one Weetabix, had a hot shower and got my things together, leaving the hotel at 8am. I reached the start, which was very crowded. This made it very hard to think about doing a proper warm up. I was very aware that I didn't want to need the toilet at all during the race. I joined the queue for the toilets, which wasn't too busy. I then listened to some music and warmed up a little before joining the long queue to get back in the toilet area again, before joining a shorter queue. I knew that I would need to go again so as soon as I left the Portaloo I joined the back of the queue. It worked to perfection as when I reached the front I needed to go again! I was definitely ready for the race now.

I felt quite emotional at the start, if not anxious, I'd done as much as I could to be ready and wanted to get going. My plan was 7.5mph constant pace and I would finish in 3.5 hours.

THE RACE


Finally, at 9am, we were underway, I was in the 4hour group, but it didn't take long to cross the start line. Most of the 13000 entrants were probably further back. The start was a very gentle downhill, shaded by trees with a cool breeze - lovely. If only the whole course was like that! In the first mile I passed somebody who was doing the race on crutches, saw about 20 blokes urinating against a wall. They risked being disqualified, should have talked to me about my toilet plan. I also saw Amanda and my parents cheering me on.

In the first few miles the course twisted, went up and down hill and the sun was beginning to feel very hot. The first water point was at about 3.5 miles. I needed it already. At about 2 miles I ran past my fans again, I would see Amanda later at 16 miles and at the end, but my parents had to head to the airport.

At around 4 miles we reached the esplanade, where we would run along the coast to about the 18 mile point and then turn back to the finish. I was keeping my pace, but was becoming evermore aware of the heat. The water stations were spaced every 2/3 miles, but as soon as I had finished with one I was thinking about the next one.

It was a great atmosphere, with many people lining the street, not enough of the residents had their garden hoses out though to cool us down. There were one or two, but it would have been better if every single house we passed had done so! I did have my name on my t-shirt so people could cheer me on, which was good. The support in general was fantastic. Not on the same scale as London, but very vibrant, with drummers, bandpipes and many complete strangers cheering us on. It's a real shame that some parts of the course were inaccessible to spectators, especially the gruelling part between 15 and 20 miles.

At around 8 miles, for the first time I began to feel - just a little bit - like I couldn't sustain the pace. I ignored the feeling and carried on. The next 11 miles are a bit of a blur. Every time there was a water station or Lucozade available I grabbed as much as I could carry without slowing down. Usually I tipped one bottle of water over my head, drank the other and then sipped the Lucozade. As soon as the water was done with, I felt too hot immediately.

Still I crossed the half way point slightly behind pace, 1:45:36. I managed to keep going, but then at around 15.5 miles it was becoming a struggle. I saw Amanda at 16 miles, a brilliant effort on her part to get out to that position on the course. Here, I was still going okay, but then as the course veered away and there were no spectators to cheer on I really started to struggle. I carried on for a bit, but finally had to take a walk at around 17.5 miles.

The remaining 9 miles were a write-off. I managed to jog most of them, but would take a walk at the water stations etc. I had plenty of time to beat 4 hours still, but it didn't really bother me. I knew I couldn't make 3.5 hours so I just wanted to finish. I'd given it all in running that far at that pace and had nothing left. For the last 0.2 miles I did managed a bit of a sprint finish and finally crossed the line in 4:01:45. I didn't feel particularly euphoric, just glad it was over and disappointed I hadn't reached my target.


Date of review: June 6, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A great first marathon
In full: I loved this race, missing water at the first station but being a slow first timer they had restocked the rest by the time I got round. I liked the coastal out and back route. Great support from the spectators - local kids with water pistols and hosepipes, a nice gent with a supply of freezing cold water to top up bottles, and ladies with jelly babies! The racecourse was a nice place to finish but hated the running surface there, and hard to find the way out. Overall I loved it, achieved a good time for me, the medal is great and I will be back next year.
Date of review: June 6, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Hottest day or the year, stolen water (apparently), not a great goody bag,and a non exsistent reunion area
In full: this was my 1st marathon, and for that reason will always be special. The atmosphere was amazing at the start and the commradery between runners was fantastic. It was such a hot day, and a lsk of water made it even harder than I could have imagined. A gravel track into farmland didn't inspire me nor the out and back route, as pituresque as it was, it was difficult for supporters to access. Didn't see a great deal of the sights of Edinburgh but then I guess that would have made it a very hilly course.
I will do it again though despite the moaning!
Date of review: June 6, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: First marathon and really enjoyed it. My wife and 17 month old daughter loved the entertainment and atmosphere. Hopefully next year it isnt the hottest day of the year.
In full: First marathon and really enjoyed it. My wife and 17 month old daughter loved the entertainment and atmosphere. Hopefully next year it isnt the hottest day of the year.
Date of review: June 6, 2009

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Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: I ran this in 2005 - its just not the same race now
In full: I've been telling people since I ran this in 2005 what a good marathon Edinburgh is. I shall now shut up. If I wanted to run along a dusty road by the sea and back I can do that at home. Clearing us all out of the queue for the toilets 30 minutes before the start at the same time as the announcer was inducing panic about it being nearly time to go to the pens was unforgiveable. How many toilets did the elite runners actually need? It seemed they were given exclusive use of half of them for a crucial half hour.
The water situation was ridiculous. Knowing it was in short supply, faster runners should have been asked to be more careful with the supplies and not sip and discard. I felt bad taking a bottle of lucozade and a bottle of water from one of the stations where supplies appeared to be running low, but I assumed supplies would be replenished. It was surely not possible given the weather forecasts that more had not been arranged. I had a splitting headache for 24 hours after the race finished probably from dehydration. I am sure at least some of the slower runners who faced long stretches with no water must have had similar after effects. It was purely luck that there were no fatalities. However, it is the change of course that means I won't be back - I came to run an Edinburgh marathon and as far as I am concerned, this race just wasn't what I expected. The spectators were fantastic and very supportive and obviously concerned for the welfare of the runners... The caravan site hosepipe and the people with water pistols were great!
Date of review: June 5, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In full: This was my first marathon, I thoroughly enjoyed my day and am very proud of my performance all be it not a quick one! I found three water stations with no water left, not so bad at the three mile point as i was carrying my own but horrendous later on. I ran a blackpool half marathon a few years ago which had "water stolen" so knew not to rely on any organised event any more even if its sponsered by a water company. It was annoying to see people have to pick up empty bottles from the floor and knock on doors to ask for water. I'm glad that people did though as this is what would have prevented disaster later on. Later on in the course i had no water at all as i had only carried enough for the first few miles, i heard a runner shout to a marshall after leaving gosforth house wheres the water i need water, a marshall simply shouted back at mile 20-for a ten minute miler this is about 30 minutes away so isn't very close. Although i think every effort was made to rectify the mistake i'm not sure the police should be having to transport water to stop people from passing out or pulling out. It hasn't put me off running another marathon as i am very proud of mine and everyones else achievements but i do think its a crying shame that lack of organisation about where to put the thousands of bottles of water that were not used ruined a lot of peoples days. I would also like the organisers to be aware of the effect it has on spectators to see people without water and in ambulances/on drips. i know some of this is because people overstretch themselves but i know spectators do worry about what they see and i have had my family decide not to travel with me to certain races as they can't help but panic about me when they here there is no water/see people passed out. On another note just to make the organisers aware, i helped myself to a goody bag at the end --5 hrs 20 because there was no one there to give me one. Despite my rants i had a great day and have not been put off running another marathon, i just wish it would stop being such a common problem that the water runs out for people who run slower than a 8 or 9 minute mile.
Date of review: June 5, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Enjoyed many aspects apart from the obviuos
Date of review: June 5, 2009

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