Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1532 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: michael farmer
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: enjoyed it again. at least water was better organised this year.
Date of review: May 30, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: philby123
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: It's hardly in Edinburgh!
In full: There should have been information on the site that some parts of the course were run off tarmac, also there should have been an extra water station after 18 miles. There was a shower station about 3-4 miles from the finish, I might be a bit out on that distance but it was unmanned and it was very warm - very disappointing, the Edinburgh public were fantastic bringing out sweets and hose pipes to give welcome relief to very warm runners. The relay runners caused real issues, they were weaving all over the place, parts of the course were barely wide enough to accommodate both sets out of runners.
The distance to the baggage truck was over long. The beer tent was a joke, they really misjudged the demand on a warm day, the queues were very very long. The organisers really misled runners on the distance from the finish to the bus pick up location, also they never put up a sign ahead of normal bus stops stating distance to go to correct locatation, this resulted in some runners trying to board at the incorrect stops - really bad as runners were obviously very tired!!.
This event could have been so much better, there were many many significant issues I could never recommend it to anyone - a real shame as the Edinburgh public were fantastic, a real cockup overall by the organisers!!!
Date of review: May 30, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: NICK CLEARY
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: PB Potential ..... if you can avoid the heat
In full: Most of my comments have been mentioned elsewhere.
Excellent, reasonably flat course with superb support throughout the race. No problems this year running out of water although as others have stated an extra water point at 18 - 20 miles would help.
Negatives: Matting at the end was terrible as was having hundreds of people trying to squeeze through a small gate to reach the reunion area. Excellent T-Shirt and Medal and great banter with fellow runners and the crowd. Start the marathon earlier so slower runners don't finish in horendous heat.
Date of review: May 30, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: pjlovr
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent marathon on a scorching Scottish day
In full: This was my first marathon. Overall I thought the organisation was quite good. There are never enough toilets but the only real criticism on those lines is the two facing walls of toilets made for confusing queueing. Otherwise the start area I was on at Regent Road was fantastic. Good signage and a nice view of the city and Arthur's Seat before setting off.
I know there were problems last year with running out of water at the aid stations but no such problem this year and it's a very good thing. It was an incredibly hot, scorching, baking day. The stations seemed to be well-situated; I didn't run out of fluids the whole race.
The finish was well-organised also and first aid was excellent. The reason I know the first aid was good was because of this criticism: the plastic mats bolted to the grass in the final stretch. I fell and busted my knee requiring four stitches.
I understand why the mats were needed. If it had rained we'd have been running on mud. It's just hard to go from concrete that doesn't give to plastic mats and grass that do. You've done 26 miles already, your legs will only lift so high. Surely other people fell. They weren't overly loose but they obviously can, and did, produce a hazard. Just something to think about maybe.
Finally, the race was great, the organisation was good. The bits mentioned above are just minor annoyances. My one big criticism has to be the reunion area. It was in a park that had stone walls and two one-person size gates into the park. The backlog of people trying to get in was 30-deep. It was utterly ridiculous trying to get into that park. I know you can't just tear down the walls but something has to be done, especially if the race continues to grow. It should not be so difficult to get into the reunion area.
Transportation is also a big criticism but given its suburban location there may not be anything else to be done. This is not London obviously. There just weren't enough public buses. They were going by full leaving loads of people to wait ages. With it being a Sunday the schedule was reduced. Surely, though, introducing some extra buses on marathon day is feasible. I did not use the race-organised transport so I have no comment on that. Perhaps it provided better service. We ended up going the opposite direction and getting on a train that also ended up packed with like-minded people. It worked out in the end because otherwise I reckon we'd have been hours waiting for a bus to town.
Keeping with the transport, due to the road blockages my husband sat on the bus to get down to the race for nearly two hours and missed me by three minutes. Bus diversions are inevitable but, again, more services and maybe some better traffic management could be looked into.
I was impressed with the Edinburgh marathon and would definitely do it again. One can only hope that next time it won't be so hot but there's nothing the organisers can do to fix that!
Date of review: May 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Mabel the Librarian
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Beautiful city, but more than 3/4 of the marathon was outside it
In full: I was amazed by the support and friendliness. The course was nice but starting at 8am would have made a hell of a difference to many peoples finish times I'm sure.
The baggage and reunion areas were too far away from the finish. I didn't bother with an official photo at the end because of the long queues and blasting heat of the direct sunshine. Couldn't escape that sun at all. 1 mile from the finish to bags, 1 mile to bus, 1 mile from bus to hotel.
Date of review: May 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: AP58
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice start, friendly , but a bit warm. Why couldn't we start at 8 and had anybody thought there were runners at the finish?
In full: Great race, wonderful support (especially all the kids with water blasters), and thoroughly enjoyable except for two huge organisational issues. Why didn't we start at 8? The weather wasn't a surprise (it was hot last year as well) and yet the slowest marathon runners were made to run well into the afternoon. And did nobody think that what matters at the end of a marathon is getting the runners fed, watered and changed? The bag reclaim was half a mile away, the showers could handle about six at a time, and compared to the (free) soup and roll at the end of Loch Ness the food was pathetic. But like everybody else I'll be back hoping for better (and cooler) next year.
Date of review: May 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Kicked-It
| | 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: Great atmosphere and course let down a little by organisers
In full: I'll get my major gripe out of the way first: starting he relay people in front of the main body of full marathoners was utter stupidity. A large portion of the relay folk plainly hadnt seen a race course before and seemed oblivious to the etiquette of moving out of the way before stopping dead with 6000 people coming behind you fast! Annoying and dangerous. I sent one poor lady flying when she stopped in front of me but could have ruined 6 months of training and buld up just because a "fun runner" was thrown into the mix with a lot of faster people.
Every 6 miles the exhausted, usually walking chicanes would veer off the track, only to be replaced with a fresh batch of relayers who would innevitable stop dead after 2 miles and cause the probems all over again.
If there is a relay next year then I wont be coming - its a marathon - keep it that way.
Moan over - the good bits: The start was well marshalled and signposted and the first few miles through the sights of Edinburgh were fab, (shame we then left the city for the next 23 miles!). Local support was wonderful - hosepipes, unofficial water stations, fruit, food and jelly babies along with enthusiastic vocal support was an absoloute credit to the people of East Lothian who obviously cherish their marathon.
I had no problems with the route other than the lack of water at the Gosforth House loop and the boingy finish mats. Signposting to the re-union area was total rubbish and the finish was a shables, but i was happilly clutching my fabulous quality medal and top notch t-shirt by then!
If I dont get into London next year I may well be back... but not if the relay is on again!
Date of review: May 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Fernando Guerrero
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: May 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: RS_54
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Potential overcome by greed
In full: OK, after 'unseasonable' hot weather in 2006, 2009 and 2010, it's high time the organisers started the marathon a) earlier in the year b) earlier in the morning. In 2006 there were 'relay' runners to contend with as well as the heat. In 2010 there were relay runners AND half-marathoners. Whatever will the organisers dream up next to raise a few bob - burpee and press-up contests mid-course. Ridiculous. Choose one event and make it the best there is - for the runners. Starting the 1/2 marathon before the full marathon is plain dumb, guaranteeing the latter enduring the worst of the conditions for longer. And what wheeze have they dreamt up now? A Kilomathon. I ask you...
Date of review: May 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: MATT CAFFERKY
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice Race, Shame about Heat
In full: I quick literaly fell to pieces at mile 16... so hot. 25C in endinburgh in may, who would have thought it! If it were not for the crippling heat this would have a very enjoyable day out. The course is good and well arranged, although the starts a bit confusing (different roads for different waves). The goody bag is nice and the locals were out to support the runners. Overal: Good race but prepare for the heat!
Date of review: May 28, 2010
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