Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Girlie
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Lovely scenery and great support, Water situation was a disgrace
In full: I enjoyed myself at this race, mainly because I employed a survival rather than PB strategy from the start,taking the heat into account.
There are no excuses for the first water station to be dry- I was at the front of the Blue pen and did panic when I realised my own 1.2 litre bottle might have to last me a long way.
The kindness of supporters was much appreciated when word got round about the lack of water and people shared what they had.
In a marathon it shouldn't be a lottery about whether you get water.
If faster runners were taking 2 bottles or more, shame on them, it is so selfish and disrespectful to us slower folks, who are going to be out there for twice as long as them.
I finished in 5:25, and was probably one of the last to be allowed the Gosford loop.
I would do this race again, but I would bring my camelbak next time to make sure I have enough water, but I shouldn't have to if a marathon is properly organised.
The reunion area was non existent, I went the wrong way out of the stadium and had problems finding my family as there was no-one available to ask.
This was a problem on the course as well- lack of marshalls.
Date of review: June 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Foster 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Very hot day and water shortage made race very hard
In full: The day was beautiful, but not a day for running a marathon! It was hot and I knew it was going to be hard. It was a shock to get to mile 19 and find no water. Luckly I had had my own water with me up to mile 18, but I gegan to worry that I would have 7 miles to go with no water. However spectators and locals were great, offering water and drinks from picnic baskets and hosing people down.
I enjoy this run, in milder conditions it does have PB potential and is good for beginners. It was just the conditions this year that made it hard. I like the finish. Though there were big queues for the shuttle bus the queue cleared quickly and I was soon sitting celebrating in the Edinburgh sunshine.
Date of review: June 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: flamefly
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: June 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Phil Green 8
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: June 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Here I Come
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Had a great time
In full: Had a brilliant time but agree with everyone's comments re: lack of water on such a hot day. It had been forecast for the past couple of days to be hot, so don't understand why more water wasn't provided. Is there anyone that actually got water at ALL of the water stations? I had to run from around 14 miles to the next station with water at 22 miles. The 19 miler didn't have any! Resorted to picking up hot lucozade bottle that had been discarded at 20 miles - YUK. Hopefully the organisers WILL listen and take on board everyone's constructive feedback. Great race though. Fellow runners and crowds were so supportive and loved the finish, even if it was a bit confusing to hook up with friends and family afterwards!!!
Date of review: June 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Frank2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good, but could do better
In full: I loved this race - great scenery, lovely atmosphere, and a great feel to the whole event. Definite PB potential if not for the heatwave! Start organisation ok but more toilets would always be welcome, the queue further towards the start was much better managed than at the 1st queue.
I was one of the lucky ones not to experience water station problems, but I thought there were a few other things that could be improved...
At least a couple of the mile marker flags were in the wrong place, and I missed 2 of them completely - couldnt these be a bit more substantial? - might prevent them being moved (if thats what happened)
I agree with the comments about the bouncy matting to the finish - really unnerving after running 26 miles
Did I miss them or where were the toilets at every water station???
Signage at the finish was terrible - really unclear where to go, lots of people asking where to get gooody bags, & no signs to the reunion area until you were nearly there - if you were lucky to stagger in the right direction - when i got there, there were only 2 toilets, and the letters for meeting people were very small - I completely missed them at first.
For spectators, public transport was a disaster, I dont know if there was a problem with traffic management but public buses were much delayed, diverted, or cut routes short as they couldnt get to their destination.
Date of review: June 3, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: scottrace
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: Positives:
. beautiful views and flat run
. fantastic support
. great medal and t-shirt
. Scottish marathon
. lots of slower runners
. the finish was better than the half marathon
Negatives
. looking around for water on the ground at the start but got water everywhere else and shared it with others
. no gels available although I had my own
. being told at mile 17 to go turn back. I did my extra 2 miles + more as I wasn't prepared to do a short marathon but it messed up my time as no stewards knew what was happening
. family couldn't get into area to meet me and had to stand outside. This wasn't ideal as sister can't stand for long.
. reading reports afterwards from Mr Keigel was disappointing. Most marathons are first timers and 'fun' runners.
I do recommend this race and I am sure that next year will be better - it has to!
Date of review: June 3, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Dinesh Patel
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: lovely scenery, great local support, good downhill start
In full: odd hairpin extension en route , wobbly unsteady surface leading to finish. garmin records longer distance 26.4 miles
Date of review: June 3, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Eugene Nyunt.
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Free speech - no delusions, no race/sexuality hate, and recognising fundamental rights; quite unlike an obnoxious Spanish Donatella Versace lookalike in London.
In full: I have to agree about the water shortages, although luckily or not for me I pulled up and had to walk from mile 20 - Hampstead and Highgate shin - so got through the worst of the bad running weather head down at a snail's pace. I'm sure security could always be improved, but whoever legged it with the fuel needs seeing to - heaven knows what they'd do with gels and the like; it's more than a prank, with at least one guy I saw suffering from cramp or something; he was being helped by another runner holding his locked leg in the air.
The day and experience itself I enjoyed immensely. I believe the organization was no worse than the two Berlins I've done; one thing though needs mentioning - at one point while we were all making our own way along a relatively tiny lane, the pole of a mile marker had begun to seriously careen into the road; some slightly taller runners actually brushed against the flap of the billowing fabric with their heads. I just hope no one got hit by the thing collapsing even further down.
After hearing so many comments about the quality of the finisher's bag in other races, the items we got were a definte plus - a technical shirt and a really very nice medal, as befits a beautiful and pleasant capital city. My feelings haven't changed - lithe and blonde Scottish birds, whether they soar over Edinburgh or Stirling are a true wonder.
Date of review: June 3, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Michael Howell 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The water errors made a very hot day much more difficult
In full: This has great potential to be a great race but the water station being empty on the first stop in particular really rocked the confidence and contributed to me getting a really bad cramp on mile 9. This made for a very taxing last 17 miles. There was a seemingly huge gap between water stations before and after the turnaround point which I think was unforgivable as this seemed like one of the toughest parts of the route.
The support from the locals was uplifting though and the people in general on my weekend were extremely welcoming. On another note, I wish there were more facilities for the spectators at the finish as there were very few seats for those who could not get into the stands and only a couple of vans to cater for them. I ran the Warsaw marathon last year and they had a mini village at the finish which made my wife’s experience far more pleasurable.
The medal and t-shirt were excellent however and I loved Edinburgh as a city.
Date of review: June 3, 2009
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