Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Andrew Paterson 3
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Big improvement on 2011
In full: Challenging race with the weather this year. Great on course local support with water guns and hoses much appreciated. Much better finish with loads of space to collapse in a heap. Buses were great when you got to them but too far a walk - I felt I was doing an ultramarathon! Baggage lorries were efficient. Could do with another water station up by the farm and bring back the lucozade.
Like others the relay particularly the final leg joining was annoying and dispiriting when you're 20 miles in, sunburnt and knackered. It's a marathon - the only people who deserve to be on the course at this point are those who have run the distance - that's what makes a marathon different and a distance to aspire to! I realise it's not the runners fault but if a relay is needed why not run it as a separate event - after all this is the Edinburgh marathon festival and it advertises as a 2 day festival of running. Run the marathon as a stand alone event please - I then know the people I'm lining up with and running with are prepared to endure the same as me!!
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Frazerelli
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great course. Very dependent on conditions
In full: As many have said they really should start this race at 8am and either ditch the unnecessary half ( there's another Edinburgh half in April which used to be over an almost identical course), set the half runners off at same time (like Leicester) or do the half on sat as a double loop of the 10k course. 3 of the last 5 years it's been hot - not rocket science to work out that it seems to be a recurring theme.
The organisers really listened and learned to sort out the disgrace that was last year's finish debacle so people power can work after all!
Might do it again but it's getting competition now with new UK spring races so needs to keep up to maintain a good number of entrants.
Don't come if you want to see Edinburgh - save that for another trip
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Kirsten Knight 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A nice race which could do with improvements
In full: As my second marathon (1st being London) in view of the entry fee I expected better organisation. I was fully aware it wouldn't compete with London however signage was the same as a local 10k and there wasn't a clock at halfway which would be helpful. Also as someone who had never been too Edinburgh clearer guidance on how to get to the start would be good. On the plus side though the marshalls and crowd were great, hoses much appreciated, an electrolite drink station was needed however plenty of water. Baggage ran super smooth and signs high up for meet and greet would help.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: ben conley
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The Scottish summer only comes out for race day!
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: M McCarthy
| | 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: Better than 2011
In full: My second Edinburgh marathon, better than 2011 but still can do better. The weather did not help but than is not the fault of EMF, but an earlier start should be in place next year. The relay runners are a pain, one nearly knocked me over to get to a water station. The water stations and marshalls were good and the crowds were also good. The finish was much better, but still needs improvement, signage needs improvement, goody bags were disappointing. Shame that we did not see much of the city, a great shame as Edinburgh is a nice city to look round. Done it twice now but no more.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: dhale750
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Ignore the criticisms - this is one solid event.
In full: This was my second year doing this. I'll start with the bad points:
The lack of any sports drink is a real disappointment for an event of this scale. It is a minimum expectation in most marathons. If they HAD to just give away gels then they should have been from much earlier than 16.5 miles ie. regular intervals from 5/6 miles onwards.
The event offers pretty poor value for money considering they aren't exactly closing the city centre down for the day. The Gosford house section they insist on including every year should be cut; I doubt anyone would miss that weird farm section in the middle of nowhere with the horrific gravel surface. Not pleasant when you've brought racing flats for a road race.
Why they must charge yet more still for use of the event buses I don't know.
As many people have pointed out most of the marathon isn't actually in Edinburgh, so the course will disappoint a lot of people.
Now the good points:
As advertised, this is a lighting fast course with definite PB potential. Barely an incline to speak of and a tasty net drop from start to finish. The only downside is that the conditions from year to year have been pretty bad. But that can change, and the organisers can't do much about it. Whilst not exactly Edinburgh, the course does have a certain strange charm about it, and is definitely memorable with scenic sections along the cost and a central start down london road and round holyrood park.
Whilst there was no sports drink there were at least frequent water stations.
Huge amount of crowd support in many parts of the course. Marshall's all very friendly and helpful. Nice touches included kids handing out sweets/ squirting runners with water pistols and a petrol station manager using the jetwash to great affect! Many residents out with their hoses too, all much appreciated!
Finish area was massive and had great atmosphere, lots to do and things to see. Baggage worked very well also.
T-shirt is a great design and very high quality. Medal was very special and possibly my favourite ever (I do have a fair few).
Overall a very solid marathon and one I'd recommend trying. People complain about small organisational issues but it's easy to forget about what are ultimately pretty small issues. The important things are all taken care of.
Like a lot of people, I will be back next year.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Plodding Dave
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Not the Edinburgh Marathon
In full: All went well, despite the heat.
Agree it's a tour of east Lothian and a bit like calling the old Polytechnic marathon, the London Marathon. The aim of the organisers should be to get it to go through central Edinburgh, then out into the suburbs and return. Not that I'm interested in cheering crowds, but it might help the race profile, but maybe not the speed of the course. You will know when the race has made it as spectators won't be allowed near the start line - not that it was a problem
Else, water, baggage, transport, toilets all OK.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Angela Cairns 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% |
In short: Despite the heat it lived up to its PB potential but was lacking in some basics.
In full: "Edinburgh" marathon was made bearable by the amazing spectators on route who provided hosepipe showers, water, sweeties and cheers during the very hot weather.
Miles 16 to 20 were so hard going with virtually no shade or breeze but somehow I got a second wind for the find 6 miles and knocked 8 minutes off my previous time. There needs to be more water stations and sports drinks - I coped in the heat because I'd trained wearing a belt with bottles and so had some sports drinks to top me up.
It would not be rocket science to start earlier, not have a relay at the same time and do something about the buses. We ended up abandoning our tickets when we say the size of the very long queue and jumped on the very quick train back to Edinburgh. Perhaps organisers could talk to train company about putting on more trains to help the transport chaos.
The reunion area was a joke. It wasn't signposted and the a-z signs were so small they were virtually impossible to see through the people. It took my family an age to find me at the end.
All that said I had a great day and was so chuffed to get a PB.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Euan Philipps
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great day but so bloody hot!
In full: First things first - I smashed my PB by 20 minutes so that was brilliant. Secondly, the support from Macmillan was amazing, from round the course and in the recovery tent in the end, and the support from people around the course was special too. Finally, it was gorgeous scenery and a great excuse to visit a beautiful city.
Now the negatives... no clocks anywhere on the course was strange for a race that markets itself on it being the UKs fastest marathon. The organisation at the beginning was a bit light, there weren't a lot of stewards about telling people where to go. There wasn't anyone giving out sun cream on the route either, which would have been good given the sun.
Which leads me onto the heat, bloody hell it made it tough! Still, it was great to get round and the feeling at the end was fantastic.
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: DarloRunner
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Third year running this for me, this year was great!
In full: Running this 3rd year running, I knew previous 2 years had not been good in parts, specifically the poor finish area in 2011. However massive credit goes to EMF this year. From the word go I enjoyed every aspect of race. The finsh was so organised I would go as far as saying this is best organized race I have ever ran. Marshalls so polite, specially on water stations and at end where you get medals and bag. Shame EMF can't control the weather, heat was a killer :-)
Great stuff this year, I'll defo be back at some point in the future!
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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