Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Greg Ockwell
 | | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Poorly organised, disappointing, but flat!
In full: Here are the reasons to do it:
1.Fast course
2.Get to stay in Edinburgh
3.Nice medal and T shirt
Here is why you shouldn't do it:
1.Tiny mile markers- we missed some
2.Not enough water stations (over 3 miles between) and not evenly spaced out either
3.Its not in Edinburgh - should be called the Musselbrugh marathon!
4.Not enough water at the end
5.Miles to walk to baggage buses
6.Even further to the shuttle buses/trains
7.No extra trains laid on (1 an hr)
8.Pretty expensive for what it is
9.Not many spectators
10.Rubber matting at the end hurts more than cobbles!
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Richard Simpson 11
| | 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: Really enjoyed it (depsite the heat) apart from very poor organisation at finish
In full: I've run many half marathons and shorter distances but this was my first full marathon. I really enjoyed it despite the heat, great atmosphere and support, scenic route along the coast and lots of well paced water stations. The only downside of the run itself were very poorly designed and positioned mile markers - I missed loads of them which made pacing myself more difficult than it should have been. The big downside was at the end - couldn't find where to leave the chip, long walk to baggage reclaim followed by absolutely ridiculous distance to prepaid shuttle buses with very poor signage and not a marshall in sight to ask.
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Rutland Ned
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Too many runners for the capacity of the organisation
In full: Reasonable organisation until 25.5M; after that embarrassing. The final furlongs on mats were not good, the harrying through the finish poor (oh first aid was back there - where was the bin for the timing chip?), lack of signage or marshalls, the congestion where extra gates were kept locked, the distance to the baggage reclaim and worst of all, the distance to the shuttle buses. Most gave up on the expensive pre-paid buses and paid £1.20 for the public service.
The whole event - "The Lothian Coastal Marathon" - was expensive and poor value.
Good public support though
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Miriam Fransson
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: My first half marathon, and my local event. Really well organised, and would definitely do it again.
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: anna bloomer
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Glad to have finished
In full: Organisation at the start was good for the runners, but it took my parents (spectators)2 hours to get out to Musselborough.
The fact that the re-union area and bus pick-ups were so far away from the finish line would not have been such a big problem for me if it had not been for the fact that there were no marshals to ask where they were.
What is not forgiveable, however, is the inability to place mile markers correctly. I got to the one mile marker and thought I was going far too slow and increased my speed....only to find that I got to the two mile marker very quickly indeed. According to the runners I spoke to afterwards with GPS watches there were big discrepancies. The marathon is not kind on those who do not pace well...and it is hard to get a steady pace if the markers are wrong!
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Lyndsay Robertson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great course,very flat and scenic in a lot of parts. Very hot day but plenty to drink and friendly spectators with hosepipes kept us cool.Only downside is walk to shuttle bus-tortur!!!
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Neil_C
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great fast course with fantastic local support.
In full: Despite the heat I still managed a pb due to the mainly flat course. Great support from the villages you go through and the people spraying runners with hoses from their gardens are heros. Plenty of drinks available through most of the course but maybe needed an extra station in the last few miles due to the heat. Missed a few of the mile markers as they were quite small. Maybe they need a few balloons/flags so you see them from further away. Fantastic race which I love do again hopefully in cooler weather.
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Grahame Murray
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Frustrating - it may be fast but it's not enjoyable
In full: Ran this race in 2009 and a lot of criticisms were voiced at the end of that one. This year things started off really positively when it looked like peoples views had been taken on board with the first change being the toilet arrangements radically changed at the start. The same good atmosphere was present so was anticipating a good fun experience.
As it turned out the start was the only thing that had changed and it's a shame because, as noted on other threads, a few simple changes could make all the difference.
Start the race earlier - we're runners and used to early starts - then no-one will have complaints about the heat (how can it happen 2 years in a row).
The water stations for the Gosford House cauldron loop must be placed closer to the entry and exit - this is where the race really starts to bite and people were dropping.
Those mats at the end - oh my days - enough said.
I'm not going to complain about post-race because although I could see deficiencies I struggled to see, given location, on how it could be improved - maybe the grandstand finish just isn't worth the subsequent hassles. My advice to anyone - use the public transport - I have both times and it was the best option.
So regretfully I won't be returning, as I love Edinburgh, until I see better reviews with clear improvements made in future years.
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Smartly
| | 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: Great experience in a beautiful City. Organisation needs improving.
In full: Was hoping for a PB but the hot weather spoiled that. This could be such a special event with better organisation.
Realised I was at the wrong start nearly too late, and there were not enough toilets. Nice course but did get a bit monotonous at times on the out & back bit. It was hard looking out for the mile markers. Because of the heat there should have been more water stations towards the end. The surface at the end was horrible to run on after all those miles. The finish area was far too spread out, especially the distance to the baggage buses, and the walk to the shuttle buses was also far too long, older supporters & famlies with children were struggling.
To finish with some positives though, the locals with the hoses & water guns were most welcome & their support much appreciated. The medal & t-shirt are excellent. On a cooler day I think I would have got a PB. Will hopefully be back next year to try again, I just hope that the problems can be ironed out.
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: ligebamo
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very poor organisation
In full: The organisers should have taken greater efforts to get more fluid stations up given the number temperature.
Date of review: May 26, 2010
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