Edinburgh MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (1467 votes). | The big picture (1467 votes) | | Overall score | | 68% | | How many would do it again? | | 63% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 74% | | PB potential | | 74% | | Atmosphere | | 70% | | Organisation | | 52% | | Value | | 54% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 71% |
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2012 race reviewed by: Kayleigh Ferries
 | | 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: Great first marathon!
In full: This was the first marathon I've ran and I really enjoyed it. The heat was horrendous and I found myself pouring more water over my back and head than in my actual mouth!
The beach is beautiful to run down and the scenery was beautiful, however, as the race goes on from around 16-20 miles its a plain road with no scenery which is quite boring.
The support was amazing for this marathon with locals handing out water and spraying us with hose pipes which really helped, people were cheering and clapping along the way which made you feel amazing, I had a buzz for days after finishing!
I really enjoyed this marathon and plan on doing it again next year!
Date of review: October 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: MARGARET Beedie
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fast course and fantastic local support
In full: This was my first marathon and the course certainly lived up to its fast reputation. I was 10 minutes quicker than I was aiming for which was great. I know Edinburgh pretty well so I was aware I wouldn't be running through the city centre but the centre is pretty hilly so not too disappointed on that score! The route was scenic in the nice weather and I thought the out and back was good because your supporters could see you run past twice with the last time towards the end when its really good to see them.
The start was easy to get to by public transport and although I understand the other comments about the late start time it would have been much more difficult to get there from out of town if it had been earlier.
The support on the way was absolutely fantastic, I particularly appreciated being hosed down by people from their gardens as it heated up! I really enjoyed the whole thing along the way. The course helpers were great too.
My only gripe was the finish area.I didn't use the baggage drop or buses but found the signage a bit lacking and had to walk for ages to find my family.They had planned to park in the car park after it reopened at 2pm and purchased a car park pass to do so but when they got there it was only open for people coming out. That needs to be a lot clearer on the website.
The finishers T-shirt is really good but the rest of the goody bag was poor in comparison to other races I've run despite the fact that the entry fee was relatively high.
Overall though these were tiny gripes and I had a fantastic day. Would definitely run again.
Date of review: July 7, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Karen Norvell
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great all round Festival
In full: Have run in Edinburgh before, the half and as a Hairy Haggis, so collectively have run the whole marathon course ... this year thought I'd pull myself together and do the whole thing! So first Edinburgh Marathon and first Marathon!
How was it ... amazing! The most inspiring thing i've ever done.
Upsides - organisation is now brilliant and the crowd support is tremendous. Water & Gel stations well manned & supplied.
Downsides - It remains a pity that more of the course isn't in Edinburgh, but you can't have everything, once you get to Portobello you're running by the sea, what more could you want!? The off road loop at Gosford House is tricky especially as you've been running on the road for 17 or so miles by that point. It is a mighty long walk back to the buses & main carparking and it's uphill, not ideal if you've just run 26.2 miles!!
We can't blame the organisers for the weather, although we shouldn't complain, but I can bless the couple who, at mile 7, were spraying you with more sun tan cream ... an idea for the future perhaps? And the young lady who, around mile 24, was standing at her gate with a plate of satsumas! She saved my life :)
I finished in 4.38 hours, which given the heat I am very proud of, all I have to do now is persuade my husband that he can cope with me training for 2013!!
Date of review: June 23, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Joanna Duthie
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A challenging course yet friendly atmosphere for the first time racer
Date of review: June 15, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Christine Giles
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Loved it!
In full: It's a shame this race has such mixed reviews, yes there are bad points (all detailed before) but the good points more than make up for it!
Flat, fast, scenic race with great support!!
Definitely be back :)
Date of review: June 13, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Keith Robinson
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fast route, rotten organisation
In full: This race could be brilliant, but the organisation lets it down, year after year. Expensive, not value for money, ludicrous phallic medal, no response from organisers to my e/mail enquiries (unlike VLM), they just don't try hard enough.
Date of review: June 13, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Hells85
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: hot and quick
In full: At the begining the roads are too narrow with runners taking to running off course adn parallel as they cannot fit on the route, I was very surpirsed that the aid stations consisted of only water, no energy drink and no gels till mile 16 followed by two more right at the end. This isnt good enough considering the high entrycost for this marathon, what did you spend our money on? with such a hot day they should ahve had a few more aid stations with water, there was no aid point where I was expecting there to be one (off road section) but thankfull local people came to our rescue and provided one, in fact this is the only marathon where I have had to rely on the support of locals for water and sugary food for energy, again with the high price this isnt good enough. I even heard an announcment that they were runing out of water for the slower runners from a marshalls radio :-(. The route only started in Edinburgh so really it is the East lothian marathon, it was quite pretty in the nice water although became boring and samey, it would have been very dull in the wet. The finish area was the best Iv been to, I can only give praise for it. However the long walk to the runners buses back to edinburgh was extremely hard and painful. I was surprised at the distance we had to wlak considering we have just done a marathon, not great for those with badly blistered feet or those that picked up any injuries. The hub was a huge disapointment, this is the only marathon iv been to without an expo, seeing as this was called a 'marathon festival' I was expecting a huge expo with stalls, physio and massage availible. Overall I was a little disapointed, if they dropped the price then it would be fair, but you can enter much better marathons including the london marathon for far less money. I would not do it again unless I happened to be local.
Date of review: June 11, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Anch
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Cracking Race
In full: Knocked 13 minutes of my Half Marathon PB :-)
Date of review: June 11, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: mcs
| | 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: Enjoyable day out!!
In full: Enjoyed the first 20 miles but then it got too hot and the lack of support mile 16 to 22 made it hard work as a long out and back where you could see for miles how far you had to go seemed hard work. Extra water stops put on and good support from locals with the hose pipes and jelly babies out, many thanks to them.
Date of review: June 7, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: The Pidge
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great venue for your first marathon.
In full: A great venue for your first marathon. My only criticism is the section just after the turn, where we had to run on a loose-surfaced track, which was energy-sapping. This section ought to be replaced by a tarmac section.
Date of review: June 5, 2012
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