I ran in Istanbul on October 18th, 2009. I loved it; it's great run in a lovely city. The scenery is just astonishing, starting at the Bosporus Bridge, passing all major attractions and many kilometers along the waterfront coast. The beauty of the course helps a lot to forget eventual physical suffering. This said, it's not a very easy marathon; it's not totally flat. There are a couple of important rises, especially in the first two miles or so, and another rise roughly at KM 18 (at the aqueduct), and then of course right at the end between KM 40-42, but you are more than rewarded with a great finish at Sultanahmet Square. So due to these rises, it might be hard to run your personal best. Still, it's not too hard either.

The morning of the start you have to leave your hotel early; the Bosporus Bridge is closed very early in the morning. You can get there on one of the buses offered by the organization, but they're crammed, so you'd better go by taxi (about US $40), which is more comfortable. Count on taking 45-60 minutes to get to the start. Organization is great. They offer water and apples, so no problem there. I can really recommend running this race, the only two-continent marathon in the world.

I really enjoyed this race despite the rain prior to the start. A couple of drawbacks though: not enough toilets (did not see any on the course) and no energy drinks, gels or even dried fruit or oranges. I would have gladly paid more to get better refreshments. There was ample water though.

Not a big crowd of onlookers except for the last 500 meters. The few who watched along the course were rather enthusiastic though. There was only one band, and no other music; however, the lovely scenery made up for that. And no, the course was not really flat, though it was not overly challenging either. The last hill at 41K is a bit of a shock....

Still, I did a PB so I am not complaining.

All in all, lovely views, attractive course and yes, I would do it again. Last but not least, Istanbul merits a visit anyway - both for the European and the African side.

Istanbul was an awesome run. Rain was pouring... but the course was great. The Bosphorous Bridge was as beautiful as ever. I covered the course in 4:16 (my PB so far), so I have no reason to complain. I would recommend this race and run it again.

This is an amazing course through an amazing city. Despite the pouring rain, it was a great time. The views from the Bosphorus Bridge were awesome, as well as the run along the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Finishing in the ancient Hippodrome next to the Blue Mosque was awesome.

I would say that this event is better if you run 4:30 or better. The longer you are on the course, the more likely it will be for water and such to run out. Great destination race! Where else can you run on two continents?

The marathon was earlier today actually, and, despite the non-stop pounding rain, the turn out was fantastic. I recognized that athletes and just plain ol' runners had come from all over the world. The course features some of the most prominent sites in Istanbul: Bosphorus Strait, Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Bridge, Old Istanbul and of course, Sultan Ahmet. There seemed to be no shortage of supplies for runners; there was lots of water, fresh apples and sponges. True, there were no toilets and no ointment, though. I highly recommend this run for a unique experience. :) And yes, it is quite true that spectators don't know what's going on, but they're supportive and cheery if you wave. :)

Ran this run, or rather tried to run this race, but ended up being ferried to the wrong start on the wrong bus! Hence, missed the start, then got caught up in the walk race which meant that for about 6 or 8 kilometers I was trying in vain to make progress through hundreds of walkers.... Who, incidentally, were well ahead of me. So it made me wonder, as I was running, how they got so far ahead, unless some cheating was going on.
In the end I made the finish and wanted to give it up as a bad day, but for the fact I am running through the alphabet so I need Istanbul for the I. At the finish, no medal or anything, and it was only through luck and perseverance that I found that you had to pick up the medal and shirt at race headquarters. Take heed; if you need an "I," run Indianapolis or even Irkutsk, not here.

The organization was good - no complaints - but they seemed disorganized. Pasta party food was very good; arrive early. But we had to stand up to eat because the had no seats. The course has a few uphill sections early on, but then flattens out for the rest of the race. Running through monuments and near the water was nice. Early sections and the last couple miles are in the city. Not too many spectators; most people don't know what's going on. Good police control and course was closed to traffic. A few aid stations ran out of water so it is a good idea to carry an extra bottle just in case. No expo. The race is part of Turkey's independence celebrations.

I really enjoyed this race more than I thought I would. The course was great with spectacular views of the Bosphorus. It was a little more hilly than expected with long gradual inclines. The marathon starts with the 15K race, which is a little crazy. The local population running the 15k can be spirited, but I saw it as adding to the culture and experience of the race. Skip the pasta pre-party; it's a trip from the hotels and nothing special. I thought the organization was great, but the course lacked energy drinks and gels, so be sure to bring your own. I didn't notice any portable bathrooms along the course, so you have to work that out. The 5 hr limit is true, but they don't kick you off the course.

Organization was better than expected from registration, to the transfer to the start, to the water stops, to the finish. It's a great course, and very scenic, though it had more hills than I had anticipated. The lack of a sport drink at the water stations is the largest drawback, and crowd support is minimal. Not one that I would want to run again, but definitely worth the trip to run on two continents and see the city.

If you are a 5-hour (plus) marathoner (like me), then forget about this race... unless you want to dodge the cars and trucks on the street enroute to the finish line. I personally finished the race in 5 hours and 27 minutes, and by the time I got to the finish line, everything was shut down and the timing chip didn't even record my time. Luckily, I finished the race with 4 other runners who could speak Turkish... so I had to fight with the organizers to at least give us a certificate and medal.

Istanbul is a great city and well worth a visit. By the way, after the race, do go for a Turksih bath to relieve the lactic acid! Other things to do in Istanbul are visiting the holy sites and Grand Bazaar - and don't miss the traditional dancing.