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Belfast City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Belfast City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.1 
Organization 3.0 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 76 [displaying comments 61 to 71]
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M. H. from Cork, Ireland
(5/20/2005)
 "Won't be doing it again" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The bomb scare did not help the race this year. We measured the distance run using a Garmin GPS as 27 miles and 450 feet. However, even if this diversion had not happened, this was not a great race. I would agree with all of the comments below. Difficult to see mile markers, non-existent mile markers, running through an industrial estate - none of these helped. I spotted my first mile marker at 3 miles and spotted 8 markers in total. The course is flat, but the desire to put on a flat course has come at a price. I had put too much work into training for this race and felt let down. | |
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S. M. from Dublin, Ireland
(5/4/2005)
"Disappointed" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The first ten miles of this course were nice; but after that, things got worse. The second relay changeover part was very poorly marshaled, runners were in single-file, and on two occasions I had to stop because of people crossing from one side of the relay queue to the other - very distracting. There was supposed to be a chip reader to get your halfway split - this was at 14.5 miles!! And there were no markers for miles 12, 13, and 14 - again very distracting, especially when you are checking your mile times. One sports drink station on 15+ miles is not good enough, especially as it was very warm and sunny for the later part of the run. The course is mostly flat, however running by the coastline for a few miles will slow you down with the strong wind. The map printed in the race program was of very poor quality. I was surprised at the lack of a pre-race expo. Surely with over 12,000 participants there would be an openning for an expo. I think Belfast is a big enough city to have a marathon-only event. | |
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S. M. from Dublin, Ireland
(5/3/2005)
 "One stupid act spoiled the day" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The marathon started without any problems and the first 12 miles of the course had a fair share of spectators. Things got worse from there on. Firstly, the second relay changeover point was crazy; marathon runners had to run in single file, and people were getting in the way of runners which was very off-putting. Then there was the infamous diversion: there were no mile markers for miles 13 and 14 and the 'halfway split' chip reader was at about 14.5 miles. All this proved very distracting and energy zapping! As if there weren't enough ways to zap your energy during a 26.2 race! The course was mostly flat and not very scenic. I would agree with the previous comment and believe the organizers should rethink the course and also give serious consideration to having a marathon-only event. | |
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J. F. from Ireland
(5/3/2005)
 "nothing to recommend this marathon" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was a very inconvenient marathon. The start and finish were in very different locations with the baggage check near neither and it was unsupervised. A large part of the later part of the race ran through industrial estates and around an airport. There were no energy/electrolyte drinks for many runners. Water stops were erratic. Despite giving us championship chips there was no mat at the start. Many roads opened before the 3-hour mark (officially there was a 6-hour cut-off) meaning we ran on the side-walk. The organizers did manage to keep the race running when a bomb was discovered on the course albeit with an added distance (estimates range 380m - 1400m). If you want to run a marathon in this part of the world choose Dublin for spectators or Connemara for a beautiful route. I was very disappointed with Belfast. | |
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P. M. from Belfast Ireland
(3/21/2005)
 "This new course is excluding parts of Belfast." (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 This new course is excluding parts of Belfast that has the most spectators. It will now be run through an industrial estate without spectators who give you a new lease of life when you need it. West Belfast has the most spectators at any one point, yet is being left out of the route. The organizers should re-think its decision and make it a marathon for all. | |
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O. F. from Dublin, Ireland
(5/25/2004)
 "Excellent friendly and fun first marathon" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 My first marathon. Extremely interesting route, passing all the historic areas such as the Falls Road. Seeing the murals was a great distraction from the running! Also the relay change-over points made for HUGE crowd support every 5 miles or so. Spectators were fairly frequent at other points on the route and all of these were great, handing out water or fruit or sweets. Water checkpoints and sponge stations were plentiful and, in an ingenious move, the water was supplied in cups filled from the mains - so there were unlimited supplies, unlike other races where all the bottles can be gone before the slower runners get round. There were two Lucozade stations as well. Minor complaints would include somewhat erratic mile markings and poor marshalling at the start (although the rest of the course was excellently marshalled). The hills were nowhere near as fearsome as I had expected. The organizers indicated that the route will change next year, and I urge them not to go with the proposal of a 2-lap race. The other proposal, a figure-of-eight from the city center, sounds much better. All in all, a great friendly fun race I'd highly recommend it. Will definitely be back! | |
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JOSEPH DELGARDIO from NEW JERSEY USA
(5/19/2004)
 "Enjoyed all of it" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had a great time. People were friendly and helpful. All aspects of the race were done well. Would be happy to do it again. | |
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Russell Dawson from Oakland, California
(5/6/2004)
"Great first marathon" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon. Loved running past all the political wall murals, especially along the Falls Road. Organization was fine; they made it convenient to pick up the race materials (Thurs. through Sun., race was on Monday). Plenty of water and energy drink stations, as well as toilets. Race markers could have been more prominent (small signs on random lampposts, sometimes fluorescent green, sometimes white). Weather was sporadic drizzle and overcast skies with some sun (actually perfect because it kept me cool). The race was listed as 'undulating' but I think it was pretty flat... never really sensed a slow 'uphill' section... only some nice gentle downhill slopes. Definitely will try to return for 2005. | |
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michael quinn from northern ireland
(5/5/2004)
"My feet really hurt" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Belfast City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had such a good time running the marathon, but my feet really hurt. | |
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J. L. from Aberdeen
(10/22/2003)
 "First marathon, had a great time!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed the Belfast Marathon. I am 18 and intend on running a few more. Slightly disappointed with my time of 3:40, but started too fast. The start was great, but more toilets would have been good! Lots of people cheering at the start, and running through the relay change-over points was enjoyable - through a tunnel of cheering people! There were spectators everywhere on the course, but the mile markers were quite difficult to see... and yes, the course is somewhat undulating. However, I really enjoyed the Belfast Marathon and hope to be back soon. The medal was a bit tacky though. It is a great advertisement for all that is good about Northern Ireland, and I hope that it would help to eradicate the stereotypical view of N. Ireland held by many people. Go for it and run it! |
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