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May 1, 2024

Rotterdam Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Rotterdam Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.9

Organization 3.6

Spectators 4.4

Number of comments: 68 [displaying comments 31 to 41]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > ]

J. M. from Canterbury, Kent (5/8/2007) "Flat but not Fast" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Don't run this race if you care about your time. I was frustated by the narrow course and the constant bottlenecks. It did not thin out either and I was running sideways around people the whole way. At times I ran on grass, traintracks, around spectators and in the bike lane. At one point I even jumped over a hedge to get around people. It was very hard to keep an even pace. Clearly they needed to have a better system for organizing pace groups. Maybe large signs according to predicted time would have helped. Maybe they need to limit the numbers or make a wider course. Aside from this problem, I thought the race was well organized. I didn't have any trouble with the water stations. In terms of the fans, well, people were a bit quiet. It seemed like everybody was just waiting for someone they knew. I can't say I really blame them, but it was a bit of a let down. Maybe everyone was tired in that heat... If you don't care about your time, then run it and enjoy! Rotterdam is not spectacular like Paris or London, but it is a nice city!
m. k. from Hong Kong (5/1/2007) "Great Fans, But Race Was Mismanaged" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I trekked over from Hong Kong for this race in search of a PB that I didn't get, so I'm bound to feel a bit negative about this race. I was lucky in that I was running nearer the front and didn't have any problems getting liquids. The people gave great support. That helped me get around. The 11 a.m. start was idiotic. I suppose it was linked in to TV money. Surely they should have put runners' health first. If the race had been brought forward by three hours, many of the problems experienced could have been avoided.
V. S. from Essex, England (4/23/2007) "Stupidly hot, but canceling the race? Come on..." (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I thought the expo was very good, and the wicking T-shirt excellent. The pasta party in the Euromast Tower was great; the food was plentiful and good. The race, however... it really was a ridiculously hot day. The start time of 11 a.m. should definitely be made earlier next year. The Paris Marathon was run the same day as Rotterdam and was the same temperature, but started at 8:45 and was not canceled half way through!! Conditions were tough. Saw a thermometer at 32 degrees. I only had trouble getting water at one water station - that involved picking up an empty cup and waiting for a guy with a hose to fill it. And I finished sub-4 so it must have been pretty tough behind me.... I got hosed down every 5K from the halfway point on, which was the only thing that got me 'round! I thought the Dutch crowd was fantastic; people were running hoses from their houses and kids were collecting cups and sponges for people. Canceling the race was crazy though.... I read 26 people were put in the hospital; why couldn't they cope with that? I don't speak Dutch and didn't understand what was going on, so I followed what other runners were doing, which was to carry on. I heard over the loudspeakers at about 37K that the race was canceled, but there was no WAY I was stopping with only 5K to go and sub-4 in my sights. As others have said, the course was narrow and congested, especially in the first 10K, but got better after that. I would run the race again, but NOT at 28 degrees!
J. B. from London, England (4/23/2007) "Shameful organization" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 This wasy by far the worst race I have ever had the misfortune to run. They knew how hot is was, and were handing out water before the start. After the first water station had run out of water, it was pretty obvious that this would also be the case for all subsequent water stations. I used a discarded cup and filled it with water from a hose. The organizers should immediately resign, as this was a complete act of unprofessionalism shown on a grand scale.
C. L. from Kent, England (4/19/2007) "Awful organization" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 There are many reasons why this race went badly wrong, and two of these flaws could easily have resulted in fatalities. Firstly, temperatures in the region of 27C were predicted for race day, but the organizers decided to keep their 11 a.m. start - this resulted in most of the runners running through the heat of the midday, with no shade available due to the position of the sun. An earlier start, or no start at all, should have been considered. Secondly, the water stations ran out of cups for water, which turned the whole issue of hydration into a serious problem. Funnily enough, the water stations had plenty of cups full of Extran, the energy drink and sponsor of the marathon. Putting the needs of the sponsors before the needs of the runners is insane, and downright dangerous. Claiming that the baggage collection area was "two minutes" from the start of the race was nothing less than a lie, and the lack of fruit during the run, but its abundance at the finish line, strikes me as odd. The organizers were simply not concerned with the needs of the runners, and the comical decision closing of the race after 3.5 hours rounded off this joke of a marathon perfectly.
o. s. from London England (4/19/2007) "The organization was appalling" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 You knew it was going to be hot yet you failed to prepare for it. The first water station did not appear until 5K, and then it was empty. It was like a battlefield with runners frantically searching for water. Every station had run out of water. Runners dehydrate in the early stages of a race and it is important for them to have water early on. You should have laid on bottles of water so that runners could carry them. Shame on you for neglecting your runners!
y. k. from Rosh Ha'aiyn, Israel (4/19/2007) "Good course" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 It was my second marathon; the course is perfect for a marathon, and the spectators were very helpful, but... organizers should start the marathon at 9 a.m. because of the heat (30C)!!!
Dianna Shank from St Louis, MO (4/18/2007) "Great course, but major water concerns!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I traveled from the US to run this race and there were many things to love - Rotterdam is a great city and the people were so nice! The room rate we got for the Art Hotel (through the marathon) was fantastic! I even thought the sports EXPO was great and I love the technical shirt! BUT... As the previous person noted, the water issue was insane. I was running about 4 hours and 15 minutes and had to dig through a garbage can to find a plastic bottle to put water in since all the cups were gone (and the sponges). Each water stop seemed to get more insane. The volunteers were very nice and they seemed to feel bad that they had nothing for the runners. I ended up getting a bit sick myself because I was stuck with the energy drink most of the time (a brand I didn't know) and I assumed there would be water (to go with my GU!). The other issue for me was the fact that I was so confused about when the marathon was canceled. I understand that I was running in another country, but nothing was said in English and I couldn't figure out why I was being urged to run in another direction. A nice police officer who spoke English finally helped me out. I think it does take guts to cancel a marathon and I appreciate that my health was a consideration but it was disappointing to travel all that way and not run the full 26.2 (I think I made it about 22 miles). I wish that there had been someone at the finish line to better explain all of this, I guess! (But maybe this is an unfair concern since I was the foreigner!) I was just a bit upset because I was tired, confused, and disappointed. The roses for the female runners, by the way, were a nice touch that I liked. I can't afford to run this one again, but I think this marathon is still great. Maybe start the race earlier, though, instead of 11 a.m., and be sure to have plenty of water!
R. Marvin from Michigan, USA (4/18/2007) "Race directors managed a tough situation well" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I would recommend this race to those who want to run a fast course in a friendly venue that is also beautiful and clean. Rotterdam is also surrounded by picturesque countryside, and the event is special to the whole country, so the fan support was great on the course. The weather on race day was one of the hottest for April on record and there was little for the organizers to do but try to take care of the participants. Finishing in under 4 hours, I noted that volunteers at water and aid stations did their best and no runner was without his or her chance to replenish - including with watered sponges, spray from hoses, and drinks.
K. T. from England (4/18/2007) "Organization was a disgrace" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Rotterdam Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 The organisers knew well in advance it was going to be hot. Why didn't they start it earlier? Abandoning it after 3 hours was a disgrace. I saw many people who left upset because they were not allowed to complete it. The organization was a complete mess. London, New York or Boston would never have been stopped. The water points were a disgrace. A complete waste of time.

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