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Apr 28, 2024

London Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.5

Organization 4.7

Spectators 4.9

Number of comments: 101 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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L. C. from Chicago, Illinois, USA (5/13/2015) "Great race but not worthy of 'World Major'" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 London Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I live in Chicago so I'm a little bias and I've run Chicago 11 times in the last 15 years. The London course is WAY too tight for this size. I was running on the sidewalk for the first three miles to avoid running the weave. Not only was it too tight, but they didn't space our the corrals but instead released everyone at the same time. Now by the time we hit the Tower Bridge (awesome) the race had thinned out so that I could run my line. I'm used to Columbus Drive in Chicago with it's six lanes and staggered start so this start put me in a bad mood until Tower Bridge. I've also ran NY and I always felt that Chicago and NY crowds were equally excellent. That was until I felt the London crowd. The London people are the best!! I've never never had felt such strong support before. I didn't have my name on my shirt but I can with a Chicago running shirt and everyone was calling out 'Chicago.' I would make the trip again just to feel the London crowd.
N. K. from California, USA (5/6/2015) "London should be proud!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 London Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 By far, one of the best marathons I've experienced. Yes, there are areas that bottleneck, and yes, you must be careful not to step on the water bottles... But, this race is also incredibly well-organized, has a flat course and FANTASTIC CROWD SUPPORT. I even loved how they organized the queues at the start line porta potties! (Instead of standing in front of 2-3 porta potties, each queue stood in front of a U-shaped group of about a dozen porta potties. Plus, they had a staff member at each U-shaped group, to ensure there was enough toilet paper. And... the toilets flushed! That was a first!) Only suggestion for the race coordinators is for the finisher shirts: They ran out of smaller sizes quickly, so finishers didn't necessarily get the size they desired. The event organizers should ask each participant upon registration what size shirt they want. Then, as they cross the finish line, they should give that size to the finisher (which should be indicated on their bib). That way, the organizers can have a better count of the sizes they'll need, and not run out of desired sizes. London should be proud of this race. It truly is world-class!
M. I. from hertfordshire GB (4/26/2015) "6 Stars- The best in the World" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ London Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This year the only negative about the London Marathon has been sorted. A technical T shirt in all sizes. Now it must be the best in the world.The organisation is faultless, literally. From Expo to transportation from baggage to marshaling the London Marathon should be the gold standard to which all the other races aspire. Fluid stations are magnificent - all i sports capped bottles all put in your outstretched hand by wonderfully enthusiastic staff. ( all the staff are friendly and enthusiastic) And the crowds..... better every year. I am really privileged to be British and so stand a small chance of getting in on the ballot and a large chance of a charity space. So we come to the only draw back for others. It is so good that it is almost impossible to get a place. Do what you can for until you have run London you have no idea what heights a marathon can reach.
P. M. from Toronto, ON Canada (5/6/2014) "Truly a Major race - Well done London!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 London Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run 3 other Marathon Majors except for NYC and Tokyo (Boston twice), and can honestly say London beats them all so far. From the expo to the start area to the crowds to the finish line, everything exceeded my expectations. It did not hurt that the weather was near perfect and Mo Farah was in contention (until he wasn't). I would give spectators 6 out of 5 if I could, as I have not seen such enthusiastic crowds even in Boston. The course is almost all flat, they are not kidding, apart from a small downhill out of Woolwich; Tower Hill which isn't really much of a hill; and a few tunnels. Getting to the start was super easy; free transit for runners on race day was a very nice touch. The porta-potties were plentiful (although some do run out of TP - not unusual, experienced runners know to bring their own), corrals well-managed, and bag check a breeze. Greenwich roads are a bit narrow, but it's only for a few miles, and there's plenty of room to run afterwards. And did I mention the crowds? Water stations were well-stocked and manned by enthusiastic volunteers. It was great to have water and Lucozade, Brits' answer to Gatorade, in proper sports bottles that you could carry with you and easily chug from on the go. My only quibble is at 500 ml/17 oz the bottles were far too large for a few sips, so seemed like a lot of waste, and the sports drink was only available every 3-4 miles instead of every mile or two, as in other large races. Finish on the Mall and St.James Park was great, bag pick-up painless, and although I was kind of hoping for more food post-race, it was still OK. I would happily run this race every year if it weren't so darn expensive and hard to get into! Well done London!
A. F. from Royal Tunbridge Wells, England (4/21/2014) "Stunning, just stunning" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 London Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wow - that one word pretty much sums up my experience in the 2014 London Marathon. The organisation before, during, and after the race was superb...this is a race which caters for the worlds best runners, and the mass participants (of which I'm one!). Everyone gets first class treatment. This was a fairly warm day, but it was good to see that plenty of water/salts (bottled) were on course as well as refreshing misting showers. What makes this is London, both the city and the people that line the streets in their thousands - never once do you feel like you're on your own. I had a torrid time from mile 19/20, but the spectators kept pushing you forward. Was pleased with a 3h28 given the circumstances, but time wasn't my abiding memory - the noise, smiles and support really made my running year! Here's hoping I get in the ballot for 2015 :)
S. G. from Damascus, Oregon. USA (4/20/2014) "A great race, but over crowded" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 London Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the London marathon representing the charity Sense. Pros: Well organized. Plenty of water stations. Great crowd support. Very nice medal. Cons: Way too crowded for the narrow streets of London. Don't expect to have a OR. Cotton T -shirts!!!!!! Who does that? Suggestion: Use disposable D tags for timing which will reduce the congestion at the finish line. No more cotton T shirts!!!!!
M. I. from Hertfordshire Gt Britain (4/13/2014) "The world's best marathon (apart from the T shirt)" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ London Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 26.2 miles of spectators shouting out my name and encouraging me. Packed streets and for the last few miles a wall of noise lifting you pushing you and inspiring you. This is still the world's best marathon And when you are absolutely exhausted and running on two sticks of lead and you know that if you stop you won't get going - you don't have to worry. Water or lucozade is there just by lifting your hand. No stop start as you try to swallow a few meagre mouthfuls of isotonic from a cup. The organisation is phenomenal, the backup and facilities exceptional. OK the goody bag is paltry, but the medal is spectacular and the finish processing makes the Swiss seem Southern European in attitude. I believe renaissance architects believed that only God was perfect so designed slight imperfections into their buildings. Perhaps that explains the constantly awful cotton T shirt that displaced the 2006/7 technical material ones. You might very well wear it with pride for this world champion race but not for comfort or style and certainly not for running. If you can't get in try a charity place. After all it is worth making every effort to run the best marathon in the world.
Philip and Janine O'Hanlon from Belfast (2/10/2014) "LAST BUT EVERYONE WAS BEHIND US!!!!" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 London Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 We did not train for this, we were thankful we completed the Marathon on such a hot day. All in a good cause for Kidney Research. A Wonderful experience for both Father and Daughter. We were last to Finish but what a Team we never gave up!!!! This experience cemented an already fantastic father daughter bond that existed.
g. a. from Pennsylvania, USA (11/21/2013) "impossible to get in through the ballot if not UK" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 course and spectator rating based on participant youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljj1Ty_PdC8 This gives a person a great feeling for what it is like to enter London. I have never been able to get into London as London only accepts a minuscule number of American entries. Even those runners who can qualify with a fast time can't get in due to London only reserving those spots for UK runners. The Good For Age way of getting in is not that demanding for UK runners but if you happen to be American, then forget it. I am used to the Boston and NYC way of doing things. If a runner has a fast enough time then, regardless of which country he/she resides, that runner is welcomed into the Boston/NYC field of runners. London is a closed shop. Even the Marathon Tours route is impossible as they demand that the runner sign up for their 5 continents club in order to have a chance at one of their London Marathon tickets.
J. S. from WI (5/5/2013) "Discarded water bottles = danger" (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I only saw the first 13 miles of this course, but experience up to about mile 7 or 8 was incredible. The start area, organization and supportive crowds were excellent. I have a very bad taste in my mouth regarding the insane number of water bottles handed out during the race. People take a few sips and then throw (most of) them off to the side. Unfortunately for me, I stepped directly on a full water bottle, my leg rolled out from under me and I fractured my hip. One of the reasons I chose to do London was for the scenery, but I guess I should have spent all of my time staring at the ground. The organizers should seriously consider switching to cups of water/sports drink for safety.

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