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☰
London Marathon Runner Comments
Back to London Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 101 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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Ariel Hessing from NJ, USA
(2/5/2013)
 "One of the best marathons in the world." (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have been visiting London on business for many years, and I finally decided to run the Virgin London Marathon. I was so glad that I did, as the fans are truly wonderful; London is such an exciting city, and I was lucky to have perfect weather. Organization is first rate as well; smooth throughout. | |
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A. B. from London, England
(5/31/2012)
 "Wonderful spectators! Lots of loo queues though." (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon so I wasn't out to get a PB time, which I imagine would be quite hard given how crowded the race was. It never even thinned out, but then neither did the spectators who were amazing! They cheer, they sing, they hand out sweets - it really made the race. However, waiting 15 minutes to use a portaloo DURING the race is just not on, nor is a 45 minute queue at the start. No wonder people wee illegally. The course is only really scenic over Tower Bridge, around Canary Wharf and at the very end. It's a shame you don't get to see more sights but it would mean closing down too much of the city I guess. I wear my tee with pride - in bed! | |
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H. F. from Florida, USA
(5/9/2012)
"Well-organised and great course!" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race was very well organised - I was impressed how smoothly everything went. The course was beautiful and had loads of enthusiatic spectatators. Only one problem: the protolets were out of TP at the start area of the race. The only MAJOR disappointment was the finishers shirt. I can't believe a world marathon major would give out cotton one-size t-shirts to the finishers....I expect more from a race this size and reputation. Definitely should give dri-fit/technical shirts in appropriate sizes and at the expo - not after the finish, lumped in with the other goodies. | |
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S. C. from Portland Oregon USA
(5/1/2012)
 "AMAZING BOTTLENECKS" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Highlights: Awesome Expo Fantastic crowds Good sights to see Bag check and recovery are great Coffee and tea at the start area, and LOTS of toilets. Downs: Unbelievable pushing 37,000 people thru a single lane a 1/2 mile into it. Speed humps that trip the crowd. COTTON finishers shirt. HUH? Who does that anymore? Overall, a great experience. But certainly room to improve. | |
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M. M. from Belluno, Italy
(4/30/2012)
"A nice race" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Very well organized, the only problem was to find a lot of water bottles in the course due not to the organization but to the Athlets! | |
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T. P. from Boston, USA
(4/26/2012)
"Excellent race if not for overcrowding" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Undoubtedly, it is a great race: the organization is excellent -the instructions to the runners, the expo, the logistics of getting to the start. Spectators and the volunteers are wonderful. But I think the race organizers got a little greedy - the field size of this marathon is equal to Chicago, but they don't have Chicago streets, it's more like Boston. And Boston marathon caps its size at 25-28 thousand runners so, as they say, runners have a good experience. The course was overcrowded from start to finish. Sometimes it was OK, but then you would get to yet another bottleneck. I can't complain since I achieved my goal, but this is not the racers' race, you can't race when you have to navigate your way trough the crowd. | |
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Trevor McRoberts from Northern Ireland
(1/31/2012)
"If you get the chance, Its a 'Must Do'" (about: 2011)
2 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third Marathon in 3 years and I went here with the intention of trying to better my last time, in Venice 2010 of 04:34:12 and try to get below 04:30:00. Big mistake! This is not the place to get a time due to the amount of runners. Even with 3 different starting locations they all merge at separate stages but the bottle necks will put you down to walking pace. Kiss your time good-by. At the half way stage I was 9 minutes behind where I needed to be and it is only then you get into your own rhythm (no chance of pulling it back in the last half). Having said that the whole experience is outstanding and the support you get along the 'Whole' course is quite unbelievable, especially if you have a name or nick-name visible. It is difficult to explain the amount of supporters and the associated noise along this course until you are in the middle of it. You really Must Do this one. I have read complaints about the t-shirt. So what, if your race and the whole experience is governed by a token t-shirt, what can I say. | |
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J. L. from Chicago, IL
(4/26/2011)
"Great Marathon!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first international race and it did not disappoint. The organization and crowd were exceptional. Course was beautiful and flat. Only negative was that it was very crowded - 35,000 in narrow streets made it hard to really get my stride in. It didn't really thin out until mile 17. Aid stations were well supplied, but bottles all over the street made it challenging to watch my footing. The t-shirt was very disappointing as well. | |
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M. I. from Radlett Herts UK
(4/25/2011)
"The world's best- with the world's worst T shirt" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ London Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Another fabulous London. Incredibly well organized and the support blows you mind away. However, time to acknowledge that every year the T-shirt gets worse. This must be the only marathon that gives you a cotton rag at the end instead of something you can wear with pride. | |
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C. S. from London, England
(4/22/2011)
"Could it be more perfect?" (about: 2011)
3 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I finally got a place through the ballot after applying for the 5th year. Even though I've lived in London for nearly a decade, my home city's marathon never much appealed to me because of the hoopla you need to go through to get a place. I am so pleased to say that I have changed my mind. I read reports on here about the congestion and was really worried about that, but at least from the blue start it did not come to pass in 2011. The organization was spot on, with female urinals at the start, so no need to queue. The start was crowded, as is common in a big race, but I never came to a complete stop, and after mile 4 was pretty free to run as I pleased. From about mile 6 until the finish, crowds were 8-deep - so deep, in fact, that I missed my hubby in two spots because he could not push his way to the front. The water, in bottles, was out there to grab, which meant I did not have to stop along the way at all, and the bottles appeared to be cleared away reasonably well for such a large race. As it was a hot day, there were frequent showers. The bands were great. Really, everything was great and I managed a PB by 32 minutes. To top it all off, Richard Branson was on hand to award my finisher's medal - a total surprise. OK, there are prettier places in London than the Docklands, the finisher's t-shirt was a little big for me, and the chosen photographer is a complete rip-off. I'll take those minor gripes in exchange for the most perfect, big-city marathon imaginable. |
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