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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 41 to 51]
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Simon Knowles from London, England
(5/22/2009)
 "A biblical experience!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The London marathon is simply one of the greatest things you can ever do. This was my first major marathon after running smaller ones in New Zealand and Australia and this blew me away. The race could not be organized any better, in my opinion. Here are the main factors: EXPO: It's located a fair way from central London, but easy to get to on the underground. Picking up bibs was straightforward, and there was an immense amount of clothing, etc. - plus plenty of running experts to give advice. PRE RACE: I was lucky enough to be up near the front, but getting to the race is very easy on the train to Greenwich. COURSE: The course winds it way all over the city, and is supported incredibly most of the way, apart from some quieter places in the east, but the insanity of the crowds in Greenwich and the Embankment more than make up for it. Running over Tower Bridge is something never to be forgotten, and the deafening noise through Greenwich is spine-tingling! When the pain starts to hit along the last 5K or so along the Thames, the crowd definitely gives a massive lift. SUPPORT: The refreshments were fantastic, with water every 2 miles or so, Lucozade every 5 miles in handy squeeze containers, and food at various stops. Also large clocks at every mile. I didn't wear a watch because clocks were so easily visible. One tip: it's worth writing your name on the front of your singlet; the crowd will be yelling the name, which was incredibly uplifting when the pain sets in! All in all, just an epic experience that will never be forgotten! | |
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R. T. from Sydney, Australia
(5/22/2009)
 "Great Race" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a fantastic and very enjoyable race. The best thing was the organization - absolutely first-class, right up there with NYC, Berlin, etc. The expo was good, and pre-race information was very detailed. I loved the starting area; it had plenty of toilets, space to stretch out, and drinks. Spectators were unbelievable, particularly in the final few miles and around Canary Wharf. The only negative is that this is a very crowded race. Despite the large field, the course is actually just a very narrow road in places, and even several miles in, I was still forced to walk in places due to congestion. That's not conducive to a good time if you are an average runner. It doesn't take away from the fact this this is a great event, though; I would love to do it again. | |
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S. M. from Ireland
(5/8/2009)
"Simply the Best!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is without doubt the best marathon experience I have ever had. The crowds, the facilities, the organization and the course simply cannot be faulted. | |
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L. A. from Kalmar, Sweden
(5/2/2009)
 "Only fast for the elite" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The London Marathon is marketed as one of the fastest in the world. This is not true for the average runner. Runners are sorted in start groups but that seems to be totally random. If you intend go around four hours, you are mixed with people who prioritize chatting, walking, saying hello to friends, etc. - rather than to running. I had a 26.2-mile, never-ending fight to make my 4:13 on the very narrow path. Besides that, London is a great city to visit and you meet a lot of nice people before, after and during the run. | |
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T. R. from Columbus, OH
(5/1/2009)
"One of the majors but WAY too crowded!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 14th marathon and my first London. I liked - check that - loved EVERYTHING about the race, except the actual race. Pluses: -The expo, despite being a way out via the tube, was very easy to get through. -London is a great city! -The fans during the race were better than any race I've done (including Boston)! -The starting area was easy to navigate and the signs were perfect. Plenty of restrooms at the starting area as well. -Getting to your appropriate starting corral was easy! Minuses: -Far too many people on the course! I somehow got in the last corral and ended up dodging people for the entire day. It was congested like crazy out there. -While it may be tough to do, pick larger streets or stagger the start (a la Boston). Having elite women go at 8:30, wave 1 at 9, 2 at 9:30 and 3 at 10 would probably eliminate the congestion. I don't think many would care. All in all, a great city and a race that, while one of the majors, is probably too crowded for a middle-of-the-pack runner like me. Plan on adding about 10-15 minutes to your time if you're in the mid-pack area! If you don't care about your time and want a vacation, this race is for you!! | |
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Michael Ingram from Hertfordshire Gt Britain
(4/27/2009)
"The best in the world" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ London Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 How can it possibly get any better? Okay, I suppose you could move the expo back to central London and go back to last year's t-shirt quality. But honestly, this is the marathon that is the closest to perfection you can achieve. Support was absolutely overwhelming all along the route: Everytime I was at the end of my tether, the crowd cheered me like I was a premiership footballer. It seemed like the whole of London was there. The organisation was excellent all the way through to the finish and before I knew it I had a bulging goody bag and my kit bag within minutes. The entire time, the kindness of the staff was incredible; it seemed effortless and so easy. When you run the London Marathon, all you need to do is stretch out a weary hand as you run by, and before you know it a bottle of water or Lucozade is put into it as you pass the water or fuel station. The start was a sunny dream in a glorious Greenwich and getting there was so simple as British Railways got it right, for once. The course was flat and fast, superbly marked and signed. This was the marathon from heaven. If you have not run London, you have not begun to understand how marathons should be. There is the challenge-- now find me a better marathon! | |
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W. J. from Vancouver, Canada
(4/30/2008)
 "One of the major marathons" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Slick organization up to the start and an awesome finish in front of Buckingham Palace. Crowded field sometimes brought race to a shuffle in tight spots. Only three complaints: toilets on the run were too few and far between, leading to 20-minute line-ups or much fertilizing of public shrubbery; the kit bags were left out in the rain so post-race dry clothes weren't dry; and the one-size-fits-all finisher's shirt was disappointing. | |
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w. M. from USA
(4/28/2008)
"Fabulous Must- Do Marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first London Marathon and not my last, I hope. This was a first-class event from start to finish. Yeah, it was a long haul out to the expo but since London has a great public transportation system, it was easy to get there. The start was very well organized. There were plenty of porta-loos and water, as well as multiple start lines depending on your finish time. The crowd support was the best of any marathon I have run. There were people lined up on the street for the entire 26.2 miles and at some points they were so deep that you couldn't see how far back they went. There was bottled water at every mile and Lucozade sports drink about every 4 miles. The course wasn't quite as scenic as I had anticipated. It was very urban but still- we were in London! Running over Tower Bridge was incredible. And the last few miles running back by the bridge and the Tower of London, Houses of Parlimant and Big Ben, as well as finishing in front of Buckingham Palace were fantastic! I love the sign at the 26 mile marker: "385 Yards To Go." The 2 complaints I have are: 1) the porta-loos on the course. There were only about 4 or 5 present at every mile. With a crowd of 45,000 runners, every single mile had lines of at least 20 runners waiting for the porta-loos. I would rather see 20 of them every 5 miles than 4 every mile. And the one-size-fits-all finishers' shirt was ridiculous. For such a first class even,t to scrimp on the finisherss shirt is an insult to the runners. Come on FLM organizers - you can do much better than that! Other than that, I very highly recommend this marathon. If you only ever run one marathon, make it London. | |
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D. P. from Berkshire, England
(4/17/2008)
"Amazing experience from start to finish" (about: 2008)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My first marathon after several injury-aborted attempts, and what a day. The organization is quite simply amazing - everything was easy, everything was where you expected it, and it all went so smoothly. All in all, it was a remarkably drama-free day, and I'm struggling to even think of any constructive criticism, let alone any negatives. I wish that all races were this well organized. And that's before you even start to consider the 100's of thousands of cheering spectators who line the route. And to cap it all I beat my 3:30 target. - A very happy customer. :) | |
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B. W. from Michigan
(4/16/2008)
"Excellent urban marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 London Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the first time I traveled to an international marathon. The pluses: 1. Well organized 2. Large, supportive crowds 3. Multiple starts to reduce crowding at start 4. Corrals based upon estimated finish time 5. Water and sports drink available regularly on course 6. Finish near Buckingham Palace 7. Excellent mass transit to get around before and after 8. Comfortable staging area near starts 9. Marathon Tours set me up with an excellent package deal Minuses: 1. Field of 35,000 runners and narrow streets makes it tough to get open running room 2. Expo is located at a site a fair distance from downtown London 3. Course is definitely urban - stretch out to Canary Wharf was not very inspiring 4. Kit bag lorries were a long walk from finish line 5. One-size-fits-all, white finisher shirt - you have to be kidding 6. Entry for overseas runners has to be obtained through tour companies 7. Prices in London are very high I ran 4:03. I had hoped to run faster (3:45), but cold rain during part of marathon and sightseeing probably took their toll on me. My family thoroughly enjoyed vacationing in London - a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will probably not run here again, but would look for another marathon to "vacation" at. |
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