I loved this marathon because I set a new PR. I have no idea how. :-) That was my 10th marathon, but one of the toughest (somehow I was able to run 4:22/KM average). It was too hilly and cold for me (at the start, it was 7 degrees, and it was 12 at the finish). My GPS watch showed 10.6 KM at the 10KM marker, and it showed 22KM at the race's 21KM marker. Then it showed 43.7 KM (!) at the finish. Great organization, anyway; for me, Madrid is the number one now. :-)

Challenging course (numerous hills and one long one at the very end). The weather was perfect (especially coming out of a Canadian winter) - not too hot, not too cool. The course passed through busy streets that were closed off, past beautiful landmarks, down small side streets and also on cobblestone roads (which were very slippy after the rain). As a woman runner, there was a lot of crowd support, as there are very few females in comparison to males running. Also, it was lots of fun traveling around Spain after the race. The expo was fairly small. One frustration was having to register through a tour operator because of being an international competitor - it wasn't straightforward. But the obstacles faced were worth it in the long run.

Brilliantly organized, even down to having our very own inline skaters following us from about 15K onward. You may not get to run up the Gran Via with Shaggy, Scooby or Batman, but you will have a huge blast of "Chariots of Fire," which will bring a lump to your throat and really enthusiastic Spanish crowds. If you are a woman wanting to do a marathon, make this your first. It was so easy to book, and Madrid is so easy to get to (whether by car, train, or plane). We stayed in the Augmar Hotel, which was 10 minutes from the start and finish. Even though I've said that I would never do another marathon, I would definitely consider doing this again.

Shirley Emilio

The post-race website does not work properly. For example, I can't print a finisher's certificate or look at photos three days after the race. Good goody bags and end-of-race drinks, and our clothes were secure. The last kilometer is up a hard hill, and the balloon bridges are disconcerting, as I felt when I saw one that I was at the end when there were actually several bridges to go. The entry fee is high. I only saw one band on the route, but the course itself was nice - except for a construction site and the fact that there were no carpets over the cobblestones. It was nice to run with fewer people than in London. Maps before the day would have been nice. Overall, though, it was a good day, and I was happy with my time.

This was a great event. I am very thankful for the organization; the course was beautiful; and the spectators were extremely friendly. Unforgettable run! Thank you very much!!!

This was my first ever marathon and it was fantastic! This is a great way to see the city and running up Gran Via was a highlight of the run. The course wasn't too hilly; there was a long downhill at the 21K mark, and then, of course, the painful uphill at the end of the run.

Being a woman running this race, I got lots of cheers. There were only 419 women out of some 7500 runners! So I got lots of extra support along the way. There are no toilets!! So ladies, be prepared to squat. If you have to go and can hold out until Casa de Campo, there are lots of trees to hide behind.

The first aiders on roller blades were great. They were constantly going back and forth and you were never a minute or two away from one. There were lots of Vaseline stops and this wonderful freezing spray. I highly recommend this race.

Great race. This was my first marathon, and I read a lot about the hilly thing. And to tell the truth, it was really hilly, but I was prepared for it. Lots of drinks, and the view is the best. I love the Retiro Park and the Casa de Campo Park. I will do it again, but prepare for the hills. Just don`t think it is going to kill you. Include 2 or 3 long runs, with some elevated running in your plan - and that`s it.

This was my 2nd marathon, so I can't speak with much authority. My wife and I found the course to be challenging but not as bad as others described. Upon arriving in Madrid, I saw an article headline in the paper reading, "Bienviendo al peor maraton del mundo." I thought they might be referring to the organization, but as I read the article, I realized it was the course and the heat that make this marathon so difficult. Apparently there were some course adjustments this year, because we didn't find the course particularly brutal, and there was a course record set this year. Having said that, the final 4 KM were rather painful and we had cloud cover for most of the day. Had it been 5 degrees warmer and sunny, things would have been much worse. Since we had to walk out of the city the next day with our backpacks, we walked portions of the final 4 KM climb.

Be aware that there were no gel packs given and the only bathrooms were at the half point (that I saw). There were plenty of trees along the course that were well fertilized!

As others state, the Spanish fans were outstanding, and as there were few female runners (compared to American races) my wife was constantly encouraged with, "Anima chica!" Through a narrow section of street, a fan living in the flat above had opened the windows and was blasting the theme from "Chariots of Fire." The music bouncing off the building walls was as refreshing as the full bottle of PowerAde given to me at one of the hydration stations. In short, it is an incredible tour of the city. Buen hecho, madrileños.

This race is amazingly well-organized. This year- which I didn't read about in previous posts- had guys on rollerblades who would spray you with sunscreen while you were running if you flagged them down. I don't remember most of the race due to the fact that I was looking at the ground most of the time because it felt like I was running up-hill the entire race. There are spectators everywhere and they encourage you with "VAMOS" the entire time. It was a great race to run, but kilometers 38-41 are absolutely killer. Come prepared or you are toast.

Some mixed comments about the hills here, with most people saying it's hilly. My take is that the whole course I felt like I was either going gradually up or down. Difficult to get into a rhythm and run a consistent pace. I felt great the last 10km (running 4:10-4:00 / km) but that didn't stop me from feeling like the includes from 30-40km will never end. The downhill I was waiting for was right at the end.

My first time in Madrid, having been in Sevilla and Barcelona in 1999 as a comparison. Was very pleasantly surprised with Madrid. It's not the modern metropolis I was expecting. Great outdoor life. Beautiful weather. It's on my list to do again.

I think it was not difficult to find the marathon expo on Saturday. I used my free tourist map and had no problem. The free pasta was greatly appreciated.

The city is wonderful, but I think the course only gave a blink of the best parts in the center. More of the course should be in the center. The max 14,000 runners the organizers wisely keep it at would allow this to occur.

Second negative is that I don't think the fans were as great as everyone makes them sound. I had no moments of a roaring crowd that gave me 'goose bumps', which I can say I've had when doing Berlin and Paris. The fans of Boston, Chicago, and Berlin are better then in Madrid. Madrid is spectator-friendly with several locations near metro stops.

Despite these things, I want to run it again, but as much because of the city as anything else. Madrid is growing and dynamic, while Barcelona and Sevilla have not changed since 1999.