Madrid knows how to throw a party, and not just an all-night-sangria bash. The course was a tough one, the back half being extremely hilly (beware of 39KM to 41KM and 24KM). I am used to measuring my pace in miles, so converting to KM was a bit concerning, or so I thought. It was FANTASTIC having KM markings instead of miles. It was a constant confidence booster! The weather was perfect - only getting pretty hot by the end of the race (53 to 61 degrees over the course of the race). This was my first marathon, and such a great way to start. It was my girlfriend's 6th marathon, and she said it was her best experience. The course was beautiful; it went through both downtown Madrid and through neighborhood-like streets. The overall organization was top-notch (except for getting to the expo which was confusing).

The fans were amazing, leaving very few areas unattended. During the race every 3-5KM they gave out 1/2-liter water bottles (not cups), sports drink, orange slices, SPONGES, and some kind of anti-chafing lotion. The final 1.5KM was in Retiro Park (which is like New York's Central Park), and there was truly nothing more exciting! I don't think I have ever seen more give-aways at the end of a race before, as they had everything from beer to water to yogurt, fruits, bread, and anything else you can think of in between! I would highly recommend this race, especially to those who like to travel internationally!

Of the six marathons I ran so far, this was the toughest as the course has so many hills and the race starts at 9:30am. Madrid is clean and beautiful but the hills in the course seemed endless. This is definitely not for first time marathon runners. But if you want a real challenge, and a memorable event, it's for you! Spanish people may consider 9:30am a civilized time to get up and run a few hours, but for us foreigners we prefer to go to dinner and get the marathon going early. I was surprised at how few women in the run, maybe they were intimidated by the muscled men in corporate logo splashed tank tops. The spectators were extremely supportive, and the music bands in tractor trailors were very interesting. The medical stations staff worked hard--in contract to other marathons where such stations serve only as emergency shelters--they held anesthetic sprays to help runners. Wet sponges and fresh organges are nice touches. But the website needs improving with larger fonts, better information and timely updates. It should allow one to print the elevation chart. The climate of Madrid really allows a change of marathon to March or even Feb.

Fancy a tough, hot challenge? Try the Madrid Marathon - a rollercoaster ride that swelters in the latter stages. But don`t let that put you off! Great run - wide, traffic-free roads; superbly marshaled and tons of bottles of water and sponges. Excellent support from the locals who are most hospitable. Very generous goodie bag (2 t-shirts and a polo shirt included) and a nice post-run food bag. Event takes place on a holiday weekend, so there is a relaxed (but busy) atmosphere in the city, which is stuffed full of art galleries and museums, etc. to peruse.

Things to be aware of: get to the pasta party early, as queues were very long in the sun: no proper corrals at the start. Look for pace balloons to help you. A 9:30 start will mean a high sun finish that
is very sapping.

I just completed the 2006 marathon. This is definitely not a course for beginners. There are so many hills that I just couldn't believe it. The race even begins on a gradual slope! The organization could be a lot better. The website is a joke and the collection for your chip and number is in the middle of nowhere. On the race day itself, there is a mad chaotic scramble to get and leave your bag. However, the course is spectactular, there are many water stations, and the goodie bag is excellent. The crowds are great and the weather is sure to be great too. It is a nice course but not for the beginner, and the website and organization could be improved a lot more too!

The weather was perfect, the people gracious, and the course very enjoyable. The people of Madrid know how to put on a party and they did indeed. The course was lined with fans and admirers. The organization was very good and the runners so polite. I'd run it again any time. Thanks Madrid.

The weather was on the steamy side, starting at 70 degrees and ending near 90 by race end, but this is a great marathon not to be missed.

The people of Madrid turn out for this one. Even well into the 4th hour, the crowd support was strong.

The organizers and bystanders realized this would be a hot one, and there seemed to be plenty of mist stations and residents with garden hoses to offer a refreshing spray of water.

The goodie bag was the best I've ever seen.
Included: t-shirt, wind breaker, sunglasses, singlet, and much more. Runners get to keep their Championchip at no additional cost, too! From a 'stuff' standpoint, the only (minor) down check is the finisher's medal. It's not of the hang-around-the-neck type, but of the paperweight variety. I'm not sure how I'm going to get it into my shadow box yet.

Besides that, though, an excellent run in all regards, and a great way to see the exciting city of Madrid.

Madrid is a great city to run a marathon in. The race was well organized, but does not start until 9:30am -- which is too late because you catch much of the sun. The expo could have been better, but the people and the city are fantastic. I only wish they would promote the marathon more to the city.

This was my second marathon (I ran NYC last year). Madrid was my effort at combining travel with running.
The big surprise was the minimal number of women on the course (roughly 800 registered out of a field of 12,500). The course seems to have reflected that - no portable toilets, the men just 'watering the trees'. The facilities were in adjacent buildings, so it took quite some time to get to them. It was hot, around 77F - I have never appreciated the sponge stations so much before. The course was very exposed, in direct sun most of the time, and traffic was going on the opposite side of the streets, so diesel smell mixed with the cigarette fumes of the spectators (!!!! that's true!!!!).
The organizers did put a good effort providing water - when the weather turned hot they added extra water stations and hoses with spray mist along the course.
And the spectators were top notch (minus the cigarettes...) - cheering the 'chicos' and an occasional 'chica'.
I don't think I would want to run it again, though.

What fantastic crowd support! Yes in 2002 it was unseasonably hot (28C for much of it) but for me that only heightened the pleasure of the sponge stations and spray points.

The organization was top notch although when I initially went to register there was a queue an hour long! With all of Spain trying to register before lunch we did a bit of sight-seeing and returned at 4pm when, with everyone else at siesta, we had the run of the place.

The route was wonderfully varied (city centre, residential, business and park), a little hilly in places but that's the way I like it. :-)

The pre- and post-race gift packs were excellent though whether the can of beer in the finish line goody bag would be recommended by medics I'm not sure.

Leading up to the marathon I didn't train properly and I knew that I would struggle to finish. But for me it wasn't about setting a personal best so much as enjoying my guided tour of the magnificent city. So I put on a Real Madrid shirt and an Irish viking hat and with the warm, genuine and fervent support of onlookers and by-passers along the route (animo vikingo!, campeones Madrid!) there was no way I wasn't going to finish.

I ran Paris in 1999 which with 22,000 starters was 10,000 bigger than Madrid. Of course Paris is a beautiful city and the organization there was perfect too but I'd run Madrid again.

Do it! (and spend a week or two relaxing in Spain afterwards)

This was my second ever marathon and every marathon I run again will be rated against Madrid. The organization was perfect, the spectators were fantastic and the city - beautiful. The course however is not flat and the heat (2002) made it tough going. I strongly recommend running this marathon at the start of a holiday in Madrid (Spain) as it's a great excuse to go to this beautiful country. Make sure you do lots of hill training before running this marathon and get used to running in heat - ran a PR in spite of hills and heat - tough though. PS - great race package too.