For my first race on the African continent I absolutely enjoyed the runnning in Marrakech. Participating on short notice in the half-marathon, I could see the efforts to have a good organization. Registering was easy. Committee should take care to release the latest and actual information with the brochures. A package drop and return at finish would be nice - I helped myself with local taxi driver support. Webpage could be improved (list of results?). Everybody who likes to see the city should participate in the race. The water supply was ok, but the food supply on the course could be better.

I will participate next year the marathon distance, since I believe that the flat race course is ideal to go at a fast speed.

I read the comments about the 2006 race and it would seem that the race organizers might have done so as well because some of the things noted in the complaints were resolved in the '07 event. There was water on the course throughout, there were t-shirts given out at number pick-up, and there were medals given at the finish line. Also, I want to note that I did not do the full marathon - I did the half - but I ran/walked the majority of the course in the days before and after the race while sightseeing in Marrakech and compared notes with a friend who did run the full marathon.

Now for some facts that might be of interest for those considering the 2008 race.
1. The course is flat and fast. There are *points* where you round corners and make turns, but nothing that would really drive you mad.
2. There is water on the course throughout, and perhaps a spot or two with orange wedges. The water is given out in bottles, not cups, so be mentally prepared for that.
3. There is no starting "chip" mat. Your time is the race gun time. You get a chip, but it is attached to your race bib and there is a chip mat at the finish.
4. I did not see any bathroom facilities at the start. Most people are trying to be discreet behind trees or against walls.
5. Apparently there is an area where you can check your bags for after the race, but I never saw it. I just went to the race ready to run and then ran right back to the hotel afterward so as not to get cold.
6. The results were posted online a few days after the race so you will eventually find out your official time.
7. If staying right near the start is important to you, choose the Sofitel. The roads in the Medina are not far - maybe 1-2 miles depending on the address, but a few large hotels line Menara Ave. where the race starts and finishes.
8. The race is not all the large but if a front line start is important, you'll have to line up early or be prepared to muscle your way in. Since there is no starting line chip mat, you do not need to run under the inflatable arches at the start - you can run up the sides of the road as many people do.
9. People will cut corners in the race. They will run on the sidewalk - not the road, which would seem to be the official course - to make the closest turn. Apparently this is not penalized and the majority of runners do it.
10. The half and the full marathon start together. The courses split off at some point and then cross again later. I forget exactly where they split.
11. Come prepared for cool-ish weather at the start - low 40s is most likely - really perfect for racing actually.
12. If you're looking for a London or a New York, this will not suit you. It is perfectly adequate - and I thought quite a fun event - but it is not a "big" race. That being said, there is good competition and if you're fit, you could easily run a PR. I only wish I had undertaken this race when I was at my best. It would be hard to find a flatter course.

Great course, excellent support in towns, water every 5K, sponges. Good medal and two t-shirts. Organization a bit poor and no baggage drop at start, but the organizers and people of Marrakech have managed to put on a very good race. Well worth the trip.

Unfortunately there was no water from the 15 KM on, and there was no fruit available anywhere on the course. And the medal, well, I had to hunt it down, and to my surprise, it was from last year´s race.

I ran the 2006 race and came back with the same impression. No perks at all (no t-shirt, no medal, no cap, and even the number doesn't say "Marrakech" anywhere.

There was no food till the 25KM mark where I spied some raisins and then oranges after that (nobody handed those out... instead you stop, get your own and race on!). They did "control" traffic with police manning the intersections, etc., but I had to dodge some tour buses and cars off and on.

Nothing but water at the finish line. Guess the foreign runners were subsidizing the cost of marathon for the locals (40 euros vs. some measely amount in DH).

Course flat and fast, weather cooperated with nice cold AM. Extremely disorganized, no real perks, no facilities at start. Did hunt down a finisher medal and results are on web this year. Needs better traffic control in spots.

I ran this marathon with group of American and Europeans who live in Morocco last year and found it an ok race although they let the traffic run after 4 hours which made the last stretch difficult. THIS year they allowed the traffic the ENTIRE time. Runners were dodging, cars, trucks, bikes, sucking up fumes. It was horrible. I spoke with organizers on the course who, when asked why the traffic, just said 'bad organization.' Several runners said they were going to make the turn with the 1/2 marathon group as they were afraid they were going to get hit by cars if they continued the course. Because of the traffic there were few spectators as well. I will never run this again!

The marathon course and conditions were ideal. At the start it was a little cool and then the sun came up and heated things up a little but with the dry air it was still quite comfortable. The waterstops were every 5K and were well stocked with bottled water, raisins, dates and orange sections. The course was flat and the scenery was definitely Moroccan; the old city walls, palm groves, a couple of camels 'parked' along the road, etc... Things I don't see on my winter runs in Minnesota.

With all the things going for it, it's too bad they don't add a few little 'perks' for us runners that aren't in the 'running' for the prizes. There were no finisher's medals or even race results! (I think they gave us a baseball cap.) It seems that it won't be that difficult to put a finisher list with times on the web and then put a link to it from their website.

The marathon was actually Sun Jan 17.

At 3 hours, 45 minutes they started taking down stands, finish line, etc. and also let the traffic resume because the organizers had only gotten permission for 4 hours from local police, despite the fact that there were still people on the course!