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Shanghai International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Shanghai International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.0 
Organization 3.5 
Spectators 3.8
Number of comments: 29 [displaying comments 21 to 29]
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Michele Wrzesinski from Shanghai
(12/1/2008)
 "Well-organized but run through Pudong!!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Shanghai International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I have read all of the comments and I have to agree. If you are already in Shanghai, do it! The crowds enthusiasm is contagious and makes for a memorable experience. It seems the race organizers must be reading these comments because they have made improvements. For one, this year there were beautiful medals for all of the finishers! I would've liked to have been able to buy a sweatshirt or coffee mug for memorabilia at the end of the race. The beginning of the race was great. The buses for all of the bags were very well organized (my friend enjoyed the group warm-ups). The finish lines to pick up the printed certificates were also very efficient. The chips for our times were great, as a runner you always want to know your real time, start to finish. The start of the race on the walking street Najing Lu is perfect. OK, so what needs to be improved? As you are running you can visibly see that you are headed straight for the smog and pollution! Ugh, no runner wants to fill their lungs with that! Why not start it in the same place, run through the historic Bund, and then head over a bridge (!) to the clean Pudong area! Another thing that needs to be thought of is to have the finish close to a subway stop! My friends and I were all done running in 2 hours and then it took us over 3 hours to get home, via subway, bus, subway, taxi, and then finally a shuttle! | |
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T. S. from Shanghai
(11/30/2008)
 "Worst race I have ever run" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Shanghai International Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 The course was not thought out at all. It ran in parallel to major roads in Shanghai, and along some of the worst scenery in the city, not to mention polluted air. I have lived in Shanghai for the past year and there are certainly more scenic routes to choose. Also, there were only two water stations along the 13.1-mile course (one more about 100 yards from the finish) and the volunteers didn't have any cups filled at either location!! Finally, many others and I clocked off 13.45 miles for the course using our Garmin GPS watches. Now it's understandable that you add some distance weaving in and out of crowds, but almost an extra half mile??? Don't bother signing up for this race, unless it's under some new management. The crowds were generally the only positive part of the race. | |
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JW Stone from Shanghai, CHINA
(9/29/2008)
"My first half-marathon" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Shanghai International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 It was my first half-marathon in my life. As a college student, I think the race is OK. It was really a wonderful experience, especially when I finished the half-marathon within 2 hours. As for the improvement, I'd like to suggest the organizer replace this current marathon route with a better one, such as one that runs through the Pudong area where the air is clean and fresh. | |
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Michael Longe from Switzerland
(7/28/2008)
"Nightmare" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Shanghai International Marathons
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Stay away from this race. If you are living in China, then it's one of few large marathons that you can do, so you may be stuck with it. The city is polluted and you run up and down busy streets for most of the race (with the cars still going next to you). Try and find another race if you can... | |
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E. W. from Shanghai, China
(12/2/2007)
 "run if you are here" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Shanghai International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 It was my first marathon. I lived in Shanghai and didn't hesitate to participate. The perfect whether made the run much easier. I just didn't understand why the organizer designed such an ugly course running through Xinzhuang of the Minhang District instead of the Pudong new area. I used to live in Xinzhuang for awhile and moved to Century Park for better environment. The brutal Xinzhuang course ruined my nice feeling for the first half. If the organizer doesn't change this, the Shanghai Marathon will never stand out among its competition with Beijing, Xiamen and Dalian - not to mention be accepted around the world. So if you happen to be in Shanghai during the race day, try it. Otherwise, please don't bother to fly here. | |
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Christian Kober from Shanghai, China
(11/26/2007)
 "Nice crowd, ugly scenery" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Shanghai International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My first full marathon. The first half of the race was quite ok, even though this time unfortunately the start was not at the famous Bund. The second half was extremely tedious and boring, partially being on an elevated highway. The sound barrier as well as the stop-and-go traffic on the other lane made for unbearable air. Also the second half lead mostly through industrial parks, therefore boring boxy factory buildings and few onlookers. I was amazed at the friendliness at the onlookers and the numerous cheering bands etc. out there. Drink stations were well spaced. | |
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M. S. from Shanghai, China
(12/5/2006)
 "Another Ugly Marathon - But Fun Anyhow" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Shanghai International Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 After running the Shanghai 1/2M three times, I decided to go whole hog for the full this year. I had run Beijing Marathon last month, and was sure nothing could be uglier. Well, I was right, but not by that much. Like Beijing, Shanghai starts off on a scenic foot. You gather by the banks of the Huangpu River on the historic Bund, in the shadow of the old Peace Hotel. Nice enough, though the lack of toilet facilities inside the starting pen means you probably have to pee within the first 100 meters, which I sure did. I'm not shy, so a construction site on Nanjing Road did just fine. For the first 6K, it's looking all right, the crowds are supportive, the streets a little narrow but maneuverable. Then you head out under the Yan'an Expressway, which is OK I guess, since most of the traffic is 20 to 30 meters away from you or overhead. Turn out and into Hongqiao, and it starts to get ugly kinda quick. When the full finally breaks from the half, be ready for ugly, dusty, smoggy and insufferably boring. There are times you are running with trucks, cars and motorcycles in the lane next to you. On other occasions, you need to cross bike/motorcycle lanes to get to yours. For most of the last 5-6K, you get to run on an elevated highway with traffic right next to you, and sound barriers on both sides making for a wonderful breathing experience. The visual unpleasantness aside (and don't get me wrong - Shanghai is a very nice city and you could string together a very scenic route, but that's another issue), the race was well supported this year. Seems that every time someone dies in a race in Beijing or Hong Kong, it translates into better support for the other races. Lots of drinks, but watch out for what looks like Gatorade - turns out to be some really sugary, really nasty-tasting soft drink. The lack of medal? Oh well, you can always go to a local store and get one made for $2. The bags and towels were nice, but there's nothing on them about the marathon itself. How am I supposed to silently brag to friends and family without "Shanghai Marathon 2006" emblazoned on the side??? And the t-shirt - well, it ain't exactly as ugly as the past couple of years, but still.... All in all, another one of those "if you're there, go for it" kind of marathons. I wouldn't fly half-way around the world for it, but it's fun enough, we were SUPER lucky on the weather (12 days straight of pouring rain before, dry that day, 2-3 more days of rain after), and you get to check off another marathon on your life-long to do list. | |
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C. G. from San Francisco
(11/30/2006)
"My hometown marathon" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Shanghai International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Although Shanghai is where I was born and raised, it took me 15 years and 65 marathons to finally return to run this hometown marathon. It is not a scenic run or anything like Boston or NYC, but it's reasonably well organized overall. The course is flat and fast, marked in KMs, with clocks and water stations every 5K. This year there were over 2,500 people in the full marathon and about 3,000 in the half. There was also a shorter 4.5KM run. A lot of cheering spectators along the course, which provided a sight rather different from what you'd expect in America or Europe. Minimal support in terms of water and sports drinks. You have to finish within 5 1/2 hours. As for improvement, I thought they could put out more cups at each water station and some portable bathrooms on the course - I had to jump into some garden at one point during the race. There was no medal for finishing the marathon but the finisher's award sure wasn't shabby: this year it was a very nice, large, Mizuno duffel bag and a large, hefty Mizuno towel. Each entrant also got a cool-looking Mizuno technical shirt. I enjoyed this race very much and would definitely do it again. After all, Shanghai is my hometown and I left my heart there before moving to San Francisco. | |
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R. K. from China (Finland)
(2/26/2006)
"Running the Orient" (General Comments)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Shanghai International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I did the Shanghai Marathon in 2005. There was a full marathon (some 2,000 participants), half (3,000) and a a lot to choose from. This is generally a good run. Morning start, not too hot (normally), an A to B run with total descent of 20 meters. There is only one high bridge to negotiate on the way, so it is relatively fast all together. Race organization works pretty well, except for the registration process, which took place with too little recourse and in too small a place. Drinks on the way were ok, as were the kilometer marks. The course starts on the legendary bund area, just in front of the Peace hotel. First kilometers of the course go throught the city following the famous (then empty) Nanjing Road. After getting out of downtown, the course becomes a bit boring going mostly on and below some highways and flyovers. Towards the end at XX stadium, however, things get better once again. Towards the end part of the run you'll propably see all 60+-aged cheerleaders in organized colorful lines cheering just for you. This, if nothing else, is a reason to participate. ;o) After reaching the fininsh line, you'll find only sport drinks to get yourself back on track, which is a small minus. On the other hand, where on earth you get running shoes (Mizuno) and a huge towel just for finishing a marathon?! Ok, there was some time limit of four and a half hours to get them, but anyway. If you are not too far away, it is a good autumn run to consider. It is not a scenic park or lake run, but for a marathon in a huge metropolis, it is very much ok. |
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