Whilst this was my first marathon outside Europe, it was my eleventh overall. I am able to draw comparisons as I have run several of the other world major marathons such as London, Paris and Berlin.

The New York City Marathon is a fantastic event. When you consider that over 40,000 runners compete, then the organisation is superb. My only criticism would be that the marshalls prior to the start were very aggressive in terms of letting runners through into their designated starting zones. Allow plenty of time as the volumes of people are huge.

One thing to bear in mind is that this race takes place in November and you have to be out at the start very early (6am), meaning that it can be really cold. This was the case on this occasion with a biting northerly wind taking several degrees off the temperature at the start (approx 7ÚC / 45ÚF). Even by the lunchtime finish, it was only a few degrees up on this.

The course is challenging with several inclines, particularly as you enter the final mile or two coming through Central Park. This is a beautiful section of the course though, especially with the trees losing their colourful leaves. The course really encapsulates the whole city taking you through each of the boroughs from Staten Island to Manhattan.

Given the shear size of this event, the climatic conditions and the tough course, I would not recommend NYC as a marathon for a first-timer. These factors all mean that some previous marathon experience really helps.

The registration expo is amongst the best that I have witnessed. Huge amounts of official merchandise on offer. Asics are the manufacturer and they have developed some nice kit. It will take time as there are lots of stands to walk past and browse.

All in all, this marathon comes highly recommended. Just remember to pack a long-sleeved running top, some gloves and a wool hat to stay warm throughout the run!

This was my first marathon. The course was very challenging - lots of hills, bridges, and such. It was also very exciting. My favorite stretch was 4th Ave. in Brooklyn. This was when most runners were still very energetic and the crowds were just amazing. I live in NY but still loved running through all the little neighborhoods in Brooklyn and getting that unique flavor that only NYC can offer.

Nothing can equal the warmth of the fans.

Great race. The corral system seemed to work fine for the first group, and the fans were unbelievable - I'll never forget the noise they made coming off the Queensboro Bridge.

The course itself is challenging enough, especially once you hit Central Park. But very doable.

Make sure you bring plenty of warm clothes for the starting village.

The only cons really would be that when we were waiting for the start, nobody in Staten Island could hear the national anthem. Now, I'm not an American, but it still would have been nice for a marathon major to put some speakers next to the big screens in the village.

Also, very few toilets on the course, and forget about getting the athlete tracker - it's a waste of time and money. My wife is still waiting for me to finish according to it. :)

Other than that, a must-do, but be prepared to spend some cash.

This was my first NYC Marathon and my tenth marathon. Gotta say this was my favorite. I had a blast because of the great fan support. Especially in Brooklyn. I was running as a member of Fred's Team.... I raised over $4,000 for Cancer Research, and the support from Fred's Team was incredible. I finished not too far behind the Chilean miner, which was really cool. The wait at the start is mildly painful, but you know to expect it. The finish is hard to figure out as I found it difficult to reunite with my wife and figure out how to get the hell out of there (Central Park). Love the City, love New Yorkers, love the marathon. If you have a bucket list, this belongs on it. Run NYC.

Best marathon I have ever run. I can't say enough great things about it. The crowds are unbelievable; the only moments when you are not being cheered on are on the bridges, simply because the spectators are not allowed there. Expo was good, with tons of people; make sure you get there early so you can get the size of shirt you need; I arrived pretty late and ended up with a male's shirt. Race day, bring extra layers and blanket; this was the best advice I followed. I stayed in Manhattan so I needed to take the subway, ferry and finally the bus. Everything went smoothly and I got there with plenty of time to eat my breakfast and enjoy the atmosphere. When the first wave started, it was pretty exciting to see everybody running on the bridge; it is just a very exciting moment and then the nerves start going crazy. I truly enjoyed every mile of this race. There were plenty of aid stations, and every neighborhood has its distinctive energy. At the end, be advised that you will have to walk for a pretty good distance before you can exit the park. I would recommend it to anyone. You will have a great time!

The NYC marathon is quite the experience. I got injured the summer before the race and I rehabbed very hard in order to run the NYC Marathon, and I was not disappointed. It's a wonderful 26.2-mile tour of NYC. The crowd support was absolutely amazing; they made me forget I was running with an injury. The aid stations were plentiful and resourceful.

The only negative things I could say about the experience is that the race really is about the 26.2 miles that you run - the expo was lacking in booths, the medals were not what I was expecting either, and there was no finisher shirt. However, these things are all fluff, and they did not take away from my experience at all. I enjoyed every minute - well, except for the parts of the run on the bridges (there were no spectators allowed there, and no one running was talking, so those parts were kind of boring). Other than that, I loved my NYC RUN!

Everything but the post-finish was fantastic. Even the waiting before the start was not bad. The course was entertaining and fair but a little crowded. Expect to spend extra energy dodging people. After running the 26 miles the last thing you want to do is have a painful, slow march to exit the park. I don't understand why they can't alter the course to have an open area. It makes no sense, and because of this, I would strongly recommend that you wait to run it until this is fixed. It leaves a sour taste from an otherwise great day.

Everything about the race was great. Everything is great, from the start villages/corrals, to the weather (perfect), the course, spectators, water stations and finish area (I like to walk after running that distance but if you are injured it's far). The only surprise I had was the amount of concrete there was as opposed to asphalt (along First Avenue and some bridges). I can't wait to run it again. If you plan on running this race, make SURE you start in a fast enough corral/wave or you will be disappointed because of the large number of runners; it really didn't open up until First Ave. (Mile 16).

What a great experience (but painful!).

The course is actually great because it is both challenging and at the same time interesting. Going through the NYC neighborhoods is a really cool experience. Even though I've lived here for almost a decade, it's still exciting to see all the boroughs.

For a beginner who's not in great shape, this is a challenging course. The bridges are definitely tough, and the tricky thing is that it takes a while before one feels it.

The organization is really top-notch. There is going to be some crowding and there will be some mishaps, but when you consider that close to 45,000 people participated, it was nearly flawless!

Beware that NY can be really cold in early November. Bring warm clothes to cope with the long wait at the start.

The crowds were fantastic. I especially loved the Brooklyn crowds, but they were all great.

I really don't have many negative things to say about his race.

If you have the chance to participate, TAKE IT!!!