Apr 29, 2024
Current Year Results
Results Search
Biggest/Best Boston Qualifier
2024 Results
2023 Results
2022 Results
2021 Results
2020 Results
2019 Results
2018 Results
2017 Results
2016 Results
2015 Results
2014 Results
2013 Results
2012 Results
2011 Results
2010 Results
2009 Results
2008 Results
2007 Results
2006 Results
2005 Results
2004 Results
2003 Results
2002 Results
2001 Results
2000 Results
☰
Amsterdam Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Amsterdam Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 88 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
|
R. R. from Isle of Man
(10/25/2009)
 "A good overall experience" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Whilst the riverside section was a little depressing (if only because it was a bit quiet, and the farther you ran out, you knew you had to come back!), the course is a good, flat one. The finish in the Olympic Stadium is great, and the whole thing was pretty well organized. Add in the fact that Amsterdam is a great city to visit, and I'd certainly recommend it. | |
|
Mikkel Lund from Copenhagen, Denmark
(10/19/2009)
 "Very good first experience on the full distance" (about: 2009)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Fantastic atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium, both at the start and the finish - great sensation. Good trick with the first loop through the park, so you know how long you have left the second time around. Beautiful course (and weather), at least for the first 25K - especially along the Amstel, with the cheering boats. It was very well organized, with good transportation, secure bag-check, and depots every 5K. Only my own preparation could have made it a better experience. | |
|
S. B. from Livingston, Scotland
(10/28/2008)
"Great race; nice, flat course; enthusiastic fans" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Amsterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my 9th marathon, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It's a nice, flat course, and to be honest, it was more scenic than some of the other city marathons done. Although the fans were lacking in numbers, they made up for it in enthusiasm; finishing in the Olympic Stadium was a great buzz. I had no problem with transportation; I simply took the Metro form Central Station on race-day, as I was staying in the city center. I had a great weekend, enjoyed the city and got a PB as well. What more can you ask for? I'll definitely do this one again. | |
|
philip colet from Montreal, Canada
(10/26/2008)
 "Great race, great course, average fans" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Amsterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a great race. It was very well organized and is a mostly scenic course through Vondel Park, parts of Amsterdam and along the Amstel River in what seems like the countryside. Fans were not that numerous and were sporadic, but where present, they were very enthusiastic. This is a large race with close to 8,000 runners, and it has some very exciting elites with close to world record times. The course is very flat, making for good times all around. The marathon expo was a little smaller than other big marathons, but unexpectedly, I found some really good deals. This was my fifth marathon and one I enjoyed tremendously. From a North American perspective, this race had a very international feel to it, with runners I met from GB, Finland, the US, South Africa and Canada. Overall, a great race, a great day, and my second best marathon time. I would love to run this one again if I had the chance. | |
|
J. H. from London
(10/20/2008)
 "Dull course, not enough water, and poor info" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Amsterdam Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This course is flat in every sense of the word. Not much atmosphere compared to the other marathons I have run. And the course. Soooooo dull. There's a 10-15K stretch along a canal where you wind back and forth watching other runners... which is its own sort of torture. There are not enough drink stations and the instructions for the baggage are sketchy at best: Bring your own bag. Transport on the day of is a complete pickle, so sort out a taxi and be prepared to argue with your hotel if they refuse to get one for you. I did run a PB though. | |
|
Glen Hendrix from Pine Bluff, Arkansas
(11/12/2007)
"Well organized, not very scenic." (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a good marathon but having the half marathoners finish when some of us older, slower runners were trying to finish was chaos. The finish arena was very crowded. | |
|
S. C. from London,England
(10/29/2007)
 "Great Course for a PB" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Amsterdam Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The marathon course avoids the center of Amsterdam and a large chunk of the course is concentrated alongside the Amstel river. It's very fast & flat and the conditions in 2007 for a PB were excellent. Not too many crowds along the course except around the Olympic Stadium & Museumplein. Amsterdam is a great city to visit and I would recommend this marathon if you are looking for a well-organized marathon with a fast time. | |
|
S. H. from Devon, England
(10/25/2007)
"Good flat course and weather was ideal for PB" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Amsterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I got back from Amsterdam earlier this week after running the marathon on Sunday. This was only my second marathon (first was Paris in April 2007) and I have to say that the weather conditions on Sunday (12 degrees, overcast, little wind) and a flat course allowed me to knock 25 minutes off my Paris time, so I was very pleased. The expo was well organized and easy to find. I only found out on the morning of the marathon that there were no trams running (and as we were staying south of the city center there was no metro to catch). Had to walk 1.5 miles to the start but did get there 1.5 hours early and was delighted to find plenty of toilets and no queues (great after having to queue for 1.25 hours to go once at Paris!). The start in the stadium was a wonderful experience although I was a little puzzled by being carefully shepherded into the pen for my predicted finishing time, and then the barriers between the pens were removed anyway prior to the start so wasn't quite sure of the point of that. The route itself is not scenic considering what the center of Amsterdam has to offer, but I enjoyed the long stretch along the Amstel and I think for me it did not matter that miles 18-24 were not very attractive ones as I had reached the point of completely tuning out and trying to focus on keeping moving. The drinks stations every 5 km were frequent enough although the cups made things interesting (it was like running the egg and spoon race). There was banana on route. Not many spectators but the ones that were on route were very supportive. The Vondelpark was my favorite part of the route - lovely autumn colors. There was no family/friends meeting area so I was glad I had made arrangements to meet my husband prior to the race, as it would have been a bit of a nightmare otherwise. Didn't stick around for too long afterwards as had to walk 1.5 miles back to the hotel. I thought the online certificate, race results, and photos and video clips were great although not sure about the visual representation of where you finished in relation to other runners (bit deflating if you do it 4 hours plus). Enjoyed three days of sightseeing in Amsterdam. Loved the city and found people very friendly. Hope to return, even if not for the marathon again. | |
|
S. m. from Belfast, Northern Ireland
(10/25/2007)
"Superb Marathon" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Amsterdam Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This marathon seems to get some mixed reviews. I do not understand why - in my opinion it is close to perfect. I have run it 4 times - and achieved 4 PBs. The course is extremely flat (check out the elevation map on marathonguide.com) and the weather in the last 4 years has been excellent for running. Organization is also first class, with excellent chip collection, plenty of food and drink en route and also lots of extras, like free downloadable photos, a quality running shirt, DVD clips, instant availability of results and photos. The marathon has around 7,000 finishers which means it feels reasonably big, yet you have guaranteed race entry and get space to run at the right pace within only a couple of minutes. You also get the fantastic feeling of finishing inside the Olympic Stadium and then sampling the Amsterdam nightlife to celebrate. Sore knee right now from latest PB, but I will be back in Amsterdam again ! | |
|
H. R. from Chicago, Illinois, USA
(1/5/2007)
"Fine, if you happen to be in the area" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Amsterdam Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Course could have been SO much more interesting! I understand the city powers don't want to cripple the entire city, but seeing the park once is enough and the out-and-back along the Amstel was a few miles too long. Good to see the windmills and polders, but it went on for a LONG time! Would liked to have seen more of the sights! Spectators were very friendly. |
© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC
