My advice to anyone considering this one is to pick a hotel in Mestre, and the closer to the station the better, as this is where the shuttle buses to the highly efficient expo and to the race start in Stra originate.

The start was a little congested, but I was running at my own pace by the 1K mark. The first 28K are fast and flat, with very few sharp turns. It's reasonably scenic and well supported through the villages, with plenty of bands. There are a few gentle hills through the park in Mestre and some more as you negotiate the motorways that lead to the causeway. Once on the causeway you have Venice in your sights, which I found to be a tremendous lift just when I needed it most. Then you head into Venice itself, and 5K of cobbles and bridges with jelly legs. The biggest of the bridges is the temporary one that they build across the Grand Canal just for the day. Charging down it into St. Mark's Square in pursuit of a PB has to be one of my best marathon memories.

I was dozy enough to lose my medal. I e-mailed the organizers and they sent a replacement straight away. It's a great marathon and a great weekend away.

There cannot be many greater finish areas than in Venice. Although you only get to run in Venice for the final 5K, it is worth all the effort. And the rest of the route is mainly pleasant. Apart from the chaotic scenes outside of Mestre Station at 7 a.m., where hundreds of runners tried to board the trickle of buses to get to the start at Stra, every other aspect of the organization was text-book. From number pick-up at the expo, to the chip removal at the finish, I experienced only good organization and friendly helpers.

Let me start by saying that this marathon has spoiled me forever. There are so many reasons that this is the best marathon I've ever run... but here are the five that I wish all other marathons would adopt.

1) Bottled water and sports drinks. You don't have to worry about drowning yourself while drinking from flimsy paper cups at race pace. Nobody enjoys drinking water through their mouth and nose at the same time.

2) Only marathon runners... no relays, 5K or half-marathon runners. You don't have to worry about people sprinting past you at mile 18 simply because their team handed off to them. Everyone around you is in for the long haul.

3) Fast course. Only a few hills and small bridges at the end. Go for a fast time! Everyone around you probably will be.

4) The race is capped at 7,000 people. Too many races invite too many people trying to be the biggest, but their logistics can't handle the load. Venice is setup to handle 7,000 people... so that's the total number of runners allowed. Bravo.

5) There is an honest-to-goodness chute. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. I'm not talking about some meaningless suggestion, ropes lying on the ground, or signs saying, "Pretty please, start here if you want to run sub-3:15" (only to have guys pulling kegs of beer push ahead of you). There are color-coordinated bibs and fences and volunteers steering people in the right direct. The result? I hit my stride early and by 800 meters was in with a group of peers. Try that at Frankfurt or Berlin.

I don't want to sound elitist... but seriously, this marathon should be held as the example of how to organize a race and an event. Sure, the crowds should have been louder. Sure, only the last 5K really are in Venice. But I think that's unimportant compared to everything that this race gets right.

This was my first marathon and it has been a great experience. the organization was superb, from the registration until the end. The course was fantastic, flat except 3 big ascensions at the end. The 13 bridges after the 40th KM are a great challenge. Overall, it's been great.

I ran this marathon for the first time in autumn 2006. Weather was fine, 7-12C, and the sun was shining. The route was beautiful for the first 25KM and unique after that to the end. San Giuliano Park was fine, then came the long, long, long bridge to the island, which is also a unique place. Last 2 kilometers were rough, but small bridges helped a little - at least mentally. Very nice competition - I recommend this race.

I ran Venice in 2005. It's the flattest marathon I've run, which for a 50 year-old part-time runner is a joy. There's not much atmosphere as you run towards Venice itself, but once over the pontoon, the fun starts. The organizers place huge wooden running boards over each of the bridges over the canals that really flatten them out, allowing the runners to really enjoy the sights. The sense of history crossing all the bridges as you run the final 2 miles into the center of Venice is fantastic. The finish itself just outside St. Mark's Square has got to be the best final 300 yards there are!

This was my ninth marathon, and my hotel was in Venice, which meant I had to leave at 5:45 a.m. to make it to the start on time. They had the usual long queues for the restrooms near the start and a half-mile walk to the holding pens. The route itself was quite boring until you reached Venice, which had 14 bridges in the last mile. Not the best marathon I have ever done but worth doing nonetheless. Venice is very expensive to stay/eat in, so take your credit cards....

How cool is this race? Two thumbs up. These Europeans can run fast. It was a race from the first mile to the last. The new course layout was wonderfully scenic. The small towns rang their church bells while the townspeople looked curiously at us. Here are some points as you consider this wonderful run:

1. PR - This is a great course for a flat and fast race because everyone else running alongside of you is moving.

2. Cost - You can go high end and stay in Venice for $$$ or go to just out of town for 50%-70% less. Either way, you can still easily get into Venice for some great pictures and romance before the race. It'll cost you about as much as the NYC Marathon.

3. Water Stops - Great aid stations but placed every 5K versus every 1-2 miles like in the USA. Adjust accordingly.

4. Mile markers - Throw them out; you are in Europe, so adjust to kilometer markers. It confused me for 20K-40K but I figured it out by using the force.

5. First-timers - Not a good first-time race because most of the runners finish in under 4:30. You may be left alone on the course if your first-time finish is later.

6. Runners - Mostly male (90%) and fast. Reminded me of my old cross-country days as a teenager. No purple TNT singlets here. Real fun to go back in time to my racing youth.

7. Pre-race - porta johns that flush with water. Cool. No-frills start area but with the feel of a bunch of running clubs gathering for a long run together. Hot tea before the race was unusual but welcomed. Weather was 60 F and overcast the whole race.

8. Apparel - I looked way too American with my white shirt and grey shorts. I never saw so many bright colors both in the clothing and shoes.

9. Post-race - Kind of like a Roman bath atmosphere, with the finishers just hanging out.

10. Bridges - Yup, 16 in all during the last 2 miles. Add 1-2 minutes per mile to your pace to get over all of them. You'll need it.

11. Pace Groups - Fun. I usually avoid them but this time I jumped into the 3:50 group because I couldn't pace myself with the kilometer markings. Well worth it. I was very entertained with the singing of Italian songs by the leader. Caution: They finished at 3:45.

12. Value - Depends. For me, yes, because my wife loves Venice. But I dropped some bucks so I'm unlikely to do it again anytime soon. But the race, the charming city of Venice and the great shops/resturants were well worth the trip. Try a long weekend to keep the overall cost low. This is a reward marathon.

The Venice Marathon was my 4th city marathon, and if I'm honest, my 4th in terms of preference. The expo is in Mestre, so if you have a hotel in Venice, it's a trek. Mestre is like Coventry or Dudley (pretty bleak, for those not familiar with Dudley or Coventry)!! The start itself is in Stra, about 26 miles from Venice!! But it is pretty enough. The route is well supported along the river Brenta, sadly back into bleak Mestre. Sadly on the day I ran fog had hit the lagoon so the run over the main bridge had no view of Venice. Once in Venice the run was good and the dreaded bridges were good fun (something a bit different). The finish was very well supported and the t-shirt was really good and actually one you could wear!!!

My fifth marathon. Excellent course, flat, scenic and well marshaled, well supported all along the course with local villages out in force and a series of rock bands blasting out a variety of music. Well organized with shuttle buses to the start and from the finish back to the start; buses were a little chaotic on occasions but this is Italy and it adds flavor to the day. The bridges over the small canals at the finish were painful, but the scenery and atmosphere made up for it. Good course and organization, and in a city like no other. A wonderful experience, worth the pain and long training runs.