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Marathon Popular de Valencia Runner Comments
Back to Marathon Popular de Valencia Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 35 [displaying comments 31 to 35]
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M. F. from London, England
(2/22/2006)
 "Very well organized - flat - good support!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marathon Popular de Valencia
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my second marathon (the 1st was Sydney in September 2005) and I improved my finishing time by about 18 minutes (3:46:09). The course was very flat (exactly what I wanted), the race very well organized and the support was very good throughout the course. The weather was a bit temperamental: it was quite cold at the start (about 12C), very windy in the middle section and got quite hot in the last hour of the race (21C). They had water stations every 5 KMs, oranges at the 15KM mark and sponges every 5 KMs after 7.5 KMs. Valencia is a very nice city and the weekend we spent there was very pleasant. I would strongly recommend this race to anyone and I think it is the perfect course for a first-timer. | |
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Keith Ennis from Essex, England
(5/29/2005)
 "A great city to visit; very professional marathon" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Marathon Popular de Valencia
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Valencia is a city I'd recommend anyone to visit - the city of science and arts is just fantastic, stunning modern architecture, and the restaurants are wonderful. Sitting in the street cafes sipping wine and gorging on paella is a great way to spend a weekend and Valencia offers this to perfection. The race itself is perfectly organized. Don't be put off by the truly awful website - the organizers know what they are doing on the day and it all goes very smoothly. The course itself is very flat - too much so for me, as it became a bit tedious at times running at the same pace particularly in the 3rd quarter of the race, which takes you through a plain, ugly industrial area. The weather was just perfect, blue skies and warm sunshine, but there were enough water stops to stop the heat being an issue. (Not much in the way of energy drinks though.) Surprisingly few fun runners taking part - most of the entrants seemed to belong to Spanish running clubs, with a large international contingent. Could get quite lonely if you were running slowly, I suspect. And I think this also contributed to the fairly sparse spectator support along parts of the course. The start and finish were great though - loads of noise, especially the end in the local stadium. | |
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Sara Kassow from USA
(6/12/2004)
 "Nice marathon" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marathon Popular de Valencia
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I was totally impressed, above all else, how clean the city was. You really get to see what's in the gutters when running a marathon. I was one of the probably 4% female runners. I appreciated the hard work of the traffic officers, holding back very impatient commuters. Medical support was ok. I speak okay Spanish but found I had little conversation the whole 42 km. course. The instant printout of times and averages at the end was good. 'Thumbs down' only on a few water stations. Water ran out! I was running about a 7:50 pace. At about 16 mile mark and probably two more spots where there had obviously been a water station, there was none. | |
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P. B. from Kalamazoo, MI
(3/11/2004)
"Great international marathon" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Marathon Popular de Valencia
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I wasn't sure what to expect coming to Valencia but I was pleasantly surprised. I received a generous bag of pre-race goodies (including a beach towel!) and the paella lunch the day before the race was great. The course was extremely flat with the only hills coming near the beginning, except for a couple painful descents to enter the finishing area. The other runners were extremely friendly and supportive and the crowds got much bigger toward the end. (My favorite shout - 'campeona!' - 'champion.') Results were nearly instantaneous - I was greeted by name and given a paper with my place, time, and pace immediately. Post-race massages and fruit were greatly appreciated. Side note - the race was 96% male, which was interesting. I did not see any port-a-potties which was not a problem for the men, but could be an issue for women. Overall, a fun and interesting experience. | |
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A. W. from Guernsey
(2/9/2004)
"Super Spanish Spring Run" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Poor pre-race info made up for in a very well organized race. Fairly flat. First two thirds through the historic center, plus the port - last section a bit bland in suburbia. Nice finish in a little stadium. Super support. As expected in a Spanish marathon, a field of good runners. Loads of fruit in a bag for you at the end of the run. Plaque instead of a medal is unusual. Warm weather can catch you out if like cool running. Very friendly city; well worth the trip. |
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