This marathon is well organized, with sufficient aid along the flat and fast course. The prevailing wind on this one way course is generally to the runners' back. It helps to have a good GPS watch to keep track of your distance if you are use to miles, rather than KM, as the course is marked in 5,10, 20, etc. KM's only. The folks that put this small marathon on each year are very helpful and interested in you having not only a good time in their country, but that you have a good running experience and that you run well. The race shirt and other awards are very nice, including an attractive finisher's medal. There are lots of bicycles on the course supporting the runners, as others have commented on, but I did not find it crowded or a problem. Overall, a very good experience!

There were only a few hundred participants, but the race was really well-organized and there was lots of support at the start and finish. There weren't a lot of spectators along the route, but enough of them at each water station to give the runners a boost.

The course was nice and generally flat, although it was slightly boring during some lengthy stretches by the fields. However, there were lots of people on bikes supporting the runners. I didn't mind this at all, as most were very friendly and really added to the atmosphere. The only unfortunate part of the course was that some of the fields had recently been fertilized, which gave off a very strong and rather unpleasant odor during some parts.

Overall, it was a great race and I would strongly recommend it for someone who isn't interested in the bigger, more commercialized races in the large cities.

I have now run this event five times, and it remains one of my favorites. Everything about its organization, course and overall atmosphere just feels right. OK, it might lack the facilities and glamor of the big-city events, but this is a sincere runners' marathon.

Andre does an outstanding job of organizing things, helping to get the entire village where it starts - and the town where it finishes - behind the runners. Everything is adequate rather than outstanding - the transport, changing area, toilets, water points (every 5K) as well as t-shirt and medal. But for 20 euros, it is an outstanding value.

The course is beautiful, the great majority being away from roads on two paths, cycle paths and rural roads. One gripe I have is with the number of cyclists that accompany runners with drinks, etc. But maybe that is jealousy rather than anything else.

Weather this year was perfect - bright but cool, with little wind. It helped the few hundred runners look fresh when arriving at the magnificent Ypres town-center finish.

So my own view is that, if you want practical facilities and can live without the one-mile spacing between water points that you get in huge events, then go for this. I don't think that small, rural and picturesque marathons get any better than this.

This unique marathon (point to point - with very good transport-organization) is a marathon for real sportsmanlike and recreation runner. The refreshments are correct - possibility to fill or take away.
For a low budget (especially with the discount that people obtain when coming every year (the next year) to Flanders) we can enjoy the beautiful circuit through the Flander-Polder where there is always some shelter from wind, sun and even rain.

On the arrival, people are glad and interested with a lot of applause!!

The massage and the shower are welcome after the course they called the "Marathon for PEACE" - Canadians, Americans and Englishman coming every year to run for peace. Come next year and run it too!! Thanks to André Migneauu and all the volunteers! Congratulations!!! Thanks also for the Flanders Government and Yves Leterme (was himself on the distribution of the prices and promised support also for these small (in budget), beautiful and recreation-minded (marathon) runs).

I ran this race in September 2004. It was my 60th marathon, and it was spectacular. Only a handful of Americans have run this race, but there were three this year: myself and two others. The weather was nice, cool and sunny. And the course was very flat and through the Belgian countryside. The fans were warm and encouraging and water and sports drink and other amenities were plentiful. To get there from Brussels, take the train to Oostende which takes about an hour and a half. Then take the tram that travels along the coast to Neiwpoort where the race starts. That takes about thirty minutes. The packet pickup is in the town hall in the middle of Niewpoort-Stad, about seven or eight blocks after you exit the tram. The hotels are in Niewpoort-Bad, which is about five minutes further down the coast. I also suggest placing your luggage (as I did) on the gear truck. Then it will be waiting for you at the end in Iper since there is no transportation back to Niewpoort. Then you can take the train from Iper back to Brussels. Also, you receive a quality finisher's medal and t-shirt. Andre, the race director, does a tremendous job organizing this race.

A great level course with lots of cows and corn. When I think of Belgium, I think of cream, chocolate, ww1 and bikes. There were approximately 250 Canadian runners this year who made things pretty lively.

Ran this in 2002, and will be returning this year. Fantastic experience. Organized as if a local event, with the village and community coming together to help at the start, along the way, and at the end. Andre, the main organizer, greets every runner as they cross the line. Very reasonable entry fee. Lovely, flat course along either canal lanes, paths, or cycle - almost nothing on car-congested roads. Run past some of the sites of the most poignant of the WW1 battles. Adequate water points every 5K or so, and a real spectactular finish in Ypres town square. One odd thing about this run is that, after 4K, helpers join many of the runners, cycling beside them for the remaining 38K. At points, can feel a bit overwhelmed by cyclists, and a bit annoyed when feeling thirsty and watching cyclists pass juice and food to 'their' runners. Final warning to non Dutch/Flemish readers; if you're travelling from Ypres to the start, you MUST buy a ticket for the bus in advance. A lot of us were left stranded last year, and ended up sharing other runners' cars to make it to the start in time. So, if entering via the web site, go in via the Flemish (not the English) system, and tick the bus ticket offer, then pay an extra 5 Euro. Easy to follow even if you don't speak Flemish - just push the 'inschrijven' selection. It's all intuition from there. Apart from that issue, this is probably one of the most 'recommendable' marathons of those I have ever run. If you want a low-key, good value, flat-coursed event with friendly organization... go for this one!

Compared to the recent large marathons I've run (eg: Rock-n-Roll marathon, Marine Corps marathon, NYC, etc), this was a very pleasant change. It is small (~500 people) and largely runs next to a river on the left and cow pastures on the right. The course goes through 2 small towns before finishing in the historical Ieper.

It is a very nice race! The course is super flat (almost too flat), and water stations are every 5 km. They serve Evian in 10 oz. bottles and a sports drink at each water station. There are also about 4-5 sponge stations on the course.

I highly recommend this race. We had a bit of bad luck with weather as we had a 20 mph headwind the entire race (the wind typically blows from the opposite direction) and it rained about half of the race. Still it was great fun.

The finish line is spectacular. Andre (the race director) is there to shake hands with each and every runner.

Let me tell you this: this is by far the friendliest marathon in Belgium...
The organizer will wait at the finish line until the very last runner has arrived and he will have a word for everybody.
Scenery is superb on this pancake-flat race and you will run through the battlefields of WW1 (the marathon is also called 'a marathon for peace'). If the weather is fine (which you can never predict in Belgium) you may expect a fast time.
Run this one: it is top notch and cheap.

Weather was good (not too hot).
A bit windy, but most of the time in our favour.
Good signalisation - no traffic.
Based on the weather there was enough water (every 5 km) and now and then sportdrinks.
Also a fine run.