The course is two laps around a lake - narrow running lanes at times, hardly any spectators. Good water stops (water, Coke, tea, bananas, etc.) about every 5/6K. Very narrow finishing lane, with 180 degree turn 100 meters before end. Course is flat, but very boring. Also, the 'relay' runners fly past you - which doesn't help the morale of the full marathoners. Had a good day, but this isn't as fun as city runs. Also, very hard to get to the starting point on public transportation - and even harder to get a taxi cab back to the hotel.

Solid organization; there are no problems to be expected. The course is completely flat and even fast. It is no city marathon - it is a marathon in nature around the Baldeney-Lake in the south of Essen. So, there are nearly no spectators at the event. The course has to be run twice.