Ive never done a marathon before and made Zurich my first!

Pros:
1. I wanted my first to be well organized and the Swiss did not disappoint! Water stations were at a good distance (in my opinion). Offered water, PowerAde, GU, bananas and another item that I couldn't identify.
2. Weather was great! Cool in the morning but warmed up a to the 70's without being too hot!
3. This is a fast race!
4. Route was good, well organized, not really that hilly, and pretty flat, with views of the lake.
5. Got proofs of picture/video right away along with race results.
6. Loved having my name on the bib; the medal is nice; and I loved the finishing t-shirt (quality shirt).

Cons:
1. The expo was sparse! Not that much excitement for the race.
2. Cheer section was mediocre, but that's fine.
3. While route was good, I wasnt a fan of doing loops. I like having one long loop instead of doing 3 loops.
4. Expensive city!!! Be prepared to pay at least $20-25 bucks for every meal!

Would definitely recommend this race!

I have run 9 marathons, most in the USA, with Dublin and Rome being only international marathons before this.

The bad - expo was very small; water stations only every 3-5 miles (maybe); city is freakin' expensive; and course was hillier than I had expected (it was not ultra-hilly, but not as flat as I had read in other reviews).

The good - where do I begin? Course looped back on itself a few times, bringing me by the steps on my hotel (with wife and kids) 6 times; course view of Lake Zurich is spectacular; bands (steel drums) about every 5 miles; turnaround point was in tiny village filled with music, people and spirit; race photographers all over the place; and although the water stops were spaced farther apart than I would have liked, they were very well manned and stocked with everything.

I loved it and would recommend it.

This was my first non-North American marathon and it totally exceeded my expectations. I should have PBed, as everything from course to weather to aid stations were perfect... but just too much sightseeing and a little jetlag made it tough. Great city: very safe and easy to get around. Loved it and would love to go back and run it hard, but tough as I really fell in love with Snitzel and beer.

I am of the firm conviction that the London Marathon is streets ahead of any other in the world. This one, however, came pretty close.

It is just superbly organized. The expo is small but charming, and they feed you well there, The actual numbers running the race are perfect for the course, and right from the start you have room to run (ok - that makes it better than London).

Names on bibs are an excellent idea.

The start is a bit sparse.

The course is a delight; a couple of tours of the heart of the city, then an out-and-back along the lake to the town of Meilen; and though the support is sparse in places, there were good crowds on the way.

Provisions for runners are excellent. Lots of water (in bottles - Hallelujah!), gels, energy bars, and bananas - and the water stations were well organized, so there was never a fight or hassle getting supplies.

The finish was smooth and only the Swiss would be so environmentally aware that they would use a goods train for kit storage rather than less-environmentally-friendly lorries.

(Speaking of the environment: putting big tubs for your empty water bottles after ever water station was a really neat idea.)

If you are looking for a really enjoyable, flat, scenic marathon, where everything is done to make life easy, then this is the one.

Zurich offers a good marathon for those looking for a small, well-run European event.

The majority of the course is beautiful, as you run along the banks of Lake Zurich out of the city and then back in again. Some have criticized the decision this year to spend the first 8K inside the newly opened tunnel, but it wasn't that bad; if anything, it made you appreciate the rest of the course even more. I was slightly disappointed, however, that the course didn't go more into the old city center part of Zurich more than it did; this was really missed out in favor of the lakeside run and tunnel.

Running conditions in Zurich in April are ideal. Temperatures were around 17/63 with overcast skies and a light breeze. With just a few thousand runners, you quickly get into your normal stride after the start. This coupled with a relatively flat course ought to allow for a PB chance.

The crowds were a little sparse but this was made up for by the fantastic organization of the event. One cool highlight was the sponsor, Swiss Life, sending SMS texts to your family/friends during the race, giving updates as to your time/progress. This is a really good idea, and other marathons should follow suit.

Overall, a young event in only its 7th year, but it's destined to grow. Recommended.

Enjoyed the atmosphere, the town, the organization, the run along the lake, and the crowd support....

Very much disliked the need to run 9K within a (brand new) tunnel and the cost.

This year's Zurich marathon was unique due to the first 9k being through the Uteliberg tunnel before it was opened to traffic.

The course is pretty flat, combining a small section of town-running and about 30k of suburb/lakeside- running.

The crowds were very sparse and if you need a crowd to spur you on then it's not for you.

One brilliant feature was having your name printed on your number bib, which I have never seen in any other marathon--it makes a great memento. Attached to the bib was a travel pass for the entire citywide tram / bus and train network, which was a nice touch.

The organisation at the start was chaotic, with spectators mixing in with the runners (I had to dodge a dog walker at one point). The organisation at the end was very slick, with each runner having a medal placed around their neck, a chip collection point and a t-shirt in their size.

The only 2 complaints I have are: 1) There were cyclists and in-line skaters on the course mixing with the runners and 2) there was a lack of water on what was a very hot and sunny day.

What else would you expect from a Swiss marathon? A good web-site with easy on-line entry, listings and comprehensive results and split results for each quarter and for every age group! The course is as flat as you are likely to find anywhere, and there's a good mix of town and "lakeside" (almost). Some enthusiastic support but quite a lot of thin patches. The long "out and back" stretch wouldn't please everyone, but I personally enjoy seeing the front-runners, even if they are 10K ahead. My one criticism would be about the start area and the time sections. These were not supervised and anyone could be anywhere. However, with a relatively small race (fewer than 5,000), wide streets and chip timing, the early muddle was soon sorted, and it made little difference to final results. Certainly an excellent opportunity for a p.b., weather permitting. This year was perfect. I'd love to run it again, and try not to fade so badly in the final quarter.

Course: Mostly flat with only a couple of gentle slopes. The majority of the distance is along Lake Zurich traveling through some of the suburbs/villages on the east side, with lovely views of the lake and well-preserved architecture. About 20K consists of an out-and-back on opposite sides of the same road, so keep this in mind if this sort of thing depresses you while running. Shorter sections through Zurich proper showcase the city as well, with only a couple very short sections of cobblestones and the rest on regular pavement.

Organization: A perfectly-run, small-to-mid-size marathon. The Swiss reputation for precision and organization is dead on. Aid stations were well-stocked and well-marked, expo was small but easy to get to and navigate, packet pickup was a breeze, and logistics at the start and finish were efficient. A 3-day pass for Zurich trains/trams/buses is included in the entry fee, which is all the transportation you need in Zurich itself, given the extensive public transportation system. Can't think of anything to complain about here.

Spectators: Somewhat thin compared to bigger marathons (Chicago, NYC, Marine Corps) but very, very enthusiastic ("Hopp!" apparently means "Go!" in German, which I figured out after hearing it about 700,000 times), and after all, there are only 5-6K runners. Should be plenty of support for most marathoners.

Zurich: Expensive, particularly for US-types converting from the plummeting dollar. Imagine living inside a Disney park to get a sense of the cost of living. Incredibly friendly, polite (if reserved) Swiss. If you speak German, French or Italian, great, but many/most Swiss speak English as well. Very walkable city, but it's also easy to get around by tram/train.

Other: For runners (like me) who are accustomed to only US marathons, a few notable differences. Water comes in 330 ML plastic bottles, not cups, which means you can carry it with you rather than having to chug at the station; but there are fewer total stations, and not every station has energy drinks. Free food for runners at the finish is sparse compared to US marathons, with a larger variety of things to buy outside of the finisher's area. There is a higher proportion of very fit runners compared to the US, as the huge "first time charity runner" phenomenon we are used to is not as prevalent, so if you run in the 3:45 or slower range, prepare to be in the second half of the pack for a change.

The Zurich Marathon is not only a race; it is also a family gathering!!!!!!!