Given the heat of the day, to run out of drink at the 19-mile marker is unforgivable, leaving runners with a 6-mile stretch without liquid. It ruined my race, and 5 months of training. No directions were given at the end of the race - I didn't receive the collectibles bag, had to walk another mile or so to find the bus (they changed the bus stop location), and then stood waiting for a bus for over an hour (yes, still dehydrated). I will not be entering this event again.

I loved the course, the people and Edinburgh. When Saturday was a scorcher, the organizers should have realized to bring in more water facilities. The finish line was haphazard and the running surface awful. I'm not certain if they had an expo. It did look like a war zone. There were 3 lanes: runners, walkers and bodies on the verge. But the route was worth a return next year!

I have run the course before and it has been well organized (apart from getting out of the stadium at the end - that always takes an hour), but running out of water in this heat (and the heat had been predicted) is irresponsible at best (and that is giving it a positive spin). I think they were lucky that more people were not badly afflicted. In that heat, you need more water stations and more water - there is no excuse: it is dangerous otherwise.

They also need to look seriously at how to get supporters around the course - if friends and family come to watch, they have no real way by public transport to get along the route (the nearest bus stops at mile 13 was 2K away from the course!).

This was my ninth marathon. It was a memorable experience and the crowd support was fantastic. It was a hot day, but at the same time, it was a lovely day. And I made the most of the nice breeze that came around half way. The course was flat and scenic, and I managed a PB by 1 minute (3:44). I would have been faster if it was cooler. Oh, and Edinburgh is one of the most impressive cities that I've ever been to.

My first Edinburgh Marathon, and one that won't be my last. There wasn't an expo as such, especially for runners from Scotland, England, or Wales; no after-marathon party either, as in Berlin. Just a good, quiet time to prepare for a reasonably flat course.

It was very hot on the day of the race, and water and fuel were apparently stolen beforehand. However, my own personal observation was that only the usual stampede at water stops occurred, nothing more (although there possibly might have been more of these refreshment points considering the well-forecasted sunny weather predicted for the Scottish capital). Late along the route, the pole of a mile marker had swung into the road, and with varying styles the billowing flap of fabric was dodged by most of us who had made it this far.

The final run towards the finish made us pass along some slightly unpleasant plastic boards. These might have been quite strange to have chosen, but having run the half-marathon this year as well - where runners just plodded along turf - the feeling was considerably better on these heavy plastic things, especially after the increased distance and the awful weather dehydrating most of us. "I'll be back" - maybe not next year, but possibly the year after.

Great course for my first marathon. The organization was also great; they ran out of water at one water post, but it seems like this was due to some idiots stealing it. The spectators were terrific, and I'm very pleased with it all. I will probably return next year.

I expect that there was enough water provided for everyone's drinking needs, but perhaps not for head-watering. I wonder how much of the shortage was due to runners taking more than one bottle at a time? A fabulous course with brilliant supporters. Thanks again, Edinburgh.

This was my first-ever marathon, and I'm so glad that I chose Edinburgh. There was loads of support, and I never felt alone on the course. The various helpers and staff were amazing, and finishing up in the racecourse made it all worth it. The last half-mile was such a rush! It's definitely a day to remember!!

This was my first marathon, and the main factor in deciding to run in Edinburgh was the fact it was billed as "The UK's fastest marathon." Big mistake. It may well have the fastest course, but the organization was pathetic. I was on target for a sub-4-hour time until we reached Gosford House. The combination of a gravel surface after 17 miles of tarmac, and then finding out the water stations had run out after 19 miles (in the midday sun) killed me. Were it not for the locals who came out with the hosepipes and the spectators helping out, then God only knows what would have happened. Around 12,000 may have started this race, but only 8,257 finished. I finished the course in 4:40, and glad to be in one piece. I wouldn't recommend this race to my worst enemy. The extremely hot weather had been predicted for over a week, and not to have enough water is unforgivable. We then had the race director in the press saying, "Some fun runners went without water, but it was a triumph." Clowns. The people of Edinburgh deserve much better than this.

I was really looking forward to running Edinburgh, having done Boston 6 weeks earlier, but I couldn't believe it when the stations ran out of water. The weather forecast was accurate, and it was a hot and sunny day - not ideal conditions for everyone running a marathon. Let's face it; we aren't all amazing athletes, and just when we needed fluids, there weren't any. I think the organizers should have had a contingency plan for the weather and added additional water stations, or at least made sure that there was plenty for everyone. Apart from the above, the course was excellent, the scenery was fantastic, and the supporters towards the end were amazing. If the organization were better, I would do it again.