This was my 14th marathon. The course in Budapest is undoubtedly fast, but there were a lot of out and back sections and swinging around at a traffic cone does disrupt your rhythm. It is a nice course though, passing many of the fine buildlings and running along the Danube for the most part.

The expo was a little bit chaotic. There's loads of staff, but it seems a little bit disorganised. There's really nothing in the way of gear, it's pretty much just a number pick-up and pasta party. The free pasta party is a nice touch.

There are plenty of water/Powerade stations, but even though I was at a decent pace with little congestion, the water stations were still busy. A lot of them only have drink stations one side of the road. It's cups only, so it made for some messy grabbing and dropping at times.

It's very convenient having the race centre, start and finish all beside each other. Great for spectators. The additional races are a nice addition, but there were a lot of 30k runners that had very obviously started far too early, leading to lots of near collisions and congestion for a few miles. It's a small enough complaint, but the route is pretty narrow up and down the river, one lane of road each direction, so the 30k start should be more strictly governed.

I was delighted with my own race, ran a PB of 10 seconds, and enjoyed the whole weekend. Budapest really is a beautiful city, and has a very fast marathon course. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fast time.

My first Marathon experience, I specifically looked for a flat course and mild weather and it was exactly that. Fans were great, and the organization seemed to work very well. I, on the other hand was not well prepared. I finished in 4hr49mins, but it was a great experience.

If you are looking for a slightly-off-the-beaten path marathon in Europe, this is a good one to consider. Course is very flat and primarily runs along the Danube (both sides of the river). Crowd support was a bit sparse this year due to the rain, but those who appeared were quite supportive. Adequate water and energy drink stops, and good KM markings. Expo is very rudimentary, but this was not a concern for me. In summary, a nice little marathon and worth checking out.

The previous comments about the course being a bit repetitive are spot on, but you cannot deny how flat and fast this course is. Personally I didn't mind running along the orange cones and turning round a pole and then back along the orange cones. I felt like I was running an olympic marathon! If you are looking for a well organized race where you can improve your PB, then consider Budapest.

Crowd support is limited (although it was pouring with rain this year). Number collection before the race is easy, but there's nothing at the expo worth looking at, so you can easily make this a 15-minute visit.

The following could be improved: 1) drinks are served in cups (including PowerAde), though bottles would be better. 2) the porta-loos at the start are really basic and don't even have running water - a bit of a health hazard.

I will run this again, but only once I've exhausted my international calendar. It wasn't so great that I want to rush back next year, but I would recommend it as a good quality run.

While I enjoyed my time in Budapest, the course was a disappointment - there were many long stretches along the Danube with little to break the monotony, though I did enjoy the sections in the city. The free use of the Szecheni Baths was an enjoyable bonus. If I sound negative, I don't mean to; and I'm quite prepared to come back for 2010.

A nice, well-run event from my point of view. Nice, sunny morning - probably a bit hot for many PB's. I noticed from the results that most people slowed significantly in the second half, as temps rose. It's not a well supported race - there aren't so many spectators. Budapest seems a little indifferent about the race. It's a great city to visit, but the expo is not well supported by vendors - a big opportunity missed. I thought that the course, drink stations, and start/finish area were fine. It's got a nice start in Heroes Square and down Andrassy.

Perfect weather and a flat layout made for a pleasant run. Last kilometer through the park needs repaving, but the rest of the course was smooth, although a bit repetitive. Spectators were thinly spread and mostly subdued. I really liked the size of the field, with just enough competitors to pace you without making it crowded. Support stations were well-manned and stocked with refreshment and fruit. Finish line support was great.

The Budapest Marathon is a funny race, with a good and very friendly organization. What about the race? Weather was good but very windy, and the race wasn't easy, with a long back-and-forth along the side of the Danube and several bridges to cross. We found many support stations with lovely people (many cheers from them). To conclude: it's a nice race to run if you aren't looking to set a personal record.

Budapest is a great city with plenty to offer on a marathon weekend. The course is generally flat, with some slopes/ramps near the bridges to break up the monotony, but great views along the river (which can be breezy)! The only negative for me was the long loop towards the industrial area, which goes on forever! People were great, with lots of music/buskers. Baths afterward were heaven. Allow plenty of time to check in your kit, as it was a bit disorganized. All in all, a good experience.

This was my first Budapest marathon and I had read other comments about it before entering. I do agree that the course is repetitive; felt as though I had run past the parliament building 10 times! The organization was poor in places, e.g., confusion about the start time, ahd lack of organization in the start area, but positive points for me were the friendly and helpful staff, great goody bag afterward, and the thermal bath included in the entry fee. I missed the free massage, though, which was a shame.

Budapest is a great city to visit and I enjoyed running along the river (the first time anyway!) and Margaret Island was lovely, but if you like variety along the way, it may not tick that box.

The weather was perfect for running, though, and the breeze along the river was quite welcome for the long stretches with no shade. Water stations were frequent and well run, although water is in cups, so it helped to have a running bottle to decant water into to sip it as I ran (rather than gulp it at the water stations).