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☰
Rotterdam Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Rotterdam Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 68 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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A. N. from Rockville, MD USA
(4/10/2019)
"Big Al's Comment" (about: 2019)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was by far one of the best and most organized marathons I have ever run and I've done 74 of them. The course is flat like pancake and the energy from the spectators is unbelievable. Plenty of water and energy drinks on the course but no sign of Gue or Gel. I highly recommend this race, especially if you wish to do an international marathon | |
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S. L. from Munich
(4/13/2018)
"Organisation is poor, beginners think twice" (about: 2018)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I have to say I have high expectation to this marathon, yet higher expectation means higher disappointment. There are a few things that non-local runners should be aware of: 1) Bag drop service is NOT free and has to pre-register. Maybe it's only me who got it wrong. I have never been to any sizeable marathon that runners have to pay for bag drop. They did have that extra option comes with changing facility when registered, but I got a wrong impression that it is only applicable if you use the changing facility. When I realised, it is already too late to add the option. Anyway it is very inconvenient for me as a non-local. I had to walk for a while (without sunlight) to take tram back to hotel with only my short sleeves shirt. And because of that I caught a cold and still not recovered when I am typing this piece of comment. 2) Drinking stations obviously not enough. They have one station for every 5km, which I think is insufficient, especially under a temp. of 20c in the mid day. 3) No food provided. I just wonder how come the organiser not even provide bananas or chocolates in the station. Obviously this is just an easy thing to do. As a result of 2) and 3), if you do not have local supporters to supply you with extra water and food, it's gonna be a tough race. I believe nearly all good comments are contributed from the cheering crowds but I would say the organization has to definitely improve otherwise it will not attract international runners. Anyway this race does not make me want to it again. | |
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B. J. from Ljubljana
(4/15/2017)
"Fast and lively marathon" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ran Rotterdam marathon in 2017. Approx. 15 thousand participants in the marathon and many of them are quite fast, so either you are shooting for sub 2:30 or for over 5h marathon, you will have lots of company. The course is in the shape of number 8 with a couple of sections repeating. It is almost completely flat, except when crossing the bridge at km 1 and then back again at km 27. But the climb is almost not worth of mentioning. Very fast and also crowded with spectators, who are quite loud and awesome. Weather in 2017 was quite hot (23C) and very sunny, which bothered me a bit, but it influenced very little on my finishing time. In the days before and after the marathon, weather was much more favorable (approx. 13C), which is also the average temperature in Rotterdam at the beginning of April. Organization was excellent, expo quite big, which made the whole experience even better. I absolutely recommend running the Rotterdam marathon, it is not considered a major marathon, but still has everythig on the same level or even better as the major European marathons do. | |
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R. W. from London, England
(4/12/2016)
"Repeating what everyone already knows...it's great" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I did the 2016 marathon for the first time and as others have noted here, its a phenomenal experience. My third best time-but my favorite race. The crowd support throughout the entire race is the best I've ever seen, and I dont know how it could get better. A lot of this is owed to the fact that the marathon organizers put out a handy guide for spectators showing which public transport stops matched to areas of the course. The result was that youd run past the same people over and over again as you ran. Id hit sections of the race and there would suddenly be a throng of cheering screaming people four rows deep and a quarter mile long. Even where the spectators thinned out the support was great. Water stops were insanely long, which prevented everyone bunching up to get a drink. There were countless volunteers making sure that everyone got what they needed in stride. Finally, the app that the marathon organizers used really kept my family informed of where I was on the course and how I was doing. Much (much!) better than any I've seen before. The ONLY negative experience for me was my own fault. When you sign up for this race and they ask if you are going to use their changing rooms ; they are not referring to a warm shower and some privacy. This is where the bag drop is. I thought I could do without a place to change after the race so passed on this option. I was a little alarmed that I therefore had no place to store my bag while I ran (my family showed up later). It seems a little cheap to charge for what is essentially a minimally manned big-top tent-but this was literally the only thing Id do different if I ran the race again. Great course, great fans, great time! | |
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N. H. from Rotterdam, The Netherlands
(6/8/2015)
"Amazing spectators helped me get through it" (about: 2015)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my first marathon ever. I chose this one as my first because I only need to walk 10 minutes from my house to the start line. Super handy. I didn't expect much from the course, the organization, and the spectators. I just wanna cross the finish line and boy I didn't realize that it was gonna be that hard. If it were not because of the spectators that were tirelessly chanting and calling your name, gave you their own drinks when you need it and when there were no drink stations in sight, helped you when you barely can run, probably I would not have finished the race. | |
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C. P. from Belgium
(4/15/2015)
"Flat, fun and an amazing crowd" (about: 2015)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This race has some nice highlights, running over the Erasmusbridge and under the cubehouse is great fun. This is known as a fast race but due to an injury I ran my slowest race ever. I was not planning to run the race entirely but the crowd gave me the energy and focus to finish. Water, energy drinks and sponges were plenty, only downside was that there were no bananas/oranges or other edibles. The crowd in Rotterdam is amazing (close to 1 million) great experience. | |
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S. P. from Voorburg Netherlands
(4/14/2015)
"Great Crowds - decent organization" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I signed up for Rotterdam hoping to break a PB and to take advantage of a flat course close to my new home. Pre-race organization was ok, race expo was decent, no lines or waiting for anything with easy access from Metro. I signed up for the bag drop but its location wasn't shown online ahead of time and it was hidden down a side street so it was a little scramble on race day. Subways were full and slightly delayed on race morning - so give yourself some extra time (add 10 minutes to expected transit time) Race corrals were well organized and policed. Even though the first few km were crowded, everyone was at roughly the same pace so the usual scramble to get settled in and get past the slow starters did not materialize. Course was good but some sections were tight for the crowd of people, particularly around km 8-12 which was on a wide bike path. I often had to take to the grass to get by people. Time clocks were available every 10 km and crowds were great all the way around - even in more remote sections. There were around 15-20 DJs, bands or drummers on course. I asked organizers ahead of time if gels would be provided on course and the answer was no. But then during the race they had AA gels at around km 37 and 40. Otherwise aid stations were well set up, and I had no issues getting water or AA drink - even at the first stations. Finish line was great - wide open and uncrowded. But all they gave was water, a small AA bottle to drink and a banana. That's all which was pretty disappointing. There are no change facilities after the finish but some dudes still stripped in public to change. Thankfully, there were tons of restaurants and fast food places nearby. | |
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Z. R. from Jordan
(4/13/2015)
"Rotterdam Marathon" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The city is a relaxing type of city and is beautiful. People are very nice and the city is very clean (until after the marathon) Race would have been among the best except for the narrow course. There marketing pitch is 'You never run alone' and that is literally true. If you want to go a little faster than the crowd around you, you will be zigzagging a lot, which is counter productive and wasteful. I bumped into about 5 or 6 runners and saw one runner fall to the ground and almost fell over him. They need to have wider roads for the course or maybe add two more waves. Crowds all over and were amazing, truly a marathon city at heart. Organization was great but I took one star away because my wave had no room left in it and I had to wait for them to move (turned out not to be a big deal) and also I am blaming the organization for having such narrow course. I trust that the key problem will be resolved in future years, so I would recommend this marathon to others (but don't run if the course is the same or the waves are not increased from 3 to 5 for 12,000 runners, that is in addition to the A,B,C categories for the super fast runners. | |
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K. S. from Glasgow
(8/14/2014)
"Good" (about: 2014)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Was very well organised. The crowed was great. There were plenty of supporters cheering on us slow pokes. You could hear the roar of the crowd approaching the finish line, even 3 hours after the winner was done. (I took 5 hours, 15 mins). | |
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G. B. from Johannesburg, South Africa
(5/1/2013)
"What an awesome crowd!" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rotterdam Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 After running Paris the week before, I was truly blown away by the support of the crowds. The only time I have seen better support is at the Comrades marathon. I managed to achieve my first sub 4, as the crowds pushed me along. What an awesome race. |
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