Rock 'n' Roll Madrid Marathon - Race Reviews

This was my 100th Marathon and being in beautiful Madrid made it even more special. Course, volunteers and spectators were fabulous. As a back of the packer having not trained, due to an injury, I knew of the time cut off but navigating the green line thru huge Madrid Traffic was not safe nor easy to find the finish line! But you covered so much of this beautiful city that it was all well worth it. Bravo! EPE

Great Marathon, just loved it.

Having visited the Expo on Friday I was pleasantly surprised as it was easy to find by subway, very well organised and not busy at all! The run itself was also very easy to find. It was busy at the start as to be expected but not any more than any other major race. Having read other reviews prior to running the marathon I was very apprehensive as there were numerous comments about how it was 'one of the toughest in Europe' with ' killer hills and heat' etc. Having raced in cross country races prior to Madrid to be honest I didn't really notice these unbearable mountains so don't be put off! As long as you are not a treadmill only runner you will be fine! Yes the sun was shining at it was 20 degrees but I still achieved a PB by 25 minutes and the enthusiastic crowds and beautiful surroundings made it extra special!

Nice marathon tour of Madrid passing all the major sights. Long, steady ascents and descents. Six kilometer uphill at the start and maybe 8-9 K climb at the end. Just a steady uphill: not killer hills but you know you are climbing. My thighs were sore for four days which is unusual. Portable toilets at various locations on the course were convenient and generally line-free but obviously the ones toward the end were at capacity. Plenty of aid stations, well-manned, with sufficient supplies. Good music from the bands - a mix of styles and English and Spanish language singers. Marathon and half marathon start together, but that was less chaotic than it sounds. Easy to get to the start (Madrid has excellent public transportation). No big crowds until near the end, but the weather may have been a factor - on and off rain (steady at the end) and temps in the 50s F (15 C?). Near hypothermia after finishing wet and the rain coming down. Provided with plastic sheeting at the finish but thermal blankets would have been much better. No directional signage for exiting the finish area. That was a big problem for non-Madrileños. Five minute line to get into expo on Friday. Very easy packet pick-up, decent expo. Easy to get to via Metro. I didn't go to the Pasta Meal. Madrid has plenty of places to eat including enough Italian places if you had to have pasta. But you're in Madrid - eat tapas!

This was a very fun race even though the weather in 2015 was terribly cold and wet. The course runs past several beautiful monuments and the entire city itself is gorgeous and clean. There is an uphill portion near the end of the course but it's pretty negligible and any one who complains about that is just looking to say something negative. The organization was pretty terrible. The expo was a mess with security and there were hardly any mile markers along the route. Also, there power gel stations were not in the spots as described on the course map. The fans are amazing. The Spaniards are friendly and incredibly animated. I loved running here and would recommend this race anytime.

This race has grown a lot since I ran it in 2010, numbers are up by around 40% and about 12,000 finished this year. The course has some new parts, in a bid to try and take out the hilliest parts of the city. The marathoners and HM´s start together and separate around the 16km mark, only about 20% do the HM. The start was chaotic, corral 1 and 2 were mixed so the 3.15 pace group and 3.45 were together, there was no one controlling the corrals. Fortunately the start of the race is in a wide road and doesn't take too long to get to your MP. The first 6km are all slowly uphill, then it´s nearly all downhill or flat till around the 25K mark. One of the changes this year was less kilometers in the casa de campo park, as crowd support was very low. However the new part involves a steep hill and the park isn't flat. By the time you arrive at the 25K mark you're at the lowest point in the city and have to climb 12K to get to the finish line, there are some very long, energy sapping hills that are very tough. Especially as the marathon is held in the last 2 weeks of April, no other major city in Southern Europe has their marathon this late in spring. Temps are around 10C-15C at the start and around 20C a few hours later. The last 12K doesn't have much shade either, sunglasses and sunblock are essential and a cap/visor highly recommended. The organisers have tried to remove the steepest hills, but have exchanged them for long inclines instead, making the last third of the marathon very difficult indeed. The last 10K of a marathon are always the toughest, so to make them even tougher by running uphill makes for one of the most difficult marathons in Europe. Crowd support has improved considerably since 2010, though still patchy in parts. The expo is about 4 times the size too. The live groups dotted around the course are good, but they only play Spanish rock music, no music in English and they are the only music you will hear in 42K. This is not a PR course, if you want a fast and flat course in Spain, head for Barcelona, or even better Valencia. It will be interesting to see if RNR change the course in the future, to make it flatter especially to attract more for foreign runners.

The course was great, combining a bit of everything and passing in front of most sights in beautiful Madrid. Descent into Placa Del Sol with the crowd cheering was an amazing feeling, even though the last 5-6 km were tough uphill climbs as we approached from the south. Be prepared for any kind of weather, this year the temperature dropped sharply as a cold front fell on the town giving us 5C (41F) in the morning and rising only up to 12C (53F) at noon (it even snowed lightly two days later!). The organization was kinda chaotic with huge lines in the expo on Saturday morning and also large crowds at the bag area at the start of the race. As Spanish cuisine has no large selection of pasta dishes we faced some queues in all Italian restaurants on the day before the race, so it might be wise to book a table ahead. It was lovely overall and I do recommend it.

Overall a good marathon but a little chaos when handing bags in ie long queues and not helped by the 10k and half marathon and full all starting at the same place. Crowd support was excellent and would have been great to have seen some fruit or other quick fix food at the drink tables escpecially the later part of the marathon when uphill. Otherwise the whole course was only drinks

Pros: Madrid is an elegant and beautiful city and the course is probably THE MOST comprehensively scenic urban marathon I've run (including other cities such as London, Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam, New York, Washington DC, Boston and Chicago) in terms of capturing the scenery, landmarks, not to mention being at the perfect, most colorful time of the year for springtime foliage, flowers, and weather. The Spaniards are friendly and supportive and the immaculately-clean city is easy to navigate re: hotels and spectator friends. CONS: 1) without a doubt, organization by Rock'n Roll sponsors/franchise is the WORST I have ever seen in 13 worlds marathons I've done in past 5 years including all the World Majors, with 2) Virtually no communication in any language leading up to the race, terrible instructions on race weekend, 3) No One seems to be in charge at the Expo with its long lines and no guidance, 4) near-riot conditions at the ridiculous Bag Drop-off (such that a thousand runners missed the start gun and their corrals while trapped in line for an hour while the bag check process dragged on! 5) the Finish line is total chaos with zero guidance, long lines for rock-hard, inedible Green bananas, no family area...and the dumbest, most disappointing aspect: 6) even with the scenic course, the last 5-6 miles are totally ALL UP-HILL right up to the finish line! (Not something you look forward to at the 20th mile.) **SHAME on the American Rock 'N Roll sponsor franchise; this lack of organization and horrific planning is downright amateurish and Madrid deserves better!

I like to do things out of the spur moment: Wanting to do two inaugural, international Rock N Roll series, I picked half marathon in Edinburgh follow by the marathon in Madrid (a week apart). Never did it occur to me to search the level of difficulty of the Madrid marathon. I was blown away by how the Spaniards do thingswith enthusiasm and mirth. Well organized,and thought through in making all runners finish the race with roller blade first-aid assistance. Thanks to the fans which surrounded the streets, I finish with a very best PR at 3:49. There was only one glitch: checkin stations were not at the start line but rather at the end. I highly recommend this marathon to all of those who do the RocknRoll series.

After reading posts from previous years I expected less then what I got! Although this was the 1st year Rock and Roll took over the Madrid marathon it was Much More then I expected from beginning to end, The course was challenging with a Never ending uphill to the end. It passed many historical places and neighborhoods, through parks, Water stops were efficient, well stocked with Bottled water and powerade and placed every 5k. The Spanish are serious runners with half the entries finishing at better then 4 hours, including my own 3:54 PR. The expo was large and friendly with welcome smiles and helpful volunteers for us foreigners! Many vendors with many unique products. Spectators along the course were many, loud and encouraging! The only complaint I heard was the gear check was at the finish which was 2k from the start. The weather was so nice I didn't need it.

Perfect organization and a perfect overall race.Nice shirt, great expo before race. The 10K course was a bit of a challenge due to the uphill and race ends at a slightly higher elevation than it started but I still managed to do a personal best.

Although not considered one of the best marathons in Europe, the Madrid marathon still has its appeal. On the 17th of April 2011, 10,600 runners completed the Madrid marathon. 16,000 runners actually started the race together, but 5,400 of the runners were competing in the 10k race which occurred simultaneously and branched off into a different direction at the 3.5 km point. The race started right beside the Plaza de Cibeles, cut through the heart of the city (Gran Via, Sol and the Palacio Royal), passed by two famous soccer stadiums (Santiago Bernabeu and Vicente Calderon), and criss-crossed through three separate parks (Parque del Oeste, Casa de Campo, and Parque del Retiro) until the finish line at Parque del Retiro. Madrid doesn't have too many sights, but the course seemed to pass the major ones. The course itself was quite hilly - most of it was slightly downhill except for two stretches of 6 km each that were relatively steep uphill climbs (at both the beginning and the end). Every few kilometers had a refreshment stop that provided water as well as Powerade. Due to the small number of runners and good organization of the race, there was always enough space for everyone to run. The number of spectators was a bit sparce, but those that cheered the runners were very animated. I quite enjoyed the marathon itself - I was very impressed that the race passed through the center of the city. Besides the finish line at the Parque del Retiro, running past the busiest tourist area of the town (Sol and Gran Via) was the highlight of the race. I was also impressed that 16,000 runners could start the race, separate at 3.5 km and not get in each others way. However, there were a couple downsides to the race. The first was the fact that the course was quite hilly, so it wasn't possible to achieve a personal best time due to the additional effort. Secondly, the city is in a dry plain 700 meters above sea level. These conditions made the race difficult for people not properly acclimated to the environment. Finally, I expected a lot more from the expo - there were about 15-20 booths total with only Adidas, Nike, PowerBar, and Powerade offering any products worth buying. Even the few booths featuring races were only limited to ones in Spain.

My wife and I ran this marathon last Sunday. It was a great marathon and a great city. There were plenty of drinks and plenty of hills. The weather was fantastic and the people were great.

Great race. Well organized, with a lot of runners (mostly from Spain), and a lot of spectators giving us strength - especially during the last, hilly kilometers. The first 5K are hilly, but after that, for the next 25, it's mostly downhill, where you gain time. Madrid is a beautiful city with a lot to see. I highly recommend this marathon. It also offers you a great opportunity to visit a lovely city. I will definitely be back.

Overall, it is a good marathon, especially for a country where marathon running isn't popular - a city of over 4 million has fewer than 11,000 marathon runners, and only 6% of them are women. I wasn't a fan of the course, as it is too twisty and hilly for my liking; it makes it very hard to pace yourself, as you don't know what is around the next corner. An incline? Is it flat? Or is it downhill? There are KM markers, but they could be easy to miss as they are not mounted on street lights. No energy gel or food are handed out. There is sports drink at nearly every aid station after the 10K mark. Crowd support is hit and miss - good in the center but non-existent once you leave downtown. You spend about 5K in the Casa De Campo, (Madrid's answer to Hyde/Central Park); the surface isn't great, and crowds are non-existent. There are very few barriers; this means that the crowds can sometimes run across runners, or push into runners, which is very annoying. The last 5K is all on an incline, with a very steep hill about 1K before the end. The website is woeful - no course profile (this is handed out at the rather small expo), no info about pace groups (they do exist), and no info about aid stations (at least every 5K). Weather-wise, April in Madrid is a lottery, this year was hot. At the start it was 13 C and at 12:30 it was about 23 C. Some years it could be 13C at the finish. A neat feature are the mist showers every 5K or so after about the 18K. There is no runners' re-unite area, so it makes it difficult to meet friends and family at the end. There is plenty of drinks and food at the end of the marathon, including alcohol-free beer.

The marathon was very well organized. The bib pickup and marathon fair were pretty standard. There is a free pasta party for the runner and 1 guest on the afternoon before the marathon. I had a difficult time pacing myself because the markers are only every 5 kilometers (up until KM 21) and there was only 1 time counter at either KM 19 or 20. The weather was very warm this year, about 80 at the 4 hour-mark. The track is easy for the first half, but between KM 35 and 40 it is mostly uphill. It is a nice course going through some of the best parts of the city, with many spectators along the entire route cheering on the runners.

I loved this marathon because I set a new PR. I have no idea how. :-) That was my 10th marathon, but one of the toughest (somehow I was able to run 4:22/KM average). It was too hilly and cold for me (at the start, it was 7 degrees, and it was 12 at the finish). My GPS watch showed 10.6 KM at the 10KM marker, and it showed 22KM at the race's 21KM marker. Then it showed 43.7 KM (!) at the finish. Great organization, anyway; for me, Madrid is the number one now. :-)

Challenging course (numerous hills and one long one at the very end). The weather was perfect (especially coming out of a Canadian winter) - not too hot, not too cool. The course passed through busy streets that were closed off, past beautiful landmarks, down small side streets and also on cobblestone roads (which were very slippy after the rain). As a woman runner, there was a lot of crowd support, as there are very few females in comparison to males running. Also, it was lots of fun traveling around Spain after the race. The expo was fairly small. One frustration was having to register through a tour operator because of being an international competitor - it wasn't straightforward. But the obstacles faced were worth it in the long run.

Brilliantly organized, even down to having our very own inline skaters following us from about 15K onward. You may not get to run up the Gran Via with Shaggy, Scooby or Batman, but you will have a huge blast of "Chariots of Fire," which will bring a lump to your throat and really enthusiastic Spanish crowds. If you are a woman wanting to do a marathon, make this your first. It was so easy to book, and Madrid is so easy to get to (whether by car, train, or plane). We stayed in the Augmar Hotel, which was 10 minutes from the start and finish. Even though I've said that I would never do another marathon, I would definitely consider doing this again. Shirley Emilio

The post-race website does not work properly. For example, I can't print a finisher's certificate or look at photos three days after the race. Good goody bags and end-of-race drinks, and our clothes were secure. The last kilometer is up a hard hill, and the balloon bridges are disconcerting, as I felt when I saw one that I was at the end when there were actually several bridges to go. The entry fee is high. I only saw one band on the route, but the course itself was nice - except for a construction site and the fact that there were no carpets over the cobblestones. It was nice to run with fewer people than in London. Maps before the day would have been nice. Overall, though, it was a good day, and I was happy with my time.

This was a great event. I am very thankful for the organization; the course was beautiful; and the spectators were extremely friendly. Unforgettable run! Thank you very much!!!

This was my first ever marathon and it was fantastic! This is a great way to see the city and running up Gran Via was a highlight of the run. The course wasn't too hilly; there was a long downhill at the 21K mark, and then, of course, the painful uphill at the end of the run. Being a woman running this race, I got lots of cheers. There were only 419 women out of some 7500 runners! So I got lots of extra support along the way. There are no toilets!! So ladies, be prepared to squat. If you have to go and can hold out until Casa de Campo, there are lots of trees to hide behind. The first aiders on roller blades were great. They were constantly going back and forth and you were never a minute or two away from one. There were lots of Vaseline stops and this wonderful freezing spray. I highly recommend this race.

Great race. This was my first marathon, and I read a lot about the hilly thing. And to tell the truth, it was really hilly, but I was prepared for it. Lots of drinks, and the view is the best. I love the Retiro Park and the Casa de Campo Park. I will do it again, but prepare for the hills. Just don`t think it is going to kill you. Include 2 or 3 long runs, with some elevated running in your plan - and that`s it.

This was my 2nd marathon, so I can't speak with much authority. My wife and I found the course to be challenging but not as bad as others described. Upon arriving in Madrid, I saw an article headline in the paper reading, "Bienviendo al peor maraton del mundo." I thought they might be referring to the organization, but as I read the article, I realized it was the course and the heat that make this marathon so difficult. Apparently there were some course adjustments this year, because we didn't find the course particularly brutal, and there was a course record set this year. Having said that, the final 4 KM were rather painful and we had cloud cover for most of the day. Had it been 5 degrees warmer and sunny, things would have been much worse. Since we had to walk out of the city the next day with our backpacks, we walked portions of the final 4 KM climb. Be aware that there were no gel packs given and the only bathrooms were at the half point (that I saw). There were plenty of trees along the course that were well fertilized! As others state, the Spanish fans were outstanding, and as there were few female runners (compared to American races) my wife was constantly encouraged with, "Anima chica!" Through a narrow section of street, a fan living in the flat above had opened the windows and was blasting the theme from "Chariots of Fire." The music bouncing off the building walls was as refreshing as the full bottle of PowerAde given to me at one of the hydration stations. In short, it is an incredible tour of the city. Buen hecho, madrileños.

This race is amazingly well-organized. This year- which I didn't read about in previous posts- had guys on rollerblades who would spray you with sunscreen while you were running if you flagged them down. I don't remember most of the race due to the fact that I was looking at the ground most of the time because it felt like I was running up-hill the entire race. There are spectators everywhere and they encourage you with "VAMOS" the entire time. It was a great race to run, but kilometers 38-41 are absolutely killer. Come prepared or you are toast.

Some mixed comments about the hills here, with most people saying it's hilly. My take is that the whole course I felt like I was either going gradually up or down. Difficult to get into a rhythm and run a consistent pace. I felt great the last 10km (running 4:10-4:00 / km) but that didn't stop me from feeling like the includes from 30-40km will never end. The downhill I was waiting for was right at the end. My first time in Madrid, having been in Sevilla and Barcelona in 1999 as a comparison. Was very pleasantly surprised with Madrid. It's not the modern metropolis I was expecting. Great outdoor life. Beautiful weather. It's on my list to do again. I think it was not difficult to find the marathon expo on Saturday. I used my free tourist map and had no problem. The free pasta was greatly appreciated. The city is wonderful, but I think the course only gave a blink of the best parts in the center. More of the course should be in the center. The max 14,000 runners the organizers wisely keep it at would allow this to occur. Second negative is that I don't think the fans were as great as everyone makes them sound. I had no moments of a roaring crowd that gave me 'goose bumps', which I can say I've had when doing Berlin and Paris. The fans of Boston, Chicago, and Berlin are better then in Madrid. Madrid is spectator-friendly with several locations near metro stops. Despite these things, I want to run it again, but as much because of the city as anything else. Madrid is growing and dynamic, while Barcelona and Sevilla have not changed since 1999.

My only previous marathons were 10 years ago, and having read reviews on here, I approached this one with some trepidation over the heat and hills. For the latter, I do not recall anything daunting, whilst the abundant supply of water and energy drinks help cope with the warm weather (about 15C to 22C). The spectators were just great and noisy, and I am sure what they were shouting was positive encouragement. Only downside for me was trying to find the expo on Saturday - the instructions supplied were poor and this part of Spain is not too strong with English. With my knowledge of Spanish limited to pointing, it took some tramping around to find it. Overall I really enjoyed the Madrid marathon despite the last 5 k taking for what seemed like an age due to my little old legs complaining of fatigue. got a PB and a bit of a tan in the process.

Nice course but quite hilly, and the temperatures were quite high, but as this is run at the end of April, that is it to be expected. Well organized and lots of water stations. Good support throughout, especially as you run through the "Puerta del Sol" right in the center of the city. Also nice flyover by jets at the start which was a nice touch. Goody bag was a bit poor with really just a running vest and keyring and a few magazines. Nice medal, which comes with a little stand, rather than the usual round-the-neck routine. Overall, a very nice city and a tough but satisfying marathon.

It was a very hilly course, it was hot, and spectators lined the course, which was awesome. They were yelling, "Guago or Wago," - "Looking good or good looking," which just made you give it that little extra effort. Wonderful organization, from expo to pasta dinner to finish line. The cold watermelon just hit the spot after the race. Thanks MADRID!

Madrid's a great place to visit, but not to run a marathon! Having said that,the race is well organized and well supported, with a nice finish in the Retiro Park. Just don't expect a PB!

Tough trip around Madrid, some nice sights on the way, and only a few dull spots on the course. The reviews all said, "Hot and hilly" - and they were not lying. But there were plenty of water and hydration stops, and we received attentive care, with spray and extra Vaseline at various points. It was a bit confusing getting about at the expo, and the finish was tricky for me, as a non-Spanish speaker, but that's my problem, and not the course organizers'. Spectators lined the course from start to finish and cheered everyone on. If only I knew what they were saying!

Madrid is hot city and hilly too - no way to escape from it. The organization is by far the best I've known so far. Very nice, noisy pasta party, and they offered to let us take some pasta away from the dinner. There was a very good runner bag and a great expo. The course is hilly but the support of the spectators is AMAZING! They never stop pushing for each marathoner - they yell and cheer. Unbelievable!!! No lack of water or health care during the entire race course. I´ll be there in 2008!!!

Excellent race, good course and pleasant atmosphere. I saw plenty of the architecture and the city which is strikingly clean and green. The course does have hills but from reading prior reviews I'd expected mountains! Best tactic would to run an easy first half and be prepared for the later hills just prior to 21km, the final 10km and gathering heat. Water stations are good and plentiful. Good shade due to high buildings and trees. Lack of loos on the course may be off putting for female competitors. Actually not enough female competitors and surprisingly few international runners. Good laugh at the start when the 3hr.30 pace balloon floated away and everyone sighed also the guy next to me who kept shouting out for 'Pedro' and 'Jose'! Web-site needs major improvements. Stay on and party for a few days. Thanks Madrid!!!

This was my first marathon and, after training through a cold, wet, windy Scottish winter, was looking forward to running, but, after reading previous reports of the heat, with some trepidation. The day turned out be be a real buzz and I'm still on a high from it. My regimen got me through to the end just four minutes off my training time. Armed with my own electrolyte drink and energy gels and topped up with the regular bottled water and course energy drinks I got to the end relatively unscathed. The Spanish competitors and spectators made it a noisy and colorful affair, with both sets constantly shouting back and forth, and all the while I was concentrating on breathing in the hot air. Perhaps it is because it was my first marathon I had a great time and found the course hilly but enjoyable. I am a bit disappointed about the comments from the previous correspondent about loos, etc., feeling that he might be looking for an over-sanitized race. The "get on with it" spirit was great throughout the field. I have nothing to judge this race aginst but had a great trip to Madrid and would recommend it - train for hills and load up with food and water throughout the race for the heat. Back to cold Scottish/British races until I can get away again.

What a GREAT marathon! This was only my second marathon and I was running together with my husband. Despite the challenging course we both got a PB (by 10 minutes as targeted). The hills made this race certainly interesting but the nice thing was that after a climb there was always a decline.... The course was very versatile: modern parts of the city, old town, major sites, residential areas and, of course, the excellent finish in the relaxing Retiro Park - what a great place to do your stretches and refuel after the race! The crowd was the best I have ever experienced. Of course it helped to be one of only a few women (450 out of 8200 finishers) - and with all the cheers I got I felt like a superstar! There were plenty of water stops and medical facilities on the way, but a lack of porta-loos (probably because the majority of runners were men...). An amazing goodie bag before the race and a great refueling bag afterwards - there were even fresh watermelons and beer available (I stuck to the watermelons...). My only criticism is the lack of pre-race information (exact location where to pick up your race number etc.). To sum it up: what a memorable day in a beautiful city, and I would certainly recommend this marathon! A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make this event so spectacular!

Love Spain, love Madrid, but honestly this is a mediocre event. Communication on the website regarding packet pick-up could be much clearer (i.e. give an addess, metro stop, etc.). There was a serious lack of porta-potties on the route. Make sure you bring your own food, as there was none on the course. The water stops were plentiful. Madrid is a beautiful city with lots of great architecture, but the marathon course seems to avoid all this. All in all, it was just an "ok" run. This could be a significantly more interesting run, but it failed. I'm looking forward to running Barcelona next year.