Reykjavik Marathon - Race Reviews

This marathon is small-less than 3000 runners, and it covers some quiet areas through the town, along the water, in some parks, and in neighborhood streets. It's not boring though-there are spots in the neighborhoods and parks where families are cheering, some have pieces of fruit for the runners. Along the water, it was slightly windy, and I wish I had dressed better for the weather. My one compliant is that the start was confusing and slightly unorganized. The half marathon and full start together, and the start line is on the road. Instead of putting the half runners on one side and the full on the other, it was just a mix, and I spent time weaving around people. Otherwise, a very memorable race, which was followed by their 'culture night' with some restaurants cooking on the street, live music, fireworks, etc.

Nice views, people - organizers and volunteers are very responsive. Course was flat, air is fresh and pure. Hidratación was very good and plenty of water and Powerade. It looks like the Icelanders love this event as part of their festivals.

The Reykjavík Marathon has been going for years with the first edition taking place in 1984. This was the 33rd edition of the race, as a result of which, it has an established feel and is very well organised. Runners come from all over the world, possibly be due to Iceland situation mid-way between Europe and North America. Aside from the marathon, there is a half marathon, a 10km run, 3km fun run and a children's marathon. This meant that in excess of 15,000 runners took to the streets of Iceland's capital with the numbers participating growing every year. The weather both ahead of the event and for race day itself was perfect. Temperatures were in the mid-teens (14ÚC / 57F) and crucially, it was dry and settled with light winds. My concern ahead of coming to Reykjavik would be a combination of wind and rain due to Reykjavík being very exposed on the south western tip of Iceland. Thankfully these fears were not realised. The Expo Registration takes place at the Laugardalshçll Sports Centre, which is on the outskirts of the city. The staff were really friendly and helpful. One area of the sports hall had been set aside for the registration whereas the other half was full of exhibitors, including other global marathons. The course is lovely. It is very flat, with the exception of a couple of small undulations, taking place mainly around the harbour with a couple of sections crossing back through the city centre. The half marathon and marathon routes were essentially the same until around the 12 mile mark (19 20km) upon which the routes were separated. There was a distinct difference thereafter with far fewer runners competing in the marathon. Given this, there is every chance to achieve a personal best (PB) time, particularly if running conditions are favourable, as they were this year. Crowds around the course were a bit patchy. The crowds who were evident though were noisy and very supportive. This was particularly true in the final few miles approaching the finish area, which is very much in the city centre on LÕkjargata. The finisher's medal is very nice and appears to be the same each year, which makes for a nice tradition. Meanwhile, baggage collection is close to hand inside the Menntaskylinn building. Reykjavík is one of the marathons that I have enjoyed the most to date. The reason for this is two-fold. The picturesque waterfront course combined with the attitude of the Icelanders. They really embrace the competitors and put on a terrific mid-sized event. This is very much a destination marathon and one that should be on all marathon runner' lists. It is one marathon that I would plan to run again, which says it all. If you get the chance, be sure to allow time following the race to explore the country beyond Reykjavík because Iceland is a beautiful country with lots to see and do.

I enjoyed the marathon but am hesitant to recommend it as a destination marathon. It's great if you're already planning to visit the country, but the race itself was just ok. I would've enjoyed more running through the (compact) downtown area. The long stretches along the water were ok, and so were the small stretches in the park, but some of the bigger streets felt more like a highway. After the half marathoners peeled off, there wasn't much crowd support left on the course. Areas for improvement: -they need more water stations (each 5K isn't enough) -the post-race area was disappointing (a small grass area with water and powerade, no real food). At the very least, they should give out bottles of water and bananas. -it'd be nice if they printed names on the bibs so that people can cheer for you (bring a sharpee to mark your bib or jersey); also, the bibs should have an Icelandic backdrop instead of being plain -t-shirts and medal ribbon colors should be different for the marathon vs the half -more age group awards (instead of one deep) would be great Pros: -the crowd (though relatively small compared to others) was enthusiastic -the race was well-organized logistically (started on time, spacious corrals), though the bib pickup (at the expo and on the same day) was slightly chaotic -there is a bag check with a few people watching over it (this wasn't entirely clear from the pre-race info that was posted) -they did a good job of stopping all incoming traffic (it's not a completely closed course, but I didn't have to stop a single time for a car) -they include a pass for a public pool that's valid on race day or the following day -their Culture Day (with live music) is later in the afternoon and at night, so that's a great way to enjoy the rest of the day

Highly recommend this as a destination marathon - make a vacation out of it and spend some time in this remarkable country before/after the race. The race kicks off festivities for Culture Night, which is a great time to be in Reykjavik. Race itself was well-organized. Expo was bigger than expected, though still small - I was able to get my bib in a matter of minutes. The course is not exactly hilly but not flat - some mild hills in the middle part. If you need a huge race with lots of spectators, this might not be the one for you. Spectators were sparse at points, but the ones out there were very enthusiastic (loved the guy playing the sax, the band playing The Talking Heads, and the guy in the abominable snowman costume). My only complaint is that they could use more water stations, and post-race food was pretty bad: a dense pretzel I couldn't even swallow, and a small cup of Powerade.

Iceland is an awesome country of amazing beauty. Tourism is booming with over 1 million visitors to a country of 300,000 people. If that isn't a reason to visit than the marathon is. It is a friendly marathon with people coming out of their houses to cheer, bang pots and play musical instruments. The course is interesting as it loops around the peninsula and goes along both coasts. There are some hills but no HILLS!!! Water stations are every 5k but they favor bananas and Mars bars to gels so if you are gelanista, bring your own. Weather is perfect for running (12 degrees and overcast) especially if you have trained in summer heat. Limited after race food but you end in downtown close to everything including beer. It is held on the Saturday of their Cultural night (like independence day) and the city starts to really vibrate. A bonus is free access to the outdoor pools which are awesome with cold (5 degree) and hot (up to 44 degree) water. My recovery has never been better. Highly recommended. Iceland is a very expensive country so be prepared, but take advantage of seeing this beautiful country. Well worth it.

Reykjavik Marathon Reykjavik, Iceland Saturday, August 24, 2013 8:40 AM I left for Reykjavik, via JFK Airport, on Wednesday, 21 August. The flight arrived at Reykjavik around 9 AM on Thursday. I was with Boston-based Marathon Tours and Travels, which provided the transportation to Plaza Hotel in the City Center, where I stayed for four nights. A nice hotel within short walking distance to start/finish lines of the marathon as well as nearby restaurants and shops. On Friday, we enjoyed a daylong south shore excursion that included Eyjafjallajokull - the volcano that erupted in 2010 and adversely affected air travel for few weeks; Seljalandsfoss - a waterfall dropping 130 feel into a shallow pool with space to walk behind it; the tiny village of Skogar; Skogafoss waterfall that drops 200 feet into the river Skogaa; Vik - Icelands most southerly village; and the black-sanded Reynisfjara beach. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the sport stadium to pick up the race packet which included the bib number, timing chip, short-sleeved technical shirt, and a water bottle. We did not stay for the pre-race pasta dinner which was included in race entry. This was the 30th edition of the marathon. There were 14,000 who had signed up for the marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 10K, and 3K fun run. Temperature was in low 50s. On and off light rain throughout the day. A bit breezy. In short, we enjoyed a nice running weather. The course was scenic. I wouldnt describe it as hilly but it was not flat either. Traffic control was good. Water/sports drink stations were located at approximately every five kilometers. There were pace groups. There were a few bands and musicians on the course. We ran the first 10 miles with the half marathoners. There were some recovery drink and food items at the finish area. The finishers medallion was nice. In short, it was a well-organized running event. There were 626 male and 225 female marathon finishers; the winning times were 2:33:49 (male) and 2:55:14 (female). There were 1137 male and 967 female half marathon finishers; the winning times were 1:07:40 (male) and 1:22:57 (female). There were 2157 male and 3085 female 10K finishers; the winning times were 31:50 (male) and 38:37 (female). On Sunday, we enjoyed the daylong Golden Circle tour of the Icelandic countryside. We visited the Pingvellir National Park where the tectonic plates between America and Europe meet and are slowly drifting apart; the Gullfoss waterfall; and the spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur. The tour ended by relaxing in the geothermal hot springs of the Blue Lagoon. This was my 99th marathon, liked it a lot,and highly recommend it as a destination marathon.

I should start by saying that it's going to be really hard for me to give this race anything but five stars because I liked Iceland itself so much. Was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, and it seemed like everybody in Iceland knew about and supported the marathon. Also, I'm a fan of smaller, friendly, non-bureaucratic races, so Raykjavik really won me over. Overall, I liked this race, along with the trip to Iceland, enough that I'm thinking of doing it again next year. As for the course, it was probably the most beautiful of any of the 7 marathons I've fun. Most of it went along the ocean and it also went through Reykjavik. A lot of the course at times followed bike/walking trails (some that weren't asphalt/concrete) that went along the edge of the sea. Really something. The course was also fairly flat, which is nice if you want to get a PR. The temperature was also perfect. The average high in Reykjavik in August is 58 degrees (15 C). This year, it was a sunny and unseasonably warm 62 degrees. I don't think you could find any marathon in the U.S. with avg temperatures much under 85 in Aug, so this makes Reykjavik a great option if you're looking for fast August marathon. Race organization was also generally good and, like I said, felt friendly and non-bureaucratic. Could have been one or two more water stops, but it really wasn't that big of a deal. The expo was great, though it took a bus ride to get there from the city. Have to say that I wasn't a big fan of the pasta dinner at the expo the night before the race, so you might want to plan to skip that in favor of a restaurant in Reykjavik. The crowds weren't huge (not talking NY-marathon-type crowds), but I always think the size of crowds is a little overrated as a factor in choosing a marathon, especially if you've already run more than a few marathons. This said, the spectators were very enthusiastic and there was lots of music along the course.

I don't usually post, but disagree with comments below. While overall a positive experience, the Reykjavik Marathon was my least favorite of 7 marathons I have run, including 4 European ones. Of course, I expected turnout to be small, but there was such limited crowd support, it seemed like no one in the country knew there was a race going on. Iceland has amazing scenery I got to see during the rest of the trip but a majority of the course seemed to be alongside highways and uninteresting neighborhoods. It was also difficult to find the expo, apparently because there are a few places with a similar name, and our cab driver and hotel did not know the correct location Positives - the volunteers were incredibly kind and friendly, and the medal is awesome. Organization and drink stations also well done.

Pleasant course with some very scenic parts along the sea, around the old town area and in parks. There were around 800 marathoners, 2,000 half marathoners and over 5,000 10K'ers. Not many spectators outside of the start/finish area and a few neighborhoods, but that was fine with me as the site itself was inspiration enough. I agree that another water station and port-a-pot area would be useful. I also wish that they had a shuttle from the old town hotels to the registration pickup. The post race food was just OK, but the Cultural Day celebrations which included street musicians, food vendors, shopping, and a final fireworks display at night were very nice. We also stayed an extra week+ to tour this fascinating country.

LOVED the FULL Marathon this year in Reyjavik. Only about 650 in Full and over 2000 in 10km. Half over 1000. Course lovely and scenic but if you are out over 4:30 it can get lonely and markers are few and far between and same with portapotties and water tables. Like a race is not going on. Expo is just a number pick up basically. Beautiful country, lots to do afterwards and at the festival, great great destination marathon. Oh yes, there are a couple of good hilly parts.

As others have said, this is a perfect marathon to combine with a holiday. Lots to do in Iceland and Reykjavik is a cute place for relaxing. The marathon course was mostly waterside and pretty. I would have liked more aid stations but the weather was unusually warm this year. The festival in the afternoon and evening was fantastic, even though it meant lots of walking between the venues. The waffles being sold from the cart in the flea market area were great recovery food.

This is a great medium sized race in a great city in a great country. The Expo was well done and in close proximity to our hotel and bus lines. The course itself was relatively flat but very scenic on Reykjaviks streets and bike paths. Needed more water and portapotties, but overall well done on the same day as the national cultural day with concerts and fireworks. Would definitely do again!!! :)

I'm doing this marathon for the second time and it is going to be a yearly event for me, as is the Firenze marathon. The support from the people in Reykjavik is worth the 42km. I meet only smiling people. And the surroundings is something very special. Thank you Reykjavik. 'Organization' would be 5 if there had been some more refreshments in the finishing area.

Overall, well worth doing at least once: very scenic and not crowded. I did the Reykjavik Half (run at the same time on the same course) last year, which splits off at Mile 12. The difference with the full was that the latter was fairly hilly between Miles 12 and 17 and there was a small off-road stretch around Mile 13. There was a fair amount of running on a bikepath, where it got crowded and difficult to pass between Miles 8 and 10. There was also some on-road running with car traffic, especially later in the race, although this was generally well-handled. Great race weather, although the wind by the ocean segment at Mile 22 or so was overpowering. Good support levels from individual Icelanders, but not big crowds, except at the finish. The end funnel was well organized, and had very nice people. The expo had about six or seven exhibitors and the volunteers there were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The field consisted of about 10,000 (565 finished the marathon, about 1,400 in the half, and the remainder in the 10K and other shorter races). Overall, about 1,000 from outside Iceland ran, including myself. As far as race energy food goes, the jelly beans were of no help whatsoever, but as usual, "GU" was - although the punch in the stomach is always horrendous. I've been told you have to take it solely with water, otherwise the gut punch will happen every time.

Most of the race is around the Reykjavik coastline, which makes for some stunning scenery. It's a fairly low-key event (about 560 marathon runners) but it's well organized. My only criticism is that the people of Reykjavik don't really come out and support the event in any numbers.

It was my first full marathon and a good choice. The course wasn't too difficult and relatively flat. There were mountains, but only to look at in the distance. What I really liked was that the marathon is small but really international. I did chat a lot with fellow runners from Ireland, Scotland, the US and Germany. Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, so it is a perfect marathon to combine with a holiday.

After running two NYC ING Marathons, I was ready for something completely different, and Reykjavik was the perfect choice. It had a relatively easy course with beautiful scenery. I definitely could have used a couple more bathrooms along the way, and some refreshments at the end would have been nice, but overall it was a wonderful experience. I also must thank Peter Roseman, from Stamford, CT, for keeping my spirits up during the last half of the race!

This is a great marathon if you are looking for a no-frills marathon in an exotic location. The course is the highlight, as some of the views are spectacular. The organization could use some improvement; water stops were a bit under-prepared and there were sparse refreshments at the end of the race. If you like a race with strong spectator support, then this is not the race for you; however, the few fans who support the runners are enthusiastic. The weather is ideal and the course is flat, so the run itself is really enjoyable. I would definitely consider running this race again, as Iceland has so much to offer. And a special thanks to Melissa from NYC for running with me for the last 13.2 miles!!!

I ran this marathon this year. The course was well marked and the route through Reykjavik, and the ocean scenery, make it one of my favorite marathon experiences. The race organization was good. The crowd support along the course was limited but enthusiastic. It is a good choice if you are looking for an international marathon in an exotic location.

My second go at this marathon. Good excuse for a holiday amidst the dramatic volcanic landscape of Iceland. Also, Culture Night is on the same day, which is a fun time. We hit poor weather this year, which was a shame as it dampened the spirits. The course runs partly through the city and partly along the coast, and it has a few drags in it, but there are good views over the sea in most bits. It is not totally closed to traffic, but drivers were no problem; they were patient and supportive. Small expo, but generous pasta party - and also, a free swim in one of the city`s geothermal pools is included in package. The race is getting bigger, and the organizers may have to start the half marathon after the full marathon soon (to avoided congestion, as there is no official corralling at race start). They could've had more food at the numerous water stations (cups, not bottles - be warned). And the medal a bit iffy this year. Bagels and bananas were a welcome sight at the finish area. The Icelandic people are really nice and this is a good summer run to enjoy.

This was my first international marathon. Overall, it was a worthwhile experience. The race was small with 500 or so participants. The weather was perfect - sunny and relatively warm. Several things to keep in mind if you plan to run this race in the future: -Water/sport drinks only available every 5K. -The race course is not blocked off and is open to traffic (particularly the last 10 miles or so). -The course is not clearly marked towards the end of the race. I had to ask race volunteers for directions a few times. -Iceland is expensive, so plan ahead!!

Had an absolutely magical time. I thought the weather was fantastic - I caught the sun but remained cool the whole way round. The whole day just seemed to have a magical tinge; I lined up at the start by the right predicted finish time and couldn't believe I was stood next to six Kenyans and Stefano Baldini. Somewhat inspired by this I PB'd in 3:24. Loads of very vivid memories the whole way round. I got worried at the split with the half as I thought it was earlier and had missed it - when they eventually left us I couldn't believe how everyone else went straight on and there was only two people in eyesight who turned left up the marathon course. It suddenly became very lonely. Had a surreal experience at mile 19 when running past the DJ and crowd at the remote beach. There was no one else around, so it felt very personal with all the cheering. The DJ then changed his music to the Benny Hill theme which must have seemed appropriate as my hairstyle (i.e. none) resembles the funny little man that Benny Hill chases. At mile 20 to 22, I was running and chatting with a Canadian girl until I suddenly cramped and screamed expletives. I lost about 20 seconds whilst I shook off the cramp and then she eventually finished 3 minutes ahead of me as I slowed down. I struggled with sore legs over the last mile and was grateful that for most of the last three miles I could run on a grass verge. At the finish I saw the Canadian girl and apologized for my language - she was in a state of shock as she had been given a wreath and had won the race. I absolutely loved Reykjavik and the surrounding scenery - and the fact that the marathon was on Culture Night just added to the experience. After the race, the PowerAde and chocolate at the finish was very welcome. In town I had a recovery Guinness and a loaf of bread scooped out and filled with soup before catching up with Reykjavik's hottest girl punk band and some dreadful blues outfit. Had a lovely evening meeting up with a German runner who had just beaten me - he was running six marathons this year. I would recommend this race to anyone - the course is fast (as long as there is no wind). It is unlikely ever to be too hot and the scenery and air are both magical. It can be lonely - but I found that passing the earlier starting slow runners/walkers helped around miles 16 to 20 and earlier there was plenty of company from the half marathon. It's not cheap to visit, but for a country that is less than two hours flight from the UK (Glasgow) I thought it was an opportunity to see sights (geysers, volcanoes and glaciers) that make you feel like you are on another planet. If you are going next year, go to the Blue Lagoon on the way from the airport to the city; you buy your tickets at the airport.

This year (2007) there were 500 finishers in the marathon, 1200 in the half, and 2000+ in the 10K. The marathon course was largely run along the oceanfront, and was awesome. The middle portion had some hills, but none that were major. The course even ran through the zoo shortly after 21K. Having run 30 marathons in the US, there were a number of differences, which did not detract from the event. The "expo" had a total of 2 vendors, despite being in a huge sports complex. Other than the T shirt, there were no marathon-related items to purchase. The start was a bit crowded because the timing mats were narrower than the road. Interestingly, there were no clocks along the course. The distance markers are in KM, which proved to be a welcome distraction to do the calculations. I got a bit confused when spectators called out "only 5 to go," until I realized it was 5K, not 5 miles. :-) Found Reykjavik to be an interesting - although very expensive - city. Overall, a great experience for my first international marathon.

The whole experience was fantastic. We stayed in a hotel 5 min. from the start and finish line. Most of the course was along the beautiful coastline. The whole city came out to help and cheer. Best marathon experience I have had.

As a charity walker, I was attracted by the fact that the organizers allow slower runners and walkers to start an hour early, with a course limit of 7 hours. Packet pick up is 5 KM out of town, so not ideal, but once you get there, quite generous in that there are quite a few giveaways and the pasta party was well organized and generous. Fortunately I met up with another runner so we found the Sports Center where the pick up was situated together. Otherwise it would have been a very expensive taxi ride!! As others have said, Reykjavik is very expensive. I was later told that a number 14 bus goes to the Sports Center... it would have been nice if the organizers could have told us this in advance!! Fortunately the race starts and finishes in the center of town so I would strongly recommend a central hotel. I stayed at the Metropolitan Hotel, which was fairly basic but reasonably cheap, for Iceland anyway! Although the course is not traffic-free, it is well marshaled and generally you knew where you were going. Two thirds of the course is scenic with some beautiful coastal views; the rest is along city roads and parks and one stretch through the docks. Also some long, lonely stretches! Crowd support was poor. Although the town center was crowded when I finished, few people bothered to applaud. Water and PowerAde (in cups) were plentiful and regular; also bananas were provided at intervals. Nice medal and T-shirt. We were blessed with lovely weather and a temperature of 15 deg. As others have commented, the race is on the same day as the Cultural Festival so the town was very crowded after the race. If you look hard enough you can find reasonably-priced food.

Running the marathon in Reykjavik was a thrilling experience for me because I was a first-timer and it was a good choice for a run. I was working in North Iceland in the summer of 2006, and I did not follow any detailed plan in training for the marathon, although I was jogging in the mountains. Even though my form was not particulary satisfying, I enjoyed the event very much. And of course we were blessed with smashing weather. Overall it was a well organized marathon; not the biggest, but quite compact. The foreigners should know everything is expensive, so pre-book as much as possible.

It was a great pleasure to be involved with this well-organized marathon. I am a part of Team Diabetes Canada. I participated in the half marathon and finished within a decent time considering it was a bit of a hilly course than I expected and the headwinds we faced when we were running beside the water. We were blessed with a beautiful day, which was not what I had anticipated at all. I expected it would be raining and what a pleasant surprise when the sun appeared. Overall I would recommend others to enjoy the experience of being part of this marathon. The people are wonderful and supportive in Reykjavik.

The course was very nice, and we had great weather. Better, than I think they've had in years! There were lots of supportive fans on the course, but I found overall, there were many that said nothing as we ran by, and there were long stretches with no one around. It would have been nice to have more cheering.

Even if you're a 5-hour marathoner, you can live out you fantasy of leading the pack by starting a hour early with the charity runners. A young woman, a first-timer, passed me at the 7K mark and took away my lead and my bicycle escort. I went off course for 15 minutes and finished in my usual time. What the race lacks in sentries for direction and traffic control, it makes up for in scenic beauty and the magic of Iceland.

This was my 5th marathon (I ran 4 and worked at an aid station at another), so I'm not much of an expert; but I really enjoyed the race. Unlike past years, the weather was perfect for running with clear skies, only a hint of a breeze, and the temperature was about 55-60 degrees. The weather here can be very unpredictable; we were pretty lucky this year. I enjoy international marathons because of the diverse nationalities represented; I chatted with runners from Canada, Italy, the USA, the UK, and Iceland. I found the course to be fast, with only a few moderate hills. The majority of the course was on foot paths and bike trails through parkland or following the shoreline of the peninsula on which the Reykjavik is situated. I found the course to be very scenic; where else can you see a stainless sculpture of an extinct Great Awk standing hauntingly alone in the off shore tidepools. The fan support was good, with local residents beating on pots and pans while others shouted encouragement or applauded. The number of spectators was low; but then again, the weather was great, so probably a lot of the locals were out of town enjoying a rare sunny and warm summer weekend. It was my first metric marathon; luckily I printed out a pace strip in kilometers. It was worth it! Each of the 42 kilometers of the race was marked with a numbered traffic cone. I preferred having 42 reference points to gauge my pace and progress to the 25 reference points offered in non-metric courses. The aid stations were located every 5 kilometers and I think there were WCs spread out in 3-4 locations. I do have one cautionary note about the cost of living here in Iceland; it's very expensive! Meals can run $40-50; so expect to pay 'airport prices' for just about everything. Also there was a glitch with the chip computer that delayed race registration about 3 hours, but that stuff can happen. All in all, I thought it was a well run marathon for its small size. I recommend it.

The best features of this marathon include: Nice course, with the exception of one poorly marked area through a neighborhood. Much of the race was run on great pedestrian paths, with views of the city and the water; Predictably cool weather. The entire week saw temps that rarely ventured away from the mid-50's - day or night. The unpredictable feature was rain. Reykjavik seems to be able to generate showers on a whim; Getting out of Reykjavik puts you in an incredibly pristine and beautiful environment; The thermal baths (especially the Blue Lagoon) are perfect for post-marathon legs; and I finally know how to spell Reykjavik.

This was my first international marathon (with Marathon Tours) and I had a great time! My only expectation going into this was that 'it could be cold, so bring a running jacket and gloves just in case!' I was right... I used them both and was still cold! What I learned is that Iceland's weather is very unpredictable... and the day of the marathon was not exactly a good weather day. The course was relatively flat, with some rain and very blistery wind at some points. Since there are not a whole lot of people in this marathon you may find yourself running alone at some points. No spectators around - kind of like going out on a long run on Sunday. Really, the only negative was that at the end of the race there were only bananas ('where's the spread we usually see?!'). Aside from the marathon, this country is truly fascinating... and the Blue Lagoon will make you feel wonderful after the marathon!

This is a small marathon with all that typically means very few spectators and rudimentary organization. That said, they did well for something this scale. The city itself is worth the visit and the Icelandic countryside (not showcased by the marathon) is superb. You are more likely to be bothered by rain than heat, and that rain is typically gentle (more drizzle than rain this year). There were chunks of the loop course in which the wind was annoying, but you know you are going to be taking chances with the weather in a North Atlantic venue. The marathon met my expectations and more, but this is not where I would send the first-time marathoner unless he (or she) was running with a group. I will think seriously of returning another year.

A fairly flat new course with a few drags, and a small second loop near the finish. Great sea views of mountains, but the inner portion is a bit bland. A laid back, small marathon with not many fans, but the Icelanders are a very welcoming people and the city is the safest I have ever been to. A bonus was the race coincided with culture night in Reyljavik with lots to entertain you.

A fairly flat new course with a few drags, and a small second loop near the finish. Great sea views of mountains, but the inner portion is a bit bland. A laid back, small marathon with not many fans, but the Icelanders are a very welcoming people and the city is the safest I have ever been to. A bonus was the race coincided with culture night in Reyljavik with lots to entertain you.

A fairly flat new course with a few drags, and a small second loop near the finish. Great sea views of mountains, but the inner portion is a bit bland. A laid back, small marathon with not many fans, but the Icelanders are a very welcoming people and the city is the safest I have ever been to. A bonus was the race coincided with culture night in Reyljavik with lots to entertain you.