Phuket International Marathon - Race Reviews

I will do this race again. Organized. Well stocked hydration stations! I did half 10 years ago and did a full marathon this 2019 after 10 years. I am elated with the result and happy I did this race again. I promise I will be back!

The organization of this race is very very good for a small race. The crew that runs it does a fantastic job from the Expo, to the pasta party to the postrace BBQ. It's hot, especially coming from spring in the US, so don't train lightly, but it's a great experience. Would recommend.

I ran the 2013 version, half marathon. Hot and humid as expected, but good water stations, nice ice-cold water (more on my head than in my mouth!), good scenery, one small run-in with a dog, well-staffed, nice food afterwards. But in looking at my GPS and those of folks who ran the half, I think there was a problem in marking at about 11km. From then on, I was consistently short by about 600m, and two other runners with GPSs showed the same thing. Organisers, please look into this for the future. The race is AIMS certified, but only, as far as I can tell, for the full marathon.

I've run this race twice in 2009 and 2010. I like running along the back alleys of the Phuket countryside, passing rubber plantations and a beachside national park. It is a beautiful race as long as your pace is not too slow. That's because once the sun is out, the heat and humidity might be quite difficult to bear. I finished in 3:31 in 2010 and the heat was bearable. I always pray for rain.

This was my 2nd marathon. I was warned in advance that it wasn't going to be easy, and it sure wasn't. There were slopes, uneven roads, and blazing heat (somewhat mitigated by the 4:00 a.m. start). But they were generous with isotonic drinks, water and ice-cold sponges along the way. The route was scenic - I saw a side of Phuket I would never have seen as a tourist. The enthusiasm of the volunteers, the hospitality, and the smiles from the people who cheered us from their homes all made this run worth the effort. Hearing your name called out as you approach the finish line was the topper. I finished last in my category but on a very high note.

I knew that it would be tough with the heat - but WOW! Make sure you plan accordingly, because it is tough. Otherwise, what a great race. Awesome, spirited staff and volunteers filled with Thai smiles. The course is surprisingly flat for Phuket, and real pretty. Running early through some small towns as people open the markets was fun. Very nice medal. Resort area of Grande Laguna is more expensive than other areas, but it's very convenient for the race. We stayed in a villa at the Sheraton, which was awesome.

I ran the Phuket Marathon 2007. The organization was quite good; I managed to collect my race kit with ease. The start of the marathon was at 5 a.m., so that is very good. The road was not entirely closed, but there was very little traffic. There were not many supporters, except for the working crews and the villagers. The drinks stations were plentiful - one every 2 KM. The heavy rain during the marathon was cooling. The only negative point about Phuket is that the transport was quite expensive, unless you are staying near to the start point. Well, you must prepare to pay a lot for the hotels at the start point. I will do this marathon again.

Enjoyed this run, although it rained at the end. Organization was - as expected - very good. Plenty to drink... almost too much. Don't stop at every water station, otherwise it will add a lot of time, even if you enjoy the cold drinks. :-) The end of the race was a great, free, 10-minute massage, plenty of food, drinks and a nice medal. Well worth it.

A big applause for the organizers for making the Phuket Marathon a truly paradise run. The running course was beautiful and water stations were very well equipped with clear route signage posted. We, marathon runners, got lucky with the rain showers, which helped bring down the heat. Maybe the starting time for the marathon could be at 4:00 a.m. or even 3:30 a.m. Can't wait for the next year's run, which I'm sure would be a more fun one.

If you are planning on going to Thailand (great food, friendly people, great beach, etc.), come and run the Phuket Marathon. For an inaugural marathon, it was very well organized. The course wound its way through the Thai countryside and beach - despite the mountainous terrain of Phuket Island, the race organizers managed to design a mostly flat marathon. It was well marked and staffed by volunteers. Water stations were well stocked and staffed (you get ice cold water to counter the heat and humidity). There were a number of groups entertaining the runners along the course with music (including a lion dance) plus the occasional water buffalo. The marathon starts bright and early at 5 a.m. Because of this early start, you might want to stay at or in the vicinity of the official race hotel. On the flipside, these hotels are more expensive than hotels in, say, the Patong area.