International Zurich Marathon - Race Reviews

This was my 23rd marathon, 1st one in Europe. If you are ok with no Expo, no marathon/running merchandise to see or buy and no pre-race activities, then this might be the race for you. If you like an out and back course or parts of the course repeated, then this might be the race for you. And if you like so much congestion after you cross the finish line that you can hardly move, then this is the race for you. Personally, I think the Swiss can and should do better!

A very well organized run. Entry allows free travel before, during and after the event. I got a train from Basel- awesome. The route goes through the city and then out and back along a long stretch of the lake. Lots of support towards town but many stretches with not many people around. Plenty of aid stations with water, iso drinks and gels. Completely flat so great potential for PB/PR.

Don't be fooled by the name - most of the marathon takes place outside of the city of Zurich. After a 10k loop through the city, you will follow a road next to the lake until you reach the turning point... only to run the same route back to Zurich. Apart from two hot spots (and due to the course's design), you won't find that many spectators to cheer you on. The course is relatively flat, even though I don't understand why they focus so much on the possibility of running a PB. A PB depends on the quality of your training, not so much on running a boring and quiet course. Registration is expensive and there are way better options to run a marathon in spring.

It's difficult to pick holes in this marathon. The organisation was excellent - plentiful water and other drinks/banana stations, great pacers and low-key but easy-to-negotiate expo. For me the loops through the city centre were great, as that's where the majority of the crowd support was. Out along the lake was quite scenic and mostly flat, albeit sparsely dotted with supporters. The weather on the day was ideal and combined with no significant hills this allowed me to break my PB by a fair margin. As the slogan has it 'the best time of your life'!

Ive never done a marathon before and made Zurich my first! Pros: 1. I wanted my first to be well organized and the Swiss did not disappoint! Water stations were at a good distance (in my opinion). Offered water, PowerAde, GU, bananas and another item that I couldn't identify. 2. Weather was great! Cool in the morning but warmed up a to the 70's without being too hot! 3. This is a fast race! 4. Route was good, well organized, not really that hilly, and pretty flat, with views of the lake. 5. Got proofs of picture/video right away along with race results. 6. Loved having my name on the bib; the medal is nice; and I loved the finishing t-shirt (quality shirt). Cons: 1. The expo was sparse! Not that much excitement for the race. 2. Cheer section was mediocre, but that's fine. 3. While route was good, I wasnt a fan of doing loops. I like having one long loop instead of doing 3 loops. 4. Expensive city!!! Be prepared to pay at least $20-25 bucks for every meal! Would definitely recommend this race!

I have run 9 marathons, most in the USA, with Dublin and Rome being only international marathons before this. The bad - expo was very small; water stations only every 3-5 miles (maybe); city is freakin' expensive; and course was hillier than I had expected (it was not ultra-hilly, but not as flat as I had read in other reviews). The good - where do I begin? Course looped back on itself a few times, bringing me by the steps on my hotel (with wife and kids) 6 times; course view of Lake Zurich is spectacular; bands (steel drums) about every 5 miles; turnaround point was in tiny village filled with music, people and spirit; race photographers all over the place; and although the water stops were spaced farther apart than I would have liked, they were very well manned and stocked with everything. I loved it and would recommend it.

This was my first non-North American marathon and it totally exceeded my expectations. I should have PBed, as everything from course to weather to aid stations were perfect... but just too much sightseeing and a little jetlag made it tough. Great city: very safe and easy to get around. Loved it and would love to go back and run it hard, but tough as I really fell in love with Snitzel and beer.

I am of the firm conviction that the London Marathon is streets ahead of any other in the world. This one, however, came pretty close. It is just superbly organized. The expo is small but charming, and they feed you well there, The actual numbers running the race are perfect for the course, and right from the start you have room to run (ok - that makes it better than London). Names on bibs are an excellent idea. The start is a bit sparse. The course is a delight; a couple of tours of the heart of the city, then an out-and-back along the lake to the town of Meilen; and though the support is sparse in places, there were good crowds on the way. Provisions for runners are excellent. Lots of water (in bottles - Hallelujah!), gels, energy bars, and bananas - and the water stations were well organized, so there was never a fight or hassle getting supplies. The finish was smooth and only the Swiss would be so environmentally aware that they would use a goods train for kit storage rather than less-environmentally-friendly lorries. (Speaking of the environment: putting big tubs for your empty water bottles after ever water station was a really neat idea.) If you are looking for a really enjoyable, flat, scenic marathon, where everything is done to make life easy, then this is the one.

Zurich offers a good marathon for those looking for a small, well-run European event. The majority of the course is beautiful, as you run along the banks of Lake Zurich out of the city and then back in again. Some have criticized the decision this year to spend the first 8K inside the newly opened tunnel, but it wasn't that bad; if anything, it made you appreciate the rest of the course even more. I was slightly disappointed, however, that the course didn't go more into the old city center part of Zurich more than it did; this was really missed out in favor of the lakeside run and tunnel. Running conditions in Zurich in April are ideal. Temperatures were around 17/63 with overcast skies and a light breeze. With just a few thousand runners, you quickly get into your normal stride after the start. This coupled with a relatively flat course ought to allow for a PB chance. The crowds were a little sparse but this was made up for by the fantastic organization of the event. One cool highlight was the sponsor, Swiss Life, sending SMS texts to your family/friends during the race, giving updates as to your time/progress. This is a really good idea, and other marathons should follow suit. Overall, a young event in only its 7th year, but it's destined to grow. Recommended.

Enjoyed the atmosphere, the town, the organization, the run along the lake, and the crowd support.... Very much disliked the need to run 9K within a (brand new) tunnel and the cost.

This year's Zurich marathon was unique due to the first 9k being through the Uteliberg tunnel before it was opened to traffic. The course is pretty flat, combining a small section of town-running and about 30k of suburb/lakeside- running. The crowds were very sparse and if you need a crowd to spur you on then it's not for you. One brilliant feature was having your name printed on your number bib, which I have never seen in any other marathon--it makes a great memento. Attached to the bib was a travel pass for the entire citywide tram / bus and train network, which was a nice touch. The organisation at the start was chaotic, with spectators mixing in with the runners (I had to dodge a dog walker at one point). The organisation at the end was very slick, with each runner having a medal placed around their neck, a chip collection point and a t-shirt in their size. The only 2 complaints I have are: 1) There were cyclists and in-line skaters on the course mixing with the runners and 2) there was a lack of water on what was a very hot and sunny day.

What else would you expect from a Swiss marathon? A good web-site with easy on-line entry, listings and comprehensive results and split results for each quarter and for every age group! The course is as flat as you are likely to find anywhere, and there's a good mix of town and "lakeside" (almost). Some enthusiastic support but quite a lot of thin patches. The long "out and back" stretch wouldn't please everyone, but I personally enjoy seeing the front-runners, even if they are 10K ahead. My one criticism would be about the start area and the time sections. These were not supervised and anyone could be anywhere. However, with a relatively small race (fewer than 5,000), wide streets and chip timing, the early muddle was soon sorted, and it made little difference to final results. Certainly an excellent opportunity for a p.b., weather permitting. This year was perfect. I'd love to run it again, and try not to fade so badly in the final quarter.

Course: Mostly flat with only a couple of gentle slopes. The majority of the distance is along Lake Zurich traveling through some of the suburbs/villages on the east side, with lovely views of the lake and well-preserved architecture. About 20K consists of an out-and-back on opposite sides of the same road, so keep this in mind if this sort of thing depresses you while running. Shorter sections through Zurich proper showcase the city as well, with only a couple very short sections of cobblestones and the rest on regular pavement. Organization: A perfectly-run, small-to-mid-size marathon. The Swiss reputation for precision and organization is dead on. Aid stations were well-stocked and well-marked, expo was small but easy to get to and navigate, packet pickup was a breeze, and logistics at the start and finish were efficient. A 3-day pass for Zurich trains/trams/buses is included in the entry fee, which is all the transportation you need in Zurich itself, given the extensive public transportation system. Can't think of anything to complain about here. Spectators: Somewhat thin compared to bigger marathons (Chicago, NYC, Marine Corps) but very, very enthusiastic ("Hopp!" apparently means "Go!" in German, which I figured out after hearing it about 700,000 times), and after all, there are only 5-6K runners. Should be plenty of support for most marathoners. Zurich: Expensive, particularly for US-types converting from the plummeting dollar. Imagine living inside a Disney park to get a sense of the cost of living. Incredibly friendly, polite (if reserved) Swiss. If you speak German, French or Italian, great, but many/most Swiss speak English as well. Very walkable city, but it's also easy to get around by tram/train. Other: For runners (like me) who are accustomed to only US marathons, a few notable differences. Water comes in 330 ML plastic bottles, not cups, which means you can carry it with you rather than having to chug at the station; but there are fewer total stations, and not every station has energy drinks. Free food for runners at the finish is sparse compared to US marathons, with a larger variety of things to buy outside of the finisher's area. There is a higher proportion of very fit runners compared to the US, as the huge "first time charity runner" phenomenon we are used to is not as prevalent, so if you run in the 3:45 or slower range, prepare to be in the second half of the pack for a change.

The Zurich Marathon is not only a race; it is also a family gathering!!!!!!!

It's been almost a year since I ran this (and at that time it was only my second marathon), so I suppose I have had enough time to reflect, and I do still have some clear recollections of it. It was a really flat course, and pretty too, being along the waterfront. The spectators were really cool, yelling out my name (written on each bib) to cheer me on, and saying their funny German things (well, I couldn't understand it, so I found it funny - I do remember hearing what sounded like "hop" a lot). The main caution I would give about this race is that there was a five-hour cut-off and they really enforce it! I was the very last one on the course, coming in at 5:05, as the police cleared everyone else off. And then I didn't get a medal, just a finisher's shirt, which was a bit disappointing. But at least they did count my time, despite being after the cut-off. And I got a real quick massage too (this was offered with the race, but they were closing up when I came in finally). Also, they don't post the results through MarathonGuide.com (only on their site), so you can't search your name and find the results here, unfortunately. But otherwise, a nice race and city (they all know English, so getting around is easy!). Maybe just not the best choice after a week-long intense vacation through all of Italy!

The Swiss know how to take care of the runner. This was my second marathon and I had a goal of 4 hours and was able to finish in 3:58. There were plenty of drinks, and the PowerBars were cut so that one could just pop pieces in your mouth and keep running. Plus they had power gel at all the right kilometers. I ran with the pacers, who were real motivated and so encouraging. I do not know how you could not do well in this race. I felt pampered compared to a marathon I did 2 weeks later, in The Netherlands. The course was a turn back, so one could watch the elite runners heading to the finish. This is not a large race, so do not look for lots of excitement; but for challenging yourself, it is great!

Very good marathon. Second time I run in Europe, and I am enjoying it more each time (Barcelona 2006 was the previous one). You have to get used not to have that many slow runners (more than 4 hours) as you do in US marathons (at least Chicago). The weather was excellent, and other than a couple times the course goes back and forth, it was very nice and flat. I arrive a week before to Switzerland, worry that I wouldn't know where to go for small runs prior to the marathon, but this country was designed for runners, walkers and hikers. Every city where I stayed, there was always a trail nearby, and not only very clean but very picturesque too (Lucerne along the lake is probably my favorite). People were very friendly, and having my name printed on the bib made me feel several times my friends were calling me out during the race. Very friendly runners and crowd. Strongly recommended.

This year's Zurich Marathon was so fun and so much improved from last year, I think that it's only a matter of time before this race, which is still relatively new, gets a loyal following. Last year's Zurich Marathon was hard - never mind I was new to the jetlag thing. It was cold and rainy, with lots of zigzags in the course (I felt like I was in a line for a ride at Disneyland), and very few porta-potties (if you're female or need to do a #2, this is major - I had to wait until mile 18 then wait in line for several minutes!). The bag-check was hard to find because there was no map and my German stinks, and I ended up sprinting what felt like a quarter mile to the start line. Somebody must have listened because things were much better this year. OK the perfect weather did help. The course was much improved - now only a couple stretches where you double back into other runners (for me this was not bad since you get to watch the race leaders) and you didn't have really any zigzags. I have done 2 Chicago Marathons and this course I think was flatter and potentially faster because you're not boxed in by 40,000+ other runners, or losing time fighting crowds at water tables. Gorgeous scenery - the course was a nice mix of city and village feel, you get exposure to some Swiss culture, and running along the shore was nice (FYI this was at low altitude as well as flat). The fans were only fair in number but they were very enthusiastic and had the energy of a larger crowd. There was a good variety and quantity of music spread along the course, which helps. The organization was good. Maybe I was just familiar this time, but I thought the bag checks were closer; the pamphlet given at the expo showed easily where to find everything. As before, the site was easy to find and the public transportation pass was helpful (though I wish they had mailed it out so we could use it to get to the expo). The porta-potty situation was also much improved - no problems now. The only complaints I would have I felt were minor issues. The expo was pretty small and not much to see/buy there. The race pacers were easy to find, but if you're slow like me, you realize there are not so many slow people and toward the end you almost feel you're running alone at times, especially in the brief stretches going through back streets. But the remaining fans and race volunteers were still supportive. The taste of the Gatorade-like stuff was odd and resembled fermented apple juice, but the placement of water every 3.5K, bananas throughout the 2nd half, and 2 gel stations were perfect (after struggling through the hills of Barcelona where it was hotter/hillier and there was water only every 5K alternating with sponge stations). The food afterward was sparse, but if you bring your Francs, there is nothing better than the grilled Bratwurst at the finish line. The T-shirt design was good, but it would be better if it was not cotton. I chose Zurich initially because I have family nearby, but I recommend this race to anyone seeking a fun, flat, scenic destination marathon of medium size. It is definitely a chance to PR while getting to experience the beautiful country and culture, and I plan to return next year.

It was my third marathon, and I could run 20 minutes faster than previously (3:31:24). The course is easy and beautiful.

The 2007 Zurich Marathon was my first marathon and I enjoyed it immensely. The weather was perfect and the organization of the event made everything a breeze. The Course: the run went very well although I didn't feel it was as flat as they claimed. There are a few small hills and one just before the halfway point that was a bit steep but short. The organization was top-notch and all of the volunteers and support staff did a superb job. The course does double back on itself most of the way and so if you don't like to constantly see all the racers ahead of you this may not be a good race for you. My only 2 real complaints were that there was a lack of toilets the last 8 km or so and that there was no water available at the finish line (I finished in 4:14 so maybe they had run out at this point). They had lots of sports drinks but I found the taste horrible and was feeling sick from what I had to drink on the course. Atmosphere: Wow! The people of Zurich and the surrounding towns were great; I can't remember any part of the course that there wasn't someone cheering. There was one point when the crowd really started to cheer and I thought something amazing must be happening behind me, but when I turned around I realized that there was no one within 15 yards of me. It was an amazing feeling and a wonderful experience.

My husband and I ran in the rain in 2006. It was our 10+ marathon and one of our favorites to date. The race was well organized - very Swiss! We arranged our hotel through the marathon website (and got a bus to the start which was great), packet pickup was easy, the start was quite organized despite the weather, and the course was well marked. Water/food along the course was evenly spaced out. Having the start/finish right at a train stop was good as well because at the finish we could just hop on a train back to the hotel. The course is flat and with just 6-7K runners, so you can enjoy the company of runners for the entire race and still get a decent time.

Yes, it was raining - at times, pouring. But this is one thing that you CANNOT control; nor the general weather overall. You CAN control the pasta party... where you have to purchase drinks? I was told that this fact is normal for Swiss races. To the organizers: Please take the time to "borrow" and use the donated VITTAL water for the pasta party. To the racer who missed the after-race drink - unfortunately you did not miss much... approximately 8 ounces of something warm. It did not help too much in the grand scheme. What did help, and I agree with the racer's remarks, was the post-race message tent - it was a godsend! Just the warmth and eucalyptus. I agree that the last 12K of the course are/were/could be disconcerting. A computer error, since resolved, allowed me to complete my 8th marathon with a 1-hour-and-15-minute PR! I even have the engraved medal (another great feature available) to prove it. It now serves as a comic relief because I know the time in which I finished. Computer errors are to be expected; if I was the only unfortunate person to be victim of this, then the percentage is minuscule and I am proud to have my error'ed medal. What else? The transportation voucher would be even more valuable for those if trying to stay a little bit farther from the city center... Zone 21 as well as Zone 10. I found many other reasonably priced hotels out of the city center. And to the citizens of Zurich and all the towns I passed through along the way: THANK YOU for coming out on your Palm Sunday to cheer everyone along!

Course: first 15km straight into one direction along Lake Zurich (would have been a nice view if it hadn´t been for the terrible weather). Then back along the exact same street, very boring. After 30km, it was like running in a labyrinth with nothing but turns - I almost went crazy. And all the time you had to face other runners coming back from farther ahead. At least it was very flat. Nutrition: best part of all, very good. Start/ Finish: a real chaos. Partly due to the rain, but one has to be prepared for that. Apparently the dressing rooms could only be reached by shuttle bus from the (very!) far end of the area. Travel pass: a 3 day travel pass for the city of Zurich (FR-SU) was sent to every participant, which I find a very good idea. Spectators: not too many all in all due to rain and early start time. Thanks to those who were there to support us! Starting time: at 8:30 AM, unbelievable! And a time limit of 5h. The reason: not everyone in Zurich is pleased with having the streets blocked for a while because of a marathon...

I arrived on Saturday afternoon and my hotel was just around the corner from the Salsportshalle. Good Start. I made my way then to the Pasta party and back to the hotel for an early night. THey even had an early breakfast for the marathon runner. This was a nice touch, again a very friendly nation of people (thanks also for the ladies who helped me with the tram directions when I was lost). I was prepared for the rain, it was exactly the same for my last marathon in Dublin. My trusted cap and gloves protected me from the elements (at least psychologically), and Prince (3121 and live music) pumping out from my MP3 player. I set out a comfortable 4.30s Km pace. I kept this up for about the first 30k which was relatively straight with no major climbs. I found the zig-zagging around the streets in that last 12 k difficult and tiring. It was hard to know what distance you were at. The crowds were great and the Swiss people are very friendly. I dipped to a couple of 6minue K's near the end but got back to sub 5minute K's and managed to finish in 03:15:19 which was 27 mins better than my record. I was delighted. I will probably return again, with my wife and kid for next years race, or the year after. Overall, It was organised excellently and the refreshments (water, fruit, Energy drinks) were plentiful. While the rain was a pity, for an Irishman, it was maybe an advantage, I amy have found the 18 heat of Saturday more difficult. I though it was also good that they had a tent near the start with free 'Deep Heat' type muscle rub. It was little touches like that that made this race stand out for me.

2006 - Over all, brilliant Swiss organization all round except for the 'start' and the weather! (the former is in your control the latter not) Categories at the start should be marked either by lines or flags so that runners can identify and join their respective groups. The 'Start' was disappointing and badly organised in this respect. Also the pacers lost their balloons after 8 & 20 minutes and got swallowed up in the crowd. Perhaps the pacer should run with a flag or balloon attached to his waist all the way. I personally climbed over a gate to get in line at the start - where were the openings?! Water and food stations were well managed and plentiful. Well done! Music from live bands on the way was inspiring and supportive.Fans plentiful despite the rain. After the finish, handing out medals, removing chips, giving out T shirts, food and drink was fantastic; after which I was supposed to get a hot free drink somewhere...couldn't find where! Would have been nice considering the weather conditions!! Would I do the Zurich marathon again? Yes most definitely!

Zurich was my 6th marathon. I've run a small one (Loch Ness, its 1st year) and 4 larger ones (London, Berlin, Boston, and Dublin). The scenery in Zurich is lovely, but as another runner mentioned, it's not a focal point if you're trying to make a strong effort for time. I was mentally disheartened by the needless zig-zagging of the final 12km of the course. It left me feeling disoriented and tired. There must be a way for the organizers to extend the straight stretches of the course. Perhaps a simple out-and-back instead? The crowds were good for a fairly new marathon. The expo was disappointing, in both scale and content. There were no t-shirts for purchase that just said Zurich Marathon. I like to have the option to purchase one in a size that fits me, because the finisher's shirts are often sized for men, and produced in limited quantities. At the finish, the smallest size available was a men's medium; it was also an unattractive dull orange color. Having options to purchase even hats or jackets would be good. Also, some expos have a stand set up and allow you to have your race number silkscreened onto your race shirt. You pick up your number & race day package, and turn it in at the stand (so no one can sneak in). Then there are no pins to worry about. One great idea at this marathon was the 3-day public transportation pass. It was an opportunity to see the city free in the two days before the race. That was much appreciated.

There is not much to add to the other comments - perfect weather, not too cold or too hot, water stations every 3.5 km, and great bands along the lake. I wished they had had an extra 'energy goo' early on, but I had taken two gel packs with me, which was all I needed in addition to the food provided. This time, there was also enough room in the start/finish area, unlike last year.

This was my third marathon. The 2003 and 2004 in Barcelona. Our local politicians didn't want a new 2005 edition in BCN, so I decided to run the marathon of my best Swiss marathoning girl friend's city, Zurich. I ran it yesterday, and now I'm still dreaming. Perfect weather, incredible landscape, besides the lake and the snow-covered Alps in the background... Lots of wonderful people and music bands supporting us - I was very surprised about that. I had never seen anything similar in my country. In my opinion, the Swiss people were the best of the race... The organization was superb and the web page very is complete too. If it's possible, I will be in the Zurich Marathon in 2006.

This is the third year of the Zurich Marathon and my all accounts the best event they've held yet. It featured Swiss precision in all respects. From registration (maximum 7,000 runners - sells out early), to number pick-up, start location, bag check, start grouping and marshaling, race routing, pedestrian control and race finish and festivities, it was a well-run race. The race starts at 8:30AM on the west side of Lake Zurich (Zurich-see) in Wollishofen (right next to the train station), proceeds downtown across the head of the lake, and goes down the east side to Meilen. It then reverses route heading back to downtown, goes through a series of loops through the old downtown area and finally ends up back where it started. The route is relatively flat with a couple small hills but no more than 30-meter rise or drop. The first 30KM of the race are relatively serene with beautiful lake views, lots of Ompa, jazz and even steel drum bands. The water breaks are generous (every 5K) with bottled water, Powerbars and bananas - and the crowds were both warm and supportive with lots of calls to 'Pull, Pull, Pull' and ringing of big cow bells. Oh, and the weather was perfect with clear sky (the route is largely shaded) and temperatures ranging from 8C (46F) to 22C (72F) at 2PM, all with a cool alpine wind. The last 10K of the race works its way through the downtown area which can be quite a maze. This is the only complaint I have about the race as this is a relatively tough part of the race to be wandering the city streets with no real coordinates of how you are doing except the occasional KM marker flag. While this is a very nice area with traditional old European streets, it's largely lost when your muscles are screaming to stop and your pace group is passing you by - at least the crowds were great. I ran with the 3:29 pace group which helped immensely to keep a good time. The lesson learned, however, was to run in front of the pace group, not behind it where there is a gaggle of runners all trying to keep pace. All-in-all, a highly-recommended race with all the right organization, wonderful geography and great people!

Hello all you marathon buffs. I just wanted to give my experience about the Zurich Marathon. The greatest part is the views and scenery. Most of the race was along Lake Zurich with snow-covered mountains in the background. The weather was perfect, overcast and cool. The course was flat and had a fair share of spectators, bands, and water/food stations. I know that others have already said this, but one major thing they need to improve before next year is the storage holding areas. There was too little space for the amount of people trying to check their gear. One idea is to have it in the big park on the other side of the race course. Also, at the finish line there was hardly enough room to slow down and cool off a little bit. Other than that it was a great first marathon. I will surely do it again in the future.

The course was very flat and fast. 80% of the time you are running by the Lake of Zürich, which is very beautiful. You can see mountains with snow. The last part of the course is within the city of Zürich and the streets are small and with a lot of turns. The organization has to improve - after the finish there was no space and too many people. No space for sitting down and enjoying the feeling. It took too long time to deliver the changing clothes before the race. Otherwise if you want to improve your PR, Zürich is the one! Be in the starting area at least an hour before start.

Delightful city and people now has its very own superb marathon. Course fairly flat and never boring. Support terrific (lots of hopp hopps!!). Marshalls and water/food stations very good. Expect fairly cool weather. Nice medal/tee - expo laid back. You get a free public transport ticket for the weekend; most useful. Bit of a bottle neck at chip recovery at end, but sure to be sorted for next year. Get registered sharp, as I can see max numbers being achieved very early for 2005.

Pros: -Very flat, fast course (30m total height climb) -Finish through the city; much more enjoyable & inspiring than running through midtown first, and then ending with a loop through the hinterlands (as many city marathons do so that they can open up to traffic again) -Great medal and finisher's t-shirt -Enthusiastic and energetic crowds. I can still hear the cowbells. -A very scenic course along the Lake of Zurich with the alps in the background. If the run doesn't take your breath away, the views will. -Very professional volunteers at the water stations. They knew what they were doing, were always ready, and never ran out. Cons: -Not enough porta-potties on course (but isn't that always the case?) -Traffic flow between baggage area and start could've been better. Baggage area was beyond the start, so there was congestion in trying to get back into the starting field. Hope to see you there next year!

Pros and Cons: Pros: Stunningly beautiful city and course following the shores of Lake Zurich with snow-covered Alps in the backround. Flat couse that almost makes you wish for a few hills. Three-day expo that takes the pain out of picking up your number. Wonderful crowd support, the Europeans know how to support their marathons! Cons: The great organization stopped abruptly at the finish line. After crossing the chip mat, runners found themselves immediately herded into a small fenced area similar to a livestock corral. The purpose was to channel everyone through a tent so timing chips could be removed, medals and tee shirts presented, and food and water picked up. Makes sense in theory. But the wait time was twenty minutes packed in a slow moving herd of hundreds of exhausted runners. No water, no food, no toilets, no shade or shelter, NO PLACE TO SIT DOWN. Two runners in the crowd dropped to the ground with medical problems, and medical staff could not reach them due to the crowded conditions. When we finally were given a bag with food and water, it was an apple and a couple of sports bars. Once runners emerged from this nightmare, we were on the opposite side of the crowd, cut off by fences and the finishing strech of the race. Meeting friends and family was confusing and physically difficult. Most of the Euro runners seemed to accept the end with stoic resignation - I made it a point to bitch to one of the organizers about the dangerous situation. The look on his face said, 'arrogant American'. Despite my negative ranting, the race itself was beautiful.

The course was better than I thought it would be. The spectators and bands were smashing. Only bad thing the baggage handling. I was told this will be sorted out by next April.