Beijing Int'l Marathon - Race Reviews

This is now the third time I've run this race and each time the organization has been getting better and better: - The expo continues to get bigger and more sophisticated. There's now a few different vendors selling a reasonably good line of international brands of running supplies (but still make sure to bring anything critical from home if you're coming from overseas). - My race time and proof got me assigned to the proper corral and they seemed to be much better about checking bibs this time - in fact, the entire start seemed much more organized and much less like a mad crush than it has in previous years. - The aid stations seem even bigger than they were a few years ago - they keep going, and going, and going, so if you miss the first 10 (or 20, or 30!) tables just keep cruising. They might be the most extensive aid stations I've seen at a marathon. Definitely a plus for this race. - The finisher's medal is still extremely nice and classy and it alone is worth the race in my opinion. Otherwise everything is at an equal or better level than it was in 2015, it didn't feel like they've regressed at all. It seems like the organizers have figured out this should be a showpiece race for one of China's showpiece cities and they're trying to incrementally work their way to that level, so thumbs up to them. My complaints: - The course pretty much flat (like most of Beijing) but not especially exciting aside from the start on Tiananmen Square followed by the left turn past the big portrait of Chairman Mao. You finish near, but not in, the Bird's Nest stadium, which would be 10x as nice of a finish than on the vast concrete plain nearby that's sadistically called 'Olympic Green'. You also still do a LOT of walking to the start and especially from the finish - it's no exaggeration that you will probably cover close to 30 miles in total on race day. I was farther back in the pack than usual this year which made me realize something else: after about 6-8 km the race leaves the wide central east-west street of Beijing and for pretty much the rest of the race you're running in the width of two lanes of roadway....with tens of thousands of other runners. Needless to say it can be very cramped even towards the end of the race, and passing is often an exercise in finesse (and frustration). And those nice endless aid stations are set up in the course, so for hundreds of meters you'll be down to (at best) 1.5 lanes of road-width, with Chinese runners abruptly veering back and forth, speeding up, slowing down, stopping to walk, etc etc. (You could be charitable and say that distance running is still a new hobby here and so runners maybe aren't as familiar with aid station etiquette.) I had lots of near-collisions and some actual ones just trying to get through aid stations, even when I stayed to the far opposite side. Finally, in the past this race used to be held in October or even November, which would be much better than mid-September like it has been recently. It can still be very warm in Beijing then, and it was 30c+ and sunny for the race this year. Fortunately there is often some shade until the last few miles, but you may have to run a longer route to take advantage. If I was coming from overseas and determined to run a marathon in the Beijing area, I still might choose one of the several 'Great Wall' marathons instead for a more memorable experience. But this has become a decent race and seems to be getting better as time goes by.

D.Y.'s comments from 2012 are mostly still accurate. Expo is much larger than the first time I did this race a few years ago, but mostly just companies with display booths - there was a single shop selling supplies with a very limited selection, so if you're traveling don't forget anything important at home. They seem to be making a real effort to professionalize the race and I suspect they want to eventually be seen as one of the major world marathons like Berlin/Tokyo, but they're definitely not there yet. They've mercifully done away with the 10K and half marathon (which was a total joke, no timing chip/official times recorded, you started behind ALL of the marathoners, and it cost almost as much as the full marathon) so it's all marathoners at the start. I was quite irritated when I found that my previous race time had been ignored/overlooked and I was stuck in the very last corral...but as it turned out, it didn't really matter. The 'corrals' were mere suggestions with absolutely nothing more than signs on the side to mark them. So I was able to work my way forward...but of course so were thousands of other people. If you are in one of the first few corrals, get there early or you won't be getting to your designated corral at all. Typical for paranoid Beijing security, spectators are often kept way, way farther back than they need to be, so it's not a very spectator-friendly race in a lot of stretches. The crowds are there anyway (mostly before 30km at least) and supportive, though. One pleasant surprise was that the aid stations are big, and in the second half of the race, frequent. The first one was of course slammed, but otherwise I had no trouble getting water/gatorade and was even given an entire bottle a couple of times. I heard complaints from some slower marathoners that they ran out of supplies towards the end, though. Another pleasant surprise was the finishers' medal - arguably the nicest one of the dozen or so marathons I've run. You still have the long staggering walk to the nearest subway station though. Bag retrieval was orderly though a bit annoying to weave around all of the Chinese runners who decided that area makes a good place to sit down and spread out. All in all, for overseas runners I'm still not sure this is worth a special trip to Beijing just to participate, especially when there's so many marathons in smaller cities that might be a more interesting experience (Hangzhou, Xiamen, Haikou, etc etc). But it's better than it was before.

The race was pushed back due to the CCP 18th congress. It was held on Nov. 25th. The starting area is at Tian An Men square, you would think it's big enough to accomodate 30,000 runners but getting into the square, you has go through security check and then you have to squeeze through to get to the full marathon area. The Course is flat and winding through western Beijing . Crowd was there till you passed 30KM mark when you enter the Olympic park area then crowd disappeared. The finishing area is at the Olympic park which is huge and fenced. Your friends and relatives cannot get in and there is no clear sign to tell you where to return your timing chips. From the finishing area to reach the subway station is good one mile hike on either direction which is no fun after running 42.2KM. Volunteers are great they stayed to the end but the workers and police were very impatient they want to get it done and go home. Traffic started before all the runners were through, you have to watch speeding cars passing you. All in all, it was not a pleasant experience.

Everyone rates the scenery low, but if you've seen one Chinese city, you've seen them all- lots of drab blocky buildings. It would be logistically impossible to see ALL of Beijing's top attractions on a marathon course. See them at your leisure for a few days after the race and enjoy them. The race directors seem motivated to organize a race approaching international standards. The Expo was well staffed, easy packet pickup, a bag to check at the start line, lots of vendors from name brand running companies. Be sure to grab some VIP passes for free at the Expo so your friends can come closer to the finish line. Volunteers were copious along the race course, excellent access to water and sports drink (though they might run out for the back of the pack, in which case stash some of your own). Finish line provisions were a little slim, but they print you a nice certificate with your time right on the spot as you exit. I did get finish line photos from an independent vendor who emails you through the race office, a nice touch. Start line was packed, as is everywhere in this country. Get there early if possible to stake out your place in the corral. I had to fling my bag through the air onto the baggage truck as the doors were closing, as there wasn't an inch to move by that point in the corral. There's no start line chip mat, so your overall time is gun time, not net time from the starting line. This is the one shame. The other is half marathoners don't even get a chip for an official time. In 2011 the sky was clear blue, a rarity in Beijing. Maybe they closed factories for the day? I would recommend the race to residents in China, but if you want to travel here make it part of a larger tour to get the most out of it.

This was my first marathon - I have run the half marathon in Beijing before though. The start of the race is reasonably well organised - plenty of space, lots of toilets - but there is a bottleneck at the underpass to get into Tiananmen Square. There are corrals for full, half, 10k and mini-marathon runners, but it all got a bit mixed up anyway. The most scenic part of the course is at the beginning - Tiananmen Square and along Chang An Avenue. There are plenty of spectators, and plenty of runners too - 30,000 of them in 2011. So, a fun atmosphere. But the rest of the course is not especially scenic. Spectators thin out after about 15km, except at the halfway mark when there are plenty of enthusiastic fans. The second half of the race is where I was a lot less impressed. Not only was the course lackign in scenery, with very few spectators, but from 30km onwards there was no more water at the water stations. I know I was slow, but still, I was well within the 6 hour time limit - and there was NO WATER! The volunteers at each water station had given away bottles of water rather than pour the water into paper cups, and as a result, they had run out of water far too early. They were offering ice cubes at one station. From 35km onwards the race was run inside the Olympic Park, around a large lake. No spectators, but plenty of people just visiting the park. I thought it was an anticlimactic way to finish a marathon - just when I needed the mental boost the most, there were no crowds, and the water & aid stations had packed up shop. It was as if the race had already ended, and the remaining runners were being ignored. The final straight was a long 1km strip, with crowd barriers. By the time I reached it there were only the official cheerleaders left, so it was a bit quiet, and then with about 400m to go there was a road to cross - but the road had been re-opened to traffic, so I had to wait for the lights to turn. If there's going to be a time limit, why not have the entire course sealed for the duration? My final disappointment was with the race photos. I thought that at a full marathon there would be a finish line photo - but there wasn't. What a shame. Despite the negative comments, I still think this is generally a well organized race, with plenty of enthusiasm from organizers, other runners and the spectators. I just feel that with a little more attention, and better implementation, the race could be even better!

1. Picking up the race bibs and timing chip was smooth enough. There was a three-day window prior to the race that corresponded with the marathon expo. The expo itself was disappointing. Not a lot of goods, and the prices were pretty steep. 2. The volunteers charged with answering questions were poorly informed. A few examples: Q: "Will photos would be taken at the finish line?" A:"I dont know, but probably not. I mean, there are thousands of runners. How could we take so many pictures?" Pictures were not taken. Q: "Will the Olympic Stadium (the race finish) be open to the public so at least someone can take a picture?" A: "Yes, definitely." So, on race day my family showed up and wasn't allowed in. Last example: My wife, who ran the mini, received her race certificate with her bib. I ran the full and did not receive my certificate with my bib. I called the information hotline later that day and was told that they ran out of certificates. The volunteer on the phone said the printer didn't print enough. However, on race day I did receive an official certificate containing my chip time. (Actually, I'll address this issue later.) 3. The race started in Tiananmen Square. Getting into the square was VERY dangerous. A total crowd control nightmare. The very few entry points were underground tunnels. Imagine thousands of people pushing and shoving their way downstairs into a narrow tunnel. Perfect conditions for a stampede or for people to get crushed. My wife and I were terrified. 4. Once we got inside in the square, checking bags was a similar nightmare. Total mob scene in front of the bag trucks with people pushing, shoving, and yelling. 5. On the race course, traffic was shut down in one direction only. Runners were breathing the car exhaust of traffic going the other way for most of the course. My lungs still hurt. 6. I'm not convinced our race times are "chip times" as advertised. I suspect they are gun times. My official race time is 2 minutes slower than my stopwatch time. 7. The worst part was at the very end trying to retrieve our bags. Racers were literally rioting in front of the bag tents. Apparently bags were thrown into heaps on the back of the trucks and not put in order. Finding a bag was like finding a needle in a haystack. It was freezing cold and people were shivering and angry. Some racers jumped on top of the steel barricades in front of the tents. The police had to intervene. It was very ugly. It took me over an hour to get my bag, and I consider myself lucky. 8. As I said, only people with VIP passes were allowed into the stadium. Outside the stadium my wife witnessed a proud father take two steps past the police barricade onto the course to take a photo of his son. A police officer grabbed this guy by the neck and threw him backwards onto the ground. My wife heard the sound of his skull hitting the cement. Blood poured out everywhere. He was out cold on the ground for a while. My wife intervened and took photos, at which point the police officer threatened to smash her camera and arrest her. All the cops in the vicinity covered their badges to protect themselves. 9. There was plenty of water and sports drink. No gels. But at various points people were distributing bananas and oranges.

Being flat and with Beijing's cool October weather, it's a good course for a PB. Wet and windy 2010 was an exception. The start at Tiananmen is impressive and proceeds along the west side of Changan Jie (drab government buildings and SOEs). Then it's through some older, apartment-lined streets. From there it proceeds along highways and thoroughfares in the drab university district. The last 7 KM are through a section of the Olymbic Park and then south along the promenade connecting the park to the other sports facilities. It finishes in an older stadium south of the Bird's Nest. The course is not scenic. If coming from abroad, enjoy the camaraderie of the mostly middle-aged Chinese runners from around the country, many in non-high-tech gear but running at a good pace. There are very few female runners in this race (at my pace, maybe 2%). Not many toilet facilities along the route. I saw far fewer foreigners compared to last year. College-kid volunteers are cheerful and helpful, even in yesterday's wet and windy conditions. Two glitches yesterday: 1) Tiananmen square is heavily guarded at the start, so you must enter the square at one of 3 underpasses; 40 minutes before start they closed the southwest underpass (too many people) so I had to rush down to the northwest underpass, a detour of 1,500 meters. 2) End-of race process and baggage collection was smooth for most. But at one of the 7-8 tents they had doubled the number of bags (vs. other tents). There was chaos, and when someone senior finally took control, he was incompetent. I stood in the impatient pushing crowd for TWO HOURS. Some must have waited 3 hours. Fortunately we kept each other warm. In summary, a good course for a PB, if you live nearby. A runner's race. Not scenic. No party atmosphere.

I'm not sure that I would say that this is a "must do" marathon, but this is a well organized marathon. I was worried about the air quality for the race, but it was a steady drizzle on the day of the marathon (which cleans the air a bit), so I didn't notice any issues with the pollution for the race. Pros: 1) Tech shirt; 2 easy packet pick up; aid stations frequent enough and sufficiently stocked with water and energy drinks; 3) free towel as schwag at end; 4) this is the rare race that saves the most scenic part of the race (Olympic Park) for the end of the marathon course. Cons: 1) Not enough porta potties in the first 20 miles of the race (there are plenty once you get to the Olympic Park, but that's a long time to wait) - if you are a woman, plan to lose 15 minutes waiting in line; 2) there is no food on the course - if you like your calories to come from something other than sports drink, bring your own; 3) come fully stocked for the race, as the expo will have virtually nothing that you need (GU, electrolyte tablets, etc.).

I live in Beijing and this was my first marathon, but I have had some experience with marathons since. My first thought is that I don't think this is a spectacular race, but if you are a marathon runner and want to come to China to travel afterward, this could be a good option. Also, I think overall there probably isn't a better marathon in China. Also, this is the qualifier for the Chinese runners, so there are elite runners in the race and for people to get out and watch. Finally, I would recommend this race as a potential first-time marathon since the course is pretty flat. Pros: -the course is basically flat, with just one hill that I remember around 25K -the course is fairly scenic, starting at Tiananmen, passing several neighborhoods and universities, and ending at the Olympic Stadium -the pick-up process for your packet is easy -there is a good amount of water and energy drink along the way -there isn't really a problem with crowding, unlike what bigger races can have - I never felt crowded at the beginning of the race CONS: -there is no real expo, so anyone hoping to meet other runners or buy running gear will be disappointed... and similarly, you don't walk away feeling really excited for race day -the course fee is really high for foreigners as compared with local Chinese, so it doesn't seem like foreigners are really getting their money's worth. -the start is with the other races' (5K, 10K, half marathon) runners, which makes it a little frustrating to watch them finish! -there are not enough port-a-potties along the way, which is bad for us women! All this said, I plan on running this race again because I live in Beijing, and I'm excited for it!

Better course than 2007, but still mostly boring. Organization was better than indicated in other comments (there were enough water stations, and I did not encounter traffic other than ambulances and pick-up buses) but why can they not pick a better course and also provide a better place to pick up your race bib?

I was actually rather impressed with the overall organization, knowing that marathon running in China is not exactly a mass participation sport - not yet. My only serious peeve is that at the start line, runners were not corralled per expected time. Moreover, all four races (full, half, 9K and mini-marathon) were started simultaneously. So, with many local runners not familiar with how chip timing works, there was a lot of pushing and shoving to get as close to the starting gate as possible. At some point I was seriously concerned my bibs would be torn off. Other than that, the course was reasonably varied, the public reasonably supportive, and the aid stations well-stocked with water, sport drinks and sponges (I don't eat anything on the course). The race finished at one of the Olympic stadiums (not the Bird's Nest - the older one). Oh, and your medal is on the bottom of the goody bag you collect at the finish. They don't hang it on your neck. The thing I was concerned about most - air quality - was not too bad; it was no worse than in my home town, anyway. The weather was almost perfect, in fact: cool, overcast, moderate breeze (that changed to a gale in the afternoon, but I was at my hotel already). In summary, not a bad experience at all. Give them another few years; I bet it will be a world-class race - not only for the elite runners, but also for the ordinary marathon joe.

I ran the full marathon and do not agree with M.R.'s comments. This marathon had a five-hour time limit. I ran 4:44, but the only traffic I saw on the course were ambulances and buses to pick up people who did not finish. Most of the drink stations did only have water, but maybe almost half of them (as stated in the runners' packet) did have sports drink. And I even had some "elite sports drink" at one station. Although between the race start and 35K mark I only saw two port-a-potties, it seemed quite acceptable to pee on any plant or wall. I am pretty sure that I saw the 4:30 pace man being attended to by a medic at 37.5K. There were few KM markings until 21K, and absolutely no mile markings, and this made it difficult to keep pace.

Great volunteers, great supporters, and an interesting, flat course. Everything seemed pretty organized. Lack of male toilet facilities, but it seemed to be acceptable to pee on any plant or wall. I saw two toilets between the start and 35K. There were three drink choices 1. Water, 2. Sports drink (blue Gatorade) 3. Elite runner drink (green, watered-down sports drink). But most of the stations only had water, and only one had elite runner drink. The other thing that bugged me was the lack of KM/mile markers. I had trained for a specific pace, but there were only sporadic KM markers until 20K and no mile markers at all. I am thankful to everybody who helped, including God who gave us perfect weather for the run.

If you can get away with registering at the cost of a local, then maybe consider it. Otherwise, it's not worth it. The only other thing it has going for it is starting in Tiananmen and ending in the Olympic Village. 1) The registration process is so backwards, you'd think they are trying to deter people from registering. 2) The bib pick-up process is equally as frustrating. Unorganized, and dual steps to make sure you are there for a long time and even more frustrated - not to mention I question the big box of xerox copies of everyone's ID or passports thrown in a big box after the bib has been picked up. 3. The starting point was so disorganized. They should have separate entrance or starts for the 9K, mini marathon and corporate teams, or at least organize them differently. I could get to my start line in time because of the huge mess. 4) Half-marathon was not a real half. AS mentioned in another post, it is only 20.5, and with poor marking, I too had a hard time determining when to speed up. 5) At the half-marathon finish, the only thing waiting was a tiny bottle of Watson water - one per person, please. (Seriously?) 6) Course was pretty boring soon after leaving Tiananmen. I thought we'd at least run through Haidian Park, but really we just ran along the highway. They need to make this course more interesting! Cultivate the real essence of Beijing and show the runners why Beijing! So unless you're in the neighborhood and can register for 50 RMB - versus $50 USD or $100 USD (late registration) - and you're bored, don't bother with this race. The lack of organization will just piss you off. The girl at Octagon had the audacity to tell me that they were very overwhelmed due to over 7,000 registrants for the marathon (and in her defense, in total, including all other participants, it was more like 24,000). I have no sympathy, though. The NYC Marathon has nearly 40,000, and they have an expo, pasta dinner the night before the race, goodies at the end of the race, and plenty of water, bagels, and bananas. No comparison!

I ran the half-marathon this morning, which was 17.07 miles long, by my pedometer. I don't pretend that it's exactly accurate, but four miles over? Come on. They also opened the roads early (two hours and 15 minutes into the race), and so we had to dodge pedestrians, bikes, and traffic to make it to the finish line, where the pedestrians and people on bikes were standing and playing on it. There was also only water and sponges at the stations and the course was boring. The only good thing that came out of it was that now I feel like I can go anywhere else in the world and have a better experience.

I've lived in China for over three years, and know Beijing very well. The course missed all of classic Beijing, and bib pick-up was a mess. (I left my Chinese driver to wait there for 3 hours.) There were way too many police along the roads. I was somehow quick, so I cannot complain about water or the food shortage. The biggest omissions are that you don't go through Hutongs, along Kunming Lake, through the forbidden city, or along Tiantan. The marathon missed it all... I will only come back if the course is changed to capture Beijing's beautiful side. I can do better marathons in China. Organizers, please change the route and bib collection!

I ran the marathon in 2007 and 2008. There was a big difference in the organization at the end of the 2008 edition. It was a total mess - no water, no food, no souvenirs, fighting, etc.... What a pity, because up to the end it was a great course. Very different from the 2007 race, which was very smooth. I see the organizer changed in 2008. I hope they learned from the mistakes in 2008 to improve in 2009. To be fair, they did apologize many times and eventually posted the souvenirs/medals, etc., but that did not make up for the lack of water at the end of a marathon. I will run again because I am stubborn and have confidence that they will improve....

A real mixed bag, this event had some positives and some big negatives. I really liked: - Nice, wide, flat streets. You could do a good time on this course. - Excellent organization on the course, with lots of police, soldiers and volunteers. - Well stocked drink stations, even for slower runners. Plenty of water and energy drinks. - Good t-shirt, medal, and food bag at the end. - More spectators than I expected. Didn't like: - Number pickup. A disaster. I have never seen anything like it. Waited for over an hour and a half, with people pushing, fights nearly starting, complete chaos. Volunteers were doing their best, but there was not enough space, not enough people, not enough organization. - General chaos at the start and end. Not enough information on where to go, directions, etc. - Bag collection at the end a nightmare. Overall I'm glad I made the effort, but probably wouldn't do it again.

I just ran the Beijing Half Marathon today, and when I got to the end I was shocked. Up until 17K, I was on pace to finish in 1:50. After the full marathon turned off the route at 17K, there were no more KM markings. I got to the end of the race and I was done in 1:46. I hadn't sped up, and was skeptical of the distance. I just checked out the course online, and indeed, the "half marathon" ended at 20.5K, 700 meters short of a full half marathon! After the race I also waited 1.5 hours for the race-bag buses to arrive. When they did arrive, we stood in a mob for 20 minutes while they tried to hand the bags back. I live in Beijing and I have run this race four times before. I have never seen it bungled this badly before. I simply am in shock that they cheated on the race distance.

I ran the half marathon this morning, since I'll be running the NYC Marathon in two weeks. Earlier this year, I did the Standard Charter Hong Kong Marathon and the Great Wall Marathon. Was disappointed at several points of this marathon, mostly the organization and lack of finisher medal. Cons: 1) Drop-off point for runner's bags were a mess. Not enough spaces between the buses, so it felt like Time Square on New Year's Eve just to drop off the bag. 2) I thought the runners weren't provided with enough information about the race in their race package. Didn't give any suggestion for runners how to get back into the city after the end of the run. Where the 1/2 marathon runners finished, there are no subway stations or other convenient methods to get back. Waited about an hour to catch a taxi. 3) After finishing the run, I discovered that the buses with the runner's bag hadn't arrived. Waited about one hour after running for the buses to arrive and get my clothes and food back. 4) At the end of the run, no souvenirs. No finisher medals, and no snacks; only water. Heard they were giving out towels, but we never received those either. 5) If you're not running the full marathon, you don't get timed. 6) Maybe I'm a bit spoiled, but I was expecting a "running T-shirt"... made out of the "wicking" material. Just got regular cotton T-shirts. 7) Course could've been a bit more interesting. Pros: 1) The volunteers were REALLY nice and worked their best to help you out. 2) Crowds were cheering you on all the way. 3) Aid stations were helpful, and well stocked with sponges, water and sports drinks. I ran this with another friend who's been living here living in Beijing for over 5 years. We both agree this isn't worth doing again. Suggestion: If you're coming to China to run a marathon, I suggest the Great Wall Marathon. It's better organized, the course is much more interesting, and the souvenir items are MUCH better.

First off, let me start with a warning. Anyone contemplating doing either the 1/2 marathon or the 10K should know that they DO NOT issue a chip for these races, and if you decide to run them, no results or certificates are issued. Only the full marathon is chip timed. With that warning out of the way, on with the review. I must say, after reading some of the reviews here, I was very skeptical about this race. Overall, the 2007 experience appear to be much improved from years past. The only real disappointment was the last minute moving of the start line from Tiananmen Square to outside the National Stadium. The start was packed, as they group everyone together and all races start 15 minutes after the elites. The course is fast and flat, the weather was cool, sunny, and dry, the air was great, and overall conditions were perfect for a marathon. As far as scenery goes the course is boring and non-descript. Beijing is a fantastic city, but you wouldn't know that while running the marathon. Despite all the historic places and streets in this city, the marathon manages to miss all of them. Security was huge, with soldiers and police lining the whole course, every 10 feet. Anyone who's spent time in Beijing knows that this level of security is needed, as masses of forced cheering spectators and cars would no doubt cross the course to get to the other side of the street. I say "forced" because many were just going about their day until they reached the course, where all foot and car traffic was blocked by police and intimidating-looking soldiers. The volunteers were great, cheering at every pass, and water stops were plentiful along the way. I also passed a few small staffed medical tents. The stadium finish is a nice touch, but the rest is anti-climactic, as after you cross the finish line, they give you a nice Nike running hat and a huge towel (both with the race logo on it), and your finisher's certificate, and send you out onto the street, with no food other than a banana. One more plus: you get to keep your chip to go along with the many other freebies and shirt that comes with your entry fees. Overall, it was a great experience, since my expectations were tempered by the less-than-positive reviews I read. I would do this race again and would highly recommend it if you want to run in far away places. I hope next year that they can start at Tiananmen, reroute the course to at least a few historic or scenic places/roads and hand out timing chips for the lesser races. Those are two improvements needed to make this a great race. (I also ran the Shanghai Marathon, and I'll review that race as well.)

The organization was superb before, during and after the race. There was plenty of water along the course. The course is flat. Air quality was not a problem at all. I would definitely do it again.

What a great day; flat course, perfect temperature, not a whiff of smog, plenty of water stops, enthusiastic crowd and excellent goody bag at the end. Shame about the last minute start change from Tienanmen Square to stadium. Do it!

This was my first marathon . I have run 16 HM's before . Organization in Beijing was very good . Plenty of drinks along the course and spectators made for a great atmosphere . Pollution was acceptable and weather was cool . Course was flat .

On the negative side, getting there was a bummer. The English version of the online registration never did open (at least not for internet users within China), and I live too far from Beijing to go register in person. Calling or e-mailing the contacts listed on the webpage was pretty much useless. In the end I did get registered late (2 days before the race), but had to run under someone else's name. Others' comments about the bad air and crowded start are right on, so I won't elaborate any further. After reading the comments from previous years, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the race itself. Water and sports drinks were regular and in good supply throughout the race. It was my first marathon, and I ran it much faster than expected due to the flat course. Finally, there were enthusiastic, encouraging spectators for almost the entire 42+km!

This was my first marathon and I particularly enjoyed finishing it faster than planned. Living in Beijing, the pollution was just like during my training (that is to say, pretty bad) but the temperature was really perfect for the event. The course is flat but boring in terms of visual environment, especially at the end when we are crossing the construction sites of the future Olympic district. Reading the comments of previous years, I think they worked a lot to improve the organization: drinks offered as promised (water and energizing), first-aid stations, etc.... Only bad points where at the starting line (every body rushing and pushing like in the subway) as well as for the few cars and buses still trying to share the same lanes as the runners.

This is my first marathon and I enjoyed this marathon a lot. The water posts were good this year. Plenty of water/sports drink. The audience is great. Every 15-20 meters, there was a soldier on left and on the right to guarantee a good course. Start at Tiananmen Square is great. Too bad: cannot find the results on the internet. Air quality is not that good, although during the race I did not have problems with that. But surely Beijing is on its way to 2008.

I have already run six international marathons and I liked this one, even if it is a small one compared to the size of the country. No difficulty with finding the start, and the buses were aligned to take our bags with clothes for change after the race. I was just a bit surprised when it starts; they all jump like for a sprint. After that, it was fine - no problems finding the route, water and energizing drink, and they even had bananas. There were people encouraging us all the time. I beat my personal record and am happy to have done it here.

Previous years' comments are still mostly valid, so I'll just touch on some changes and main points: First - and I can.t stress this highly enough . this is one UGLY race, even though it's about as flat as a pancake. Beijing is a fairly interesting city, but this race is routed so you effectively miss pretty much anything of historical interest or beauty. It's 90% through faceless urban areas, underneath roaring expressways, next to highways, and between construction sites. Very little exists in terms of visual distraction to make the time pass more pleasantly. Second, be prepared for some rather unbreathable air and lots of noise. I live in Shanghai, where the air can be pretty thick at times, but it was an order of magnitude worse in Beijing when you add in the dust from burning coal, construction, and deserts to the west. For most of the run, you're running alongside highways clogged with traffic, or sharing your lanes with public busses. Passing through thick clouds of cigarette smoke from bemused spectators (and one runner who couldn't wait till the finish line) was an added treat. The noise pollution comes principally from hordes of angry drivers who have been inconvenienced for the run, ongoing construction, and traffic running right next to you. While word is getting around better, or so my taxi driver told me, most people are still caught unaware by all the road closures. Third, the start was something of a cluster, and the lines at the bathrooms outside the half- and full-marathon pens were frightfully long (especially since there are soldiers posted every 20 feet around Tian'anmen to ensure no one takes a shortcut to nature). Inside the pens, however, there were additional, more rationally allocated facilities. Finally, the finish area was a complete zoo. It was a nightmare trying to get a certificate, and returning the chip was a scrum. Your finisher t-shirt is handed to you in a bag with other goodies, but if the size isn't right (I'm an 'L' American given an 'S' Chinese size), you're SOL. Their response was try to exchange with another runner. In the end, I gave up, since it wasn't that nice looking to begin with. What can I say positive about this race? The people. Chinese runners are the greatest. They're passionate about their running, and were always ready with a word of encouragement when I cramped up along the way. The organization along the route was vastly superior to Shanghai's, with extremely well-stocked aid stations every 5k (as promised) and even at the 4-5 sponge stations (which were an added bonus). There were young, eager volunteers at 100m intervals, who were ready to help with anything if a runner looked ill. I saw them spring into action at least 4-5 times during the run (this might be a response to several deaths the past two years). And the weather was perfect. cloudy, cool and not too humid. As others have said: if you're in China, you might want to run the BJM just to check it off your to-do list. If you're coming from abroad, skip it and run the Great Wall Marathon in the spring, or try a smaller marathon in Xiamen, Dalian or Hangzhou. A final WARNING: if you are considering using this for a BQ run, beware the fact there was no Champion Chip reader at the starting line, and the pack doesn't start until 15 minutes after the elite men take off. We ran through the arch and I kept looking for the mats. Nope. Didn't hit the first one until 10k. When I got my certificate, I found it was 16 minutes slower than my real time. Pleading with the race officials got me nowhere, though someone from CITS promised to help get the 15 minutes taken off. We'll see. It's strange, because it's the same in Shanghai. They issue chips every year, but then never use the results.

This marathon could be so much better, if they cared at all. The registration will be the only part that goes somewhat normally. The day of the marathon for get everything you know how a marathon should be. This was my 34th marathon, and first international, so I expected a few things to be a little different. Was I ever in for a shock. Just getting into the starting area required the skill of a steeplechase runner. Between dodging cars and buses, and jumping over a barrier at Tiananmen Square. Once at the start you are sandwiched in with 3,000 others. Behind are 17,000 other runners, who are running just minutes behind you. They are the 5,000M, 10,000M, and 1/2 marathon runners. Oh! Forget using the timing chip they give you as there is no mat at the start. During the race don't try to find shade close to the side of the road, the soldiers will make you stay out in the middle of the road. Enjoy the heat! At the finish forget any water. Then stand in line so you can leave. Oh! You want your finisher certificate? Go up the ramp behind the stadium and wait for 4 hours.

Unlike others, I did not have problems with the organization. I registered on the last day, and a helpful staffer called me later to organize payment. Luckily, I am a student, so making repeated trips to the CITS office were feasible -- for others, this might be a problem. The race itself has numerous problems: 0. No marathon is really a good value, but this one is just feels like a scam. 498 yuan will feed you for months in China, but for the marathon, it buys you only the right to fight for position with thousands of students who registered for free. If you run this one, you'll understand what I mean. 1. NO FOOD. Runners littering the street weaving from exhaustion -- literally nothing to eat and limited water. 2. Menacing soldiers every 50 meters of the course. My friend came out to cheer and was nearly arrested for unknown reasons. There appear to be designated cheering sections, and these were very pleasant. Ja yao! 3. Not fun. The start is quirky enough, with mobs of university students, TV cameras and loud patriotic music. It's incredible -- we're launching a marathon next to Mao's resting place and the Forbidden Palace. Is this globalization or what? Prepare for at least 150 shoving, angry runners fighting for each toilet. After that, it's a long slog through wide-open polluted city streets with grumpy smoking bystanders. 4. The brush off. After finishing, you are reminded not to sit on the grass by dozens of guards, then hustled out of the stadium with a little bottle of water and an oversized t-shirt. Thanks for your money -- now go away. 5. Beware of the 'bag scam.' You place your gear on a truck before the race. At the end, many foreigners find their bags have disappeared. I made a big fuss and it magically reappeared. 6. Mysterious timing systems. The time I recorded was significantly different than the official time. Odd. On the other hand, just witnessing the mentally and physically tough Chinese runners may be worth the price of admission. One guy finished with me and asked me for help lighting his cigarette. Yes, people are running marathons in dress shoes, sandals slacks, jeans, backpacks, and more -- and they're doing it faster than you. Cramping? Just stop for a minute and bang furiously at your legs. Good to go. This race made me wistful for the fun marathons back home. Ah, for the days of free massages, gear expos with lots of freebees and air you can breathe.

Need improvement: 1. Water: water was all gone from 30k on for slow (4-hour +) runners. 2. Traffic control: you have to run alongside the traffic after 20k if you are slow. If you live in China and don't plan to travel elsewhere to run, then, why not. It is fun. You get to see BJ in a different way. The spectators (some of them pretty annoyed that they didn't know about the traffic control) are nice.

I was very pleased to finish the Beijing Marathon, despite not totally recovered from a muscle injury. The Beijing Marathon is not too bad, but there are things which should be improved before one could say that this marathon has professional organization. At the start it was not clearly marked where different groups should go (men, women, half marathon, etc, had different starting points). It's no good that the women start 15 minutes later than the men. I saw the top Chinese female runner, Sun Jung Jie, shouting out her way through the men after I reached the 5km-point. How can this be a good race for the women? For me personally, the race was okay. I could run quite freely except one time I had to shout out loud to avoid a few dozens of people crossing the road like they were blindfolded. Along the course it was like the whole police force of Beijing was present. To hold up the traffic takes so much effort and I admire this part of the organization. The air was not really clean but I expected worse when I read some critics before starting this marathon. I could get enough water, and maybe I was a lucky one, but the sponges to cool off my head were mostly dry. Along the route there were many people to encourage you shouting: 'Tcha Jau' or something. This helps at difficult parts towards the end. After the finish, they gave you a towel, a medal, and an oversized T-shirt. To get my certificate I waited two hours, and I saw people fighting like ants. I heard the bad news that two people died in the race. There were many students and many untrained people. But I also heard that the organization is asking the schools to join this marathon to make this event a big thing. I don't think this is good. It gives the marathon a bad name. Most runners are not real runners. Many don't wear running shoes, some run in their jeans! These people don't belong in a marathon. Overall, I think that the Beijing Marathon could be better organized, as it has existed already for a long time. And there are only four years to go until the Olympics take place! But I also think it's a great experience to run the Beijing Marathon as it's a strange environment in another part of the world. Maybe you should run this just once in your life.

Lack of refreshments, poor toilets available (with very bad sanitation), and not enough certificates for time-limited finishers.

The weather on race day (Oct 17, 2004) was perfect for setting a new PB, but due to my being sick for all of September, I had no time for training at all. As a result, although the course was fast and thousands of fans stood along the whole course, I only ran a 3:46. The water supply and refreshment drink are very good in both quality and quantity. However, due to too many untrained runners (more than 50%), if you want to run a good time and not be jammed, prepare to stand in the front of the line at the starting point. One very bad point is the medical back-up; two runners died during the race - a 20-year old boy died at 18 km and a 62-year old man died 100 meters from the finish line. Finally, the distribution of the finishing certificate is extremely messy - totally lacks organization. For this part, I should give it zero stars. I think they will improve next year's marathon, as the Olympics are coming here in 2008! Please give them more time to gain experience and learn how to organize such a massive event! By the way, the souvenirs for the full marathon finishers are plentiful, but if you run 5km, 10km or the half marathon, you will receive nothing!!!!

Used the BJ 2004 for my BQ. I made it but not without hassle and NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. The organization is atrocious. I arrived the Thursday before the marathon to get my number, and they gave it to me as my name translated into Chinese. They say they cannot enter English letters into the system to register participants. So I contact the CAA (organizer of this event) to tell them of the change. I get my number from some college, then have to travel across town (Beijing is a BIG CITY) to the CAA office to tell them that my NAME is incorrect. So they type some letter out to correct the name. I just don't TRUST these guys to get anything done so I call again Saturday to Mr. Cai of CAA and he assures me the change is made. After I finish the race, I get the race certificate and it STILL has the INCORRECT CHINESE pronunciation of my name on the certificate. I run (more like WALK b/c my leg are shot) to get numerous officials to change my name in the database b/c this race was my BQ and I don't want any ambiguity to this whole process once the Boston Athletic Committee comes to authenticate my results. Organization is a joke. Too few porta-potties, serve this orange soda/juice concentrate that has NO endurance benefit and crowd control is atrocious. Especially with late-race water stations, there are just NO cups of water to take. I miff'ed at crucial points b/w 30k-40k water stations b/c most of the cups placed on the table were EMPTY. As for the course, it's flat and pretty fast. You can read about scenery from other reviews but there are three noticeable elevation points, at 10km, 20km and 40km - but nothing massive. But the toxic industrial and automotive fumes will get to you. It also seemed that a good portion of the male spectators also SMOKE along the running path - UGH! Fan support could be better. Most of the people in the city didn't even know there was a marathon in town. Seemed like most spectators were more interested in letting us run by so they can cross the street. NOT RECOMMENDED AT ALL. BTW - going through CITS is a complete rip, $100+ for an entry ticket when it costs half as much if you register through other organizations!?!? That's what happens when you book through a state-owned travel agency... Ran the race a return to my roots, thankfully I BQ'd on this, but never again for me...

I only ran the half-marathon in 2003 and it wasn't that great. The only interesting thing on the course was the Forbidden City (starting point), and it goes through the heart of the city. The roads were only half closed and there was a lot of polluting traffic(when Beijing is already one of the most polluted cities in the world). This also makes it very loud because you have all of the horns honking, and they honk a lot! However, the crowds are plentiful and cheer you on. The course is very flat, and it would be very difficult to find a hill in Beijing. The organization is poor and I'm lucky that my nice running coach at school (I go to an international school in Beijing, and I am currently in grade 11) did the registration for me, as I hear it is very complicated (they even changed the starting date a few days before the race). The aid stations were good, however they only had water and some sweet orange flavored drink. The finish for the half marathon was on the side of a road somewhere and was very uneventful. There were no timing chips, so the time was inaccurate, and I never got my finishing certificate, and they ran out of medals. All there was to look forward to at the end was more orange drink and a towel.