Sevilla (Seville) Marathon - Race Reviews

Fast marathon and very well organized. Without a doubt, a great option out of the bigger ones.

A well organized event; Baggage drop, chip timing, drink stations at every 2.5k, clear starter pens and pace runners. Interesting route, taking in many of the main features of Seville. Number pick-up was simple...once you had managed to find the conference centre. Too far from the centre to return for the pasta party, and they were allocating 30 minute slots! Then the start stadium was also well out of the centre, but some transport was arranged in addition to a couple of regular bus numbers. However, after the event there was very little in the way of transport, with roads still closed. Needs better planning.A truly flat course, with well manned drink stations. Timing mats at most 5k sections provided good run data in the results.

A great marathon, the city just stops for five hours, it was my first in 2015 and already registered to 2016.

Loved the Seville Marathon, well organised with helpful marshalls from start to finish. A beautiful city that the race showcases - and a sunny climate all add up to a smash hit. I'll be back! One thing, though, I was unable to purchase a T-shirt of the event. Can anyone help?

Firstly, the course and hospitality in Seville were excellent. If you don't have Spanish language skills, you'll probably struggle a bit. Finding the registration venue was difficult. It is not in the central city area. Directions were difficult to understand. But once at registration, the process was easy and pleasant. The starting line and bag drop were not easy for me to find. Plan on a 1km walk between the drop and start. The local people were fantastic. Great food and fiestas afterward.

This was the second time I ran the Seville marathon. Last year I was positive, but now I'm even more positive. Biggest change: a lot more fans along the course. Seville is a real marathon city, if you ask me! The marathon is perfect for both fast runners and fun runners: - The course is flat and very fast - Not crowded (9.000 runners maximum) - Well organized - Nice finish in the Olympic Stadium - City is beautiful and you see (almost) all of it during the race - Cheap to compete (30 euro) and a nice running shirt and shorts for free - Lot of fans along the route Small down sides: - The expo was in a distant part of the town, not easy to get there - Almost all the communication is in Spanish (!) - few people speak English, but they are very helpful I'll be there next year!

Superbe parcours plat à travers la ville, ambiance très chaleureuse de la part des spectateurs. Ravitaillements tous les 2.5km et météo idéale,soleil et fraîcheur le matin. J'en garderai un super souvenir

I stayed at the hotel adjacent to the stadium, which was boring but extremely convenient. The route took on some old and new town and overall was excellent, with mainly Tarmac and minimal cobble stones which were not an issue for me. Excellent goody bag, realistic price, brilliant cheap public transport and a fun before and after pasta party. Once I have done other Marathons in my todo list I will definitely be back.

I'm very positive about this marathon: - The course is flat and very fast - Well organized during the race (that is the most important part) - Nice finish in the Olympic Stadium - City is beautiful and you see (almost) all of it during the race - Cheap to compete (¬21) and a nice running shirt and shorts for free Small down sides: - The expo was in a distant part of the town, not easy to get there - All the communication is in Spanish (!) - few people speak English, but they are very helpful Certainly will do this one again!

The city and the course lived up to all expectations. Throw in perfect weather conditions and you could not find a better place to run in the Spring. Out on the course, cyclists were an annoyance. I have no problem with them encouraging friends but not when they get in the way of competitors. This aspect needs to be tidied up. It proved impossible to get transport, taxi or bus, back to my hotel after the marathon. I had no choice but to walk the whole way back to the city centre. Surely a bus could have been laid on or a taxi rank established near the stadium. As regards picking up my bag after the race, they would need to have printed large numbers to stick on the bags that are easy for the volunteers to read. It took an eternity for bags to be identified. All that said, I would highly recommend Seville and it was a great trip.

As this was my first maraton - i have notning to compare with - but overall for me it was a great experience . The spectators on route were brilliant - the organisation fine. The route was flat and tolk the runners along some very nice parts of Sevilla - there were plenty water stations - and all staff very helpfull. Very good atsmosphere - I will come again.

I ran this with some members of my Running club, I found the course pancake flat, the raceday organisation was good, started from the back though! Weather started cold and got quite hot which is difficult. Expo organisation and layout a bit odd, they seemed to have a multi queue system. Some parts of the course are a bit bereft of support, near the end especially before you hit the stadium - otherwise a really fine race - would do again. Goody bag and race pack are amazing value for money.

Sevilla 2012 my first marathon, really enjoyed the experience from bib pick up to finish. Expo is small but bag had many good things in it, T shirt, shorts, magazines, pistachio, stands selling value for money gear. The race day was made easy by well organization, being my first marathon I don't have other to compare to but everyone seemed enjoying. Good support from the local around the course, water, oranges, sponges and sport drinks were plentiful and towel, medal, food & drinks at arrival. Would definetly do it again.

This was my first marathon and I really don't expect to partake in another so well organised and such good value for money. Bib pick-up, the expo, the start (although if you want to run a PB get towards the front of the pack!) and being funnelled out after the race...all exceptionally organised. Goody bag was awesome....bib, shorts, socks, magazines, pistachio nuts! Medal, towel, goody bag with drinks and food after the race...water, powerade, oranges and sponges during the race....stadium start and finish. Great experience, with only the heat (crept up to around 21c during the race) a negative....thanks to all who helped organise the marathon and to those who cheered along the route!

Sevilla was my first ever marathon, I'm an American that now lives in the South of Spain. I was not going to leave a review until I had something to compare it to. Having just run Berlin I can say I prefer Sevilla. I ran faster in Berlin but that marathon is too big and too corporate. Sevilla does not have the big crowds but it does all the little things right. -A nice shirt, shorts, and a free bag for a very low entry fee. -It has a small town grass roots feel, volunteers put a towel on you when you finish, take the chip off your shoe for you. -Water bottles vice cups was nice on the course as were the orange slices. I also liked the course which is a loop and does not have too many turns. I'll be running it again and hopefully continue to get faster.

I've run 10 previous marathons including some of the biggest on both sides of the Atlantic. This race capped them all in terms of organization, facilities for runners, value, etc. For a race entry of 20, there was lunch for participants and 1 friend on the day prior to and day of the race including soft drinks/beers. The race pack included running shorts and vest. The post-race food bag was enough to feed a small army with again more beer/soft drinks being served if you wanted. There were drinks around the course every 2.5K, and energy drinks every 5K. The course is very flat and fast, the only slow part being the start getting out of the stadium. There are proportionally much more faster runners here than any other marathon I've done. More than 10% finished sub-3 and the cut-off is 5 hours. The city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and makes for a lovely weekend break. It was my first sub-3 so this will always be a memorable race for me.

This was my 160th marathon overall and I was very surprised that after 36 years (this was 37th), they hadn't learned how to be efficient in giving out the bib numbers (it was a bad - really bad). And the start was the worst I've ever encountered in any marathon. The course was very nice, so it made me forget the expo and the start experience. I am from Spain, living in the USA for a long time, and I was very surprised how rude the Spanish runners were. The organization should use the same method to give the bib as they used to check the bags. They should assign lines by bib numbers and start by corrals. They should allow the runners to be ready 10 to 15 minutes before the gun - not one minute before - to avoid the pushing. Overall, I had a good experience, and the very flat course is great for a PR.

I love Seville and really enjoyed this marathon. It was a cold day, but really ideal for a hard run. The marathon starts and finishes in the stadium across the river and outside the city, but it is easy to join the hundreds of other runners taking the local bus to and from there (and really cheap). It was a thrill to finish in the stadium, though a bit of a disappointment to discover that the free beer at the end was alcohol-free (tapas would have been nice). They could also increase the 5-hour time limit by an hour so that more runners could take part. I enjoyed this race - and Seville and would gladly run it again.

It was 5 degrees at the start and 8 degrees four hours later, so make sure you have gloves or something to help stay warm in case you get similar weather. Gas heaters at the stadium before the start helped to keep warm. Well organized generally, and due to small numbers and broad streets (well marshaled by traffic police), there was plenty of room to run. Course is flat and I got a PB. Refreshments were water, sports drinks and orange segments along the route. The Olympic stadium is NOT near the city center, and there is no direct bus to it. It will cost about 8 euro to get to the stadium from the center of town, so it may be better to stay in the hotel on site. Mostly men (4,100, to about 200 women). Toilet facilities on the route reflect this (i.e., pee anywhere along the roadside, so ladies: don't expect many porta-loos). There gave a cropped top, knicker shorts, a finishing towel and medal to the finishing ladies. Full, hot meal and entertainment on the campus after the race. Nice one to do if it is accessible, as you couldn't beat the value. Race route is a bit bland, but the crowds appreciated any recognition of their support and cheered loudly for high-fives, etc. and any interaction with them or the kids.

This is a very well organized race with a huge amount of stuff - pre- and post-race food (missed both - they're away from the expo/race start and finish), a huge medal, a towel, a vest, and shorts. I suspect ladies need a championship start to justify the racing knickers we were presented with.... It was pretty chilly this year, at about 6 degrees, so be prepared for both warm and cold conditions. The route goes around the outskirts of the city, so it isn't very scenic; but it's very spacious and flat, so it's perfect for fast times. I got a PB without even trying. There were very few foreigners and even fewer women, perhaps because of the lack of information on the website in any language other than Spanish. However, a very slick race with a great start and finish in the Olympic stadium.

This was my first marathon outside of the US and I wasn't sure what to expect. It ended up being a great experience. Packet pickup at the stadium is easily accessible by city bus. You can also take the bus to the start on race morning, but you can NOT take it back into the city until well after the race is over. The walk from the stadium back to an area where you can catch a bus is well over a mile, but not impossible to do. Having the race start and finish at the stadium is great because you can warm up and cool down indoors. Because the start is on the track and then proceeds through a narrow tunnel, you should line up near the front if you're trying to PR. Otherwise, the course is VERY fast. Rather than going through the city center, which anyone who has visited Sevilla knows would be impossible, the course goes around the perimeter of the city. However, the crowds are very good for such a small race. The course is not closed to traffic but is well monitored by police. The volunteers are great and there are plenty of them. Aquarius sports drink (basically PowerAde) and orange slices are available every 5K, with water about twice as often. For such a cheap race (16.70 e this year), you get a lot for your money. I came away with a pair of running shorts, a singlet, a towel, a running hat, and a good-sized finisher medal. There is also a pre-race meal that I did not go to. The food at the finish is lacking... to be honest, I'd rather pay a few euros more for better food, but that's small fish. Overall, this is a great race, and I highly recommend it.

The race was great (and cheap too!). It was a large loop around the outskirts of the city and does not pass any of the historical landmarks - I think we saw the Giralada for a brief second or two. There was crowd support and they were much more lively if you give them something to cheep about - something as simple as a wave. Overall, we had beautiful weather, stadium start and finish, and amazing perks (food, goody bag, raffles). Great race!

A well organized and friendly event on a flat and fast course.

I ran this marathon this weekend, and I thought it was a great start to the year. The course felt as flat as any others I've run, pretty much, including Amsterdam. I didn't get the time I wanted, but I haven't had a proper long run since about December, so it was no surprise. The weather was nice, and the organization was fantastic. You get a pasta party & closing party both with free drinks, goody bag of food, shorts, singlet, towel, etc. for what works out to about ten pounds if you enter early! Bargain! The people organizing it all were really friendly too, and I was even offered a free guided tour of the city!

Ran the Seville Marathon in 2006 and conditions were perfect. Blue sky, 10 degrees (C) and a light wind. The previous day had been heavy rain all day and from reviews of last year, weather can be hit or miss around Feb., so I was lucky in this respect. The organization was excellent, on a par with London. Arrived early for the run on the Sunday and got to mill about in the Olympic stadium warm up area. The start and finish in the Olympic stadium was inspiring and with the blue sky and atmosphere the first few kilometers wiz by. The rest of the course zig-zags around the outskirts of Seville (a fairly small city), across the river four times. On the final approach, the the stadium course hits the center of Seville past the massive cathedral and all the sites of Seville. Plenty of supporters, water, and sites on the run. With good weather impossible not to enjoy Seville and the marathon and the finish line in the stadium was superb. Processed quickly through the finish with medal, towel and food bag before exiting the stadium to my only complaint!! Unless you drove to the stadium or were being picked up their was no public transport near or taxis to get back the center of Seville (approximately 5 KM away). Would advise that you consider your return to your hotel and make plans. Still, the Seville Marathon is excellent, and Seville is a fantastic city with good hotels and excellent food (paella and tapas with superb Spanish wines). Would highly recommend. Next stop for me is the Stockholm Marathon in June; another stadium finish, so looking forward to it already.

Interesting race. Make sure if you leave Seville the day of the marathon, you leave your hotel way in advance! Taxis were very limited! We almost missed our train, and many people in our hotel missed their flights. No gels or Gu on the course, that kind of scared me, but I still PRed, maybe because I was one of the few women with men passing me the whole race. Water, sponges, and oranges all over the course! There was a Gatorade-like drink a few times. Changing rooms and bag drop-off was great! Not many bathrooms before race start. Start and finish was in the Olympic Stadium, which was cool! Few runners... maybe 3,000. Course, was okay, it seems we could have run by more sites, but maybe I was not paying attention. Nice goodie bags (shorts and shirts, towels at the finish, and a nice medal).

This felt like a race run by pros. The weather was awful this year but that didn't ruin it. I even managed a PB. plenty of water, sponges, oranges and Powerade. Great singlet and shorts instead of a t-shirt. The towel at the end was a great idea too. I didn't make the pasta party but the goody bag for lunch afterwards was enough for both me and my boyfriend (he reckoned he deserved it for freezing his butt off in the stadium). The finish in the Olympic stadium was a special experience. Even a very ordinary athlete like myself felt like I was winning gold. Loads of good hotels right beside the start/finish. Showers and baggage check great as well... I can't say enough good things about this race.

My 2nd time at this marathon. (See my comments for 2003 also). A winter cold snap hit all of Spain this year. Unfortunately this brought severe cold, wind, and driving rain spoiling the event. Such a shame for runners, helpers, and organizers alike. Hypothermia is a worry for athletes. But book for next year as that weather was exceptional; it's usually perfect. Pick up your number early to beat queues; pasta party good, medal fab, vest - not a t-shirt this year; nice variation. I`ve put 5 stars for spectators for this year as just to be outside was brave enough!!!

I came from Toronto, Canada via London to run in the Seville Marathon. The weather was perfect, the staff and participants fantastic, and the course beautiful - particularly in the old city! The finish was incredible coming into the stadium, with the crowd, music and dancers. I loved it!

I entered this unexpectedly the night before the race, in Seville on a weekend break. As I was in training for another marathon, I only wanted to do a half. The folks at the expo (at the Olympic Stadium) spoke very little English, so entering at the last minute was tricky, but they were very friendly, and were happy for me to drop out halfway round (hence my first marathon DNF!). As others have said, the organization was excellent: prompt start (with a dancing troup of attractive teenage girls as pre-start entertainment!); Powerade (mostly bottles) every 5K and water bottles/sponges every 2.5 and chip timing. The goody bag t-shirt was an event-specific wicking singlet - I never saw the medal as I was having breakfast in my hotel by the time the first runners crossed the finish line! The first half of the course is dull (except for crossing the spectacular suspension bridge) but - except for the rise to the bridge - very flat and wide. Support was very thin but enthusiastic. It's definitely a runner's course - lots of impressive looking club t-shirts in front of me, though almost entirely Spanish. And February is a great time for it - weather was sunny but not too hot. Seville is a city to die for - unusual, beautiful, friendly. This race would be a very good excuse for a visit; I'm thinking of doing the Half Marathon from Seville to Los Palios as a reason to return.

Superb marathon. Organization excellent, great goodie bag, loads of water and sponge stations with the bonus of oranges as well. The cut off time of 5 hours means it is a marathon for the faster runner, but still alot of camaraderie amongst everyone. The first half of the the very flat course is thru the newer suburbs of Seville which, though not too exciting, offer wide tree lined avenues; after halfway the marathon takes you thru the historic centre, with some nice bridge crossings, just the boost you need; the finish in Seville`s Olympic Stadium is fabulous. For a moderate sized marathon the support was very good. The very hospitable Sevillians are an outside people so many were simply around to watch! One thing to beware of is the chance of hot weather. On this years run it crept up to 20 degrees.

Seville is beautiful. It is vibrant, colourful and exciting. The old centre unfolds delightfully as you wander, with a great choice of things to do. Much of the Marathon takes you around the 'barrios' of modern apartment blocks and is a little dull. However, the last few kilometres do take in the centre, which uplifts the soul and gives the tiring runner new resolve. I found the support throughout charming and friendly with that distinctive note of the 'flamenco' handclap that is so difficult to imitate. I felt really tired and hacked off towards the end, I got backpain and felt like stopping, but off course did not! Running through the tunnel into the fantastic Olympic Statium changed that feeling. On that track, with all the noise and the awsome stadium rising up around I felt transformed and positively flew across the line!

This marathon is for runners that love the sport and comaraderie. They really mean it when they say only 5 hours to complete. It's flat and fast. Mostly runners, no walkers. It was a bit warm and sunny, and I'm not sure whether it was by accident, but one ran in the shade most of the time. The water and sponge stations were well placed as well. Finishing at the Olympic Stadium and village is nice and convenient. There are nice clean modern showers at the stadium. You are also provided with a towel at the end of the race instead of a metallic sheet. Lunch is provided for runners and their friends/families after the race and coincides with the award ceremony. Awesome trofeos! It's just a really really nice marathon! It doesn't hurt that Sevilla is a great city as well. About the spectators, well, what do you expect when people are still hanging out at the discos when you're on your way to the start.

Seville is gorgeous, and late February is a perfect time, climate-wise, to visit. The course is relatively flat, beginning and ending in their brand new Olympic Stadium, and winds through a variety of old and new barrios. You'll hit about 2km of cobblestone streets near the end. Organization is very good, with plenty of water and sponge stations alternating every 2.5 km. Having been spoiled by Chicago, I was amazed at how little interest and spectator support there was. If you have a desire to vacation in Spain, Seville should be on your itinerary, and running this race wouldn't be the worst way to spend a Sunday morning.