Shanghai International Marathon

I ran this (3rd time) because it's convenient more so than memorable. Weather is getting hotter in November (21-25*C race morning). How about we deal with air pollution in December or climate change or both? The Goods: - emphasis on running etiquette in the several SMS received pre-raced (a lot more education to do) - 25min from metro station to standing in the start corral. Included toilet, gear check and stretching. Many details missed: - English website is improving but still unfriendly and missing basic details - I got into the 3:45 coral but ran for 20min before seeing the 5:00 pacers (?!) - Why do all 3 races start at the same time?! Resulted in many different paces running all together. - Runner name on bib was printed way too small. Impossible to read. - Several toilet stations placed right on the course (Why not a side street?!) so bathroom-goers lined up into the path of runners. - Water and sports drinks used same cup. Stations weren't clearly marked in advance so many runners suddenly cut across the route. - Disposal bins were put next to the water stations instead of staggered down course. - Water misters were put on the side of the course, not accounting for wind direction so few actually sprayed onto runners. - A waste of a stadium finish. Completely empty (except runners) and without atmosphere, after which everyone was quickly herded out. Why not issue some family passes and pack out the stadium for a rousing finish? That would be truly memorable and worth returning for. - No Small shirts left by Saturday morning.

I am an international runner and I didn't realise until the day before that my race number was in the starting block E. As a 3hrs 30 minutes marathon runner, I found myself at the back of 5hrs.30minutes runners. This was a big nightmare and cruel to be subjected to this experience. It ruined what would be been a great experience having travelled all the way from London and possibly the only black man in the mass race apart from the elite runners.

This was my first marathon in China and Shanghai. Overall a great experience. Great, fast almost flat course, organization along the race course very good with plenty of supply of water stations, energy drinks, cold sponges, medical coverage...! And a very engaged crowd of supporters and spectators. The only downside is the congested starting area and slow runners get there way in into the A block which caused a lot of unnecessary slowing down the first km's and annoyances. But this can be easily improved! I think the race has a lot of further upwards potential and could end up as one of the ' bigger ones' moving forward. Singapore-watch it!