Tel Aviv Marathon

There is no local transportation to the Start, you have to walk over 6 km or you can rent a bike and figure out how to get there. They do not mention that on the website. At least they should provide a shuttle bus since all local transportation is canceled on race day and non-locals have to worry about how they will get to the start. They use 20 oz. water bottles in every water stop. Very environmentally unfriendly. They never thought of using water cups. I would not recommend this race until they get their act together.

The organization is really poor: Even when you use the 'English' website you ave to read Hebrew in between. Bill in Hebrew, the official brochure... The idea to offer you starter kits in a shopping center (Bauhaus style) is quite good, but nobody was really aware where in the mall (official description announced 1st floor, but is was in the cellar). No information in English, the person handing over wasn't familiar with Tel Aviv and the shirt has to be picked up in the Nike shop in basement. On the running day: no buses were available and taxis were not able to get close to the start: 6km on foot before the run (same afterwords). Course is fine, but nearly no spectators. 'Special atmosphere' was announced, but I expected something different. Now: two weeks later back an home I'm not able to see photos or results: Everything for 2020 ;-) . I'm happy that I spent some days in Tel Aviv. Excellent city, but I can't recommend the marathon.

A big improvement on previous years It is a massive race with the marathon a bit of a side show as only 3,000 of the 40,000 run the full distance but at least you get lots of Kudos! A 7 am start half hour after the halfers meant that the hordes who ran the half marathon never got in the way ( though it also meant their supporters had left the streets by the time we got there ) The course is great . Ok the first 10k are through the northern suberbs but then you hit the sea. Running along the beach front with the stunning blue med alongside is a real boost and you follow it all the way down to the ancient port of Jaffa. There you run alongside the fishing boats and through to the half way mark with the sound of the waves breaking against the rosks. Then through the heart of the city along the verdent Rothchild Boulevard and German Templar district. This is very much a city centre marathon and that keeps you at thge heart of Tel Aviv. It is pretty flat and fast too. The start and finish were well organised but the one important piece of advice is to take the train . Tel Aviv University station is right by the start / finish and the railways lay on a special service. Mind you once you are back in the centre it is walk or cycle hire. Taking a cab or trying to drive to the start is a nightmare. New this year is posting all the marathon phootos that are taken by the professionals on your facebook page. That means you come away with a whole visual record of your race and you can share them or keep them- they are all free. A few irritations such as the fact the expo shuts down the day before the race and a poorly functioning website. However this is a good marathon and has the wide flat streets to make it a really fast one