Adelaide Festival City Marathon

All of the basics were spot on, well timed drink stations, excellent course marshals. The course in 2013 was two laps, not my preferred lay out but it was a pretty course. not many spectators but those who were out were supportive. best marathon t-shirt so far! to improve.. maybe hype it up a bit more.. an mc at the start and add another band on the course,the one that was out there was cool.

Adelaide Oval is one of the greatest sporting grounds in the world and to start and finish at this location was very special. I enjoyed the course although the undulations for the last 7km along the Torrens River certainly reduced my km splits. I look forward to coming back in the future.

We started out at 6:45 a.m. (in between downpours and gray looming clouds) as a small crowd of runners. We headed out of the Santos stadium at a nice, slow pace. The majority of runners seemed to group quite closely together, until about the West Lakes area, at which point we started to spread out. On reaching the coast, we encountered a horrendous side and headwind that really made it a battle and my partner and I couldn't wait to change direction back to the city via the river. The sun finally came out and stayed out for the last 11K. The fuel stations were nicely spaced and equipped with choices of drink. Also, a big thank you to all you volunteers who braved the horrendous weather. The traffic bollards were spaced so that you were really having to run single file - not helpful if one is running with a partner, which I was. The course in general was flat, a little indirect, and not the most scenic - although it did have its moments! As an international event the inner city, the park lands and the coast would be an attraction! I was surprised at how low-key the event is in comparison to the City to Bay - especially as the event offers a half-marathon and an 8K run. I was surprised to hear that someone collapsed at the gate just seconds before the finish line, and there was a delay in getting him an ambulance. If cost is an issue, then I'm sure $2.00 per head extra on enrollment wouldn't be frowned upon! I very much enjoyed it, and would do it again.