Overall I enjoyed the Newport Marathon and I would run it again, but there is room for improvement. I've run several marathons previously (London, Yorkshire, Wales) so have some points of comparison. I got a lift to the event from a friend and managed to find some street parking nearby so can't comment on park-ride, etc. Communication before the race was great and information all received in plenty of time. Bag drop v.smooth and easy. Queues for toilets v.long, so could definitely do with more portaloos. Pre-race pens/holding area lacked any real sense of organisation/direction, but I managed to find and get there- I ended up a long way back and wasn't clear if I was in the right 'zone' but I wasn't focused on hitting a time so wasn't too bothered by this. Couple of narrow bits early on in the race, but it was nice running through the streets of the town. The course itself I thought was really scenic- extended periods with no crowd/support but I actually quite like this and when there were areas of support it was great. The main issue- and where I think the race needs to improve- is in the 'loop system' it employs and making sure runners take the correct direction. It happens at around mile 16/17 (lap 1) and mile 21/22 (lap 2)- these are points where you're pretty fatigued and processing stuff is tricky. It really needs to be much better signed from a much further distance out. I'd be absolutely amazed if people didn't run shorter or longer distances than they should have. Runners around me were all confused and no-one was really sure if we'd actually taken the correct route. I asked a member of the race crew in high-vis jacket at the next available station and he wasn't too sure either. Not ideal. The run into the final stretch of the race was great. Great atmosphere, loads of support. I'll likely do Newport again, and will feel much more confident of the route having now already done it once. However, for first-timers I think they need to improve the signage and direction.

The pros: this is a flat course bar some small elevation in the first 1k and the bridge heading out and back into Newport. Volunteers were great and really nice to have access to the University building pre race for toilets/comfy seating/warmth The cons: The main dissapointment this year was the placement of the pacing team. The majority seemed to put themselves are the front of the starting area meaning many people who put themselves in the correct pens further back were unable to run with the pacer they planned to run with. Seems a fairly simply concept to line up in the correct pen. Thanks to the 4:30 pacer for attempting to sort it out at the start.

The event should not hold a 10km, half marathon and marathon on the same course, using a looped system with poor signage with Marshall’s who don’t know the course! I was in third place from mile 9 to mile 20 when myself and 4th place were sent the wrong way (the same way 10km athletes were running…) there were about 5-6 cyclists at the front, why were there not lead cyclists to clear the way for the podium runners? The course was SO congested and impossible to navigate at pace. Really really poor and super frustrating to lose over 5 minutes by going the wrong way… The lead 10km athletes also got sent the wrong way as did a number of half marathon athletes. A bit of a sad situation for those athletes who trained and prepared so hard for this!

First time doing Newport, entered after missing Good for Age in London last year. The logistics seemed good, we parked in the park and ride which worked really well and meant we were able to get onto the M4 quickly after the finish. The ability to hang out in the University building at the start was good. The course as advertised very flat but involved 2 loops of a rural area which had a couple of issues on the 2nd loop with half marathon runners walking and slower marathon runners spread out over the course especially at pinch points. A decent option for a PB though.

BEWARE. The logistics of this event were a disgrace. The recommended main car park had people queuing up to 7+ hours !!!! to leave through the only exit. The race management / traffic management company refused to open the main roads until 7pm despite hundreds of people and small children being trapped in the car park - all this despite there being no runners on the course and the people working to clear down the fencing saying it could be open in 10 mins if they were allowed. I would warn anyone travelling by car to this event to not bother - I will never run this event again. BEWARE

Easy to access event village. Starting pen logistics were poor (i.e. non-existent) with no control of who went where. Marshall and spectator support was great throughout. Merging marathon and half-marathon routes was poor, with walkers spread across the road. Disappointed to hear afterwards that course measurement was wrong. Recommended as a local or flat option but might not be back.

Pre-race communication was good. Bib numbers were posted in good time, which always works well. We left plenty of time to use the prepaid park and ride facility at the Office of National Statistics on the edge of Newport, but traffic was certainly building by 7:15am. I was pleased to see a number of portable toilets by the bus departure point. These were being well used but toilet roll supplies were running low from early on, so I’d suggest taking your own. P&R bus drops you a short walk from the race village. Can’t comment on bag drop, as husband dropped off my bag. He mentioned that bags were being searched, which was not mentioned in the pre-race literature. Similarly I can’t comment on race village portable toilets as I used the ones in a cafe in Friars Walk shopping centre. Getting into our starting pens was chaotic, with volunteers sending us in different directions. One lady marshal eventually took charge and led a large group of us ‘red bibs’ to the correct starting pen. With the introduction of a new half marathon this year the start was a little congested, as were the early miles. There was an issue with crowding on the out and back section and at one water station, with lead bikes and faster runners having to dodge and weave through slower runners. On course provision of water and Hi 5 Aqua gels was adequate, as conditions only really warmed up in the latter stages of the event. The new course, while very flat, was uninspiring and support was thin apart from at the start around the city centre and at the finish. The marshals at the finish were lovely, especially the older gentleman who placed my medal around my neck. I liked to be offered the option of declining a race t-shirt on my entry (which I did). It was good to have a wide choice of restaurants and bars so close to the finish line, to celebrate completing another marathon with friends and family. The return bus journey to the park and ride operated well - again no crowding and not long to wait. The real problems with this race started after the event. Very quickly participants started to query the accuracy of the course on the event Facebook page, all believing it to be long. Over the next few days runners contacted Run4Wales requesting clarification. However, no holding statement was issued and the provisional results were finalised on Power of 10 and Run Britain the day before the first public statement was issued by the organisers. This statement generated further legitimate questions, some of which have still not been answered to date. For example I have asked Run4Wales to comment on potential cone misplacement on the out and back section (run twice), as there is a clear discrepancy between the official Strava trace and the Strava trace run by participants on race day. I have also asked if a final course check was performed on race morning - again no reply. Times have since been adjusted to take account of the 276m over measurement, but the new times have only been published on the Facebook page. Official times have not been amended and it’s doubtful whether the adjusted times will be accepted by other race organisers such as Boston, Chicago and the like. Apologies for the long-winded review but I do feel that the organisers need to make some substantial improvements to the way they manage this running festival and how they communicate with their customers. Having run both the old and the new course I don’t feel that the new two lap course is an improvement. All in all a disappointing and frustrating experience after a long period of intense training, with an ongoing search for answers to legitimate questions.

Pre-race communication, baggage drop was very smooth and plenty of water on route. Only issue is the route itself. Firstly the marathon and half-marathon runners set-off together which is slightly confiusing and most of the route was in the countryside with no support. As the route was laps from mile 10 there was traffic with half-maraton runners and marathon runners going both ways down fairly narrow country roads, with quicker runners trying to pass on both sides. No support even towards the finish so it was a lonely race. Finally i'm pretty sure the race ran long as everyone i spoke to ran 26.6 miles, even accounting for weaving and corrnering a fair bit over 26.2. It's flat and convenient location for me but wouldn't run it again.

Thoroughly enjoyed this 10K, supposedly one of the flattest in the UK. The route takes you through the city centre and then out to the athletics stadium and back. Only elevation comes from the bridge. Quite winding in places, but other parts of the course have some long straights that let you get into your stride. As ever, Run4Wales put on a good show. The event village is great, with stuff to keep kids entertained and lots of stalls. Organisation is excellent, as you’d expect from such an experienced organiser All-in-all, a great event!