The registration process was simple and the race pack information was sent out in good time. 

There didn't seem to be enough information about the race and this seem to come in dribs and drabs, probably due to it being the inaugural marathon. I had to email to ask about course nutrition, water stations and info on the route. It would have been better to have all this organised earlier on as it helps when training. I'm sure now they have done this once, then it will improve next year.

The start was in Alexander stadium a lovely stadium to hold the opening of the race. Luckily I had someone to drop me and my family off otherwise I have no idea how we would have got there. Also no idea how my family would have got to the finish. I think the train station was 25 mins away. I didn't use the baggage facility.

The organisation at the start was good with 2 waves a faster red wave at 8.30 and a blue wave at 9.30. This made the start less crowded and with only 10,000 entrants it was easy to navigate the start. There were pacers for the race if you needed one too.

The route was softly undulating to begin with passing through underpasses on a dual carriage way before windng in to town. There was a 9 mile loop which is never fun seeing mile 17 when you are only on mile 8! There were 2 steepish hills, which first time around were fine but by the 2nd time most people were walking including myself! Many parts of the route were quiet, some passing through industrial estates and towns where only a few spectators came out to cheer. It got busier towards the centre of town. It was easy to spot my family at mile 12 on the hill as it wasn't too crowded. Bournville I gather was the easiest place for spectators to access by train.

Towards the end of the race there should have been more water stations, They were at mile 22 and 25 but I think runners would have appreciated it if there was water available at every mile towards the end. They gave out energy gels at mile 13 and 22 but I had already pracitsed with a different gel and took my own. Again, the gel info, should have been released much earlier. I was dissapointed that there were no energy drinks on the course and had to carry my own in my waist belt. Great Run really need to look into providing energy drinks at least 4 times during a marathon. With the risk of hyponatraemia it is something the organisers should look into. 

There was also a short hill in the last mile which was a killer. So don't do this marathon if you don't like hills. 

The finish area was crowded and seemed unorganised. As there was the half marathon going on there were so many different times above my head, I didn't know what I was looking at. Although the great run app was fanatstic which my family used to track me on. That also gave me an accurate finish time. I've been to half marathons where the medal is given to you if not hung on your neck. When you are exhausted after a marathon, the last this you want to do is go an ask for your medal, which the cadets were meant to be handing out but were just standing there chatting to each other. In the exhaustion it was a struggle scrambling through the goody bag to find it. There was a technical finishers t-shirt, but as usual no extra-small. I wish organisers would cater for more sizes! Lots of other snacks and promos in the bag.

All in all a good first attempt by Birmingham to host a marathon, but a lot to work on which i'm sure they will do!