This was my first visit to Edinburgh Marathon weekend.
What we got was a great event over 2 days.
The variation of race distances mean it suits most abillities.
I entered the full marathon which took place on the Sunday.
Let's get the negatives out of the way.
The point to point course makes it logistically quite awkward.
I travelled to the race by car and we used the park & ride service.
This meant paying £10 + small parking fee, and then a 25 minute drive to start line.
After the race we had a 25 minutes walk from finish line, back to park & ride. Not ideal when you have just run a marathon.
This needs looking at because it was a hassle, plus adding £10 to the £54 entry fee makes this an expensive race. I can't help thinking the organisers are profiteering.
Now for the positives.
Loved the race day as a whole. Course was very fast, flat and scenic - it did get a bit congested on the narrow sections but overall, it’s perfect for PB chasers.
Route started in city centre before heading out along the coast and through parkland befoe a long, stretch to the finish line.
Baggage deposit system was flawless. Bags were transported to finish line and collection was quick and easy.
Marshals were brilliant, as was the local crowd support.
Water stations were plentyful and contained bottled water and gels. Full marks there.
Finishers were rewarded with a nice medal and a smart EMF box containing a super t-shirt, water bottle, gels and a foil sheet.
Post race area had large charity village, food outlets & free massage.
There was a good atmosphere.
In summary-
This was a very good race with a great atmosphere and plenty of distance options.
The point to point course makes it a little awkward.
Staggered start times mean it is impossible to meet friends who are doing different race distances.
Charging £10 per runner for a bus to and from the start line is unfair, especially with the long walk back to the buses.
Overall, I would certainly reccomend this race but small improvements are needed.