Booking and the race booklet made the Marathon seem really good. As a first time marathoner and a first time visiter to MK, the logistics were however appalling. There needs to be more guidance about parking (I appreciate that there was the opportunity to buy VIP parking) around MK. I phoned the council and was advised that I could park on roads that on the day were closed, I found nothing online about the park and walk facility that seemed to be available and eventually I found a space in a side street on an industrial estate after a kindly marshal pointed out where to go. Some more joined up information would be really good.
The start was also shambolic and felt potentially dangerous. Marshals directed runners to go to the colour of their flag. I did and found, along with several hundred other runners that there was a barrier in the way. There were so many people we couldn't turn back, so some climbed over and someone managed to separate two barriers and so we could slip through a narrow space to the start area. It was very unclear about how runners were to get to the start.
The Marathon itself was fine. Not especially flat (as advertised) and there were some sections that were on the side of quite busy roads. There were some sections that were lovely. There was lots of support throughout and the waterstops and marshals were organised. The litter zones were too small, with some just being a few metres in length (I hadn't had a drink before leaving a 'litter zone' on some occasions).
I wasn't the fastest runner (or anywhere near) but was still rather sore but disappointingly the massage option was closing by the time I got back, which was within the cut off time, and I was turned away.
The quality of the medal was great. The tshirt was great and I love the design of each.
Facilities for the spectators were great around the stadium and were a definite plus. It was very difficult for them to plan to support me at any other points on the route; a clearer map in the booklet or on a website would have helped.
Would I do the marathon again? Maybe. It's reasonably local and so easy to get to. Having been once, in future I'll know where to pitch my expectations.