so Berlin Marathon... let's start off by saying it's a great event, and well worth doing... I start with this because my score and write up will sound negative, but with good reason.

i have written my blog about pacing the #sub4 #funbus my first international pacing and I loved it. I wouldn't change this experience for anything.

https://pickupthepacepaul.com/2017/09/24/berlin-marathon-2017

So great experience, but what was it like. Well the expo is large but for me uninspiring. Very busy and nothing fantastic on offer that I saw. I was glad to get out, but honestly my view is tainted as I didn't get my number at the expo, I already had it, so I didn't get the proper experience.

Getting to the start on public transportation was simple and really easy. I arrived in plenty of time. It was busy once inside and frankly not well signposted. The toilets were scattered with a few in lots of places, meaning long lines that went slowly. I queued at one for 20 minutes then realised when not moving that people had started a queue to the side and my line wasn't moving. I gave up but found more toilets on the way, but still queued for another 30 minutes.

Getting to the pen was messy, just so congested I was genuinely worried about getting to the right place. Once inside it is spacious so no issues getting people around me. I had a number of people waiting for me which was great. There were lots of pacers but as it was one large mass start we all spread out.

the start was seemless and we didn't slow as I had worried. However the second mile got congested and this happened a few times on course.

The only hills in the course are bridges and there is nothing to them, it's a flat fast course. Didn't really notice any marshals but maybe because I was surrounded throughout. It was busy all the way. The crowd support is very limited when compared to marathons in the UK. It certainly doesn't compare to London, and arguably some of the smaller marathons contending with London such as Manchester and Liverpool are also better spectators.

You hardly notice because of the sheer volume of runners. This didn't create too many issues as the course is mostly wife, but here comes the biggest criticism. The water stations. There is no notice for the aid stations so you get a mad rush one side or the other. The water is given in plastic cups and it's hard to get across to get the cups and impossible to get out. Seriously it was madness I've never witnessed anything so bad, and would expect more from a world major. It made me think of my first time in 2014, it was very hot and I was trying for sub3. Because of the cup situation I ran past the stations and ended up dehydrated and had a bad experience.

Back to this year, aside from the terrible water stations the course was great, and the people around me were great. I had so many people with me the whole way. I lost one person after a mile who had been following me an hour before the start. She lost her shoe and I didn't see her again, such a shame I really wish I knew how she did.

We finished strong and on time. The finish takes a while, again the sign posting is poor. Someone directed me to the Erdinger but after a long walk there and back I realised there was another stand by my bag drop.

Overall a great event which I would love to go back to. Not a spot on London in my opinion, but hey still an incredible experience. If the organisers changed to small bottles of water, added electrolytes and got more efficient at aid stations it would make a huge difference to overall experience