The Yorkshire Marathon

To the organisers; if you are closing roads, please ensure ALL signs and marshalls know to direct traffic away from those closed roads. I travelled at 09.30 this morning down Murton Way onto Moor lane, then Sandy lane onto Holtby Lane, my usual route to Stockton Lane. Not one sign of a road closure, not one person stopping me and turning me back, until Stockton Lane, when i was turned round by a very ill mannered police officer, who never went to the school of charm or politeness. I then had to retrace my drive back to Osbaldwick Link Road and onto the A64 to get to work.
The biggest issue was not the lack of signs or marshal awareness, but the motorcycle police officer, who spoke to me with more venom in his voice than you could imagine. If this is the way police people now speak to the general public, then i am not surprised they are losing respect from the public. If you were that police motorcyclist, i'm sorry you got out of the bed the wrong way and had to work, but don't take it out on innocent drivers who are trying to get to work. Rant over.

I like events with lots of runners, and this event had loads. Super atmosphere and enjoyed being chivvyed along by lots of people

The course was a bit hillier than i'd expected.

I loved it. Having done both London and Brighton marathons, it was really nice to do a marathon without all the hullaballoo of having to register the day before, big queues to collect your number and having to get to the start time two hours in advance to wait in the right pen etc. Just pin on a number which they send in the post, put on your trainers and walk up to the line.The organisation was top class, the course is beautiful (you run past York Minster and then out into the countryside) and the support on route was great - as a Londoner, running through villages while spectators shouted 'Well done, lad!' in a Yorkshire accent was something I don't get every week. Added to that a high five from the Archbishop John Sentamu was surely worth an extra couple of seconds per kilometre.The course would best be described as undulating - there are ups and downs, but no really big hills so it is pretty fast. A couple of 1km grinds, but only up 2% slopes, the only bad hill is sadly in the last kilometre and made me walk!

First marathon, was going well until cramp in last 3 miles but was sub 3.45 so delighted with the outcome.

Ive taken part every year so know what to expect. Get to the Uni early is my advice, its a huge site and confusing if you dont know it. I would love to know how big the group is who have completed all five marathons to date. London make a bit of a feature of it now albeit I appreciate there have been a lot more!

Instructions in other languages for non uk participants, I got to the half marathon point and had someone speaking broken English to me asking where the 10mile finish was, so they had obviously not realised the different start times. Definitely pack your own gels, I thought the gel station could of been slightly earlier or maybe even had 2, I know its hard when its sponsor based.

Was prepared, well as much as I could training wise

This is a fantastic race thats really well organised and run. The course is general really nice and scenic in large sections. I would describe it as Yorkshire flat with PB potential.

This is really great event which runs as smooth as an event like this can with the organisers getting everything right. The course is not the most exciting and there long stretches with little no support which adds to the mental problems that a race this long can throw up.