Nothing out of the ordinary on the race course. Although it is uncommon to run in such a crowd as a 2:30-40 runner, this has happened to me before in Valencia. Berlin is my local race and I can vouch it was less sparsely populated in top hobbyjogger area, I used to be in top 1000 every time bud didn't break it this year despite running my best time on the course.
Expo was super crowded though. The line at 10 am on Friday was the longest I've seen in my life, and I've seen Vatican lines on Christian holidays. The starting area was also full, but that's also on par with other major marathons, it's just that you come in advance on destination races but at home just plan 30-40 minutes...I made it to my starting block less than 10 min to the start, NYC or Chicago would've left me out.
Nothing out of the ordinary on the race course. Although it is uncommon to run in such a crowd as a 2:30-40 runner, this has happened to me before in Valencia. Berlin is my local race and I can vouch it was less sparsely populated in top hobbyjogger area, I used to be in top 1000 every time bud didn't break it this year despite running my best time on the course.
Expo was super crowded though. The line at 10 am on Friday was the longest I've seen in my life, and I've seen Vatican lines on Christian holidays. The starting area was also full, but that's also on par with other major marathons, it's just that you come in advance on destination races but at home just plan 30-40 minutes...I made it to my starting block less than 10 min to the start, NYC or Chicago would've left me out.
What was your experience in Valencia? Can you do the same thing?
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Nothing out of the ordinary on the race course. Although it is uncommon to run in such a crowd as a 2:30-40 runner, this has happened to me before in Valencia. Berlin is my local race and I can vouch it was less sparsely populated in top hobbyjogger area, I used to be in top 1000 every time bud didn't break it this year despite running my best time on the course.
Expo was super crowded though. The line at 10 am on Friday was the longest I've seen in my life, and I've seen Vatican lines on Christian holidays. The starting area was also full, but that's also on par with other major marathons, it's just that you come in advance on destination races but at home just plan 30-40 minutes...I made it to my starting block less than 10 min to the start, NYC or Chicago would've left me out.
What was your experience in Valencia? Can you do the same thing?
Yes, Valencia was easy going (year when Gidey and Kiptum debuted in the distance.) I left my place a mile away an hour before the start. Got to the check out tent 30min before the gun. Was at the start line 15min before the race (I was in sub 2:30-2:45 coral)
What was your experience in Valencia? Can you do the same thing?
Yes, Valencia was easy going (year when Gidey and Kiptum debuted in the distance.) I left my place a mile away an hour before the start. Got to the check out tent 30min before the gun. Was at the start line 15min before the race (I was in sub 2:30-2:45 coral)
Personnaly, in my range (ran a PB of 2:36), it was incredible. An amazing density, no group till 30k but just a continuous, long stream of people. You were never alone but still had plenty of room to run, since the streets are so wide. Really amazing experience.
I ran a 3:30 from wave D and it was perfect. Felt almost less crowded than other years but I also was in a faster corral (last time I was E) and that helped a ton. I think the biggest issue is that people do not put realistic times to get in their corral. When I was in E last year and ran a 3:39 people were jogging at 4:30 marathon pace and had to be dodged permanently. Was so annoying. Here in the first wave people were more serious and it helped a ton. Not too crowded for me :)
Nothing out of the ordinary on the race course. Although it is uncommon to run in such a crowd as a 2:30-40 runner, this has happened to me before in Valencia. Berlin is my local race and I can vouch it was less sparsely populated in top hobbyjogger area, I used to be in top 1000 every time bud didn't break it this year despite running my best time on the course.
Expo was super crowded though. The line at 10 am on Friday was the longest I've seen in my life, and I've seen Vatican lines on Christian holidays. The starting area was also full, but that's also on par with other major marathons, it's just that you come in advance on destination races but at home just plan 30-40 minutes...I made it to my starting block less than 10 min to the start, NYC or Chicago would've left me out.
I actually think that is an important point. Berlin does not close corrals and it helped a lot. I have done the race a couple times and arrived only 25min before my start time and it was perfect. Also bag drop is really efficient if you need one. Once you know how it works its by far the easiest star/finish area of all majors I've done.