I've been reading a few of Joseba's posts(they're the funniest on the board)about Marathon sponsors. It appears that the Hamburg Marathon is now sponsored by Olympus lense/camera company and no longer by Hansaplast. Can this be confirmed? What happened to Hansaplast?
Also, is Hamburg worth running over Rotterdam,London,Boston or Paris? I've heard it's a good race. I've also heard that they're trying to get Alan Culpepper to win it in 2003. That'd be cool!
How long will it take Jason to comment? The countdown is on.
Does this "jason" know the marathons of Europe? I'd like to run Rotterdam or Hamburg, which is the faster course? What fall marathon would you recommend? Also, my wife wants to run Osaka Int'l Ladies Marathon, is this a good race? I've heard it's an awesome event.
I have run Berlin, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
I cannot speak for Paris and London.
Berlin is AWESOME....best marathon in the world in my opinion.
Hamburg is the most underrated marathon in the world. GREAT EVENT. Fast course. Imagine about 1 million SCREAMING GERMANS on the course. Yes, Olympus is now the sponsor. I will be there for my 2:14 in April. I love the race. Course would be a 2;06 if they could afford Khalid or Tergat.
All the Japanese marathons, including Osaka, are organized to a fault. I talked to Lornah Kiplagat (she won Osaka this year) and she says is GREAT. Course is VERY flat. Going westbound from USA to Japan will not jetlag you since it is westbound. You'll be tired for about 1 day max. Arrive one-week early and stay near the river, which has a great running path to train on.
Rotterdam is good, but I had a horrible race there in 2000, and I will probably not be back. Amsterdam is OK, but crowds on the course are very thin when you need the cheers.
The best thing about Berlin is EVERYTHING. The best part of the course is 30-42 km, where the crowds are thickest and loudest, the road is flat and smooth, and it is very negative-splittable.
Jason
Rotterdam or Hamburg?
I would run HAMBURG if I were you.
I've run them both and Hamburg is a much faster course. The course is there, but they cannot afford the 2;05-2;06 guys right now.
The course record is 2:07+
Hamburg is a GREAT race and you will love it.
Jason
That was a very fast time he ran there. I've heard that Salah Hissou will be running Rotterdam this year, what do you think that he'll run? Thanks I will run Hamburg this year. Cheers.
Read comments from others who have ran here...
bill z, you will NOT be disappointed.
Hamburg is GREAT. I just got my plane ticket.
I arrive Hamburg on the evening of the 22nd of April.
jason