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International Zurich Marathon Runner Comments
Back to International Zurich Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 36 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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S. A. from Schaffhausen, Switzerland
(5/2/2023)
"Zurich - you can do better!" (about: 2023)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This was my 23rd marathon, 1st one in Europe. If you are ok with no Expo, no marathon/running merchandise to see or buy and no pre-race activities, then this might be the race for you. If you like an out and back course or parts of the course repeated, then this might be the race for you. And if you like so much congestion after you cross the finish line that you can hardly move, then this is the race for you. Personally, I think the Swiss can and should do better! | |
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L. C. from Basel Switzerland
(4/21/2022)
"Nice Marathon. PB Course" (about: 2022)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 International Zurich Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A very well organized run. Entry allows free travel before, during and after the event. I got a train from Basel- awesome. The route goes through the city and then out and back along a long stretch of the lake. Lots of support towards town but many stretches with not many people around. Plenty of aid stations with water, iso drinks and gels. Completely flat so great potential for PB/PR. | |
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C. A. from Zurich, Switzerland
(5/27/2016)
"Boring course, almost no spectators" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 International Zurich Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Don't be fooled by the name - most of the marathon takes place outside of the city of Zurich. After a 10k loop through the city, you will follow a road next to the lake until you reach the turning point... only to run the same route back to Zurich. Apart from two hot spots (and due to the course's design), you won't find that many spectators to cheer you on. The course is relatively flat, even though I don't understand why they focus so much on the possibility of running a PB. A PB depends on the quality of your training, not so much on running a boring and quiet course. Registration is expensive and there are way better options to run a marathon in spring. | |
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A. W. from St Neots, England
(4/18/2014)
"Great marathon with PB potential" (about: 2014)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 International Zurich Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 It's difficult to pick holes in this marathon. The organisation was excellent - plentiful water and other drinks/banana stations, great pacers and low-key but easy-to-negotiate expo. For me the loops through the city centre were great, as that's where the majority of the crowd support was. Out along the lake was quite scenic and mostly flat, albeit sparsely dotted with supporters. The weather on the day was ideal and combined with no significant hills this allowed me to break my PB by a fair margin. As the slogan has it 'the best time of your life'! | |
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S. T. from Washington, DC
(4/28/2011)
"Zurich Didn't Disappoint!" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 International Zurich Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Ive never done a marathon before and made Zurich my first! Pros: 1. I wanted my first to be well organized and the Swiss did not disappoint! Water stations were at a good distance (in my opinion). Offered water, PowerAde, GU, bananas and another item that I couldn't identify. 2. Weather was great! Cool in the morning but warmed up a to the 70's without being too hot! 3. This is a fast race! 4. Route was good, well organized, not really that hilly, and pretty flat, with views of the lake. 5. Got proofs of picture/video right away along with race results. 6. Loved having my name on the bib; the medal is nice; and I loved the finishing t-shirt (quality shirt). Cons: 1. The expo was sparse! Not that much excitement for the race. 2. Cheer section was mediocre, but that's fine. 3. While route was good, I wasnt a fan of doing loops. I like having one long loop instead of doing 3 loops. 4. Expensive city!!! Be prepared to pay at least $20-25 bucks for every meal! Would definitely recommend this race! | |
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b. b. from Currently in Switzerland, but reside in Florida
(4/24/2011)
"Great marathon, amazing city, beautiful course" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run 9 marathons, most in the USA, with Dublin and Rome being only international marathons before this. The bad - expo was very small; water stations only every 3-5 miles (maybe); city is freakin' expensive; and course was hillier than I had expected (it was not ultra-hilly, but not as flat as I had read in other reviews). The good - where do I begin? Course looped back on itself a few times, bringing me by the steps on my hotel (with wife and kids) 6 times; course view of Lake Zurich is spectacular; bands (steel drums) about every 5 miles; turnaround point was in tiny village filled with music, people and spirit; race photographers all over the place; and although the water stops were spaced farther apart than I would have liked, they were very well manned and stocked with everything. I loved it and would recommend it. | |
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Basil McRae from London, Ontario, Canada
(8/17/2010)
"Awesome destination race" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 International Zurich Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first non-North American marathon and it totally exceeded my expectations. I should have PBed, as everything from course to weather to aid stations were perfect... but just too much sightseeing and a little jetlag made it tough. Great city: very safe and easy to get around. Loved it and would love to go back and run it hard, but tough as I really fell in love with Snitzel and beer. | |
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Michael Ingram from Radlett Hertfordshire GB
(4/18/2010)
"An (almost) perfect marathon" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 International Zurich Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I am of the firm conviction that the London Marathon is streets ahead of any other in the world. This one, however, came pretty close. It is just superbly organized. The expo is small but charming, and they feed you well there, The actual numbers running the race are perfect for the course, and right from the start you have room to run (ok - that makes it better than London). Names on bibs are an excellent idea. The start is a bit sparse. The course is a delight; a couple of tours of the heart of the city, then an out-and-back along the lake to the town of Meilen; and though the support is sparse in places, there were good crowds on the way. Provisions for runners are excellent. Lots of water (in bottles - Hallelujah!), gels, energy bars, and bananas - and the water stations were well organized, so there was never a fight or hassle getting supplies. The finish was smooth and only the Swiss would be so environmentally aware that they would use a goods train for kit storage rather than less-environmentally-friendly lorries. (Speaking of the environment: putting big tubs for your empty water bottles after ever water station was a really neat idea.) If you are looking for a really enjoyable, flat, scenic marathon, where everything is done to make life easy, then this is the one. | |
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James Skinner from Gloucestershire, England
(10/6/2009)
"Enjoyable marathon with Swiss efficiency" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 International Zurich Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Zurich offers a good marathon for those looking for a small, well-run European event. The majority of the course is beautiful, as you run along the banks of Lake Zurich out of the city and then back in again. Some have criticized the decision this year to spend the first 8K inside the newly opened tunnel, but it wasn't that bad; if anything, it made you appreciate the rest of the course even more. I was slightly disappointed, however, that the course didn't go more into the old city center part of Zurich more than it did; this was really missed out in favor of the lakeside run and tunnel. Running conditions in Zurich in April are ideal. Temperatures were around 17/63 with overcast skies and a light breeze. With just a few thousand runners, you quickly get into your normal stride after the start. This coupled with a relatively flat course ought to allow for a PB chance. The crowds were a little sparse but this was made up for by the fantastic organization of the event. One cool highlight was the sponsor, Swiss Life, sending SMS texts to your family/friends during the race, giving updates as to your time/progress. This is a really good idea, and other marathons should follow suit. Overall, a young event in only its 7th year, but it's destined to grow. Recommended. | |
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R. C. from Chamonix, France
(5/5/2009)
"Good road marathon; shame about the tunnel" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 International Zurich Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Enjoyed the atmosphere, the town, the organization, the run along the lake, and the crowd support.... Very much disliked the need to run 9K within a (brand new) tunnel and the cost. |
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