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Jul 22, 2024

Stockholm Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Stockholm Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 4.4

Spectators 4.3

Number of comments: 74 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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Rich Holmes from North Carolina, USA (6/6/2013) "A GREAT destination marathon!" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I went on this with the Marathon Tours & Travel group and it was hassle-free and a terrific fast course, with the finish on the track used in the 1912 Olympic Games. Stockholm is a very walkable, enjoyable, pretty city with friendly and supportive residents all fluent in English. The sights were great as a tourist, and the course ran past many of the same sights and along the waterfront and across many of the islands. Beautiful and a great experience!
Melissa R. from Toronto, Canada (8/3/2012) "Stockholm's Very Own Hunger Games" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Hej! Running the 34th ASICS Stockholm Marathon was the most incredible marathon experience to date. Since it was my eighth marathon (including world majors: Berlin, Chicago, Boston, and New York City), my opinion certainly deserves some merit. I was returning to the Motherland to be close to my Viking roots, and had always loved everything about Stockholm, so was especially excited about this race. I knew it would be a Scandinavian Euro-trip I would never forget... But I digress. Memories of my experience are priceless: The pre-race expo was pretty standard compared to others, which is to be expected as Stockholm is not the largest city and only 21,266 runners registered for the event. I was impressed by the ample selection of x-small race gear available, which is always in issue at American expos. Other highlights: seeing Swedish Runners World, international marathon booths, characters in Viking attire, fashionable race gear, and attending the Zeta Pasta Party. The damp, bone-chilling day made it challenging to maximize the experience. However, in better conditions people would have mingled a lot more. I can vividly remember race day. The start time was noon, which is unusual since most marathons begin very early in the morning. During a typical warm, sunny day, I can just imagine that Lidingövägen would have resembled a 'pre-marathon party', with the crowd socializing to burn off nervous energy. It was contained within an actual running track, so there was ample room for socializing, changing, and checking bags/valuables. Thankfully, there were heated tents to provide shelter: men's, women's, massage area (where my friend stayed pre-race surrounded by modern day Nordic Gods. Grrrr!). Before the race, corral 'C' proved memorable to me, as I was surrounded by mainly tall, fit, and IMHO stunning Swedish (& other Nordic) men. They seemed rather social, in direct contrast to the prevailing 'cold and distant' stereotype. This warmed the soul, even though it was freezing and raining outside. The treacherous race conditions - torrential downpour, unseasonal 4°C, and winds of up to 18 meters/second - did nothing to reduce my excitement. This marathon is known for being one of the most scenic marathons in the world, most of it along the city's beautiful waterfront, covering eight different areas of Stockholm. No wonder 79 countries were represented. Runners were treated to such iconic sights as the Royal Palace, City Hall, Parliament Buildings, and charming Gamla Stan. It was essentially two laps of the same route: good as you knew what to expect, bad as you had to tackle the gruelling 600 meter Västerbron bridge twice (Kill Me Now!). Not once did I feel claustrophobic during the race, so bobbing and weaving around slower folk was not necessary. Nor did I get cut off or elbowed in the ribs. Just make sure you're positioned in the correct corral. There was an abundance of water, electrolyte drinks, and food (gels, bananas, etc.). One word of caution: keep an eye on the road in front of you as there are endless curbs, trams, and uneven road to contend with. Every so often, your foot would land in a deep puddle, as the road was uneven. This was comical to me, given the harsh weather conditions, hence my reference to it being the Hunger Games. Most of the time, I was in heaven due to the endless supply of masculine eye candy (74% of runners were men), which provided motivating moving targets. After attempting to break 3:30:00 in the race, frozen to the core at about 25km, I started to slow down. From then on, it was just a matter of survival. Jogga, jogga, jogga, until you reach the finish. I was pleasantly surprised by how many Stockholmers braved the elements and cheered for hours. 'Ai! Ai! Ai!' or 'Heja! Heja! Heja!' Whatever they were yelling, it was amusing and encouraged a faster pace (albeit, temporarily). You've got to love the Swedes. The highlight of the race, which still gives me chills, was entering Stockholms Olympiastadion (built for the 1912 Olympics). With tears in my eyes, surrounded by cheering spectators, I rounded the track, frantically waving my arms, taking in the experience, and crossed the finish line in 3:37:32! Although I was not treated to the usual silver, mylar, marathon blanket, I was awarded the token commemorative medal (without ribbon) which resembles a large coin. It was definitely was The Hunger Games out there, and I survived! For that reason, this race toughened me as a marathoner, and will always have a special place in my heart. After the race, the cruel weather continued to torment the finishers. The 'post-race party' back at the track had so much potential, with an endless supply of drinks, food, and Erdinger Alkoholfrei (L) beer. It would have been amazing on a warmer day, with the sun shining down. Oh, and this was one of the few marathons that actually had shower facilities. Everything about the marathon, beautiful city of Stockholm, and hospitality of the people, was so incredible that I just signed up for the 35th Stockholm Marathon in 2013. I would highly recommend this race to anyone. Don't be dissuaded by my endless references to the weather (after all, it was the coldest race in its 34 year history!). What's the chance this could happen again? Just review the top ratings and extremely favourable comments on this site. Added bonus: Sverige Dag is on June 6th, so what better way to celebrate finishing the marathon than partying with the Swedes! Jag kan inte vänta för att köra det här loppet 2013! Melissa
T. D. from Belgium (10/4/2011) "Super experience" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I set my record in this marathon (3h28). The race conditions were ideal (12-13°C at the start) but besides the crossing of the bridge (2x times) the track is also fast. Overal organization of the marathon was super. The safety deposit of valuables is something I only experienced in Stockholm, but it gives an extra safe feeling. The only 'negative' point was the entry to the training ground next to the Olympic Stadium after the finish. Taken the provided stair was very hard with tired legs :)
Ian Rowe from London, UK (6/4/2011) "A great one to mark off!" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The change from a 14:00 start to a 11:30 was much better. Basically being two loops my wife was able to use the underground and saw me a few times. Running the final 250m in the old olympic stadium was the perfect finish.
B. W. from Atlanta, GA (5/29/2011) "Great memory" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Everything about the Stockholm Marathon 2011 was superb. Weather was perfect; blustery and overcast. My wife was able to find me 4 times. Loved the fan support. Set a personal best of 3:53. Loved the finish in the Olympic Stadium.
Afzal Dhansay from South Africa (10/7/2010) "What a Great Race" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Stockholm Marathon in 2009 was my 29th standard marathon overall, but my first international marathon. I have also run 10 Two Oceans Marathons (56K) and 2 Comrades Marathons (90K). This puts me in a good position to comment on any marathon. In Stockholm I wore a running vest depicting the South African flag and the spectators made me feel like a celebrity. The organization was superb from start to finish; I would recommend this race to anyone. When I finished the race in the old Olympic Stadium, I was greeted in true South African style with the sound of the vuvuzela. I will always remember this race.
P. D. from Minneapolis, MN (7/14/2010) "Great race, great city, well organized!" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Stockholm puts on a great race! It was very well organized and they had ample food and beverages along the course... more than I have seen at other well organized races in the US. It's a beautiful city to run through. The free pasta dinner was a nice perk; however, the expo was average. It was quite small considering the size of the marathon and the merchandise selection was minimal. Despite the small expo, I would definitely recommend this race.
Courtney Marshall from Grantham, New Hampshire (6/19/2010) "Great race in a beautiful city." (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well organized. Lots of tourists and fans along the route. Plenty of food and drink on the course. Nice weather this year - 60 degrees.
Mattias Murhagen from New York (12/23/2009) "My first marathon - great experience!" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Being from Sweden originally, I thought that running the Stockholm Marathon was a good idea. I'd get friends cheering me on and got to seem my family etc.... Oh, and the reason I entered the marathon in the first place was on a dare! Pre-Race (1) Registration, expo and stuff: Registration and information were easy and great. I really don't have anything to add to it. Just great. The expo was ok. Stockholm isn't the biggest city on the planet, and the race isn't the biggest, so the expo won't be either. But what was nice was the pasta party, which was a large outdoor space in great weather. I mean REALLY great weather by the way! Getting around in Stockholm is easy. Good public communications make expensive taxis unnecessary. A bit of a walk to the expo, but not terrible. Pre-Race (2), bag-drop, etc.: The bag drop was well organized. Getting into the corral wasn't a problem either. Start and race: Since this was my first marathon, I didn't really understand whether or not it took a long time to get out. I think it was a bit crowded for my pace, but since it was my first run, I was automatically placed far back in the field and that's probably why I felt that way. I ended up doing a 4:36, so that's pretty far back in my opinion. The course is beautiful. Stockholm really is a stunning city, in my opinion. Green, with lots of water and historic buildings. This makes the run great, I think. BUT, those who are running their first marathon, or those who want to set a personal best: Summer in Sweden can have VERY varying weather. This year, it had the longest and warm and dry period in years. When I got there it had been fantastic weather for a week, and it continued for another two weeks. This means VERY warm temperatures that are really preventing you from getting a good finishing time. The run starts after lunch for some reason, and that certainly doesn't help when it comes to the weather. The other thing to mention is that you go over a bridge twice. The steep entry to the bridge is deceptive. After you get up on the actual bridge it feels like the worst is done, but then you have the long climb and then a shorter, steeper descent afterwards. The second time around it gets a bit tough. However, for runners that like a varying geography, I think this race is probably a good one. And as I hinted at above, it's two laps! This can be okay but it can also be a bit annoying if it's your first run, because when you start your second lap you realize you have another half-marathon to go! Tough if you're tired. For me though it was fantastic since I was SLOW enough: At the end of my first lap the winner passed me!!! Amazing to see! He was running more than twice as fast as I and looked about half as tired! The audience was good. I wish there were more of them, but I think that Stockholm simply isn't big enough to get a much larger audience, even though there were some 18,000 runners. But still, some bands were playing along the course, which helped the experience. Proper amounts of water were given out. There were sponges to dip in troughs with water, and several showers that actually were really efficient in spraying out a nice mist to keep you relatively cool. Finish and post-race: Received the finisher's shirt at the end of the race. It's a nice, black tech-shirt with white print on it. Can't really complain. Good shirt. The medal was also really nice and heavy. Can't really hang it though, strangely... but quite nice. They also offered Swedish-style massage at the finish. Obviously I got one. Very nice. Nothing to complain about post-race. Conclusion: This is a wonderful race in a wonderful city. I would recommend this to runners who want to run in a beautiful city and have a generally nice marathon experience. If you want to set a personal record, there are other courses that are better. But for everyone else: Highly recommended!
James Skinner from Gloucestershire, England (10/6/2009) "The jewel in the Scandinavian Crown" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Stockholm Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Stockholm has a great marathon. It's well-established after 30 years, and with a scenic course that mixes city center sites with stunning parks and the serene harbor area. The marathon really showcases the best that Stockholm has to offer. It's the largest marathon event in Scandinavia, with 18,000 runners; yet it's still small compared to other world marathons. You are soon able to get into your normal running stride after going across the start-line. The 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon start time is too late. This has been mentioned by many before, and this year again the organizers were caught out by an unusually hot, late-May day, with temperatures hitting 27/81 at the start. Whilst the temperature did start to drop off during the race, it meant that the pavement was really hot, having been baked in the sun all day. A morning start (10 a.m.) would be much better. This change should be made. The crowds, organization and marathon souvenirs (medal/merchandise) are all good. The crowds were especially vocal in the final quarter of the race. It was nice at the expo to purchase sweatshirts and t-shirts (etc.) from the marathon, as this is not always an option. Overall, this is a highly recommended European marathon that continues to flourish.

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