Marrakech marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in Morocco. In 2019 , in its 30th edition- the Marakesh Marathon had over 8000 runners signed up for the half … MORE
Marrakech marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in Morocco. In 2019 , in its 30th edition- the Marakesh Marathon had over 8000 runners signed up for the half and the full marathon distance.
For some reason there are two operators that promote the marathon and I still have not figured out how my friends and me signed up at two different promoters.
That led to the fact that when we arrived at the Marathon expo we had to go to different tents to get our bib and our race shirt which were slightly different in the design and colour.
It was pretty chilly on race day: fog prevented the sun from roasting us and 10’C are perfect for running!! They had a bag drop (a tent over a dusty lawn) but far to little toilets. The marathon started 30 minutes ahead of the half. The plan was sticking to my friends for the whole race. Due to their last minute need to get rid of some extra water we started a little further back then we wanted. The Boulevards at the start are huge. The course was drawing a big circle via the opera, the olive park and around the medina (old town). Logistics with water was not perfect. Sometimes one had to wait until the volunteers would turn around and grab from behind or from under the table a bottle of water. Most water stations also handed out oranges. At the finished everybody was handed out a bag (that were freshly packed so a little wait) with two oranges, a banana and water. The medals came with red and green ribbons (Moroccos national colors) but we didn’t see a “system” that decided which Color you would get.
It was a nice race to check of Morocco with room for improvement when it comes to logistics. The course is flat and can be fast; 55€ For the half was in comparison to other races that were brilliantly organised (many races in Eastern Europe and Greece) on the expensive side…
Some notes on Marrakesh:
– January in Morocco is usually mild. Day time temperatures are around 18-22’ centigrade but the city is situated in the Dessert and temperatures drop after sunrise (down to 2-4’)
– The airport is very modern. A cab into town is about 20-25 USD.
– Credit cards are wildly accepted
– People are very nice but they live of tourism. In downtown, I never felt unsafe. But I would advise being careful and trust your instincts.
Room
Marrakech marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in Morocco. In 2019 , in its 30th edition- the Marakesh Marathon had over 8000 runners signed up for the half … MORE
Marrakech marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in Morocco. In 2019 , in its 30th edition- the Marakesh Marathon had over 8000 runners signed up for the half and the full marathon distance.
For some reason there are two operators that promote the marathon and I still have not figured out how my friends and me signed up at two different promoters.
That led to the fact that when we arrived at the Marathon expo we had to go to different tents to get our bib and our race shirt which were slightly different in the design and colour.
It was pretty chilly on race day: fog prevented the sun from roasting us and 10’C are perfect for running!! They had a bag drop (a tent over a dusty lawn) but far to little toilets. The marathon started 30 minutes ahead of the half. The plan was sticking to my friends for the whole race. Due to their last minute need to get rid of some extra water we started a little further back then we wanted. The Boulevards at the start are huge. The course was drawing a big circle via the opera, the olive park and around the medina (old town). Logistics with water was not perfect. Sometimes one had to wait until the volunteers would turn around and grab from behind or from under the table a bottle of water. Most water stations also handed out oranges. At the finished everybody was handed out a bag (that were freshly packed so a little wait) with two oranges, a banana and water. The medals came with red and green ribbons (Moroccos national colors) but we didn’t see a “system” that decided which Color you would get.
It was a nice race to check of Morocco with room for improvement when it comes to logistics. The course is flat and can be fast; 55€ For the half was in comparison to other races that were brilliantly organised (many races in Eastern Europe and Greece) on the expensive side…
Some notes on Marrakesh:
– January in Morocco is usually mild. Day time temperatures are around 18-22’ centigrade but the city is situated in the Dessert and temperatures drop after sunrise (down to 2-4’)
– The airport is very modern. A cab into town is about 20-25 USD.
– Credit cards are wildly accepted
– People are very nice but they live of tourism. In downtown, I never felt unsafe. But I would advise being careful and trust your instincts.
Fast and flat with camels along the way!
If you're looking for a fast course, Marrakech is a good option... although be prepared for the temps to rise as the race goes on... since it's a desert-like climate, … MORE
If you’re looking for a fast course, Marrakech is a good option… although be prepared for the temps to rise as the race goes on… since it’s a desert-like climate, Marrakech tends to heat up quickly. Temps were in the 50’s when I started and in the 70’s by the time I finished. Not much in terms of any pre-race activities or expo, but the exotic old city with its winding narrow passageways and markets more than makes up for it. Overall, it’s a good race, but one area where they could improve is to have a professional photography company taking photos of runners along the course.