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In Flanders Fields Marathon Runner Comments
Back to In Flanders Fields Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 15 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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S. M. from Brussels
(9/19/2022)
"No crowd, no cars, lots of nature." (about: 2022)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 In Flanders Fields Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Marathon for real running lovers, max. 500 participants. Except for the start and arrival in the main town squares, the entire course is in the nature mostly alongside canals and Iser river. Changing rooms at the start (where you can keep warm as well), changing rooms and showers at arrival, then you can eat in one of the many restaurants and drink excellent local beer. Due to the small number of runners allowed by the organisers, you have a kind of family feeling, no dispersive big crowds. The course is also completely flat and doesn't twist and turn like many other city courses. I ran it also for historical interests and to try to get min. qualification time for Boston marathon. I failed that target so I need to run it again :) | |
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M. M. from Bournemouth, England
(9/14/2018)
"Should be on everyone's 'must do' list!" (about: 2018)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 In Flanders Fields Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Such a significant event,made even more special this year, marking 100 years since the end of WW1. Very friendly; less than a thousand runners. Organisation is spot on; everything is kept simple. I like that! Due to the nature of the course spectators were very patchy. But in places where they could gather they were very enthusiastic. Getting to the start by bus would not suit everyone, but it worked for me. Lots of canal-side running, and country roads/lanes. A bit bunched for the first couple of miles in narrow places, and around the pacers, otherwise you can easily run your own race. Would happily run it again. | |
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A. B. from St Albans, England
(9/11/2018)
"Very atmospheric" (about: 2018)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 In Flanders Fields Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is one of the most poignant marathons I have ever run. The organisation is flawless and running with the name of someone who had died during the First World War made me feel that this was really worth doing. | |
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Geoff Smyth from Belfast, Northern Ireland
(9/12/2016)
"Wonderful marathon with a wonderful purpose" (about: 2016)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 In Flanders Fields Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I travelled over from Northern Ireland especially to do this marathon in memory of all those who gave their lives so many years ago. I thought it was a fantastic idea to have one of the fallen soldier's names beside my own on my bib number. The organisation and the camaraderie was second to none and befitted the event it was commemorating. The medals and t shirts are beautifully designed and it's a privilege to have earned one. A big well done to all those involved. | |
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Kyle Okimoto from New York, NY
(9/19/2013)
"Great, fast course of historical importance" (about: 2013)
1 previous marathon
| 1 In Flanders Fields Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This course runs from the coast town of Nieuwpoort to the town of Ieper in West Flanders. Aside from a few bridge crossings where runners go under the bridge, the course is completely flat. This race is very manageable with no more than 400 runners and well organized by Andre Migneau. The vast majority of the runners are serious runners, with 260/372 finishers completing the race in under 4 hours. I finished in 3:27, slower than my goal time, but I blame this result on myself. I could not avoid drinking a lot of beer and wine in the days leading up to the event! The course goes through several towns of historical importance during WWI battles in Flanders. Most of the course runs through farmland, along the Ijser River, or a canal which connects to the river. The surface is an asphalt path. You run past a couple of graveyards, bunkers, and memorials in remembrance of these events, culminating shortly before the finish in Ieper where you run through a massive gate with all of the names of those killed listed by country. As an American, I am a bit ignorant of WWI history, and as we approach the 100 year anniversary of this war, this race was a wake up call to me to learn more about this chapter in history. I'd label this race as very much a locally -oriented event. It is extremely refreshing to experience a race without the crowds and the pomp I experience in New York, Chicago, and even some of the previously-smaller races back in the US. Most of the participants come from Flanders, with a few Dutch, British, Canadians, Americans and others sprinkled in. As an American, the spectators provided extra support, even though I knew no one besides my support partner on his bike. The race day announcements at the start and finish were all in Flemish, but you can follow the crowd and just be fine. Weather can be unpredictable (it is Belgium). In '13 it was 15C and mostly sunny. This race is unique in that it allows for a cyclist companion to ride alongside the runner. This makes the race a lot more enjoyable. My friend carried my water bottle and provided some moral support. The cyclists join their runners at km 12. The logistics of this point to point race with the bike are quite easy. You have two options. One is to register for transport from the finish to the start in Nieuwpoort. The second is to drive one car to Nieuwpoort with the bike and another car to Ieper. We chose the latter and it worked great. Many out of town runners stay in Ieper but the wonderful city of Gent is 45 minutes away as well. The start is seamless, made easier by the 10am start. I showed up an hour before the race, picked up my number, paid, visited the facilities, and even walked across the street to a convenience store prior to the gun going off. I was literally 1m from the start, which was denoted by a strip of masking tape. The race provides water only in 33cl bottles every 5km and sponges on occasion. This was ample water in total but I was not used to this setup. If I do this race again I would pack Ziploc bags of sports drink to mix into the bottles. Kilometer markers are at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, the half, 25, 30, 35, and 38-41. There are no clocks aside from the finish. You get a medal, two shirts, a 75cl bottle of beer, and a few other goodies at the end. This race costs EUR25 and it is the best bargain I could possibly imagine. It's possible to register on the day of the race. | |
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Bob Lehew from Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
(9/18/2009)
"Perfect Boston qualifier for a serious marathoner" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This marathon is well organized, with sufficient aid along the flat and fast course. The prevailing wind on this one way course is generally to the runners' back. It helps to have a good GPS watch to keep track of your distance if you are use to miles, rather than KM, as the course is marked in 5,10, 20, etc. KM's only. The folks that put this small marathon on each year are very helpful and interested in you having not only a good time in their country, but that you have a good running experience and that you run well. The race shirt and other awards are very nice, including an attractive finisher's medal. There are lots of bicycles on the course supporting the runners, as others have commented on, but I did not find it crowded or a problem. Overall, a very good experience! | |
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Dennis Marchant from Vancouver, BC, Canada
(11/11/2008)
"Small, but well-organized and a great atmosphere!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 In Flanders Fields Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 There were only a few hundred participants, but the race was really well-organized and there was lots of support at the start and finish. There weren't a lot of spectators along the route, but enough of them at each water station to give the runners a boost. The course was nice and generally flat, although it was slightly boring during some lengthy stretches by the fields. However, there were lots of people on bikes supporting the runners. I didn't mind this at all, as most were very friendly and really added to the atmosphere. The only unfortunate part of the course was that some of the fields had recently been fertilized, which gave off a very strong and rather unpleasant odor during some parts. Overall, it was a great race and I would strongly recommend it for someone who isn't interested in the bigger, more commercialized races in the large cities. | |
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A. G. from The Hague, NL
(9/18/2008)
"Relaxed and pleasant" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 In Flanders Fields Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have now run this event five times, and it remains one of my favorites. Everything about its organization, course and overall atmosphere just feels right. OK, it might lack the facilities and glamor of the big-city events, but this is a sincere runners' marathon. Andre does an outstanding job of organizing things, helping to get the entire village where it starts - and the town where it finishes - behind the runners. Everything is adequate rather than outstanding - the transport, changing area, toilets, water points (every 5K) as well as t-shirt and medal. But for 20 euros, it is an outstanding value. The course is beautiful, the great majority being away from roads on two paths, cycle paths and rural roads. One gripe I have is with the number of cyclists that accompany runners with drinks, etc. But maybe that is jealousy rather than anything else. Weather this year was perfect - bright but cool, with little wind. It helped the few hundred runners look fresh when arriving at the magnificent Ypres town-center finish. So my own view is that, if you want practical facilities and can live without the one-mile spacing between water points that you get in huge events, then go for this. I don't think that small, rural and picturesque marathons get any better than this. | |
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Luc Tacq from Wevelgem - Belgium
(9/13/2005)
"A nice and beautiful marathon for the real runners" (General Comments)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ In Flanders Fields Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This unique marathon (point to point - with very good transport-organization) is a marathon for real sportsmanlike and recreation runner. The refreshments are correct - possibility to fill or take away. For a low budget (especially with the discount that people obtain when coming every year (the next year) to Flanders) we can enjoy the beautiful circuit through the Flander-Polder where there is always some shelter from wind, sun and even rain. On the arrival, people are glad and interested with a lot of applause!! The massage and the shower are welcome after the course they called the "Marathon for PEACE" - Canadians, Americans and Englishman coming every year to run for peace. Come next year and run it too!! Thanks to André Migneauu and all the volunteers! Congratulations!!! Thanks also for the Flanders Government and Yves Leterme (was himself on the distribution of the prices and promised support also for these small (in budget), beautiful and recreation-minded (marathon) runs). | |
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Philip Lawrence from New Orleans, Louisiana
(2/6/2005)
"Marathon through Belgian farmlands" (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 In Flanders Fields Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race in September 2004. It was my 60th marathon, and it was spectacular. Only a handful of Americans have run this race, but there were three this year: myself and two others. The weather was nice, cool and sunny. And the course was very flat and through the Belgian countryside. The fans were warm and encouraging and water and sports drink and other amenities were plentiful. To get there from Brussels, take the train to Oostende which takes about an hour and a half. Then take the tram that travels along the coast to Neiwpoort where the race starts. That takes about thirty minutes. The packet pickup is in the town hall in the middle of Niewpoort-Stad, about seven or eight blocks after you exit the tram. The hotels are in Niewpoort-Bad, which is about five minutes further down the coast. I also suggest placing your luggage (as I did) on the gear truck. Then it will be waiting for you at the end in Iper since there is no transportation back to Niewpoort. Then you can take the train from Iper back to Brussels. Also, you receive a quality finisher's medal and t-shirt. Andre, the race director, does a tremendous job organizing this race. |
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