Great Wall Marathon - Race Reviews

On May 20, 2017 I ran my 17th marathon on the Great Wall of China. The course is majestic and tough, but it's tougher due to the lack of support for runners. There's ample water on the course. However with temperatures reaching 95-100 F, multiple runners dropped to the ground with intense muscle cramps due to lack of sodium. On the route they have one electrolyte drink with little sodium content and it's watered down. As this is extremely UNSAFE, please BRING YOUR OWN NEEDED ELECTROLYTES AND FOOD. I did have gels of course, but I highly recommend bringing your own electrolyte beverage as well for the entire 26.2 milese, as theirs is insufficient. Also, there is no ice and a lack of shade on the course. Find a way to lower your body temperature. Never in all my years of running have I heard people yell 'MEDIC!' so often, only to have them run water to you. The first aid can only be found at the square and wall, you are without first aid support during the 20ish miles thru the villages. I'm happy I ran the Great Wall Marathon, however I wish someone told me to run it as if it were a training day and bring everything I need to support myself. I hope this review helps future runners of the Great Wall Marathon stay safe while on the course, it's not meant to deter runners, it's simply advice needed for future runners.

Over all it was a great experience and certainly a one-of-a-kind marathon. It is fairly well organized but here are a few things that need correcting. Firstly there should be plenty of water available at the start for pre race hydration but I certainly couldnt find any. So make sure you bring a big bottle of water with you. Secondly we were not told ahead of time that the half marathon would be starting with the second corral of marathon runners. This caused quite a bit of congestion on the wall. Thirdly and maybe its just my own feeling but the kilometer markings did not stand out enough and at times I felt confused as to where I was on the route. Lastly please do something about the awful post race refreshments. Just charge an extra ten dollars for entry and have decent refreshments ready like fresh oranges, grapes, beer,soda,etc. the usual fare. Aside from these small annoyances it was a great place for a marathon and I highly recommend it.

For my very first run this has been an excellent journey to enjoy with other runners from all over the globe. To see so many people ready to participate in what I think is one of the best organized events was the tip of more runs to come. Thank you to those that committ to a very successful event. Go 2013 GWM

Very hard, very fun race, fantastic experience, a few problems with logistics but generally well-run. The race is big and in a size-limited area. We left Beijing at 4AM and barely had enough time for the toilet line before the start. The start was in 3 waves, but the waves were assigned by tour company, not projected finish time, and consequently there was a terrible bottle-neck on the course  we literally stood still for more than 30 minutes around the 6km marker. There was plenty of water (in sealed bottles) along the course, kudos for that on such a hot day. I just carried bottles from station to station, discarding one in time to take the next. Some bananas (and extremely watery sports-drink) available, but be prepared with whatever calories you may need. Medical care seemed sufficient, but they were busy! I wore gloves (fingerless, grippy palm) for the race, which while not decidedly necessary, I'm glad I did and would do again because I could just run my hand down the ropes and railings without worry. Parts of the Wall are runnable, but much isn't, with thigh-high steps, narrow stairs, and a cliff off of one side. The photographers did a great job, but like all race pics, they are overpriced. I didn't get a post-race massage, but I heard lots of people saying how great they were. The post-race food was terrible (and was exactly the same as the inspection day food). Nasty sandwiches, and nothing either salty or sweet. I do not feel the need to ever go back for this race again, but I'm glad I ran it. Having spent more than 3 hours total (inspection day + race day) scrambling over the Great Wall of China, I feel like I've truly experienced it. For anyone planning on running the Great Wall of China Marathon, do make sure you are healthy and fully trained, not just for hills/stairs (even the non-Wall part is uphill), but also for time-on-your-feet. Go on training runs that take hours more than your normal marathon time. Carry your own nutrition and TP, and keep protected from the sun. Also know that while 8 hours may seem like plenty of time, it might not be. And hope that the logistics get straightened out! Full RR posted on RunnersWorld online forum.

I highly recommend a trip to China and definitely recommend seeing the Great Wall, but would not recommend this event. The half and full marathon start at the same time creating terrible congestion on the wall. We stood still bottlenecked for over 10-15 minutes at several very narrow sections of the wall. I expected the time on the wall to be slow, I did not expect to be actually stopped, standing in the hot sun packed together with anxious runners, 5 miles into the race. If you really feel the need to do this event, ask your tour coordinator which corral their group starts in. The starting corrals for 2012 were based on tour groups, not previous marthon times. Runners in the first corral experienced less congestion on the wall. You are only on the wall for approximately 6K of the marathon so the run thru the local town is actually the highlight of this event. It is very scenic and plently of bottled water provided. The people and children cheering for the runners is very inspiring. For that reason I would recommend a marathon to experience China. But marathoners pursuing the 7 continents have better options for a marathon in Asia. Unless the race organizers respect the marathon and have the 13.1 mile runners start later, I can not recommend this marathon. You feel like a tourist trapped on the Wall.

I just ran this race last Saturday, and it was by far the toughest race I have ever done. I had read up on the course, but I still wanted to cry when I got to mile 22/23 and was facing the wall for the second time. I ended up finishing in 5 hours 15 minutes and was pretty ecstatic at having actually completed it. There were many DNFs that day due to the heat and the unforgiving course. The tour itself was great. I signed up with Steve who is with marathon-adventures.com - and he was excellent. He took his wife on the trip, and they were absolutely fantastic. It was also pretty cool to meet other folks who were in the same boat as me, having travelled 7000 miles to check off a pretty tough Asia. I just signed up for Antartica to get the seven continents. Steve's company is calling it the White Continent marathon, and will let me check it off at a relatively good price. Overall, I highly recommend the Great Wall marathon - but don't underestimate it. It is a humbling experience.

Race organization was excellent. I chose Kathy Loper Events and was very pleased with the tour. This is not a race to run for first timers, unless you are extremely fit. 5,100 steps of The Great Wall. 9K in the beginning, and 3 miles of your last 9K on the wall. Train, Train, Train, and then train some more!

This was the most unbelievable marathon experience I have ever had; went with Kathy Loper Events and they turned this into an adventure much greater than the run. Everything was taken care of and the hotel was a 5 star hotel just blocks from the major tourist areas. They had runs for us in the mornings and knew where to go to shop and get fantastic massages. They really made this an experience I will never forget.

This is a spectacular adventure. We traveled with Marathon Adventures and they were awesome. This was our second trip with M.A. Their owner, Steve, talked about how they were the fun group. And they absolutely are! Steve took great care of us. If you want to experience a great adventure and a great race, there is NO other way to do the Great Wall Marathon than to travel with Marathon Adventures!

I am not a "tour" kind of person, so I wasn't really looking forward to this (however, my daughter who is 14 had been accepted as part of her quest for half marathons on 7 continents). We had the best time. Our guide and driver were awesome. I thought the whole event was planned down to the last detail. I loved that we went 2 days before for an inspection and got to take lots of pictures. We had a great time in Beijing. We took candies, stickers and crayons for the kids in the villages, and for me that was the best part of the trip. Everyone was wonderful. We bought some cool things in the markets. The Gala was spectacular (I wish it had gone on longer, as everyone left for a club and I didn't think it appropriate to go with my teen). I cannot say enough about the marathon except that I will return with my husband and do the full. Amazing experience and full marks to the organizers (just ditch the factory stops!!).

This was my first international marathon, and 13th marathon overall. The organization was done very well. The tour package covered all of the bases and made the trip very easy for an American. Beijing is extremely comfortable to get around in. Subways are clean and safe. Taxis are very inexpensive and accommodations are very pleasurable. The wall was incredible, and even though the countryside was tough and tiring, the people along the route were very endearing. Beautiful people and culture. I highly recommend this marathon and want to go back and take anyone who will go with me. I absolutely loved it.

Amazing scenery! Great organization - the whole experience is exactly as explained by the comments I read here. There were little girls along the way, picking wild flowers and giving them to female runners. Very cute - I got some flowers too. Plenty of water was distributed; just take your own gels, bars, etc. AND money so you can buy what you need, because I was getting very hungry and was desperately looking for bananas or something to munch, but there was nothing and I had no money with me. The only thing they had at the stations was water and watered-down Lucozade (or some kind of sports drink); no Gatorade, fellow Americans. Once again, take money with you because there are plenty of stands along the way. Fortunately, my last gel took me to the finish line. And be mentally prepared for the 32K mile marker when you have to go up the wall again. The good news is that you can always crawl it.

I did 1/2 marathon at the GWM, and it was truly amazing. Imagine climbing the wall, standing out over the watch tower, and as far as you can see, the Great Wall snakes through the mountainside forever and ever into the distance. I'd highly recommend anyone to go for a visit and better yet, run it. Actually the running the GW is only 5KM, and you actually climb it rather then run it. The first 5KM are up a steep hill, and the back 10KM are along the village. Overall, it was a great experience to be a part of one of the world's great wonders and to be able to run it - and also to run through the villages at the end where you see China's poverty and rural life first hand. It's very memorable. Definitely 5 stars!

Wow! The GWM is a heck of fun time and certainly unforgettable. From all the literature, it is irresistible; you can't miss out on a marathon as unique and challenging as this, and while it was initially unattractive to me due to the requirement of only being able to register by buying a tour (my first experience with this), I quickly realized that if I came without a package, I would have never made it to the start line. From the early morning starts required to dodge the heat, the mandatory inspection - a good idea, and one that gives you opportunity to play tourist/photographer on the wall that you'll be blazing past late - to the 150KM bus rides in each direction, you have to have the package. The course itself is tough (but you knew that :)), but certainly not insurmountable. Be warned about the other 2KM hill near the 21KM-mark. Overall, the Wall is amazing, rhe four villages and countryside you run through are beautiful and eye-opening, and they have the best water situation I have seen at any marathon - 28 water stations on the course! And all giving full bottles of water for you to carry... this was my 1st marathon I've ever run not carrying my own water at all. (Bring your own GU/gel for the course). As far as time goes, they say expect 150% of your normal time. I was just over an hour over my PR at 4:47, so go figure (maybe that just means I'm slow :)). A great great experience and a great memory, I hope you can fit it into your schedule! (For those who can't afford this, there is a "Great Wall of China" Marathon that runs about 2 weeks prior. Google it; entry is only 150USD, so, much cheaper. But you have to figure out your own logistics and it seems like there's no course support.)

Having been out to the Wall 3 times and run the full twice, I can truly say it is well worth doing. The course itself is challenging (this is an understatement) and the competition of the runners who place in the top spots is getting tough. However, for those who break records as well as those of us who don't, the scenery, the village children, the off-road path, the visiting spectators, and the camaraderie of the other runners is well worth the journey. Each year it has gotten better and better with greater organization and more assistance for runners. You still must be prepared with your own gels etc, but there are cold showers and, more importantly, massages at the finish.

Definitely not the easiest, but lots of fun! Course was tough. Most memorable were the local spectators. Not a very crowded course, but you're going through very small villages. Those who were there were smiling and cheering the whole time. I'm a New Yorker living in Beijing. Got to see the countryside of China... passed some goats, cows, chickens along the way. The kids were a great source of support. Some ran alongside some of the runners for awhile, eager to get "hi-fives." Local middle school and high school students volunteered to help out at the support stations. Their enthusiasm was great and they were fun to talk to. In the recent wake of the Sichuan earthquake, I wish there was a way for runners to ask their friends and family to sponsor the runner via Paypal or other means, but time to organize might've been restricted. Everyone was in good cheer and weather was perfect! If you're looking for something fun, challenging and different, this is the one. Organization was really first-rate. For the visiting tourists, I think it was really nice. As a local resident, I just wish there was an easier way to pick up my race pack than to go all the way to their office. Plenty of water and salt water. Maybe they can get a sports drink sponsor? Subway sandwiches at the finish line never tasted so good! Take your time, bring your camera, and take lots of pictures! Enjoy!

If you want a truly unique experience, then this is the one. The Wall is the most difficult run I have done but it was the best run I have done. Even though I only ran the half marathon because of a broken rib and the weather was 88 degrees, I would love to do it again. The tour groups give you a great opportunity to see China and not just Beijing. If you go, take at least the 13-17 days trip to see the other parts of China; it is awe-inspiring. The Chinese people are the friendliest I have met and they are very proud of their country. I went with Kathy Loper Tour Group and I would highly recommend them for the excellent job they did in showing us China.

There is no other marathon like this one. The course is torturous (forget about a personal best). The scenery is breathtaking... and the children from the rural villages will steal your heart. My regret is that I didn't bring candy for these kids. They were remarkably friendly and curious. They all wanted to practice their English.... "Hello." Although this marathon/vacation package seems expensive, it's worth it. I came back with a suitcase full of shopping for the week I was there and I spent less than $200 for all my goods. I also found a greasy spoon near my hotel where I had a bowl of spicy noodles and a beer for about 75 cents (I recommend you save that experience for after the race, although I didn't experience any ill effects). I love the tours too. After completing this tough run, all I can say is that every marathon hereafter will seem easy. A good figure for an expected finish time is to add half again to your average marathon time. I normally run a 4:40 marathon and this one took me 6:30 to run... pretty close. Do it. Have fun and BRING CANDY.

The event location on the Great Wall of China is phenomenal. The village kids provide a great morale boost with their blatant enthusiasm, although other locals may run you down during the street portions of the race. The organizers did okay considering it was in China, but don't expect much of any support on race day. The sports drinks were minimal and useless, the medical staff is all located at home base, and the only support for the many runners in various states of physical distress on the second pass on the wall is other runners. In addition, much of the high entry fee appears to wasted on a pointless affairs that should be optional: pasta dinner and gala awards ceremony. The challenges of this marathon are the heat, smog, and elevation changes.

I thought Antarctica was tough until I ran the Great Wall Marathon. This was the most physically challenging course I have ever run. However, I'm very glad I did it. What a marvelous experience. Words can't adequately describe the beauty of the entire experience. Running/walking/crawling on this historical monument was awe-inspiring, if not exhausting. Meeting the local people in the surrounding villages was also an incredible experience. I felt good to be alive and very fortunate to be a part of this marathon.

Basically, the race is up a 10%-15% grade, 2.5-mile, continuous hill; then about 2.0 miles on the Wall (steep up, steep down - sometimes a little dangerous); run in the valley for about 16 miles; run the Wall again; then run down the same 10% to 15% grade hill. This is a VERY difficult course - especially trudging up those roughly 2,000 steep steps going up to the Wall after about 21 miles. The race was something that my son and I will never forget; truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. The organization was stellar! As far as monetary "bang for the buck," this was an excellent value, too. If you can get there, DO IT! Just make sure that you train for the terrain!

I ran the 1/2 marathon and found it to be both the hardest and most rewarding of races I have run. As I focused my traning on the Wall (ie. running steps),it was the easiest part for me. I would recommend doing steps,hills and trail running. I have lived in China for 10 years and felt that the organization of this race was better than any other event I have attended here. There was water every kilometer and sports drinks and bananas at a few stations. The people of the village were welcoming, considering they had people running through the narrow paths of their town for 8 hours. The children especially were out yelling their well-practiced English encouragements, with hands up for high-fives from the 300-plus 1/2 marathoners. If you are a runner living in China,you should do this race. I'm glad I did.

I ran the 1/2 marathon and really enjoyed it. The course on the wall is tough and all you want to do is take pictures. A great time and it soooo needs to be on your list of things to do. Never thought this farm boy from Michigan would be running a race on the GW. The villagers were all out to greet you, lots of support, and scenery that did not stop. Made some great friends and China is amazing. Do not put this off another year. Weather was perfect, the tour (Kathy Loper Events) was great and well organized.

This course was spectacular! We went up a mountain, down the wall, up another mountain, down the mountain, up the wall, and down the mountain. This is not a race you are running to get your PB, but it is a must-do if you are in the area. It is very expensive since you MUST go through a travel agency to sign up. Bring your own power gel for the race.

This was by far the most difficult run I have ever done! If you want to challenge yourself physically and mentally, run this marathon. The website doesn't do it justice. That said, it was an amazing race and an amazing week! I met peoople I hope will be friends for a lifetime. Plus the bragging rights are priceless!!! Do yourself a favor: RUN THE WALL!!!!

Fantastic experience with an unforgettable run on the great wall. For the marathon, you have to run through villages between the two sections of the wall. The local spectators are not that many but their smiles and encouragements make it very special. This is not an easy marathon by any means but a great experience. You can also do 1/2 marathon or even a 10k. If you have the opportunity to do this race, do not hesitate. This was my 46th marathon and this is one of the best (at par with NYC).

How amazing was the experience of actually running a race on the GREAT WALL OF CHINA! I just can't say enough about this marathon. The entire tour that I was on was top-notch. I saw so many things you only dream about seeing with your own eyes, but I guess I should focus on the marathon. Yes you spend a lot of time on buses (for the tours, and for both for the mandatory inspection day where you walk the section of wall you will run a few days later and on the actual marathon day) as the race location is 3.5+/- hours from Beijing, but it's worth it. You can check out the details of the course at the event website but it doesn't truly do justice to the difficulty of the course. You run about 6-7 miles actually on the wall, a 3+ mile section once in each direction with more uphill when you start up the wall the second time at about mile 20 (the obvious joke is 'talk about hitting the wall in a marathon!'). Parts of the wall are like what you see in the pictures (i.e., stone steps, etc.) and part is more like a mountain hiking trail. The portions of the race through the valley and small villages are not easy either, as there are several good sized hills to deal with. A reasonable finish predictor would be to add 40-45% to your regular marathon time. I guess the training tips are obvious also... do a lot of stairs and hill workouts (both up and down). The racing tip is to take your time while on the wall the first time or you will end up like me with tired legs at mile 7 and have to dig deep for the rest of the race! A couple of other points: Beijing is really gearing up for the 2006 Olympics so it's a great time to visit; and bring your bargaining skills... you'll need them.

This was my second time running the GWM. I ran it in 2001. Organization was leaps and bounds better. Recommendation, like the others, more Gatorade and banana locations on the course. The course organizers did a good job and made this a memorable event for everyone. Hats off the marathon committee for making this better. See you in 2005.

Oh my goodness! Hitting the wall at 21 miles to ascend a steep sloping goat path to reach the 1800 steps of the Great Wall. Grueling, sweltering heat, my slowest race, but definitely my crowning achievement. Looking for a mind altering adventure? Run the Great Wall Marathon!

What an awesome feeling to run on the Great Wall of China. The view from up top was great! The logistics during the race were good but don't expect much support from the locals. You will however get lots of support from your fellow runner. Not a race to PR, but you can make lots of new running friends. To prepare for the race practice running up the stairs at your local tall building or football stadium. Also plan on adding 1-2 or more hours to your normal time.

There are too many elements of this marathon to list. I mainly came away with great feelings of love, for my fellow runners, for our Chinese hosts, and for the blessing of being able to run on the Great Wall. There were 'a thousand acts of kindness' as one runner gave aid to another. There was never a question that I would not qualify for Boston on this run, but finishing was the greatest reward in my slowest time ever! And the love and fulfillingness that all the runners shared can be compared to no other event I have ever participated in. In the future, race organizers should require every marathoner to carry a brick with them up the wall to help rebuild those portions which need it. In a few thousand years, the wall will look like new. Also, on inspection day, I think marathoners should walk the wall as they will on the second run. It is definitely more difficult than the first run on the wall. Thank you for a wonderful experience, and I may do it again some day.

This is one great experience. Lots of Kodak moments, a once in a lifetime opportunity. I did not do the tour package, only the race. All the big sites and experiences you want are there, but the actual race managment seemed a bit runner unfriendly. First busses leave at 3:00AM and no coffee or breakfast can be found. Pre-race bathrooms are Chinese style (holes in the ground with no toilet paper). Electrolytes at only one aid station. Only bananas at two aid stations and at finish (no oranges, bagels, Gatorade). No gels. Only modest sandwiches for lunch. Cameramen in busses all over course, creating hazards and fumes for runners. No shade, time clocks or care instructions at the finish. This is a tough race (I ran 5:40 to place in top third, normal time is 3:45) and the lack of runner care seemed a bit odd. Would do it again in a minute though. Just be prepared.

This was my first marathon and had never either watched or attended any similar sporting event. I was amazed and thrilled with the entire event. The buses were generally organized and comfortable. Although the ride to the event makes it a long day (you have to be on the bus at 2:45 am) it makes the event unique and allows you to make some new friends on the way. Once at the Great Wall, the organization and energy level were wonderful. Pretty much everything was taken care of. The actual start of the marathon was actually the most confusing part as it started a little late and you couldn't hear any instructions being given as to what to do. We just figured when the guy in the front starts running, follow him. Once running, it was marvelous. The course is as beautiful as it is grueling. Electrolytes could have been provided at more locations so bring some of your own in gel form or other. The last trip up the wall at 21 miles is the most difficult thing I've done in my life. Straight up a 1000-foot mountain face to get up to the Great Wall so I could start climbing it up and down. For a while I lost confidence in my own judgement. Once off the actual wall, there is a final 3-mile run down an asphalt road. It was really enjoyable running down it all the way to the finish. Good sandwiches and refreshments at the end included in the price. Also, nice hot showers you didn't have to wait all day for. Bring your own towel and soap. Brought family with me for the event. Unfortunately they do not make it cheap for family to attend as I had to pay $50 a piece for a 3- and 4-year old just to show up at the event. Regardless, I encourage anyone to join in on this one.

I cannot tell you what it was like to travel from Oregon, USA, to China--and run a marathon at the Great Wall. More beautiful than I can put into words. This is a tough marathon, and the finishing times reflect that. Plan on adding a third again to your regular time. The Wall section is about three miles, but you cover it twice. The steps are sometimes very large, and almost always very steep. The rest of the marathon is through a few countryside villages. Legions of little kids stand by the road, all yelling 'Hey-Low! Hey-low!' slapping hands with runners, and laughing. But it is very hot & dry. You *must* wear a hat with a brim, and bring lots of sun screen. Bring a water bottle, You'll need it. I don't remember seeing sports drink on the course, so bring that as well. The tour is organized by a Danish Group (whose name I can't remember now), and they did a wonderful job. I love contemporary chinese history, so saw the Square, Mao's Tomb, and the Great Hall of the People. We also saw the Forbidden City, Summer Palace--almost everything in that week. Beijing is still a third world city (Westerners can't drink the tap water), but I was surprised at how modern & bustling it was. Very, very few signs of the Party, and almost every kind of shop you can imagine. Few people actually speak English, but most restaurants had english menus (bad English, but readable). While not everything was perfect (the 'opera' was a bad parody of bad dinner theater, the food was surprisingly uneven, the Novetel Peace is **not** a four star hotel), this was still the best vacation I have ever had. As for the htoels--try to stay at a hotel close to the Square. That is where all the action is. And one of the best parts of this tour is that you're grouped with runners all over the world. My group had several Australians, Canadians, an ex-pat American, a crazy Dane, and some nice Americans--a very lucky draw for me. One final note: this marathon is also surprisingly inexpensive, especially considering what it involves. It is very affordable. Besides--I went from a PR of 4:11, to running a 6:47 at The Wall. Cowabunga! It was worth it. Go to the website, and read about the course......Look at the photos.....and register.

Great Wall section of the course, with steps ranging in size from tiny to huge and not easily runable, was breathtaking in terms of history and scenery. Not many spectators but the villagers were friendly and enthusiastic. Hopefully, the Danish race organization has learned a lot from the 2001 event to make the 2002 event run smoother, but just in case they haven't, runners should bring lots of snacks for during and after the race and memorize which direction to go each time they loop through the start area. I finished the half marathon option and considered it a great adventure with no aspirations of a PR that day. <!---In general, I think people who traveled from North America with Japan Orient Tours and Kathy Loper Events - http://www.kathyloperevents.com/gwm.shtml had better logistical support in terms of busses, hotel, other tour activities, and organization than those arriving from Europe.---> Overall - a great experience.

Although this marathon advertises with 'probably the toughest marathon in the world', I do not think it is true and did this one as my first marathon. Great Wall Marathon is indeed a BIG word, as only 6 km is on the wall. Another 10 km is up and down a steep hill (5 k up, 5 k down) and the rest is absolutely flat. Beautiful scenery and that should be the reason to do it. Not many supporters, although the people in the villages are enthusiastic. Although organization on the day was okay (apart from the buses, there was enough water, baggage place, etc), the marathon is offered as a tour package, which is quite expensive and includes an exploration day and a party the day after. These are NOT well organized - no breakfast on the bus at 5 am, buses that have to wait for each other and make a tour along all the hotels (you are unlucky if you stay in the last one). Advice to the organizers: choose hotels nearer each other or divide the buses per hotel or a number of hotels instead of driving each bus to each hotel. Scenery and the challenge of it will be a main reason to run this marathon.