It was my 108th Marathon, and definitely the worst one. On a very hot day, with the Marathon starting at noon, the organizers didn't provide enough water. At least at half of the water stations, volunteers apologized 'Sorry, no more water!'. At one point, I ran into the Radisson Hotel to get some water there. Every runner around me looked severely dehydrated, many started walking at around 15K. I stopped running and walked from the 30km (which never happens to me), and luckily didn't end up in a hospital. So sad!

In 2023 it was great so I returned in 2024 and was very disappointed. They moved the time from 10 am to 12 pm on a very hot June 1, just so they could keep signing up racers up to the start. How amateur! As we waited to start, they kept bragging about how many more racers they had this year, expecting us to applaud. That extra amount was good for them, not for us. There was total chaos at many of the water stations. Bare tables with little kids holding a bucket of water in one hand and a cup in the other. Here was a "race" where you had to stop running and stand on line just to get a cup of water. At one point I actually drank the water meant for dunking your cap in. At the finish it was about 5 minutes of walking before I was handed a very warm bottle of water. Stay away from this marathon until they fix these problems!

INTRODUCTION: I am a race-walker with a median marathon completion time of 5:22:28. The Stockholm Marathon was my fifty-fifth 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a great day for a marathon: overcast with trace precipitation, 18C (64 degF) for the noon start. The two loop course began adjacent to the 1912 Olympic Stadium north of City. The first loop, running counterclockwise, of the moderately undulating course offered us some views of a military academy, originally a castle that was a wedding gift to King Gustav III in 1866; City Hall, where the Nobel Prize festivities are held; the Royal Palace; Parliament; and the Stockholm waterfront. We began the clockwise second loop on the 15th kilometer, where we subsequently passed by fortress United States Embassy; went through three plus kilometers of the Animal Garden, originally a royal hunting ground; Old Town; the Vasterbron bridge over Lake Malaren, which had the steepest ascent on the marathon course; and where upon departure, we retraced most of the final seven kilometers of the first loop back to the Olympic Stadium, where we once again passed by City Hall, the Royal Palace, and the Parliament building. The best part of the marathon was saved for last, where after passing through a tunnel, we ran three-fourths of a lap on the track of the Olympic Stadium, which gave us the rare opportunity of seeing what an Olympic marathoner experiences at the conclusion of his event. After we finished, our name, time, three-letter country code and flag were posted on the Jumbotron. Weather at the finish was overcast, 13C (55 degF). ORGANIZATION: Adequate. Some confusion amongst the participants due to a last-minute change by the organizers as to where the line began; also there was some confusion regarding collecting the Pasta Dinner (held inside the Olympic Stadium) ticket. On the race course, it was clearly evident some of the kilometer markers, which were challenging to locate owing to its small triangular shape and indigo color, were misplaced or perhaps absent. SPECTATORS: Enthusiastic, especially those in the Garmin cheer section. On the other hand, there were many who did not approve of a marathon that disrupted the City activity on their Saturday afternoon; their disapproval was expressed in the manner of crossing the street regardless whether or not they were in front of the marathoner's path! Some bands present on the course, including a military ensemble in front of the Royal Palace. CONCLUSION: One of the most attractive courses for an urban marathon, and with the finish inside the Olympic Stadium, one of the most special. Well worth travelling to. Tack, Stockholm!