Jerusalem Marathon

The Jerusalem Marathon is my home race and I've completed the full course three times as well as the half distance on two occasions (officially). Starting with Israel's Parliament (the Knesset) to your right and the Israel museum to your left, the route passes the newly opened national library, before going around the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University and then down past the Supreme Court. The next major site is the home of the President and then up into town and out and back on a very up and down route towards Mount Scopus with views to the Dead Sea and Jordan. Runners enter the Old City via the Jaffa Gate, passing David's Citadel, and going through the Armenian Qtr before exiting at the Zion Gate and going back to the new city. The route continues to wind around, passing the President's residence for a second time, passing through trendy Emek Refaim St and back past the First Station complex before going onto the Armon Hanatziv promenade with a view towards the Old City. From here you're getting close to the end but there is time for some more hills before you get there including one which will drain the final strength from your legs at km 39. The crowds are not huge although certain sections are pretty busy. Did I mention that it's hilly? Come prepared psychologically that just when you thought you're done with the uphills there's always one more around the corner.

I ran this race March 15 2019. It was fantastic! A little disorganized at the start because the half marathoners start first and notorious to Israelis they are late comers to the race holding back the start time for the full marathoners maybe 5 or 10 minutess. The courses are very different for the various courses runners run that day. The full marathon takes you on a very steep almost 3 mile long climb up Mt. Scopus at around 12KM. There are about 5 other rather steep climbs along the course including one towards the end. This is not a course for beginners. You must complete it in 6 hours or less. However it is fantastic as there are both historic and modern sites all along the course. The DJs and live music is great along the course and great crowds in the busiest areas. I chose to wear a hydration vest carrying my own nutrition that I trained with in the US. I filled my bottles up twice along the course with the bottled water they provided. and mixed my nutrition. Due to security reasons you either have to walk to the start at Sachar Park or you have to get there 90 minutes earlier by transportation shuttle or taxi. I chose to walk about 2 miles from my hotel which was a good way to warm up. It is a very challenging course but one of the best most memorable races I've ever run. A historic run well worth the travel and effort to train for this medal. A must do full marathon in an amazing city Jerusalem.

The course is challenging and takes you for a brief time through the Old City in Jerusalem. The half marathon was very crowded. The organization of the race was dismal. There was little information as to where to the start was and the race map was too small to decipher. Like other races I have run in the Middle East, they give out full bottles of water, but at least here they opened them for you. I do think it is a horrible waste of bottled water and plastic. They give out the same shirt and medal for all races from the 5K to the full marathon. Post race you were only given an apple and an orange. If you don't like crowds stay away - the post race event in the park was a madhouse.