Thinking of doing a marathon next year. Looking at Lausanne or Luzern, they are on the same weekend.

Has anybody done either both or one of them, that could give me any info to help me to decide which to do? I've done the Lausanne 10K, so veering towards Lausanne as I have some idea of what it's like.

Info on the experience, facilities (drinks, nutrition, toilets), organisation, what's included in fee etc, would be great.

Thanks

Luzern is a double loop which can either be depressing or helpful - IE you know after the "hills" on the second loop you have an easy cruise into the finish. I prefer Luzern to Zurich

Ooh, that could be very depressing. Lausanne is out and back, I reckon that's better psychologically.

I'm torn on that. Zurich's out and back means Meilen is at 25k - 5k later you are hitting the wall and still a good 7k from the outskirts of the city - doesn't play well mentally.

Luzern's double loop can be heartbreaking at the point you start the second loop (as you watch half-marathon runners peel off to the finish) but you then do around 3km along the lake (and will do so at the end) - so that leaves only 15k to clock off.

Luzern starts early in the morning (at 9am I think) and Lausanne in the afternoon (around 2pm). This might have an impact if you have a preference for running in the morning or later on in the day.

Also travel times are something to consider depending where in Switzerland you are located. For me, the trip back from Lausanne to Zurich on the same day would be a bit too much for my aching legs and my muscles would be completely locked up on the 3 hours train journey home.

I haven't run either of them but will be doing Luzern later on this year.

I thought the double loop aspect of Luzern would be a bit soul-destroying but the second loop was fine and has lots of different scenery.

I agree that the back-to-Zurich bit along the lake isn't always much fun and (for me) seems to take forever.

I ran the Cheltenham 1/2 marathon a few years back - and jogging along I felt like I was going quite slow - until I realized it was actually in miles not KM and I was almost finished. The only tough bit was the hill out of the race-course - but at that point you were seeing people 15mins behind you looking exhausted - it was also the point where I finally passed the sprinters from the start.

Hmm, not sure if I'd rather run in the morning or afternoon. What's worse, getting up early... or getting nervous waiting all morning?

Now swaying towards Luzern, as I'll be doing the Lausanne Triathlon too, so might be nice to race somewhere different.

Lindsey is right about the start time - it is bitch even if you come from Zurich. Opt for the leisurely approach and stay in a hotel up by the start/finish - there is one along the lake and there is also the religious place.

Oh yeah... I'd definitely stay in a hotel. When I said early, I meant for a 9am start, you'd need to be up and breakfasting around 7... that's early in my book

You're in Switzerland
Do it properly
Do a unique Swiss Marathon
It's got to be the Jungfrau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K1VLZ99Svk

I ran Jungfrau 2 weeks ago, couldnt recommend it enough. Was a great experience, registered for Basel this weekend too although the legs felt pretty heavy still on a run last night

I've got the Zermatt Marathon on my doorstep..... but erm Nooooo completing a flat road race will be tough enough! Don't do hills!

I did the Half in Luzern last year and it is an amazing well organized race.
I didn't ran Lausanne but seems to be as good.
I also ran Geneva in May (Half also)...thing is Luzern are 2 loops...I am not sure Genenva, I think is a bit better than loops ....at least for me is mentally awfull to do loops, that is why I dont consider Zurich marathon..........I am running Amsterdam Marathon in Oktober...will be my first.....I plan Lausanne after, maybe the 10k or so....good luck! Aaah they say Gran Prix in Bern in Great....I think they got marathon distance!

I ran Luzern and you have to take into account that there is a long but "easy" hill that you have to go through from the 2nd half marathon. It's not a big deal, but if you compare it to Zürich, for example, it's a handicap!

This is wrong. The Lausanne marathon also starts in the morning around 10am. The lausanne half marathon starts in the afternoon from Vevey towards Lausanne.

I ran the Luzern last year and found it kind of boring especially in the second loop.

The worst was, there was no finisher T-shirt but a backpack. I mean how hard is it to get J&J sponsor that. They were there with their own tent,etc.

Will run in Zurich this year will compare.

So what if they dont give T Shirts ar you doing it for a crappy T Shirt or the knowledge that you did it

i did it nevertheless, didn't I T-shirt is a good memory..something cool to wear in other training,maybe in another part of the world..imagine in New York or in KL you ran into someone wearing a Luzern marathon T-shirt. That is the idea, not the mere fabric.

So you just go out on a Saturday and do 26.2 for the memories?