Kuala Lumpur Marathon - Run or Not

Registration process

Straight forward, professionally set up and user friendly registration process via KL Marathon website www.kl-marathon.com. Doesn't take long and you can pay by VISA and MasterCard (iPay88).

Price

Affordable - $60 (USD)

Communication

From my experience - excellent! I had a tiny problem with my passport. I needed it to register but my old one was about to expire and I had to wait 2 weeks for the new one. Considering how quickly the race was selling I would totally loose the opportunity. I have emailed the organisers and very quickly got a nice reply. They said I can register now with the old one and update my registration later with a new passport number. Thanks guys!

Expo

KL Marathon Expo was a good one and in a great location at KL Convention Centre, just next door to Suria KLCC and Petronas Towers. 
The package pick up process was quick and easy with just showing my passport. 
The title sponsor had a big space and lots of merchandise but you had to sign up with them to get those. 
Then there were many other stalls from sponsors, partners and suppliers including Brooks, Lucozade (sport drinks), Seiko, High5 (energy gels), Salonpas (great pain relieving spray and patches), 2XU and more. 
I have to deduct one point for the tiny problem with accessing the expo, especially for families or older people. Just before the entry there was that super narrow staircase and I felt sorry for all the families with children and strollers trying to get down or up somehow. It was hard for them and they were totally obstructing the way for all others.

Goodie bag and giveaways

You are getting 2 bags, one when picking up your bib - a nice drawstring backpack, and then a bag at the finish line. 
First one had a running vest, AA batteries, nice towel and a few discount vouchers. 
Second was filled with fresh fruit, water, energy drink, a finisher's t-shirt and a huge medal. Warning! Don't forget to pick up a title sponsor wristband at 30km mark, because you might not get any of that without it!

Weather conditions

I am not entirely sure whether it was me being better prepared or the weather was different, but I found running KL Marathon a bit easier than Singapore. Still, it is not easy and if you've never run in high heat, high humidity conditions, you might be up for a very unpleasant surprise. 
KL Marathon starts at 4am which is, in my opinion, too late. It's hot any way, but once the sunrise starts you are running in a hot and dense soup-like air. 
But hey! I feel 100% more badass when I finish a tough race in this conditions than in the cold!

Course

Sorry guys, only three, but it is a bit boring. First 8km is okay, but then just concrete highways back and forth until 32km. Last 10km is much more interesting and hilly (I love some hills :-) but through some narrow streets with only one side blocked for runners and the other with an oncoming traffic.

Amenities on the course

Superb! Plenty of water, fuel, bananas, wet sponges, sprinkler tunnels and toilets! I have never ever seen so many toilets available on the course. 2 or 3 before and after every water station. Wow, absolutely no complaints.

Post race village and facilities

Water, energy drinks, apples, nashi pears, bananas for free when you finish. Then some tents with other foods you can buy, but the area is very cramped, especially when raining. 
Photo booths and more giveaways are available from most sponsors, but you need to share their stuff on social media or sign up for something... all the usual, and long queues to everything.

Verdict

Register if you like a real mental challenge.
It's so much easier to run in cold conditions. Here, not only your mind and body are testing you, but the weather as well.
I would not recommend it as anyone's first marathon.