Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Help! Where the Hell Do I Go?

So I really need advice. I am trying to pick the marathon to run in the fall that just might qualify me for Boston. I've only run one marathon (this past January - RNR Phoenix). I need to shave 13 minutes off of my time. I'm 42, so I need a 3:50.

Since I live in Colorado, I am training at 5280 ft., so I'd prefer to go to a lower elevation to take advantage of altitude training. Obviously I want kind of a flattish course (within reason), good weather, something in Sept/Oct/Nov, and a fast course. Is that too much to ask? Right now, without much research, I'm thinking about:

St. George, UT
Twin Cities, MN
Richmond
Las Vegas (Rock 'n Roll has picked up Vegas this year; I happen to LOVE anything Vegas, plus I hear you get to run through a wedding chapel and stop to make love to Elvis whenever you want)









If you've done a marathon or a half that has a marathon as a choice (or you're planning on one), how would you review it based on:

-scenery
-type of course (flat vs. hilly vs. moderate)
-typical weather
-support on the course
-numbers of people (did it feel crazy crowded)
-has anyone ever died on the course?
-is there beer at the end?
(I'm funny)

Seriously, sometimes I wish I were 80 because then I could run a 5:30 marathon and still qualify for Boston.

15 comments:

  1. I did the Vegas half last year and loved it. But I also run in SF and it's hilly so anything is better than that. I'm hoping Vegas is 10x better b/c RNR picked it up this year :)

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  2. Sounds like a tough decision. I have absolutely no advice to offer because i have NO chance of qualifying any time soon. Good luck!

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  3. You are hilarious! I loved reading your blog. I am doing my first half marathon in over 15 years in a couple of weeks (Ft Collins) and then my goal is to run a full marathon in the fall or next spring. I would LOVE to qualify for Boston!

    Tara

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  4. My main criteria is course flatness and weather. I don't need the crowd support, and I don't drink beer. Vodka however, I do. :o)

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  5. I did Twin Cities in '06 and the course is awesome. Tons of crowd support, and I don't remember much in the way of hills. And I would definitely come cheer for you! :)

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  6. You know I have not yet picked my fall run...I think I'm still nervous about this injury keeping me from even finishing in may. I WILL THOUGH!!

    I'll let you know when I start looking...I probably wont' pick one until June. My qualifications...well I love crowd support and I want moderate hills...Chicago wouldn't work for me and SF was horrible!

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  7. One consideration is the number of people running. You don't want to chance injury trying to get through packs of slower runners in the first several miles of the race.

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  8. If it were me, I think I would go for Vegas!! I have not run any of them (my experiences have been Florida based), but I think Vegas would be very entertaining. For me I like a lot of entertainment on the course. Having run both the scenic only course, and the high entertainment course I find that I enjoy courses that have as many mental diversions as possible.

    Good luck with your choice, I too am trying to find a fall race. I can not decide whether to go with a local race that I have run before (in my back yard, flat and warm but a little boring) or do the Marine Corp in DC (which has hills and may be cold, but I think would be interesting). I don't know, decisions, decisions!!

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  9. Oh, c'mon, it sounds like qualifying at 42 is well within your potential! I don't know about those marathons but I'm going to do my best to be in Richmond, either running or cheering, which certainly would involve beer, and not just at the end. :)

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  10. im running the rnr vegas this december. i think it should be fun bc.... its vegas! of course my husband will be gambling away our life savings as i sweat it out in the desert.
    ive read that the st george is a really good marathon to bq bc a lot of it is downhill and really fast..

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  11. Come to Cali!!! CIM is in December in Sac and its in the top 6 of boston qualifiers :) I ran it last year and PRed by 20 minutes! I am def doing it again this year. Las Vegas would be really fun too!!

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  12. I haven't done a marathon yet. I am in NY and if I was to do one around here, I would probably go with the Steamtown Marathon in PA. IT has a 955 ft elevation drop and according to the website, "Ranked as one of the fastest official Boston Marathon qualifying courses!"

    I have never run it myself, but when I am ready for a marathon, that will probably be the one I do.

    Good luck!

    http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/

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  13. Yep! It actually qualifies you for both 2010 AND 2011 :) I think the cut off is maybe in Feb or when it sells out? There was still room after this Dec.

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  14. Um, can't help you there, girl. It would be a freaking miracle if I ever BQ'd (and that's only because I really don't want to work that hard).

    I WILL tell you that I'm planning on running Richmond this year.

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  15. Houston is very flat, but it is in January...

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