Sorry for getting off the triathlon subject, but what races would folks rank as the best? I already have done Boston, Chicago, Big Sur, Marine Corps, Shamrock (VA Beach), Indianapolis Monumental, Utah Valley, Cowtown (Fort Worth) and a bunch of smaller races. I am doing New York and Portland this Fall. I am curious if anyone highly recommends any other races.
Well you have done all the “famous” ones.
Fargo Marathon is great.
Bayshore Marathon - Traverse City, MI.
Beautiful run directly along Lake Michigan. Flat (but not pancake), fast, lot of local breweries and wineries, and great restaurants. It is also a unique time (Memorial Day weekend) where the weather is perfect in the UP (36 degrees at the start and 55 at the finish the year I did it). Liked everything about this race. It is my my favorite small town destination marathon (minus Big Sur).
Also, Mount Desert Island Marathon (Bar Harbor Maine). Beautiful course (minus the last 4-5 miles). Great time to visit Bar Harbor (was 1 weekend past leaf season the year we did it). Great weather as well. Lots and lots to do. Course can be tough…lots of hills from mile 19 on. Loved our time up there.
Bar Harbor is awesome, my wife is doing MDI Marathon this fall. Another small yet great fall race in New England is the Cape Cod Marathon. Challenging and very scenic course, very well organized race.
SLO Marathon, in beautiful California wine country. Just be prepared to run some hills
You’ve got to do NYC - it’s as good or better than Boston IMO.
Disney is fun too, if you’re into that stuff.
Catalina Island, either the Eco Marathon (3500 ish feet) or the Catalina Conservancy Marathon (4000 ish feet)
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NY is an experience I’ll never forget. Should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Twin Cities Marathon
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Eugene was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed St. George and Top of Utah. Disney was too.
St George, and Bizz Johnson are awesome too
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The Pikes Peak Marathon maybe? Only 7k elevation gain in the first half.
Two thoughts, one has already been mentioned. I’m biased so I’d say you check out the Kansas City marathon. KC has been getting a lot of press for a destination that you wouldn’t think of going but won’t regret having visited. Great course, some challenging hills, and you don’t know if it’s going to be 82 deg. or 28 deg. I like the challenge. Also, if you want a good challenge, I’d agree with whomever said Pikes Peak marathon. Super challenging but very very pretty.
One last…I recommend the Goofy run in Orlando (Disney Marathon and Disney Half Marathon in one weekend)
Happy Running!
I’m biased, but the Detroit Free Press Marathon is unique in that you run over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada, through Windsor for a few miles, and then run through the tunnel under the Detroit River back to the U.S. It’s billed as the only underwater international mile. Yes, you do need your passport to pick up your race bib.
Baton Rouge has two excellent marathons: Baton Rouge Beach in December, and Louisiana in January. Good courses, largely flat. Weather usually chilly and good. Both are right around that 1,000 or so runner size, which I prefer to 30,000.
Ben
I really dislike marathons that also have a half going on at the same time. None of the world majors do this. Its not that I don’t respect 13.1, it just deserves its own day. There’s something special about everyone do the same race together. Having said that, I have two lingering races that I need to scratch off my list – Grandmas and Detroit Free Press.
Philadelphia Marathon is a really great race if you’re going slower than 2:40 (gets really lonely if you’re faster).
Why not just check out the Runner’s World top marathon list (with ratings from thousands or readers)? Or on Letsrun.com
I’ve done the bigs as well, after that check out the list and then for a short vacay with the family or what not.
2 I didn’t see recommended would be Big Sur (CA) and the Flying Pig (Cincy)
Another small yet great fall race in New England is the Cape Cod Marathon. Challenging and very scenic course, very well organized race.
x2 I have done Cape Cod twice, nice course.
I have also heard Mt. Desert Island in Maine.
Sorry for getting off the triathlon subject, but what races would folks rank as the best? I already have done Boston, Chicago, Big Sur, Marine Corps, Shamrock (VA Beach), Indianapolis Monumental, Utah Valley, Cowtown (Fort Worth) and a bunch of smaller races. I am doing New York and Portland this Fall. I am curious if anyone highly recommends any other races.
Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, b/c any small pain you may feel during the race is miniscule compared to the pain the soldiers felt during the battle. Also, it is a rolling course through the battlefield with lots of fall foliage, along with the numerous cannon and memorials to the various regiments that fought there back in Sept 1863, which IMO are very inspiring. Usually held in early to mid-Nov each year, organized by the Chattanooga Track Club.