looking for a good course by good I mean either
a: scenic and challenging
or
b: big field fast course
dosent matter where as long as its in the continental US
looking for october
jsut want to get some opinions.
The Denver Marathon. It’s now part of the Rock N Roll series. Good course, large-but not huge number or participants, goes through scenic parks and has the mountains as a backdrop.
hmmmm…thats pretty close to me too, ill check that one out.
thanks!
You can not get any “cooler” than the Twin Cities Marathon, I have run it a few times and the last 11 TC 10 mile which is run just minutes before the marathon but is known as the shortcut. You run from downtown Minneapolis (Metrodome for warm up) to St. Paul (Minnesota Capital grounds) you run by parks, lakes and thru parkways some along Mississippi, the colors are beautiful as the trees are turning, you run by old well kept mansions on Summit avenue and by two beautiful cathederals, one just .2 miles from the end where you come over a hill and see the state capitol grounds and the finish line! Its a little on the tough side as you hit some low grade hills from mile 18-23, and the weather usually is pretty good! usually dry, sometimes cool, sometimes warm (lately anyhow) but extremely well supported and organized.
cheers!
Pete
Saddleback Trail Marathon is the first weekend in November. VERY small race- under 200 racers. Timed with stopwatches. They were even taking race day entries for this last year. Very scenic, very challenging:
http://www.bigbaztrailraces.com/09/SaddlebackMarathon-Nov07.htm
The race director is a riot and a legend ultrarunner himself. This is the exact opposite of one of the big crazy marathons that most folks do.
Two challenging courses out this way in that timeframe - Cape Cod and Manchester NH.
Cape Cod Marathon in late October has tremendous scenery (especially if it is a nice fall day) and good rolling terrian and is a surprisingly fast course. It is quiet in the area since it is the off-season but still worth visiting then for a nice vacation, especially if you have never been before.
Manchester City Marathon is usually the following week and is a tougher course than Cape Cod, lots of hills but a nice break at one point where it goes on a trail through the woods for about a mile or so in a city park. Very well-organized race.
Twin Cities Marathon. Good sized field, fast course, very scenic. (Called “The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon”) October 3. Obviously the weather CAN be varied…but that’s typically a gorgeous time of year.
I’ve heard the Duke City is pretty awesome…
marathon 2 marathon.
deep west texas (near big bend)
Oct 16.
I can say first hand that Ducke City is NOT awesome!!! lol, thats how this all started, looking at DCM…then I realized that im probably not mentally tough enough to try to pr a marathon on that course…sooooooo boring…I used to love it, after biking thousands and thousands of miles up and down that path, I jsut cant imagine running on if for that long. thanks for all the replies, im going to check out all these!!!
Six months from now will have you looking at a mid November race? Check out the San Antonio Marathon. It’s a Rock’n’Roll race and generally held mid November… Big field. Travels through cool parts of San Antonio. Not super flat, but not hilly by any means. Weather is generally perfect. Just have to put up with the large crowds.
I’ve gotta agree with Cape Cod. Beautiful course, challenging (miles 14 to 24 are constant rolling hills) and a great time of year to be on Cape Cod.
I can say first hand that Ducke City is NOT awesome!!! lol, thats how this all started, looking at DCM…then I realized that im probably not mentally tough enough to try to pr a marathon on that course…sooooooo boring…I used to love it, after biking thousands and thousands of miles up and down that path, I jsut cant imagine running on if for that long. thanks for all the replies, im going to check out all these!!!
WTF, seriously? What’s not to love about running 26 miles along a bike path out and back, weaving in and out of cyclists and other runners? There’s great scenery of a murky river and you only have to hope that there is enough water. Don’t see why you wouldn’t want to do it…
I did Denver two years ago- great city and great race.
Indianapolis Monumental marathon is also great- did that one last year.
Des Moines is smaller but also a great one as well.
I am going for the 50/50 club.
A group of us are looking into Kansas City and Las Vegas for fall 2010.
We got cut-off for Nashville so we have $50 discount on LV Rock and Roll- hard to pass up!
Mount Desert Island Marathon
Voted most scenic and runner up for best overall. Very challenging course. October 17th.
wow, he sold me on the Twin Cities Marathon. that sounds great! brochure worthy.
Mt Desert Island
October, and option A
.
you beat me to it.
2 x Cadillac the other day BTW 
"2 x Cadillac the other day BTW "
I assume you mean in a car…if not, you’ve come a long way!..is the way down fun yet or still just terrifying?
**This is the exact opposite of one of the big crazy marathons that most folks do. **
I’ve done Saddleback and it was fantastic.
Thankfully, most runners and particularly triathletes tend to want the big, crowded, hyped up races so this one has been able to keep the size down.