This is actually a good one. It gets overshadowed by CIM (another good race) and the logistics and cost of getting to Hawaii kind of limit the field. Despite that, its usually fairly fast.
I ran Honolulu about 20 years ago, so it might have changed. I did not have a great experience. Almost all of the signs and announcements were in Japanese. I got lost finding the start and no one spoke English. It started in the dark, so there were no spectators. It's completely silent except for footsteps. I remember a lot of people dressed inappropriately, such as polo shirts. I recall a tough hill at about the 25 mile mark. The sun was coming up as I finished, that was actually cool. It was very humid. Actually I think I just had a bad race because I couldn't adjust to the time zone and there were a lot of squawking jungle birds so I didn't sleep the night before.
I’m building my dream race calendar and want to hear from you — which major marathon absolutely blew your mind? Whether it’s the vibe, the views, the challenge, or the crowd — I want to know! Let’s settle this once and for all: Boston, Berlin, Tokyo, London, New York, Chicago — or is there a hidden gem I’m sleeping on?
For majors I've done Boston/Berlin/Chicago/NYC. Boston & Berlin are my top-2 there. Boston is my favorite race. You just can't beat running 26.2 miles with people lined the entire way. But I don't think that means there aren't other really good races out there to try. Boston's logistics don't make it the easiest to run well at. To that point, I cycle back to Boston seemingly every 3-4 years or so, even with being able to qualify for it, & haven't done it since the fall 2021 version. Berlin was a lot of fun & provides a good chance to run fast. Two non-majors I've really liked are Newport (Oregon) + Twin Cities.
I’m building my dream race calendar and want to hear from you — which major marathon absolutely blew your mind? Whether it’s the vibe, the views, the challenge, or the crowd — I want to know! Let’s settle this once and for all: Boston, Berlin, Tokyo, London, New York, Chicago — or is there a hidden gem I’m sleeping on?
If you go for speed and a fast time - go to Berlin. If you go for crowds - go to London. New York is also pretty insane in the latter sense (although not as fast as the other two).
If you want a really really fast marathon, which is not a major, go to Valencia. The route is good, the weather is usually good in December and the groups are sooo good. If you are running anything from 2:20 and slower, there will be a lot of people around you. Usually if you run something like 2:20-2:30ish it will be somewhat empty in marathons or you have to know who to start alongside with, but in Valencia there are so many good runners.
On my bucketlist is Tokyo though. It seems like a mythical race for me, I do not know excactly why but its just so far away geographically and the culture is so different. Also there is alot of fast japanese runners and the race is really hard to get into. I think the qualifying time is 2.36 or something for men.
This is actually a good one. It gets overshadowed by CIM (another good race) and the logistics and cost of getting to Hawaii kind of limit the field. Despite that, its usually fairly fast.
CIM • massively aided; cheat course
Honolulu • is not fairly fast; it’s very slow for the majority of the years.
The flying pig marathon is genuinely the most fun marathon around. It's really well organized, the course is challenging but fun, and for a mid-size city like Cincinnati the people really show up for it.
Personally, my favorite 2 marathons were Montreal -- the race organizers treated runners *great*, it made NY look laughably shoddy in comparison, and it was conducive to running pretty fast -- and Harrisburg, which was low-key, incredibly hassle-free and easy to get to the start, and just about running a good race.
you found montreal "conducive to running pretty fast"?? what year did you run? for at least 13 years there have been some major hills in the middle (toward the end in the half), not at all fast compared to the fast ones named above...
Ah, I ran Montreal before that - it sounds like they have changed the course at Montreal, which is too bad - it was great back when I did it. Also - though not a reason to run a race - but, finishing fairly far up in the field in Montreal, they loaded 2 big shopping bags with delicious fresh food for me after the finish (perhaps they did that even for people in the back of the field - just mentioning this as I do not know that for sure, but they seemed *very* well supplied). It was quite a contrast to finish NY marathon and be handed a little paper bag with half a stale bagel in it(!). But, if they have changed the course in Montreal, that could influence one's decision.
To comment on a couple other races mentioned here that I have not raced: Marine Corps might be better than NY, but the start is still pretty crazy (I was there when my girlfriend did it this past year). And I was in Valencia, though not for the marathon, but that course looks beautiful and very fast!
Big Sur is the most memorable and beautiful and New York is the most fun event. Neither is a fast course or will get you a PR. Boring races are good for PR's.
Anyone who says CIM is a cheater course hasn't raced that event. It's fast but you have to earn that one with all of the rollers there.
bucket list races - grandmas, houston, marine corps, flying pig in cinci, toronto waterfront,are all good ones. Hard to find organized races anymore that dont mess up the coursse or logistics