Fast Marathons in the West before men's Trials?

St George fills up by lottery in May, so unless you have an in with the RD, that one is out.

Why doesn't everyone who wants to go for a late qualifier group up via this board, pick a small race, and go for it there? The entry fee is lower, course logistics are easy (no qualifying for corrals, uncrowded start, uncrowded bathroom lines, reasonable hotel prices, etc.) Get everyone you know to show up, put a nice pack together to go through 15 on 2:20-2:21 pace, and see what happens. I'm sure there are 20+ guys who could try for it, especially given the Grandmas carnage. Add another 10-20 pacers who can pace at 5:20-5:25/mi through 15.

I've always wondered why we don't try this more often and instead all potential qualifiers scramble to get to Chicago, Grandmas, Boston, etc. instead of just pick a small, easily accessible race. If a big pack of potential qualifiers contacted the race director of a 1000-2000 person marathon, I bet he/she would be pretty happy to have them.

Twin Cities has some nice incentives for people attempting to qualify from what I've heard...

Toronto is in the WEST??

For example? What race?

There are a few geografically challenged people on this thread.

Cowtown is a 2 loop course. Get some pacers to race the 1/2 marathon.

Pines to Palms...I'm in!

Mallard wrote:

Cowtown is a 2 loop course. Get some pacers to race the 1/2 marathon.

The first 13 is the easy part. But it does look like they offer a relay now.

Ok, not to hijack the thread because originally it was about marathons out West...

Who here is planning on running Toronto Waterfront? Will there be a good-sized group going after a trials qualifier?

good point, jmoss. there was an attempt to get people on board for virginia beach this past spring. i'd be up for an alternative to chicago in the fall, but where else are you going to find a better course with consistently good conditions?

Are you in the west?

I agree...you're hard pressed to find a better course and conditions than Chicago anywhere, but the size can be a problem unless you are in the top 100 start. In fact, I'll be at Chicago this year. My comments were more toward what would have been a good idea for a spring race. It's something for everything to think about for the future...not just for trials qualifying, but just to group up to run some fast 2:20-2:35 races without being alone for 13 or more miles. If we could get this year's Grandmas "sub-elite" (2:20's-2:30's) field at 4-5 races spread out across the US every year...

I don't think there are many good options before 10/7, at least not on the west coast. There's a comprehensive marathon schedule at Marathonguide.com.

Yes, I failed to notice the "west" part of the thread topic. I was just mentioning toronto because it is flat and the weather might be nicer. I thought if you really wanted to try for a qualifier you might decide to venture out of the western u.s.

staples wrote:

Yes, I failed to notice the "west" part of the thread topic. I was just mentioning toronto because it is flat and the weather might be nicer. I thought if you really wanted to try for a qualifier you might decide to venture out of the western u.s.

No matter how bad you want a qualifier there are only so many trips out of the West one can afford. Say someone went for one earlier this year, now another one, and then to NYC the most expensive place in the US. Starts to add up.

One option in the west: Cowtown Marathon, Sacramento, CA 10/7 (last day to qualify).

You may not run well at the trials, but you might get in.

jmoss wrote:

One option in the west: Cowtown Marathon, Sacramento, CA 10/7 (last day to qualify).

You may not run well at the trials, but you might get in.

It was discussed above. Not a bad option if you can throw together a couple of relays for pacing.

The problem w/ Chicago, Steamtown, Portland, etc. is that they are on the last day of the qualifying window, and you'd basically have 1 month to recover for the Trials themselves. I suppose if you just want to qualify and run so you can say you did it, but if you want to run respectably in NY I'd think you'd want a longer time between.

Hey, here's an alternative for the Easterners. We put on a 30K each year in the spring and fall as a tuneup for those doing a marathon. This year's date is Sept. 23. The course is almost dead flat (maybe 15 feet total elev. change) near the seaside in Fairfield, CT, double loop, aid stations every 2.5 miles. It wouldn't take much to certify an additional 12.195 km section to make it a legal marathon. In fact, I've got all the segments measured so it would be just some math and a tiny bit of riding to get it done. The weather is iffy then (some years it's been warm, others cool and rainy) but you won't find a flatter course, and it gives an extra 2 weeks to recover than Chicago, etc.

East Coasters, consider it a done deal.

Do you really think that those that are left that haven't qualified yet are really concerned with putting on a good show at the Trials?

Trials Wannabe wrote:

2:43 for the winner at Cowtown last year.

Alan... Read along W-E-S-T

Trials Wannabe.... Wake up Y-O-U-R N-O-T Q-U-A-L-I-F-Y-I-N-G