Bang for your buck would go to Vermont City Marathon in Burlington VT. Fees are not cheap ($85 and up depending on when you register). But hotels are cheap compared to the big city ($100 and change). It is super easy to deal with race day issues. Just drive up, park and warm up. The race is great. Good depth of running talent, well managed and a forgiving last 5 mi on a slightly downhill bikepath along the lake.
Big city quality in a small town.
Richmond and Shamrock
Both are fast courses too. Shamrock is pancake flat and last year in Richmond the winner broke 2:14.
Bob Potts (PA) / May $50 - 400 runners
Erie (PA) / Sep $40 - 500
Maine (ME) / Sep $65 - 900+
Cape Cod (MA) / Oct $50 - 900
[quote]fastest course in the west wrote:
West Wyoming Marathon
Not much competition.
The Frank Maier Marathon in Juneau, Alaska is about as small and cheap as you can get: $40 entry fee, and maybe a total of 40-50 of us ran it in 2011 (Chuck Engle won, in fact).
That's mighty cheap for a marathon, if you ignore the thousand dollars roundtrip it will take you to fly in...
But fantastic and frequent aid stations, bald eagles flying overhead, views of the glacier, excellent scenery, an out-and-back course with easy rolling hills, the friendliest people you could ever encounter, and a sweet afterparty with all the salmon you can eat.
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
Small, hilly, lonely, non-traffic controlled course, often with cold/windy weather:
North Central Trail marathon in Baltimore County, a world away from Baltimore City.
How do I sign up?
fastest course in the west wrote:
West Wyoming Marathon
Cost: Your DDS license
Website:
http://tinyurl.com/7gdh6xp
Virginia Creeper Marathon... they recently had to raise entry to $15. While it doesn't have the extras (tech t shirt, entertainment, expo, etc.) expected by most modern marathoners, it is put on quite competently by the local running club. Note-- field size is capped at 100.
Capped at 2500 people http://eriemarathon.org/
Chicamauga right out side Chattanooga TN. You run through the battle field.
It's a small race with nice scenery.
virginia runner wrote:
Richmond and Shamrock
Both are fast courses too. Shamrock is pancake flat and last year in Richmond the winner broke 2:14.
I second the Shamrock. Really nice event.
I have no use for the big city mass marathons. Every thing about them is a hassle, from registration, to finding a hotel, to trying to grab something to eat.. 30,000+ runners plus their families.. ugh.. no thanks.
Check out the Lehigh Valley Marathon. Not only is it cheap but they now provide a free shuttle along the course to assist you with your BQ.
Not cheap anymore and there's always a chance of wind being an issue in Wichita, but you'll find cheap accommodations and a well-run race.
Looks like it had 600+ entrants last year and was won in 2:29 -- but only 3 runners under 2:40.
How long of a marathon are you looking for? 5K marathons can be pretty cheap.
Stacy King wrote:
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
REALLY good event, big enough to have people to run with if you're sub3, but small enough to avoid all the issues associated with the big mass marathons.
Good time of year to run, and the course if flat and fast.
http://www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=3777100703Sam Friedman wrote:
How do I sign up?
fastest course in the west wrote:West Wyoming Marathon
Cost: Your DDS license
Website:
http://tinyurl.com/7gdh6xp
Trolling Around wrote:
Check out the Lehigh Valley Marathon. Not only is it cheap but they now provide a free shuttle along the course to assist you with your BQ.
The Lehigh Valley Health Network Via Marathon is definitely on the list as a Rossi Triathlon course (Selfie, Drive, Finish) if you are looking to get a BQ without earning it.
Kevin52 wrote:
Sam Friedman wrote:http://www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=3777100703How do I sign up?
That's great! I love the most recent review. I'm surprised they haven't taken it down.