Best spring marathons to OTQ

Garmin_Guy wrote:

Also wondering. I'm registered for Houston but had some mild injury snags and schoolwork that rolled me, and really am not sure I can be ready so soon. Trying to judge whether I go down there just to get a feel for the marathon distance, or save my pennies are try for Ottawa or something. I ran Boston in the past (current PR) but haven't run a marathon in the past year.

On that note - does anyone know how stringent it is to get in the Elite Wave at Boston? OTQ-attempts won't make it in, right?

I had a buddy a few years back that got into the Elite Wave with a 2:22 - 2:25 somewhere in there. He got free entry but no travel as a 20-something year old. It's worth applying. Worst thing that happens is you don't get in.

Does anyone know the difference in difficulty between Vermont City and Boston? Both seem kind of tough...but for a NE runner trying to PR in the 2:20's, but not OTQ, which one would be better?

Vermont City is difficult and hilly. Don't go there looking for a fast time.

vivalarepublica wrote:

LoneStarXC wrote:

Why is it called Grandma’s Marathon?

Use the Internet. How did you get into college?

https://grandmasmarathon.com/history/

Can you just summarize it for me? Clicking that link is way too much work.

cjhi wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

Use the Internet. How did you get into college?

https://grandmasmarathon.com/history/

Can you just summarize it for me? Clicking that link is way too much work.

It is named Grandma's because when it first started in the 1970s, there were grandma's faster than the current crop of American men's Olympic marathon contenders.

vivalarepublica wrote:

cjhi wrote:

Can you just summarize it for me? Clicking that link is way too much work.

It is named Grandma's because when it first started in the 1970s, there were grandma's faster than the current crop of American men's Olympic marathon contenders.

And it’s still named Grandma’s today for the very same reason lol

Full disclosure at the outset here: I work for the Eugene Marathon. That said, we have a good set-up for people looking to run an OTQ. On the women's side we had 4 OTQs this spring and over the past few years I've worked with a number of people to set up OTQ pacers and whatever else I can do to set them up for success (ex. in 2016 Carlos Trujillo ran 2:18:54 to make the Guatemalan Olympic Team). I don't have a huge budget by any means but I think we do a good job of taking care of the things that can really help set an athlete up for success (pacers, convenient warmup area, toilets, etc...nothing fancy, but hopefully just what is needed). If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me directly at ian@eugenemarathon.com - we'd love to host you!

I second Eugene. Earlier a poster said it can be too warm which I don’t think is accurate at all. I’ve ran the full several times and the half almost every other year over the last decade. Late April/Early May is always perfect. Even in a day that it may get “warm” the heat of the day in the PNW doesn’t reach full temp until 2 in the afternoon. And while it may rain... rain here isn’t like the east coast/mid west.

iandobson wrote:

Full disclosure at the outset here: I work for the Eugene Marathon. That said, we have a good set-up for people looking to run an OTQ. On the women's side we had 4 OTQs this spring and over the past few years I've worked with a number of people to set up OTQ pacers and whatever else I can do to set them up for success (ex. in 2016 Carlos Trujillo ran 2:18:54 to make the Guatemalan Olympic Team). I don't have a huge budget by any means but I think we do a good job of taking care of the things that can really help set an athlete up for success (pacers, convenient warmup area, toilets, etc...nothing fancy, but hopefully just what is needed). If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me directly at

ian@eugenemarathon.com

- we'd love to host you!

Is Vt City really that hilly? It looks like they have a good sized hill at around mile 15...is there more climbs after that? People here have written that Ottawa is hilly towards the end but I though that course was historically pretty fast? It can get hot though...If you looking just at running in the 220s and not OTQ what about Toronto Goodlife in early May...not as competitive as Ottawa but looks fast. Also with the OTQ don't the courses have to be qualified as a qualifying course...not just USATF certified? I'm pretty sure that Vermont city is and Ottawa but double check..not sure about the others like the one in Illinois mentioned earlier.

not even a running nerd wrote:

OTQ Hopeful wrote:

- London. It's net downhill and point to point - was it grandfathered in like Boston and CIM?

London is a record legal course and I'm shocked that you wouldn't know that.

Boston and CIM are not "grandfathered in" technically speaking. They are OTQ legal courses under the rules as would any new course with similar dimensions.

The real answer is a point to point course can be record legal as long as the start and finish are within a certain distance as each other. This makes sense once you think about it as even "loop courses" such as Chicago don't always have the same start and finish line. Also drop in elevation between start and finish must be below a certain amount set by IAFF.

For OTQ and USATF certified course where the drop in elevation meets US OT regulations is acceptable. The USATF basically set the drop for trials qualifiers to make Boston times acceptable and CIM is significantly less drop than Boston. For OTQ point to point does not matter. No point to point where the start and finish are too far apart by IAFF standards is record eligible. This makes Boston, Grandma's and CIM while OTQ eligible not record eligible. Boston would also be ineligable based on drop, not sure on CIM, would have to look that up.

I think the bridge in Rotterdam isn't as bad as you had written. Rotterdam is usually second to London in terms of fast marathon times in the spring. I would give it another look plus the city is super cool.

I think Boston/Grandma's both have their (small) problems with weather and hills. Boston will have plenty of people to run with, of course. Lake Biwa is fast in Japan. Then add in London, Hannover, and Prague.

If you can travel, why not go to Europe and get in some good sight seeing post race? It's pretty easy to get psyched for a race when you're traveling like that to it. London/Rotterdam/Hannover are all pancake flat. Prague is where Rupp ran 2:06 but I dunno what kind of depth it has. Boston always a contender.

Precious Roy wrote:

Ottawa is a very good choice. It is very flat with some sections of slightly rolling terrain. The field is very strong with about a dozen runners running 2:20 or faster. US qualifiers have not put it on their list, which is a bit surprising.

Eugene marathon has a few decent hills early in the race, but is relatively flat and slightly rolling most of the way. In theory, this should be a good race for trialists, but the weather is often way too hot.

Vermont City is very hilly, but the last few miles are on an asphalt bike trail on a slight downhill to the finish. The weather is pretty unpredictable. But there is usually a pack at the front shooting for 2:18ish for the win.

I ran 2:22 at Vermont a few years ago in rainy conditions that weren’t too far off the weather from Boston this year. It’s a pretty fast course with only one really big hill. They do a good job setting up an elite field and taking care of the athletes (personal fluids on the course, lodging, travel expenses if you’re fast enough, plenty of prize money). The winner usually runs under or right around the OTQ. Last few years the field seems to be improving.

I’ve also run the USA half champs at Grandmas. The weather was great for running. They also do a good job taking care of the elites out there. Either one of these races would be my choice for taking a crack at the OTQ.

There are two marathons in Toronto: one in the spring and one in the fall. The fall marathon - Scotia Bank Waterfront - is 1st rate with an elite field and lots of prize money. Cam Levins set the new Canadian marathon at it. The spring marathon is more of an "all comers" / hobby joggers marathon with a different course with some major hills and slow times. Don't run it if you're looking for OTQ.

nawautin wrote:

There are two marathons in Toronto: one in the spring and one in the fall. The fall marathon - Scotia Bank Waterfront - is 1st rate with an elite field and lots of prize money. Cam Levins set the new Canadian marathon at it. The spring marathon is more of an "all comers" / hobby joggers marathon with a different course with some major hills and slow times. Don't run it if you're looking for OTQ.

The spring one really got one bummer hill in the first few miles and after that largely downhill/flat. It's AIMS accredited

but definitely low key and an OTQ may even win.

I think the main reason why nobody shows up is that there's no prize money as far as I can tell.

The Duluth hotels do rape you on Grandma's weekend.

Something like $150 per person, two person minimum, two night minimum.

I slept in my van in the DECC parking lot for about $4.

One year I parked at the Two Harbors airport for free.

They do have a program for elite athletes.

Not sure how helpful with housing and travel.

My PR is at Grandmas, stayed in Two Harbors and it was "cheaper"

That race is just rocking point to point in tangent city

Vermont City Marathon is a great race to be sure (my hometown course), and an awesome place to get Elite status if you're a 2:2x marathoner. But it's also not a fast course, and if you're on the edge of that 2:19 time it's unlikely this will be the place. Weather is pretty variable, there are 3 significant hills to contend with, and there's not a lot of depth so you'd likely be running alone.

stateroftheoblivious wrote:

The Duluth hotels do rape you on Grandma's weekend.

Something like $150 per person, two person minimum, two night minimum.

I slept in my van in the DECC parking lot for about $4.

One year I parked at the Two Harbors airport for free.

They do have a program for elite athletes.

Not sure how helpful with housing and travel.

That's a good way to beat the system.

When I thought about doing a late-ish entry to Grandma's last year (like April), the best deal I could find was in Two Harbors. And it was multiple night minimum, no refunds, etc. Which I didn't really care about, just annoying. Duluth prices were insane, both hotels and Airbnb.

vivalarepublica wrote:

stateroftheoblivious wrote:

The Duluth hotels do rape you on Grandma's weekend.

Something like $150 per person, two person minimum, two night minimum.

I slept in my van in the DECC parking lot for about $4.

One year I parked at the Two Harbors airport for free.

They do have a program for elite athletes.

Not sure how helpful with housing and travel.

That's a good way to beat the system.

When I thought about doing a late-ish entry to Grandma's last year (like April), the best deal I could find was in Two Harbors. And it was multiple night minimum, no refunds, etc. Which I didn't really care about, just annoying. Duluth prices were insane, both hotels and Airbnb.

Rape and insane are very strong words.

Yes. The Duluth Hotels rate "raise prices" on Marathon weekend. (Technically, they discount from the posted room rate the rest of the year.) All hotels do this during peak weekends/periods. For those of you who travel a lot for work, the price still isn't that bad. I booked a room at one of the nicer Duluth hotels (national chain) for a little over $200.00 a night (two night stay). I just stayed at a similar level national hotel chain in a Midwestern city for the same price.

The local colleges in Duluth also open student housing for Marathon weekend and this is another option. However, as someone mentioned, if you are an OTQ-level runner, the organizers may find somewhere for you to stay.

The Grandma's website lays out the options.