qualifying for boston

bump

1) Scranton - Steamcity in Oct

2) Austin - in Feb

If you're looking for a fast winter marathon, Houston is pretty flat. Weather can be funny. 2005 was cold and 2004 (when I ran it) was 70+ and humid.

For fall races, Chicago was a great race as well this year. Baystate in Tyngsboro MA is in typically boasts it's the fastest New England Boston qualifier. Flat double loop, wind can be a factor along the river though.

I got my BQ this year at New Jersey Shores Marathon in April. They changed the course from point-to-point to double loop (I believe) but I think it's still pretty flat.

I forgot about Steamtown in Scranton. I know many who have run this course-very fast.

The Freescale Austin Marathon in February is a Boston qualifer and is very fast. The course has been revised this year and has a 433' net elevation drop.

You can also check out the HP Houston Marathon in January. That course is very flat and runs fast, too.

Cal Int'l in Sacramento is very fast.

If you're willing to travel, nothing beats Berlin.

Is the Steamtown Marathon really that easy? I've been to Scranton every year of my life to visit relatives and have never seen a flat road.

Check out the Last Chance for Boston marathon in Columbus OH. It's a 1 mile loop course. Sounds crazy. I haven't run it but the reviews that I've read are very positive.

Other New England fast BQs. Sugarloaf USA in Maine. Clarence Demar in New Hampshire. Those 2 I've done and got a BQ. I'm likely going to Vermont City next year in the spring and the Wineglass in New York in the fall both look relatively fast.

In early December you cannot beat California International. But Rocket City (Huntsville, AL) is also good. A few little goofy turns and a pedestrian underpass that is kind of mickey mouse, but otherwise a fast course, and good weather.

If you can handle the downhill, St George is the fastest Marathon in the US, plenty of people qualify for Boston there (and a large percentage of women qualifies there of the OT too..)

We are talking about 2000 feet + of elevation drop.

Two not already mentioned

Tucson in December. Serious drop in elevation in this course

Whistlestop in Ashland WI in October. Pretty much flat with a slight drop, no hills, and a tail wind. Point to point over an old railroad converted to a cinder path.

it's point to point and mostly a gradual downhill ... pretty damn fast but you still have to run 26.2

steamtown, i meant

After seeing Trason's time from Napa Valley posted on another thread I checked out the course profile. I looks pretty fast but I've never really heard it mentioned in threads of this sort. Anyone here ever done this course and found it fast?

I've run Napa. If you like rolling hills, and don't mind running by yourself, it is a fast course.

955’ net elevation drop:

http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/graph.htm

Note however that there are 2 good sized hills at miles 24 (70 ft climb) and 25 (50 ft.). I hear that they can be surprisingly tough coming right at the end.

kdfakjf wrote:

What are some of the fastest marathon courses (i.e. easiest to qualify for the boston marathon)?

the 2 fastest marathons in the usa, based on median times are cleveland and the lakefront marathon in milwaukee. both have median times of about 4:05:xx so just based on where the masses are running the fastest times those are your best bets.

the boston athletic assoc has a list on their website of marathons that are most commonly used to qulaify for boston.

BAA site lists the following 21 as "the most frequently used qualifying races for the B.A.A. Boston Marathon:"

Chicago

Marine Corps

Baystate

Philadelphia

Columbus

Walt Disney World

Ocean State

St. George

Hartford

Richmond

Vermont City

Steamtown

Austin

California International

Houston

New York City

Twin Cities

Rock 'N' Roll

Portland

Toronto

Detroit

So I would have to say that those are really just the biggest (where the bulk of entrants come from) rather than the fastest races.