Between now and Dec 4, what are the best races in the country to for for an OT marathon qualifier?
If you can, please comment on the following:
Course Difficulty (how hilly, net elevation drop)
Weather conditions
# of people likely to be running around 2:19 pace
anything else relevant
Ones I know of:
RnR San Diego
Grandmas
RnR San Jose
Chicago Marathon
CIM
Please comment on any of the above as I know little about them.
St.George Marathon
St. George was taken off the qualifing list after '08 because of the net drop.
Well, I'm living up to my name.
Huntsville, AL. Rocket City Marathon. You may be shooting for the win!
I wouldn't exclude NYC. Weather is usually perfect and there are plenty of fast runners. The course isn't the easiest but it might be a better trade off than running alone.
Depends on your strengths as a runner too. For myself and others the course wasn't as tough as it is sometimes made out to be. While others really struggle.
Good luck.
Clell Adams wrote:
Huntsville, AL. Rocket City Marathon. You may be shooting for the win!
Race actually on 12/10 and is outside your target but one to consider. Flat course, it does wind through the 'burbs with 64-ish turns but fast despite of that.
Twin Cities
RnR San Diego is downhill and ran fast last year. Its coming up pretty soon though!
Grandma's can be fast (net downhill), but the weather is hit or miss and it is point to point so you'd have to hope there isn't a headwind!
I would say NYC runs quite slow (pretty tough course). If you run under 2:19 at NYC you are going to place very wel in the race.
Chicago would be a good bet- weather is a little bit of a factor, but it's a fast course, lots of support and perhaps some $$$ for a trials qualifier still (which always helps).
Last chance effort could be at CIM. net downhill, usually runs pretty fast. Don't have to worry about it being too hot.
Sage - I heard there may be some Hansons guys at San Diego. Do you plan on being there? Will there be many of you?
Take a look at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in early November. I ran it last year. The course is very flat and fast. There is prize money and decent competition. If you want a smaller venue and a good chance of cool weather, it may be a good way to go.
yeah, just a couple of us running the full and 1 or 2 guys in the half. The half is not a trials qualifying course as I calculated that it drops at a rate of over 4m/km according to the elevation map on the RnR website.
S. Canaday wrote:
I would say NYC runs quite slow (pretty tough course). If you run under 2:19 at NYC you are going to place very well in the race.
You run a 2:19 anywhere and you will place very well. This isn't something unique to NYC because of the course.
I'd venture to say a 2:19 will put you in about the same place in Chicago or NY on average.
Perhaps I am misreading the point of that statement?
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I've heard it's a good one!
"Between now and Dec 4,"
Am I missing something? Chicago is outside of your quote.
thepinkmonkey wrote:
"Between now and Dec 4,"
Am I missing something? Chicago is outside of your quote.
am i missing something? chicago is in mid october