I am planning on doing a half in the new year and I am looking for some info on some good ones. I want to know the Chicago of the half, nice and fast with good weather. THanks in advance for the help.
I am planning on doing a half in the new year and I am looking for some info on some good ones. I want to know the Chicago of the half, nice and fast with good weather. THanks in advance for the help.
The FASTEST half marathon, (USATF certified) in the country is the Valley of the Sun Half Marathon, Phoenix, AZ 2nd weekend in March.
The course is a Rocket that drops about 600 ft from start to finish. A great place to qualify for nats.
The Marathon course is equally fast.
www.valleyofthesunmarathon.com
Prize purse is M/F Full and Half:
1st - $750
2nd - $350
3rd - $150
Vegas is supposed to be super fast in February. Also 3M Half in Austin on February 2nd. Houston has a half along with the HP Marathon on 1/20. It is a fast course and has added some prize money this year.
The fastest 1/2 must be Fontana Days in Fontana, CA, about 70 minutes east of Los Angeles. It drops over 2,000 feet. The event takes place the first Saturday in June. The course record is 59 minutes and change. The downhill is at a consistent grade the first ten miles, then almost flat - but still downhill- the last three, making one feel as if the last three are uphill by contrast (the lawn mower going through thick grass feeling).
Faster than greased moose poop. Great Boston tune up, or PR course. "Easy" money too if you are fast.
M.
Another fast half in a couple months is Motorola/Austin...also with a net downhill
Mike
OK, but are there any 1/2 marys in the Northeast that are flat? I don't want to run a downhill course, that cheapens the PR. I want a "legit" on in the New England region.
New Bedford in March comes to mind.
Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run in Sept. Flat, fast, anc you can collect some well-known scalps if you;re going good too.
JAM
How about some in Washington, Oregon, Or Cali that are flat in the late winter or spring? I know I could just research it, but if anyone could post some it would be cool.
I have to agree with you on Philly. What do you know about the Rock & roll half in VA, is it fast? I guess I am asking is the r&r a great 1/2, would you do it?
the grade at fontana begins to ease up at 6 or 7 miles, right after you cross the I-15...
Left Coast: The Home Depot Half-Marathon in San Francisco in Golden Gate Park is an honest half-mary on Superbowl Sunday. A few light to moderate hills which uses different muscle groups and isn't all bad. It still drops to Ocean Beach and comes back up the last mile--it's fairly fast overall, considered a legit PR also and drops a net of 100 feet or something. 1:05-06 or so takes it, top 30 = 1:15 territory.
Why dont you consider running just a flat loop course so nobody can say "but yeah, that's a downhill course"?!?!?!?!??!
Jason
Sorry...I've never run the R&R Half.
One of the best Halfs in early winter is the Naples Half Marathon at the end of January. The weather is usally perfect and it is a legit fast course with a few turns. The only negative thing I could say is that there is no travel money, but if you are fast and can get there, they make up for it in prize money. Open money and American money. You can double dip. Jeff
Naples, oh boy! A wheelbarrow full of Euros