Marathon Start Corral Etiquette

Unless there is some check-in procedure (where your race # associates you with a start corral), you may want to get to the start earlier than 10 minutes. The larger the race (Chicago Marathon?), the earlier you will need to get to the start (45+ mins?). This means standing close to the start and waiting while others line up behind you. Something people will do to keep warm is to wear old sweats, Hefty bags, etc. that can be discarded at the start time. It's often easier to run a fast time in a small race without congestion.

Get to the corral very early, get a spot and wait. That is the only way to do it in Chicago. Otherwise, you will start behind a lot of people who are running 7-7:30 pace and will need to patiently worm your way through them over the first two miles. After that, it will be smooth sailing. If you are looking at running 2:35 or faster, you should definitely think about getting to the start corral very early. If you are looking at 2:4x or slower, you would probably be ok having to do some weaving the first two miles. If you are just looking at breaking 3, don't worry about it.

OP, I had the same issue before I ran Boston last April. I found my corral and streched a bit on the side of the corral then 5 min. until the start, I showed my bib, entered, and then had to squeeze in with everyone else. There was still plenty of room at the back of the first corral so you should be ok getting to the outside of your corral 10 min. prior to gun time.

If you're talking about Chicago, you'd better get there 30 min. early or else it will be a giant cluster-f!!! And line up for those port-a-potties and check your bag an hour before the race starts!!!

Thanks all, I am indeed talking about Chicago, and it sounds like I should be sure to get there early. In that case, what would you do about warming up? I'm afraid of the effects of standing in place for 30+ minutes

Get there early and make sure you take a dump before you get in the corral. You can take a last whiz on the side a few minutes before the race.

Which corral are you in?

Get to the coral 15 minutes beforehand and shove your way to the front. If someone complain, ask them what their goal time is. Tell them yours is 2:32. Repeat until you get to the front.

Corral A. There will certainly be some people faster than me in it but a lot more will be slower based on the cutoff so I want to make sure I'm towards the front.

windy city wrote:

Corral A. There will certainly be some people faster than me in it but a lot more will be slower based on the cutoff so I want to make sure I'm towards the front.

A corral is fine, you'll have no problem getting positioned there because everyone is pretty experienced.

What you need to be careful of is all the douchbags from B corral when they take the divider down right before the race starts. Every year there are boneheads acting like they are playing football trying to push their way to the front.

Anywhere in the in first half of the corral you be able to run free immediately, so don't get too worked up and waste energy if you aren't all the way in the front.

Best of luck Sunday.

Corral A is fine.

bvccxz wrote:

Get there early and make sure you take a dump before you get in the corral.

As opposed to what? In the corral?

As opposed getting in too early then having to flip over the fence to find someplace to go and lose your spot.

Was it really that hard for you to figure out?