Need Fast OTQ Marathons between May-June

OTQ wrote:

Anything that comes to mind?

I already made a post for the Newport, OR course on June 1st, but in case there's another course I'm not thinking of around the same time it would be very appreciated!

Just do Grandmas.

Many of the higher profile fast ones are probably next to impossible to get into now. I've heard Grandma's has a long wait list. I'd recommend looking at Ottawa, which has good depth, fast times, and likely cooler weather. Some other smaller ones that could be fast on the day include Green Bay, Fargo, Bayshore, Vermont City, San Diego RnR. You'd have to make sure it's USATF sanctioned and not too much downhill.

mountain 2 beach, May 26

https://mountains2beachmarathon.com/

oh canada wrote:

Many of the higher profile fast ones are probably next to impossible to get into now. I've heard Grandma's has a long wait list. I'd recommend looking at Ottawa, which has good depth, fast times, and likely cooler weather. Some other smaller ones that could be fast on the day include Green Bay, Fargo, Bayshore, Vermont City, San Diego RnR. You'd have to make sure it's USATF sanctioned and not too much downhill.

You can still register for Grandma's this year, it's just $145. That'll be your best option to run with a faster OTQ field. You might get comped entries at others but you're sacrificing your best shot at the standard. There is no problem starting right at the front at Grandma's with a normal bib - it's not at all too crowded.

I don’t know if mountain to beach is legal for otq but it is the fastest course I have run and I have done cim and Tucson and Chicago. I would put an * on it for a marathon pr but still fun to get a fast marathon time on it.

The there are long stretches of downgrade that are perfect for going fast without giving your quads a pounding.

The only downside is the last couple miles. It is pretty but it feels like uphill after going down for so long. I hear the Ventura marathon cut that out so would be even a faster course.

Tucson, mountains2beach do not count for OTQ, to much downhill

I recommend OC marathon may 5

Here are last year's results by date.

Look through the times, either winning or field average,

and make a list of the fastest and then do some research.

Grandama's is a crap shoot.

It is on about the longest day of the year.

The sun is up real early and it can get deceptively hot.

But it can be cloudy with a wind off the lake pushing you along.

It was bingo for Kellyn Taylor last year.

Good luck.

http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?Year=2018

If you can wait until late July, San Francisco. Karl the Fog keeps it cool most of the time.

A thread like this comes along every once in a while and the answer is (and as others have suggested above) Grandmas or Ottawa. Both are flat and flat "big events" where someone in OTQ range will have people to run with. Most years have race time temperatures in the 50s.

friscothon wrote:

If you can wait until late July, San Francisco. Karl the Fog keeps it cool most of the time.

I think all the steam from the fresh feces strewn all over the course negates that cool fog.

Thanks for the clarification. Good to know you can still register. I was talking about elite athlete support.

Seriously mate? wrote:

friscothon wrote:

If you can wait until late July, San Francisco. Karl the Fog keeps it cool most of the time.

I think all the steam from the fresh feces strewn all over the course negates that cool fog.

And it's super hilly.

San Diego Hobby Jogger wrote:

Tucson, mountains2beach do not count for OTQ, to much downhill

I recommend OC marathon may 5

OC marathon is not the way I would go. The field they have in the full won't support a OTQ and the course isn't that fast, especially since it can be quite warm & humid.

Grandma's is the best if you can get in. But their elite field is full and waitlisted.

Ventura is a fast course but little competition. How about Pittsburgh in 2 weeks. Usually a couple of solid guys.

Are you going for 2:18 or 2:44? 2:18 you need your best shot. I wouldn't run Newport. It could be hot or very windy. 2:44 is much much easier even with the gender difference. There are currently 291 women qualifiers to 159 men. It's not being sexist, it's just a fact. 2:44 is way soft and less critical for conditions.

hard speaker of truths No SJWs wrote:

Are you going for 2:18 or 2:44? 2:18 you need your best shot. I wouldn't run Newport. It could be hot or very windy. 2:44 is much much easier even with the gender difference. There are currently 291 women qualifiers to 159 men. It's not being sexist, it's just a fact. 2:44 is way soft and less critical for conditions.

Also for females you can have the benefit of running against males or having them pace you. As a guy you need other trials caliber guys to compete against. unless you want to go solo which is terrible.

hard speaker of truths No SJWs wrote:

Are you going for 2:18 or 2:44? 2:18 you need your best shot. I wouldn't run Newport. It could be hot or very windy. 2:44 is much much easier even with the gender difference. There are currently 291 women qualifiers to 159 men. It's not being sexist, it's just a fact. 2:44 is way soft and less critical for conditions.

Agree. If you are going for 2:18, I would go to Grandma's. It's unfortunate that you won't get bottles on course, but I think having a pack of guys going for the standard to run with outweighs any of the perks of elite status at another race.

Buffalo fits the bill (see what I did there?!) flat, fast, good competition, decent prize money. I believe bottles on course.

Vermont City is an awesome course and is regularly won under 2:18. I ran my PR of 2:22 there in conditions that rivaled 2018 Boston (slightly warmer but just as much rain and wind) and am going back this year to take a shot at lowering it. Only one sizable hill around mile 15 and a nice gradual downhill along the lake the last four miles. They treat the elites phenomenally there...where else are a bunch of 2:20-2:25 runners going to get to set up personalized fluids, get driven around by the race staff, tour the course, get lodging, etc. Probably not too late to get in the field this year if you have good credentials. Race is Memorial Day weekend.

See here:

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=9097885

Takeaway: Grandma's, Ottawa, Boston? in that order.

At first I read this thread as "we need more spring marathons to run fast" and was going to agree. The pickings are slim and getting to and staying in Duluth is a b****