RunningAHEAD - Topic: Choosing a spring marathon

marcus_g

posted: 3/2/2009 at 3:00 PM

Would you choose a local marathon that requires no overnight travel but has a 6:30 start time? or Would you choose a marathon requiring overnight travel that has a more sane start time of 8:30? For the purposes of this exercise, pretend you usually run over lunch.

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xor

posted: 3/2/2009 at 3:11 PM

6:30 isn't that early Smile

Depends on your race goals. Depends on if it is your first. If it is your first and/or you want to run fast, stick with the close-to-home race and avoid the travel stress. UNLESS your local race has a hella hard course or you are expecting wacky weather or something. BTW, does that overnight travel race involve a new time zone? Or will your body still think it is 8:30? Anyway, isolating the issue to start times, 6:30 vs 8:30? Unless you are the world's worst night owl, this shouldn't be the thing that decides the race for you.

DoppleBock

posted: 3/2/2009 at 3:15 PM

Quote from marcus_g on 3/2/2009 at 3:00 PM:

Would you choose a local marathon that requires no overnight travel but has a 6:30 start time? or Would you choose a marathon requiring overnight travel that has a more sane start time of 8:30? For the purposes of this exercise, pretend you usually run over lunch.

I would choose 1st by course as Stevie Ray said and I would give the local race some bonus points for sleeping in my own bed and having a lower total cost.

Long dead ... But my stench lingers !

jeffdonahue

posted: 3/2/2009 at 3:27 PM

Based on what time it starts I would typically take the earlier one, but I dont run at lunch. I usually run at 5:30 AM so 6:30 would actually be sleeping in a bit for me. But all in all, I wouldnt use the time as a defining factor at all. Bigger factors would be the overall cost (including travel), the race course - which was more brutal and more scenic, the size of the race (I prefer more people because then there will usually still be someone with me at the end), locale - is the travel one a place you would like to visit for a weekend?.

marcus_g

posted: 3/2/2009 at 4:45 PM

All good questions... the courses are comparable in elevation and the one I'd have to travel for is Wilmington, DE - not a bad city, but hardly a travel destination. I AM a night owl, but two hours isn't a huge difference I guess, though, as mentioned - 6:30's a bit early for me to run.

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gumhead

Flat footer

posted: 3/2/2009 at 5:02 PM

Im a morning guy that doesnt like to travel Smile

milktruck

an amazing likeness

posted: 3/2/2009 at 5:09 PM

Marcus, I too am a night owl by nature and about 90% of my runs are evening events. But between getting up early to be prepared, and race energy, I haven't had any real challenges with morning races -- I just make sure to leave enough time for a warm-up jog and stretching and seem to have the cobwebs out for the starts. But, geez, a 630AM start would be a tough decision as to whether to just stay up.

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Run To Win

#2867

posted: 3/2/2009 at 6:54 PM

I like earlier start times. I also enjoy destination marathons. The start time wouldn't be the deciding factor. Big grin

Run to Win
25 Marathons, 17 Ultras, 16 States (Full List)

Roses Revenge

posted: 3/2/2009 at 9:25 PM

I usually run in the afternoons, but I'd still take the early start. My training group starts at 6 AM most Saturday mornings all summer so it wouldn't be too early for me.

Marathon Maniac #991 Half Fanatic #58 Double Agent #22 It's a perfect day and I feel great!

xor

posted: 3/2/2009 at 9:34 PM

Quote from Run To Win on 3/2/2009 at 6:54 PM:

I like earlier start times. I also enjoy destination marathons. The start time wouldn't be the deciding factor.

But. The destination in this case is Delaware. Does that help you decide? Heh.

Quint

posted: 3/2/2009 at 10:45 PM

For me, a couple of hours wouldn't be the deciding factor and I'm a bit of a night owl as well. Do whichever one you think is better. If you are coming from Lancaster, that's not very far away.

Current Goals: Run and stuff

ArlaHile

Queen of 3rd Place

posted: 3/4/2009 at 7:01 PM

I hate running early, my am runs are always slow and painful, EXCEPT when it's a race, then I'm fine. So for me there would be other more important considerations such as crowd size, bling, eats, course features etc.

Ex runner

jeffreyvollum

posted: 3/4/2009 at 7:43 PM

I'd go earlier start time with no overnight travel. I'm a "routine" guy.

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" - Steven Wright

Mr Inertia

Suspect Zero

posted: 3/4/2009 at 9:48 PM

6:30 - no question about it.

roots

posted: 3/4/2009 at 11:28 PM

I'd choose the 6:30 AM start closer to home. The earlier start is a better hedge against warm weather in case your race day ends up with warm temps. I've done the Flying Pig (6:30 AM start) a few times. I can attest it's a good choice as I've PR'd 2 out of the 3 times running there. I'm already a few miles down the road by the time I wake up. Cool

Choosing a spring marathon - all things equal..... (Read 658 times)