RunningAHEAD - Topic: Best race to BQ?

trishierunner

esq.

posted: 12/9/2007 at 5:04 PM

Your opinion, please Big grin

2009: BQ?

Wingz

Professional Noob

posted: 12/9/2007 at 5:07 PM

The one in which you run the fastest... Clowning around

Roads were made for journeys...

Lank

posted: 12/9/2007 at 8:03 PM
modified: 12/9/2007 at 8:13 PM

Chicago and Green Bay are both very flat. I've heard the one in Austin claim that you get a free entrant into next year's race if you don't run a PR but I looked at their course on marathonguide.com and it didn't seem like a flat one. Also, Marine Corps Marathon looks pretty flat with the only hills being in the first five miles and the last 1/2 mile. EDIT - Some links to the elevation charts (and I lose at HTML coding or I'd make those links clickable...sorry): Green Bay: http://www.marathonguide.com/coursemaps/elevationchart.cfm?MIDD=1089080518 Chicago: http://www.marathonguide.com/coursemaps/elevationchart.cfm?MIDD=67071007 Marine Corps: http://www.marathonguide.com/coursemaps/elevationchart.cfm?MIDD=41071028 Austin: http://www.marathonguide.com/coursemaps/elevationchart.cfm?MIDD=5080217

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rectumdamnnearkilledem

posted: 12/9/2007 at 8:17 PM

Grand Rapids is also very flat and a very scenic, well-organized, fun race. I will be running the full for the first time next Oct. I've done the half the last 2 years. k

Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.

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perfesserr

Imminent Catastrophe

posted: 12/9/2007 at 8:28 PM

The basic factors for a BQ race are: A relatively flat course, a small or medium-sized race so you're not held up by crowds, predictably cool weather, and obviously it must be a certified course. The BAA has this list of popular qualifying races on their website: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/Qualifying.asp I would add the Cincinnati Flying Pig and Chickamauga Battlefield Marathons to that list, from personal experience (but still haven't BQed).

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mikeymike

posted: 12/9/2007 at 9:08 PM

Baystate.

Runners run

trishierunner

esq.

posted: 12/9/2007 at 9:14 PM

Thanks, everyone. Mike, I've heard/ read that Baystate is a great marathon to BQ (I think it was designed with that in mind), but I've also heard that it's very industrial (??). Lank, I don't know HOW I forgot about MCM. I ran it two years ago and really loved the course. It is decently flat, too. PLUS it's a short Metro ride from my parent's house (in Silver Spring, which is only a 45 min drive from where we live, in Baltimore) so we don't have to spend any money on airfare or accomodations (which is huge for us right now). And they have pace groups, which I really like. It's funny that I was looking all over the country for a race... and will probably end up doing the marathon in my back yard. Tongue

2009: BQ?

mikeymike

posted: 12/9/2007 at 9:36 PM
modified: 12/9/2007 at 9:38 PM

Quote from trishierunner on 12/9/2007 at 9:14 PM:

Mike, I've heard/ read that Baystate is a great marathon to BQ (I think it was designed with that in mind), but I've also heard that it's very industrial (??).

It's not the prettiest course, but it's not that bad either. It starts in downtown Lowell--and parts of that city are kinda ugly--but a lot of it is right along the Merrimack River which is nice. The north/west section of the course is actually kind of pretty. It's a 2-loop course with hardly any road crossings and it finishes in a nice minor league baseball stadium. The only "hills" are a few bridges. Normally it's a very low key race and a high percentage of people are there to try and qualify for Boston. In 2008 it will also be the USATF NE Grand Prix Championships, which will draw a slightly bigger, faster crowd. To me it's a no brainer because I live in MA. It's not really a race I'd think of travelling to unless my main goal was to BQ and I thought I would be right on the edge. It's tough to beat in that regard. I am 2 for 2 there. Chicago might be a faster course but then you have to deal with 45,000 other runners and logistics from hell. Baystate will have maybe a thousand runners, even with the Grand Prix. MTA: But if I were you, I'd probably run Marine Corps or something local. There's a lot to be said for racing near home.

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Lank

posted: 12/9/2007 at 10:36 PM

Quote from trishierunner on 12/9/2007 at 9:14 PM:

Lank, I don't know HOW I forgot about MCM. I ran it two years ago and really loved the course. It is decently flat, too. PLUS it's a short Metro ride from my parent's house (in Silver Spring, which is only a 45 min drive from where we live, in Baltimore) so we don't have to spend any money on airfare or accomodations (which is huge for us right now). And they have pace groups, which I really like. It's funny that I was looking all over the country for a race... and will probably end up doing the marathon in my back yard.

MCM is scheduled to be my first marathon so if I can make it through my training I may ask for your advice once we get closer to the date on where to stay and all that fun stuff. I'm not familiar with the DC area at all.

"Good-looking people have no spine. Their art never lasts. They get the girls, but we're smarter." - Lester Bangs

Dave23

posted: 12/10/2007 at 11:31 AM

Some people have said Columbus... though, not this person. At least not this year. Cry

t_runner

posted: 12/10/2007 at 12:31 PM

Quote from Dave23 on 12/10/2007 at 11:31 AM:

Some people have said Columbus... though, not this person. At least not this year.

Columbus was kind to me in 2005.. course is definitely good, and it's a bit less crowded than, say, Chicago... (they cap at 10,000, although I think there were around 6K the year I did it, so it may have gotten larger since) I PR'd by 30 minutes, and BQ'd at 3:40:06.. never have seen that side of 4 since! Hopefully '08.

btb1490

posted: 12/10/2007 at 12:36 PM

I'm partial to the Steamtown Marathon in PA in October. Besides being a fast course, it also is a great race. http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/

Running the 2016 Boston Marathon for Children's Hospital

rockenmamaof5

posted: 12/10/2007 at 12:42 PM
modified: 12/10/2007 at 12:43 PM

Quote from btb1490 on 12/10/2007 at 12:36 PM:

I'm partial to the Steamtown Marathon in PA in October. Besides being a fast course, it also is a great race. http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/

I have to agree with Bob!!! AWESOME AWESOME marathon to qualify at if that is your top goal! If your top goal is to have fun and enjoy it's definetly the marathon for that as well! This is one marathon I could see myself doing every year if possible!!

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trishierunner

esq.

posted: 12/10/2007 at 12:59 PM

Quote from rockenmamaof5 on 12/10/2007 at 12:42 PM:

I have to agree with Bob!!! AWESOME AWESOME marathon to qualify at if that is your top goal! If your top goal is to have fun and enjoy it's definetly the marathon for that as well! This is one marathon I could see myself doing every year if possible!!

My friend's wedding is on October 11 ... damn, this does look like a good course. Stupid fall weddings! Tongue

2009: BQ?

alan f

posted: 12/10/2007 at 1:16 PM
modified: 12/10/2007 at 1:16 PM

Quote from trishierunner on 12/10/2007 at 12:59 PM:

My friend's wedding is on October 11 ... damn, this does look like a good course. Stupid fall weddings!

That's too bad. There may be a reunion at Steamtown this year with at least 3 RA folks there.

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Best race to BQ? (Read 1104 times)