Best race to BQ? (Read 1104 times)

From the races that I have run to date, these are my suggestions. Note that this is what I'd think about running a first time marathon at one of these races and trying to run a BQ. I've run BQs at all but 3 of these (my first two marathons, and the 50k): Good for BQ --------------- Jacksonville (1st marathon, but very flat.) Vermont City Marathon (If you get motivated by your friends spectating, this is the best specatator course that I've run so far - you go through the same area multiple times with only one early out and back going over the same ground for more than a quarter mile at a time. If you are by yourself, then move this to "Okay for BQ") Marine Corps Marathon (Well supported and mostly flat.) Okay for BQ --------------- Cleveland (Mostly flat.) San Antonio (It isn't a challenging course, but it is a two looper and pretty boring.) Not Recommended for BQ --------------- Maine Marathon (Very hilly, and the toughest road course I've run so far.) New York City (Too many people.) Bad for BQ --------------- Pisgah Mountain Race (it's a 50k, so you probably won't finish in time!) Mystic Places Marathon (Great course, very flat, but with a lot of turns. Oh, and it no longer exists.) Boston (can't run the race to qualify for it!)

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

Another marathon in Columbus is the Last Chance for Boston, held on a brisk February Sunday in a quiet suburban office park. The course is 26.2 totally flat one-mile loops... but not as mind-numbing as it might sound. Why run this one: only 110 people ran it last year (tho' you need to add in some folks doing the relay and shorter distances) with many BQs, you pass the fluid stop every mile, the host hotel is 100 feet from the starting line, quality wind-jacket schwag, friendly race staff and volunteers: http://www.premierraces.com/LastChance/lastchance.html When I'm 59yo, this is where I'm gonna to try for my 4:30 BQ time!

Not entirely true. You can run Boston as a charity runner or weasel a number some other way and use Boston to qualify for Boston. I know people who have done that.

Good point; I hadn't thought of that.

If you want to travel to Little Rock, you're more than welcome to stay at our house, Trishie. The race is March 2 and the weather last year was perfect (altho I've heard the back 13 are pretty hilly).

If you want to travel to Little Rock, you're more than welcome to stay at our house, Trishie...

What, you're not opening it up to the entire RA membership?

What, you're not opening it up to the entire RA membership?

Well sure!

I've never run it (hell, I've never run a marathon), but the St. George Marathon in Utah looks BQ-tastic. USATF Certified, Boston Qualifier Net elevation change: 2560.4 ft. drop PDF of course elevation profile Tuck and roll from the start to mile 7, gut it out from 7 to 14, then tuck and roll the rest of the way home.

Ouch! I think my quads would explode. I'd rather run up it.