Masters Running

1

Spring Marathon for a First-Timer? (Read 289 times)

    Hi, all,

     

    Saw my podiatrist for the first time since my biking somersault today and he agreed that running my first marathon this fall is probably not a good idea.  I wasn't where I wanted to be in terms of building mileage anyway, and I lost almost three weeks of running and I'm still not 100%.

     

    My plan was to do the Philly Distance Run (Half) in September and the Atlantic City Marathon in October, with Philly Marathon in November as a Plan B.  Philly Distance is still on the books, although I'll likely be walking a lot of it.  I definitely won't be ready for A.C. in Oct., and I have a huge singing gig (for big $$$$!) the day of the Philly Marathon.  So I'm wondering . . . . . .

     

    Which marathon would you recommend for a first-timer in the spring of 2010?  I'm thinking late May or early June would work best with my school concert schedule. 

     

    I'd kind of prefer something in the northeast, but traveling farther wouldn't be a deal-breaker.  My thinking regarding Atlantic City was that it's flat (I train at least 50% of the time on the next island south of casino-land) and it's small.  I managed OK with 25,000 of my newest BFFs at Broad Street, but I think I'd feel better in a somewhat smaller field.

     

    Anyone?  Anyone? Buehler?

     

    Thanks!

    Eliz

    flomotioncoaching.com


    Renee the dog

      Well it is in March, but it's COASTAL!!!!  Shamrock SportsFest...in VA Beach.  I think it's about 3000 marathoners. 

       

      dg and I are signed up....

      GOALS 2012: UNDECIDED

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        Might be a little early in terms of training, but I love the COAST(!), so I'll check it out. 

         

        I'm also thinking maybe NJ Marathon in May or maybe even Seattle R&R - different coast, but still . . . .   Smile

         

        Thanks!

         

        Eliz

        flomotioncoaching.com

          OH, and if you do the Shamrock, you could meet Rose Colored Glasses (La Vita Dolce) and the Rocket Scientist , who live in that area and are such grand folks!

           

          I liked the Ocean Drive one in NJ but it's in late March and that can be windy and a bit chilly.

           

          If you don't mind a bit of a trip, I rank Vermont (late May) as one of my favorites, but then, I used to live in western MA and am prolly just sort of partial to Vermont.  They do give out free Ben & Jerry's ice cream--both at the expo and after the race.   The expo was fun--there was a yoga teacher and you could take a free session, which I did and appreciated more than I'd imagined!

           

          grins,

          A

          Masters 2000 miles

            Shamrock's looking good.  Thanks for the suggestion.  It's the last weekend before my spring break, so I could take Monday off without any problem.  It wouldn't even matter if I were kind of dragging the rest of the week, since very little learning takes place in my school, where so many kids leave early for break, that week anyway. 

             

            Aamos - Vermont sounds fun, but way too hilly for me at this point.  Although the Ben and Jerry's is tempting . . . . .

             

            Eliz

            flomotioncoaching.com

              I am going to put in a strong, and I mean really strong plug for the NJ Marathon.  First, it is flat.  Really flat.  Second, it may be the best organized and run marathon in the world bar none!  At most races, especially marathons for some reason, the RD's cannot get through their thick skulls that you need a LOT of port-a-potties at the start!  So of course this creates 30 to 40 minute pre-race lines.  Not at NJ!  Third, course support is terrific in every sense of the word.  Supplies of water, and sports drink are plentiful.  There are tons of people to hand it out so no waiting!  The crowd support is pretty good too.  Fourth, it is a generally attractive course.  You run a good stretch along the beach, another around a lake, and quite a bit through some very attractive suburbs.  Fifth, it is just about the ideal size for a first marathon.  It is not so large that you cannot run until long after the start.  At the same time there are enough people running so you always have some company to talk to or just pace with as you prefer.  Sixth, if your friends or family want to run with you there are several options.  One is for them to run the half-marathon course.  It is a double loop course, so this will let them run the first half of your race with you.  Another is for them to put together a relay team.  You can have up to four people split up the distance.  Seventh, and most important perhaps is that if your family and friends come to cheer you on there is no better course anywhere!  With a small bit of walking your support crew can catch you at (1) the start, (2) the five mile mark, (3) midway, (4) the 18 mile mark, and (5) the finish!  Yes, the start, midway and finish are due to the fact that it is a double loop course.  But the 5 and 18 are because it is a double loop course that has a section 5 miles in that is just a couple of hundred yards from the start.

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                Wow, Twocat, how do you really feel about the NJ Marathon?    Thanks for the advice, but now I'm more confused than ever.  Shamrock in March feels like it'll be too early, but May is concert season (a.k.a. crazy time) at school - it's exhausting in and of itself and I can't afford to be wiped out for concerts where I'm the director and producer.  NJ Marathon is a full school week before my first gig, though, so it might be do-able.  I sing in a choir with someone who ran it in '08, so I'll talk with her about it, too. 

                 

                I'm also looking at Delaware in mid-May.  A friend's husband did it a few years ago and said he really didn't like the course, but they're changing it this year, and Wilmington's close enough that I wouldn't need to stay overnight.

                 

                Decisions, decisions . . .  

                 

                Eliz

                flomotioncoaching.com

                  It's a bit of a travel for you but Bayshore in Traverse City Michigan over Memorial Day weekend might become an annual event for me.  Flat, small, beautiful scenery, perfect weather, no need to arrive hours ahead of time.

                   

                  Bill

                  "Some are the strong, silent type. You can't put your finger on exactly what it is they bring to the table until you run without them and then you realize that their steadiness fills a hole that leaks energy in their absence." - Kristin Armstrong

                    Hey, Twocat - I talked to a friend who ran NJ Marathon last spring and it was like she had memorized your post and recited it back to me!  It was her first marathon and she couldn't stop saying greta things about it.  She also told me that it's only about a 1-1/2 hour drive from my place at the (South Jersey) shore, so .  . . . . . (drumroll, please) . . . . .

                     

                    NEW JERSEY MARATHON IT IS:  5/2/10!!!!!

                     

                    Thanks again for all of the suggestions!

                     

                    Eliz

                    flomotioncoaching.com