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Kelleen E.
Kelleen E. Sendmail

What is a good first Marathon location?

asked over 1 year ago | Report

My husband and I are completing our second 1/2 marathon over Labor Day weekend. Then we want to begin training over the winter for our first full marathon. So one that is held sometime in April or early May would be good with this timeline in mind. There are so many options, we are wondering which marathon would be good to enter for the first one? We live in Nebraska and we don't mind traveling. In fact, we think it would be kind of fun to go somewhere else.What are your suggestions?

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  • Stephen M.
    Stephen M. Sendmail

    Excellent question...I would suggest you pick one in the next few months and stick to it. Also you might want to plan for the first part of April just because if anything goes wrong such as travel plans or getting sick you can do one a few weeks later. Marathon Guide is an excellent resource to look up upcomming marathons. I would suggest 3 to look into..Flying Pig in Ohio, Big D in Dallas, and OK City. Not sure how flat Flying Pig is but Dallas is super flat. OK City is an awesome race. It is a memorial for the victums of the bombing. Most of the people that pass out medals are family members of the victums that lost there life in the bombing. It is an awesome race. If you run OK City make sure you go to the church service the night before at the church directly across from the start. It is a service that is all about running.

    answered over 1 year ago |Report

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  • Debbie
    Debbie Sendmail

    I do not think the Flying Pig is flat.

    If you want flat and don't mind March Shamrock is tons of fun and is in Virginia Beach.

    I think Pittsburg is early May. Definitely not flat.

    What half marathon are you doing????

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  • Heather G.
    Heather G. Sendmail

    I haven't run the full in VA beach @ Shamrock, but I did the half, and yes it was an amazing race! And very flat!

    My first was marine corps marathon in D.C., an AMAZING race for your first full, but it's in October, so I guess that doesn't help!

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  • Mike D.
    Mike D. Sendmail

    My favorite is the Big Sur marathon in California but that is too hilly for a first marathon. My suggestion is that you look for a relatively level course in an urban area with a good crowd to encourage you in the later stages.

    answered over 1 year ago |Report

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  • Sharon S.PRO
    Sharon S. Sendmail

    I did Big Sur as my first. It's held in April. I knew it was supposed to be challenging going into it, but I wasn't sure at the time whether this was a one-time deal for me or whether I'd make marathons a habit. So, if it was only one time, I wanted it to be scenic and memorable. It was both.

    Another that is scenic and flat is the Napa Valley marathon, held in early March. Wine country is always a good destination.

    Sharon

    answered over 1 year ago |Report

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  • Emma W.
    Emma W. Sendmail

    Come to Scotland and do the Edinburgh Marathon, scenic, lovely...very popular and a place worth travelling to (not that I am biased or anything). That's what I'll be doing.

    answered over 1 year ago |Report

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  • Holly T.
    Holly T. Sendmail

    I suggest strongly doing your first Marathon closer to home. I flew for my first Half from Florida to New Mexico. By the time I got there and got settled in I was already tired. ANother option of course would be to make it a mini vacation, and arrive a few days ahead and leave a few days after. In that case I strongly recommend some beach location!

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  • Becky C.
    Becky C. Sendmail

    The Flying Pig in Cincinnati is NOT a flat course. in fact, I've heard from my experienced runner friends that the hills are kind of killer. I had two ultramarthon friends who DNF there :( I also looked into it for my first marathon and decided against that.

    There is the Rock N Roll Nashville Marathon in April. I was going to train for that one before getting injured. I'm now scheduled to do the Columbus Marathon, but that's in October.

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  • Sharon M.
    Sharon M. Sendmail

    I can't answer specifically but I can give you this advice: Given the fickle Spring weather much of the nation has had recently, go someplace where you don't risk flood or or a late spring snow storm. If you are going to pay the money for travel expenses better to be safe than sorry! California would be a nice choice!

    answered over 1 year ago |Report

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  • Glenn W.
    Glenn W. Sendmail

    I did my first marathon in Pittsburgh. Weather can be anything from 50 degrees to 70s. The positives are it draws a big crowd and you run through all kinds of different neighborhoods and they all try to see which one can support the runners best. It sells out as they restrict it to a certain number of runners. It goes downhill for a few miles at the start, a fairly long climb around mile 11, and then downhill at the end again. The rest is reasonably flat. You will hear people cheering you on for all 26.2 miles. Very affordable place to stay as well and it is a major event in a sports town.

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  • Jess T.
    Jess T. Sendmail

    Do you need to wait until the Spring? I'm running my first full this November, it's the OBX. Super flat, with the exception of one hill at mile 23 - and that's a bridge. I ran the half out there last year.

    The outer banks of North Carolina are usually beautiful in the fall. Last year, there was sunshine and a high around 65.

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  • Carl P D.
    Carl P D. Sendmail

    The Hartford Marathon in October is absolutely one for first timers I think. I have only run 3 but have run Hartford twice, in 2006 and 2008. It's 10 miles out and back almost completely flat with some challenges in the last 6 miles, including a hill at mile 24. It is a lot of fun and great post race party. Good luck to you guys!!!

    answered over 1 year ago |Report

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