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Heather G.
Heather G. Sendmail

Fall Marathon suggestions

posted almost 2 years ago | Report

Looking for suggestions for a great, well run fall marathon. Preferably in Sept/October, as I'm in school full time so my training tends to fall apart in Nov/Dec as the stress of finals gets to me (plus it will be my last semester of classes before graduating!)

Also , VT, NC, FL, MD, and Washington DC are out, as I've done those , and I'm SLOWLY working my way towards the 50 states.

If you have any suggestions, I'd LOVE to hear them! It's so much more fun to hear recommendations rather than stare at a marathon calendar! Thanks dailymile friends!

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27 posts

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  • Colleen
    Colleen Sendmail

    Bay State in MA-early October-fast, flat course.
    NH marathon in November-it's new, haven't heard anything good or bad about it yet.

    Congrats on finishing school-I'm done with my M.ED in May-hallelujah!

    Good luck!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Mike D.
    Mike D. Sendmail

    If you ever want to run in California the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon is run in October on roads in the redwood forest in cool and shaded conditions. It has some up and down in it and not much crowd support but very beautiful. http://www.redwoodsmarathon.org/

    For Spring you can't beat the Big Sur Marathon http://www.bsim.org/site3.aspx

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Heather G.
    Heather G. Sendmail

    Thanks for the replies! Shortly after I posted this, a friend offered up her place to stay in Chicago. Couldn't pass that one up! So I'm now registered for the Chicago Marathon on 10-10-10!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Peter L.PRO
    Peter L. Sendmail

    You have family in NH, correct? I've done Manchester and although it's tough with the hills, it was a good experience. There's a brand new one starting this Oct. on the NH seacoast called the Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon - supposed to be the flattest in New England.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • David C.
    David C. Sendmail

    The Green Mountain Marathon in South Hero, VT was a great experience. Much of it is along the lake, about 1/2 is on dirt roads, very well supported. Very small race (it was started by the race director standing on top of a car at the start line and yelling go), but a great fall marathon to consider.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Heather G.
    Heather G. Sendmail

    Thanks David! I'm actually headed to VT in May for the Vermont City Marathon. Peter, they do live in Keene. I completely forgot about the Manchester Marathon...might have to do that one in 2011!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Wayne
    Wayne Sendmail

    Heather, there are some great fall marathons. Certainly, Chicago is a great one (only 45,000 run in it these days). In California where I live, there are the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon (mid October) and the Silicon Valley Marathon (late October in San Jose). Hope this helps. Thanks.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Caleb M.PRO
    Caleb M. Sendmail

    Although it looks like you've already chosen, Heather, I'll throw in my 2 cents for everyone else looking. I LOVE the Portland (OR) marathon. Fast course, great support, wonderful city. Give it a look if you are interested in an October marathon (this year's is also on 10/10/10 like a number of other marathons).

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Heather G.
    Heather G. Sendmail

    I love all the suggestions! I'm hoping to cover the 50 states over the next decade or two, so I am looking into ALL of these, thanks guys!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Kevin O.
    Kevin O. Sendmail

    St. George, Utah runs an excellent and very highly rated marathon....that's one that comes to my mind (though I haven't run it myself). There is a lottery process to get in due to high demand. It is also a top Boston qualifier since it is mostly downhill and very fast. It is planned for October 2nd this year. Here's their site:

    http://www.stgeorgemarathon.com/

    posted almost 2 years ago | edited almost 2 years ago

  • Anne Marie W.
    Anne Marie W. Sendmail

    I'm going to run the Milwaukee Lakefront marathon. I haven't run it before, but I've heard good things about it...and it would knock another state off of your list. www.milwaukeelakefrontmarathon.org/

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Debbie
    Debbie Sendmail

    Have you done NY or PA. I heard the Hudson Trail Marathon was good( I think that is the name). I have also heard good things about the Bob Potts Marathon in York, PA. It was the first year last year but my friend highly recommends it.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • John F.
    John F. Sendmail

    Heather we have a marathon here in Hartford which is a flat course.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Joanne S.
    Joanne S. Sendmail

    I'll plug my home state of Michigan and recommend the Detroit Marathon. I haven't run the full course, but I ran the half last October and had a blast. Great crowd support.

    You go over the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Ontario so if you're crossing states off your list you get to cross off a Canadian province as well. Coming back through Canada, you come back through the tunnel for an "underwater mile".

    http://www.freepmarathon.com/

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Jennifer F.
    Jennifer F. Sendmail

    There's a new marathon this year on 10/10/10 that goes through 3 states along Route 66, starting in Oklahoma. http://www.joplinsports.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=26837

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Erik L.
    Erik L. Sendmail

    Columbus, OH. awesome time of the year plus extremely flat course. You start downtown by the capital, run down to the governor's house, go through wonderful neighborhoods crowded with tons of people on their lawchairs. You also go through a german village, and also go through major parts of Ohio State campus! I loved every mintue of it. Tons of people and I'm running it again. Come join us!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Stephanie C.
    Stephanie C. Sendmail

    I will be running the Hartford Marathon in October. Well, if we get stationed there this summer!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Marnie
    Marnie Sendmail

    Des Moines, IA marathon is on October 17th. I'll be running my first 5k that day.

    http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Suzy
    Suzy Sendmail
    in reply to what Marnie said:Des Moines, IA marathon is on October 17th. I'll be running my first 5k that day. http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/

    You will have a blast Marnie! Des Moines was my first 1/2 marathon last Oct. Really fun race! :)

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Jeffrey W.
    Jeffrey W. Sendmail

    Hartford is a great race. It was one of RW's "Greenest Races" in 2008. It is very well run and a great course. Very pretty. Plus, there is an long out and back where you get to watch the elite's coming back at you - inspiring to watch.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Andrew N.
    Andrew N. Sendmail

    Check out the Portland(OR) Marathon on 10/10/10.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Eliot W C.
    Eliot W C. Sendmail

    I recommend:

    11/14/2010 - Harrisburg - Harrisburg, PA
    10/17/2010 - Atlantic City - Atlantic City, NJ
    10/10/2010 - Steamtown - Scranton, PA
    08/24/2010 - Self Transcendence - Nyack, NY

    These are all well run (by nice people) and reasonably priced.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Joanna
    Joanna Sendmail

    See below

    posted almost 2 years ago | edited almost 2 years ago

  • Joanna
    Joanna Sendmail
    in reply to what Caleb M. said:Although it looks like you've already chosen, Heather, I'll throw in my 2 cents for everyone else looking. I LOVE the Portland (OR) marathon. Fast course, great support, wonderful city. Give it a look if you are interested in an October maratho... read more

    I was thinking about suggesting Portland. I haven't run it but several of my friends have and it seems like a great marathon!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Mannosteel
    Mannosteel Sendmail
    in reply to what Heather G. said:I love all the suggestions! I'm hoping to cover the 50 states over the next decade or two, so I am looking into ALL of these, thanks guys!

    You'll love Chicago, Heather. Great race. Did it last year for the 3rd time. You may want to consider Twin Cities Marathon some fall in the future. One of the best I've ever done AND you can check Minnesota off your list.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Kate W.
    Kate W. Sendmail

    Since you have chosen one for this fall I have a few to suggest for your 50 states quest that I am currently working my way through as well with my boyfriend. He has 30 states down and I have 29 currently. Some of our top marathons are:
    -Mohawk-Hudson marathon Albany NY fall
    -Lost Dutchman Apache Jct AZ presidents day weekend
    -Pineland Farms 50k trail New Glouchester ME memorial day weekend
    -Little Rock AR Mar the perks tent was great!
    -Manchester NH Nov
    -Stonecat trail marathon Ipswitch MA Nov
    -Kentucky Derby marathon April
    -Charlotte NC Dec

    on the flip side some that I did not care for much were:
    -Baltimore MD-ran out of water at the finish on an 85 degree day
    -Tulsa OK-water was from garden hoses for the last 13 miles
    -Portland OR-running in the industrial sections was not fun, getting stopped by a train at mile 25 was worse, having a flat marathon in a city that is hills was not my idea of a good time, would rather have had a hilly course that was prettier and highlighted the city better

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Kate W.
    Kate W. Sendmail

    Eliot- I agree with you that Steamtown is a well run marathon. Put on for runners, by runners with the runner in mind the whole way. I never heard anyone tell me I was "almost there" at mile 6, just lots of well meaning spectators that were wishing you well along the course. The bus to the start and the school were great. The hash house harriers near the end were wonderful. The block party around mile 23 was well timed. The aid on course was fantastic. Have not done the others you mentioned.

    posted almost 2 years ago | edited almost 2 years ago

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