Favorite 1/2 or Full Marathons?

[kim3339]

So I was reading the competitor magazine from the RNR San Jose this weekend and they had an article about the best 26 individual miles from 26 different marathons and it got me thinking.

What is your favorite 1/2 or full marathon, aside from the Disney races, and why? Or one that you have always wanted to run?

Mine would have to be the San Francisco 1/2 and full. I did the 1st 1/2 Marathon this year and it was incredible. The weather is great, fog and 50-60 degrees. The course was a great challenge with the hills. Plus you get to run across the Golden Gate Bridge and when you run back across it, you get a beautiful view of the city.

 

[FireDancer]

The one I want to run most is the Maratona di Roma (Rome Marathon).

I'd have to say my favorite of the non-Disney runs I've done was the National Half Marathon in Washington, DC. The course is challenging without being overly hard (and all in DC so it was pretty cool), the crowd support was great, the weather perfect, and the public transportation made it easy to get to the start without staying near it.

 

[verticalchaos]

The one I want to run most is the Maratona di Roma (Rome Marathon).

I'd have to say my favorite of the non-Disney runs I've done was the National Half Marathon in Washington, DC. The course is challenging without being overly hard (and all in DC so it was pretty cool), the crowd support was great, the weather perfect, and the public transportation made it easy to get to the start without staying near it.

Ooh...Roma looks sooooo cool!! If it stays around the same time each year...that could in theory coincide with Spring Break sometime... That would ROCK!

 

[SAHDad]

I don't have a favorite (yet), but I can generally find something nice about the ones I have run:

EC Trails marathon - flat, along a rails to trails path, and with a small field. My first marathon, and probably my only chance to say that I finished in the top 15.

Sunburst - you get to finish on the 50 yard line of Notre Dame.

USAF marathon - flyovers, servicemembers handing out the medals. Very cool (not temp-wise though).

Chicago - generally flat and fast (though the second time I tried it, it turned into a death march, and that was the year that they ended the race early.)

Zoom Yah Yah - sure, it is 150 laps on a track, but you get your own cheering section/lap counter, very small field, and one of the friendliest races I have ever run. Plus, I can claim to have to a marathon, in January, in Minnesota. (And it was warmer than Disney this year - a near-constant 70 degrees, more or less.)

Illinois Marathon - get to end at the 50 yard line at UIUC, and it's a flat course. Still in its infancy, but run by people who run, and it shows.

Lake Geneva - when you finish this one, you'll be glad you did. Beautiful scenery (and some that wasn't), but nice support through the neighborhoods. The whole course is hilly, with flat areas only by accident.

 

[FFigawi]

I, too, have found something to enjoy in all of the ones that I've done. Some non-Disney examples are:

Best terrain: Seabrook Lucky Trail marathon, run 90% on dirt trails through woods and bayous

Best post-race scene: Virginia Beach RnR half, soak your feet and legs in the ocean while drinking your beer

Best aid stations: Richmond marathon, has a junk food station and a cold wash cloth station right when you really need them

Best volunteers: Rocky Raccoon 100/50-mile Trail Run, they take your water bottles of your belt for you to refill them, they give your legs a quick massage if needed, and for your own good, they don't let you stay too long at a station

Some races I want to run in the future: London, Chicago, Grandma's, Flying Pig, Bordeaux, Comrades, Marine Corps

 

[Bephus]

Best post-race scene: Virginia Beach RnR half, soak your feet and legs in the ocean while drinking your beer

Some races I want to run in the future: London, Chicago, Grandma's, Flying Pig, Bordeaux, Comrades, Marine Corps

I totally agree with Va Beach, love their races and since they are off season the weather is nice and cool and the accomodations are pretty cheap. I stayed on the boardwalk for both the RNR half (which I LOVED and will do again) and the Shamrock full which was a great marathon.
My favorite half is a local race here in Jacksonville on Thanksgiving morning, the Outback Distance Classic. It is a flat, fast course which winds through neighborhoods where locals come out to cheer us on, feed us orange wedges and feed the FSU/UF rivalry which takes place a few days later. The temps are always nice and cool (usually 60's) and I feel better about eating the feast later in the day.
I sooo want to do Bordeaux, Napa Valley and Nike Women's.

 

[kim3339]

I sooo want to do Bordeaux, Napa Valley and Nike Women's.

I'm doing the Nike Women's next weekend. I'll let you know how the course is. Can't wait for the firemen and Tiffanys!

 

[escape]

I'm doing the Nike Women's next weekend. I'll let you know how the course is. Can't wait for the firemen and Tiffanys!

Kim, I did the Nike race two times - 2007 & 2009. The Tiffany medals are nice! The course is nice - loved seeing some of the popular sites along the route. Expect some hills. I'll probably try to get in again next year. Be sure to check for your name on the outside of the Nike store. Have fun! Oh, and post a pic with your necklace.

Favorite races? I need to think about it. Disney ranks up there with the top - mainly because - IT'S DISNEY.

 

[verticalchaos]

Ooh...just looked at the Nike Women's information. I may have to give that one a go next year. Probably the Half, but still! Cool!!

 

[cewait]

I am with others; I have not run many events where the course did not have some draw with a few exceptions.

Best City Venue - Chicago – with 30,000+ of my closest friends… you get a real feel of the city and the organization is great. Probably one of the best city course designs ever as you run away from then back to downtown three times keeping the Sears Tower in sight.

Tooughest Ticket - Boston – on the bucket list and a couple years back within reach if you can call 16 minutes within reach. If I had not wrecked my hip in a bike wreck in 09 I think I had a chance. Focused like crazy on getting there in 3 years.

Best Finish Line - Sunburst – Unless you are an SC fan – though leave some gas in the tank as you got to get back out of the stadium!

Best Sea Breeze - Maui – can you say refreshing breeze? Most of the course is along the pacific. Make sure to stay in the Kaanapoli resort area to assure a nice walk from the finish line.

Best Small City - Austin – besides the Keep Austin Weird mentality of the city, the city is a fun run. I have not run the new course. The old course was mostly down. The new course has a lot more up.

BEST non-disney medal - Surf City . The course is a relaxing course but you better be ok with out and back runs.

Toughest non gimmick marathon- Ironman Championship – not a real marathon; tougher; as the marathon is preceded by 114.4 miles of swimming and cycling. I have run some of the course and I have a lot of appreciation for anyone running this in under 6 hours. It is also a bucket list course.

Honorable mentions –

New York. It is the big apple but I think Chicago was a better venue – but it is a you must run course

Marine Corp – I really expected a lot more. One thinks Marines, assaulting the beach and organization. Not the case for the Marine Corp Marathon. The year I ran it was a really disorganized mass of chaos. It is another must do regardless as there is something special about running the monuments in DC. I do try to run the mall or along the Rock Creek Trail as much as I can when in town.

Pikes Peak - It is a want to do though I am not sure that busting quads on the trip down is a high priority.

 

[kim3339]

Thanks for the tip!! I'll check it out when I'm up there. I live about 45 minutes south of SF, so I'm going to the Expo on Thursday just to avoid the Friday/Saturday craziness and tourists in town.

BEST non-disney medal - Surf City . The course is a relaxing course but you better be ok with out and back runs.

Toughest non gimmick marathon- Ironman Championship – not a real marathon; tougher; as the marathon is preceded by 114.4 miles of swimming and cycling. I have run some of the course and I have a lot of appreciation for anyone running this in under 6 hours. It is also a bucket list course.

Coach- agree with you on the medal. This year's was a wooden surfboard. The scenery was incredible also. The San Gabriels were covered in snow on the right then left and you had the sunny beach and ocean on the left then right.

Ironman's on my list too. I would love to do that at some point.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I am really interested in the Big Five Half. However, it's a 15 hour flight away.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Scenery is Big Sur Marathon and toughest is the Crater Lake Marathon. Fastest was 1996 WDW Marathon Portland Marathon is a good one too(6 times finisher).

I like smaller races!

 

[swim-mom]

I love this thread - I would love to find out more information about the Nike Womans. When and how do you enter?


Huge thanks

 

[goofyinohio]

A couple I love outside of Disney

Flying Pig - I did the half. Everything about this race is Awesome. Great crowd support, Course (Although hills are involved), Great medals, Great Expo, Great theme. I can't tell you how many people in the race and spectators I saw with Pig noses on which was just hilarious. The only thing I didn't like was the cotton shirt I got, but they have changed this since.

US Air Force - I did the half. I loved the Fly overs, Shirt, the Medal, the Service Men and Women throughout the course since it's mainly on base, Finishing with planes on each side of you the last 100 yard or so, Getting my medal from an Officer was awesome. If you need crowd support I would not chose this event as it's on base and very little crowds throughout the course.

 

[verticalchaos]

I'm adding the Diva Half Marathon on Long island onto my list of probabilities for next year (my only hesitation is it will be around a month or so after the Disneyland Half). It's almost exclusively women (they can't close it to men, but read on...). A mile 11, in addition to a water table, there is also the donning of tiaras and pink feather boas. Many of the medals (I saw one today...it is impressive!!!) are given out by shirtless firemen. Can't wait!!

 

[marathonmommy]

The one I want to run most is the Maratona di Roma (Rome Marathon).

I'd have to say my favorite of the non-Disney runs I've done was the National Half Marathon in Washington, DC. The course is challenging without being overly hard (and all in DC so it was pretty cool), the crowd support was great, the weather perfect, and the public transportation made it easy to get to the start without staying near it.

I soooo want to do the National! Now, I have to go run a 5K in under 31 minutes. I'm about an 11 minute miler, but I think I can push it out? If I am just squeaking by to get in, is there a chance I will come in last with a time around 2:30-2:40?

 

[airtime247]

Kim - I just did the RNR San Jose too! I had a really good time. It was my first RNR. I also ran the first half of San Francisco but it was last year. San Francisco was easily my favorite 1/2 marathon.

I also really enjoyed the Big Sur Half Marathon and Disneyland Half Marathon. I'd say those were my top three.

The WDW Marathon was still my favorite race to date mainly because it was my first and only full and an amazing experience for me.

I see you are from the Bay Area. You should really try to get up to run the Humboldt Redwoods Half Marathon held in October. It's easily the most beautiful half I've ever run. They do a similar course in May but it's not as good.

I don't really have any on my bucket list aside from Bay to Breakers, Big Sur Marathon (already registered!), and the Surf City Marathon. I guess I need to get out of California more!

I'm now wanting to change it up and do some muddy buddys and triathlons. I also really want to do more trail races.

-steve

 

[FireDancer]

I soooo want to do the National! Now, I have to go run a 5K in under 31 minutes. I'm about an 11 minute miler, but I think I can push it out? If I am just squeaking by to get in, is there a chance I will come in last with a time around 2:30-2:40?

According to last year's results the last finisher ran a 3:02:58 chip time. A 2:40 flat would have made you number 6068 out of 6239 so near the back but not the caboose.

It really is a great race. There was a lot of course support, especially after mile 4 where you made the turn and started towards DuPont circle. The course was not flat but the hills were not steep and not long. The weather was perfect. It warmed up during the day so walking around DC to do the tourist thing was pleasant but it was early enough in the year that the race was not too warm (47 an 74% humidity at the start in 2010). At the time it ended up bing my PR despite having run much flatter races. The post race area was huge and had a lot of food and drink. The medal is cool. It might change of course but it was a 3-D relief of Abraham Lincoln from the memorial. The metro had a stop right at the start so using it to get to and from the race means you can pretty much stay anywhere in DC, MD, or VA as long as you have access to the Metro.

I have some friends that live there and some of my other friends here who also know them have been talking about doing a weekend trip down there. At least 3 or us run so we might try to do this race again. If not we might shoot for the Frederick Half which I think is in May.