Marathons have a unique way of making you beg…
When you’re in the 20+ miles, you’re cursing at the pain and begging for it to be over. Give it 24 hours and you’re begging to do your next.
Thus, the 24 hour “regain my mojo” period has passed and it’s true, I’m searching for the next marathon to add to the list and I’d love your help! Here’s what I’m after:
- A fall/early winter marathon.
- A flat, fast course. I’ve had my share of hill climbing this season, so I’m ready to squash those PRs with a smooth 26.2 miles.
- Something on the west coast. I’d love to travel a bit more, but I think my wallet may need a break until the spring.
- A nice medal and some sweet swag wouldn’t hurt. Who are we kidding – sweet swag seals the deal!
I don’t think that’s too much to ask for, no? Allow me to present to you the contenders thus far:
Two Cities (i.e. Fresno): November 6, 2011
I know what you’re thinking…Fresno?! That’s what I thought too. But the more and more I talk to people, they have nothing but great things to say about the organization of the race, the crowd support (for a smaller race) and the overall experience. Plus, it would be only be a close drive and fairly cost effective.
Santa Barbara International Marathon: November 12, 2011
Whenever I travel for marathons, I like to make a little vacation out of it so that Chicken Face gets to enjoy his time as well. Thus, Santa Barbara entered the running, but I’ve heard mixed reviews about the course and organization.
The Portland Marathon: October 9, 2011
The allure of heading up north to visit a new city is oh-so-tempting. Plus, this race is celebrating its 40th year and is supposed to have some super sweet swag.
California International Marathon: December 4, 2011
Ok, ok, it’s not a fall marathon, but I’ve heard that this net-downhill course is perfect for smashing PRs. Not to mention the proximity to home and cool running conditions. However, the rolling hills are a bit daunting.
So what do you think? Have you run any of the races above? What did you think? Or, do you have another race recommendation? I’m all ears!
Happy Running!
what about the really big free marathon!?
if I do CIM, I think you should too. obviously.
otherwise, I would go for Portland because it sounds super fast and sweet swag is tough to beat.
I am also a west coaster and have great things about the Portland Marathon (including that it sells out really quickly) and the support there is supposed to be awesome!
Cali international would be another good option! – happy picking!
Oooooh, do Portland! I’ve heard that is an awesome city 🙂 Also, the words super sweet shwag bag is enough to get me to hit ‘register’! 🙂
I ran CIM two years ago. It’s a net downhill, but the course is FAR from flat. I PR’d on a cold windy day. I don’t have anything bad to say about the course/organization, but I also don’t have anything that stood out as overly positive. Typical event I guess.
We have the SAME list of desires & requirements!! I can’t decide either… the only one I’m ruling out is CIM because I’m doing the Karno trail race that day. Otherwise, Santa Barbara, Half Moon Bay, & Fresno are all a toss up. What to do, WHAT TO DO!!?? Ahhhh!!!!
Ooh these all look so cool!
I’ve run 3 of these. Santa Barbara: beautiful but not flat. I repeat, NOT flat. CIM: generally flat, fast. Shirts always nice and simple. Having run it 4-5 times, it’s not a fav but not bad. Portland: that’s where I BQ’d. Need I say more? Actually, yes. You may want to read about my chip troubles. Imagine BQing and having no chip time to prove it. In the end, they got me a time. It wasn’t as fast as I’d figured but got me into Boston so I didn’t balk at it.
On your list, I’ve run Portland and CIM. CIM is fast for sure. Three of us PR’d the year I did it. It is net downhill but does have TONS of little rollers which might screw with your mind. I ran with a pace group so couldn’t really see the terrain coming up, but I think if I had been running solo it would have crushed my spirits a bit. I’m not sure if I was just in better shape my next two PR attempts, but I felt much stronger on subsequent flatter courses later.
Portland could be fast. It has tons of swag (see my blog report) — though I think much of it is fairly redundant and useless. There is the little train factor which may or may not affect you. I’d be pissed if I got stopped by a train if I was trying to PR. While I would try to PR again at CIM, I wouldn’t at Portland.
I am considering Fresno. It gets awesome reviews from everyone who has done it, is fairly close, and is reportedly fast.
Santa Barbara sounds like it could be hot to me, but I don’t really know.
If you’re really undecided, you might make the timing of the race help you make up your mind.
Stay in SF for Oct 9th weekend. It’s fleet week and do fun! I guess I’m saying don’t do Portland :).
I highly suggest Fresno. Not only is it super fast (the only hill is barely an incline) but you get super sweet swag for a relatively low entry fee (long sleeve technical tee, sweatshirt, medal, tons of free food, etc.). I ran it for the first time last year and the race is really well supported and it seems like there are just as many spectators as there are runners!
Run New York!!!
Oh these look cool. I’ll be running the Seattle half in November. The half marathon course is really great and not too hilly but the full is pretty hill-tastic I’ve heard.
Also there is a run the stirp at night marathon in Las Vegas December 4th that looks pretty cool!
Not sure if MY schedule will sway you in anyway, but I’m heavily leaning toward Fresno Marathon and CIM! I think I’m going to race Fresno and then enjoy CIM. It’s a great race and I’ve only done the relay portion of it, but I loved both the legs I ran so it’s time to string them together. Good luck deciding! Hopefully we can meet up at one of them 🙂
Run Santa Barbara! $10 off with 2011SBIMRW1
lol, do you and Aron coordinate posts?
When in doubt, I would follow Aron’s plan of Portland and CIM, haha But now that is what I would go with =) The Vegas run at night on Dec 4 also sounds cool too.
I actually signed up for CIM already, that way if Chicago doesn’t work out (or even if it does work out), I have another marathon in December to do. I’ve heard the course at CIM is super fast too.
Save your Santa Barbara trip for the Are You Tough Enough race
http://areyoutoughenough.wordpress.com/about/
Whoo hoo! Love these posts! Here’s my two cents, for what it’s worth :p
Fresno is great! Great scwag, great course and good weather! I ran that for my first BQ. There are a few rollers, but for the most part, the couse is PR worthy. Yes, it is Fresno, but really, it isn’t that bad…trust me, it could be worse!!
I am sooooo leaning towards Portland, I loved my time in Eugene, and the road trip part was fun. Plus, again, cool schwag and good weather – also PR worthy – would love you to join me 😉
And CIM – I am there!! I think Portland then CIM is an ok distance in between – plus, I think all the cool peeps are doing it which means it wouldn’t be complete without you!
If you’re lookin’ for a PR, Fresno is awesome and so is CIM – but I know, which ever race you run it will be a PR – you are doing awesome!!!
I hope I just helped 😉
i’m always tempted by portland!! i think you can’t go wrong here 🙂
i think they all sound great, but i’m gonna highly recommend santa barbara! i lived there for 4 years and ran the inaugural race in 2009. the course is awesome, starts near the green santa ynez mountains and lemon groves, then winds toward the pacific ocean and finishes on the beach. it has some rollers to keep things interesting but nothing too crazy. weather is almost always perfect, 50s-low 70s in nov. and sb is a wonderful place for a mini-vacation. it gets my vote!
Tough choice – I am no help but I do like CIM for the net downhill!
Any race you run, you will run well!!! 🙂 good luck picking one!
Portland would be super fun for chicken-face!
I’m considering CIM — I’ve heard good things. I normally stick to 1 marathon per year bc they are rough on the body…but my body snapped back immediately from Eugene, so now I have the itch. for another.
lastly, Fresno’s probably the most convenient in terms of distance, so that’s an easy option. ah bugger. I’m bad at advice
I vote for Portland.. I was just reading an article about how it’s a great marathon. I totally want to live vicariously through you!!
Well I’ve got a big old vote for California International Marathon… 🙂 BUT the Fresno one looks good, too. Reasonably cost effective plus lots of bling.. Sounds perfect!
I’ve heard CIM is awesome and FAST…I’m definitely thinking about it! You make me wish I lived out this way. 🙂
awww i wish you’d come out here and run philly 🙂 BUT CIM seems like a great course – all downhill? i’d do that one in a heartbeat!
happy weekend!
Portland or Fresno is my vote! I’ve heard Portland is a cool place.
I’m prepping for my marathon tomorrow, and can’t wait until I’m planning my next one…Monday or Tuesday, maybe?
I live in Santa Barbara and have run it and CIM. I sat next to a guy from Portland before Big Sur and he thought it was similiar in some ways to Santa Barbara in that it didn’t really show off the town to its best. I love SB (the area) and am hoping that our local marathon eventually gets better organized and is run over a better course. If you’re looking to spend some time in the area, then SB certainly outranks CIM, but I personally think CIM is a better organized marathon and has a faster course.
If you’re interested in seeing some photos of the Santa Barbara course, I did a photo run-through for the innaugural year (www.hawn.org/runningblog/?p=481)
Hey,
The hubbs and I ran Fresno last year. It is very well organized! The expo was small, very small, but very well organized, no lines to wait in at all. There were about 5 porta potties for every 1 runner race morning, no potty lines at all, which as you know is freakishly unheard of!
Nice shirt, nice sweat shirt, nice hat, nice medal. Wonderful finishers area afterward with full cooked breakfast, sit down tables, fruits and nuts from a local company, as many free ice cream sundaes as you want…oh, and bleachers for spectators at the finish line…my only negative thing is that the course was painfully boring! Yeah, I know it’s Fresno, but there was just nothing to look at. The slight incline someone commented on…it is long and at the end with nothing to look at, no spectators around, no bands…other marathons may have spoiled me, but I found the last half of this course very mentally challenging. While it’s not an entertaining, pretty, fun course, again, it is extremely well organized and maybe worth it for all the free stuff you get!
I just found your blog and I’m training for my first marathon which will be the one in Fresno! I’m also planning on running the night half in Vegas on Dec.4!
I am registered for the CIM. I hope you join us out here in Sacramento. 🙂
Hi Page! Just found your blog…love it 🙂 If you haven’t decided which race to run yet you should definitely do the SB marathon…this year will be my third year running it! And SB is the greatest place in the entire world!