In the marketing world, the consideration set is a highly coveted place within consumer behavior. While it’s no final decision, it is the set of options that a potential consumer deems valuable enough to consider when putting down their money on something.
Today, I’d like to present to you my personal, A-race, marathon consideration set. I’ll pretend that it’s a highly esteemed set of options that marketers are crossing their fingers for me to choose, but in reality, it’s more like what part of the country am I going to drag Chicken Face to next.
1. Rock ‘N Roll “Strip At Night” Marathon – Dec. 4, 2011
So here’s the funny thing about this marathon, I’m already registered for it! However, my original plan was to run it after Fresno and take it in as a fun run (as fun as 26.2 miles can be). The thought of making this race my new A-race is daunting given that it starts at 4 p.m. While this could sound appealing, here’s the catch: I usually loathe running at night. Well, I usually loathe running after work because by the time I’m home, I just want to eat and be lazy. It’s apparently flat, fast and full of “entertainment.” What’s a girl to do?
2. Disney Marathon – Jan. 8, 2011
Not a race Chicken Face would want to go to, but I think I could convince my mom to spend a weekend reminiscing about my childhood in the happiest place on earth. Have you run this race? How humid is it? This race is ridiculously expensive, is it worth it?
3. Rock ‘N Roll Arizona – Jan. 15, 2011
Closer to home than Florida and is an opportunity to explore a new west coast state. Supposedly flat and fast, and a ticket down south wouldn’t be that expensive. The downside: it’s $135! Holy expensive! Tell me, have you heard anything about this race?
4. ING Miami Marathon – Jan. 29, 2011
I don’t know much about this race other than going to Miami in January sounds like a dream. Plus, I like to drag Chicken Face to new parts of the country that he would otherwise not choose to go to. That’s how I got him to fall in love with Chicago, right Chicken Face?
So there you have it folks – my initial consideration set. Did I miss any races that should be on my radar? Specifically any in California?
Thanks for your help and happy running!
P.S. They extended the deadline for the Nike Women’s Marathon Runway Crew contest. If you haven’t voted yet, I’d love your vote and will love you forever. Just click here to vote – THANK YOU!
I love running at night, but I am not sure even I would want to have my A race be a night marathon in Vegas.
I was going to suggest CIM, but if you are already doing Vegas that conflicts. I am thinking if I should sign up for CIM…
I have done Phoenix. It is fast and flat. It was also relatively warm (at least for me!) my year especially compared to what I was used to training in during January. It was also a pretty boring race…
Come run Disney! I’ll be there. 🙂 I’ve never run it before so I can’t offer any real opinions, but I think it is going to be a lot of fun.
My personal experience is with RNRAZ, since it SURROUNDS my house and I can’t do anything else on race day, even if I’d like to.
It’s basically your standard Rock ‘n’ Roll race. The half is crazy packed with people (about 20,000) but the full isn’t as much (closer to 5,000). There’s nothing too spectacular along the course to look at and you’ll be running by the entertainment so quickly, I don’t know that it’s beneficial. The course does have a good number of fans cheering along it, so if that’s something that helps you, it’ll be there. It is all paved, no potholes, but a cambered road, and completely flat.
To make everything more complicated, there are 2 marathons here in Phoenix on Feb 19th which are cheaper if you’re looking to save moolah.
The Arizona Marathon (http://thearizonamarathon.com/) which is very flat, very fast, very boring, but only $40-50 or so, and
Lost Dutchman Marathon (http://www.lostdutchmanmarathon.org/) which is rolling, a little bit of dirt but not trail, completely gorgeous, and $80. I did this mary last year and have a race report on the blog.
The only one I can offer feedback on is Disney – I ran it as part of the Goofy Challenge last year, a.k.a. THE YEAR IT WAS FREEZING. Literally. Frost. Ice rain. Frozen water stops. People picking up discarded garments to keep warm. So I won’t comment on the humidity. 😉
It was worth the cost in that it was a SUPER fun experience, but I don’t think I would use it as an “A” race. If you’re dropping that kind of coin on a race, you want to soak it all in.
Good luck deciding! 🙂
So many choices! I have not run any of these but I know a couple people who did miami and LOVED it. However, they also did it with TNT so it was more of a soak-it-all-in thing, so not sure about the “A” race for speed demons like you. But I heard the race itself is great.
The full at Vegas seems crazy. The majority of th course is super boring BUT it would also be pretty fast for you I’m sure, as in. “why am I out running in BF nowhere Nevada at 6PM, this is so boring, must go faster.” 🙂
Do avenue of the giants in Eureka (way nor cal) in May. I know it’s longer out, but it’s my dream race. Cheap, flat and looks SO SO beautiful :).
I am doing Vegas this year and super pumped about it. Not pumped about all the money I spent on registration, hotels and flights but hey, it’s Vegas. Only other one I have heard about is the Disney marathon and everyone always says that it is really cold for that race. or at least cold for Florida. I am eyeing it for next year but only if I can do the Goofy Challenge.
I’m still going to vote for the Vegas full marathon. Even though it does start later, I think you will be fine. Otherwise I vote for CIM, the course seems to be super fast, guaranteed cold weather, and it starts at the regular morning time.
I would stay away from the Miami marathon in late January – I was there on Jan 1 last year for the Orange Bowl, and it was already getting pretty hot and humid then. I think it only gets worse at it gets closer to spring in terms of heat and humidity. But Miami is indeed awesome, a lot of fun there on South Beach.
I have never run any of these races, much less a marathon, but I have heard that the Vegas one is boring…I think I am thinking of the correct race. Apparently a lot of the race is out into desolate desert areas with not much crowd support. I could be wrong but I think I remember reading about that last year on a blog. I wouldn’t suggest Disney either as an A race. I think that is more of a fun race rather than trying to PR.
I’ve heard the Vegas one is really fun! But I am sure the Disney one would be too!
Absolutely Disney! It’s such a great experience and keeps things interesting the entire time…the humidity really isn’t a problem because you start so early…you get a free day in the park monday too!
I’m sure others will comment on the races they’ve done so I will just comment on the one on your list that I have done. I’ve done Disney 4 times. It is probably one of my favorite marathons. The course is definitely fast. There are a couple of highway on-ramps/over-passes but if you’re from the hilly Bay Area they won’t phase you much. I have never raced Disney (I always carry my camera and stop at each and every photo op with the characters on the course) so can’t comment too much on that aspect of it. I will say this about the weather. It is VERY unpredictable. I’ve run it twice when it was in the 80’s, sunny, and hot. Really hot. And I’ve done it twice when it was freezing and cold. Really cold (like water freezing on the asphalt, people slipping and breaking bones cold). I would personally never make it an A-race for this reason. You could, however, race Vegas and make Disney the fun race Vegas was supposed to be 🙂
Run Disney! The best marathon around except NYC.
like the way you think!!!!
I don’t know what you should do, but here are some other things to consider…
While the strip at night would be cool, the second half isn’t on the strip. I ran the half last year and that was fun, but I heard that the full (i.e. the second half that was off the strip) kind of sucked.
If you’re planning on having kids one day you could always save Disney for a family trip.
I am excited to hear you are running Vegas! I am signed up for the half as my post-MCM fun run! I am also super pumped to see you next week!! 🙂
Carlsbad is a great race in January. The course isn’t as flat as some of the others you’ve listed though. I will say Miami in January is still very swampy, so be prepared for serious humidity if you go with that one.
I ran Miami (just the half) in 2008. It’s a beautiful course – very flat. I was coming from a cold Northeast winter so I had a lot of trouble acclimating to the heat, but you might not have that issue. I want to say the temps were in the high 70s by the time we finished the race, which was a big adjustment for me. I also had some trouble running over the bridges because they were metal grates and I got really dizzy – but the race people might have covered the bridges with mats by now. I would still recommend the race…it’s very well-organized and you really can’t go wrong with the destination (plus you can get great cheap hotel rates in South Beach in January)!
Disney! My friend has done this twice and LOVES it!
Hi I’m new to your blog but I’m from Arizona so I had to comment. I say if you do a marathon in Arizona do either the Lost Dutchman Marathon in February or the Tucson Marathon in December. Both beautiful scenic and up and coming races. Good luck!
OK SO BELIEVE IT OR NOT PAGE… this past week at TRH, i had a couple wearing their disney marathon shirts. And being that I feel like I know this famous runner, aka YOU, i asked about the race. Apparently they do 26 marathons combined between the husband and wife a year. so 13 each. and this is one that they both do together. Part of it is ran through the park and an absolutly incrediable experience! WITH THAT MY VOTE, NOT THAT IT MATTERS GOES TO DISNEY! and if you choose disney i would like to go with you not only to cheer you on but ride the coasters duh! YOU GET TO MEET CHARACTERS AND BE A KID TOO….
Voted!!!! Good luck! And tough choice with those marathons…I always wanted to do the Miami one 🙂
Do Miami! I’ll be there too! Of course I’ll also be in Vegas… I’m having the same debate about Vegas but I really don’t think I can make a night marathon my goal marathon, I HATE running at night and I really don’t think I can perform as well.
I did my first night race at the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon and that started at 10pm. And that was LATE. But I LOVED that run and it’s totally worth the money!
I’m not sure what the weather will be like for the January marathon because the Wine & Dine was in October. But the course was AMAZING!
I hope that helps with your decision!
I’ll be in Vegas! I’d love to meet you! It will be my first 1/2 and I have no idea how the whole “running at night” thing will affect my eating/sleeping/preparation plans, but we’ll see what happens, right?
Good luck with whichever race you choose. I’m betting you can’t really go wrong with any of your options!
Personally, I would do Disney or ING. I’m not a rock and roll fan, but I know AZ is REALLY flat and fast and it would be a much cheaper.
Vegas at night = drunks.. I couldn’t imagine running through there, and can’t imagine what kind of crap will be thrown there, plus it’s a ‘new’ race this year, and new races always have weird problems. Something to think about.
Disney would be fun, but I’m not a Disney person, but they have fat medals, which you like!! 🙂
I know ING is a big big race which would be fun and they would have their logistics down. Just my two cents. 🙂
The Vegas race is at the top of my list! I’d love to be running the full but am no where near ready for that so I’m doing the half!
I also secretly want to do the Disney Marathon someday, though it may also have something to do with the fact that I’ve never been there! 🙂
All good races though – you’ve got a touch decision to make!
My only opinion of Disney is that it’s crazy packed — or so the 1/2 Marathon was last year… The weather was actually pretty good — 50s to start but I heard in 2010 it was freezing and rainy. There’s no predicting Mother Nature! Also, anywhere you stay at Disney will be pretty pricey — and the registration is pretty pricey too.
My assumption that Rock N Roll in AZ would be fun and lively with great weather! So that takes my vote 🙂
Miami sounds fun. The only thing I would worry about is it being warm/hot and not having trained in that (not sure where you live)! That would be my only worry – that it would be like 70 and I’ve been training in 30 degree weather in NYC.
-Honolulu marathon in December?
-I personally didn’t like the AZRNR, but for every person that hated it, you can find someone that loved it.
-Redding, CA marathon in January? I haven’t run it, but heard good things.
I was in Miami the day of the marathon a few years ago and it was HOT! It’s hot there year round…
Arizona!! Because there’s a smidgen of a chance I’ll do it…
I’ll be at the Disney Marathon in January – my first marathon! It’s supposed to be a blast – bring your camera!
California International Marathon. Others have suggested it. I did it last year. It’s a fast course with a net drop. It’s big but not too big. You finish at the capitol which is cool. The weather last year was perfection. Past years though there have been torrential downpours.
Hi Page! I love your blog! I am doing the AZ RNR half as my first half marathon ever! I heard that the course last year was terrible; but they changed it this year. The scenery is going to be much better, so a lot of people are really happy about that. I hope to see you there!