Choosing a first marathon

[Susie]

I mentioned in a post on ML that I'm considering moving up my timeline from 2025 to fall 2024 for my first full marathon (*breathes into paper bag*).  It's been out there as a bucket list item for a long time, and I'm just feeling like this might be the right time.  I'm currently training for my 5th half in April, things are going well, I'm enjoying it, and I'm looking for my next big thing.  I'm also in a year where I am more focused on volume and consistency than speed, which is influencing my thought process.

So... if I were to consider it, which one!?  I'm entertaining:

1) 10/6/2024 - Wineglass.  Couple hour drive, good reviews.

2a) 10/13/2024 - Mohawk Hudson.  My "home" option.  I did the half in 2023.  Net downhill, point to point, pretty course, mostly on paved paths, but I know from experience that crowd support is thin in spots.  That said, since it's "home," my fam could be there to support.  It is a TAD earlier in the fall than might be ideal; I'd spend the whole summer marathon training.

2b) Steamtown is the same day.  It has a lot of similar attributes, but would require more travel.  Mohawk Hudson seems like a better 10/13 pick for me.

3) 10/20/2024 - Atlantic City Marathon.  A few hour drive; have family to stay with.  I PR'ed the half there in 2014.  I like that part of it is on the boardwalk.  I don't like the first 7 or so miles looping around the north end of AC.

4) 10/27/2024 - Marine Corp Marathon.  Short flight.  Obviously this one is popular, bigger, and more logistically demanding.

5) 11/24/2024 - Philadelphia.  Few hour drive.  I did the half in 2013 and enjoyed it.  Fun vibe.  Pro, it's the latest of the group, so I'd have fewer hot weather miles training.  Con, it's 4 days before Thanksgiving, which I am hosting for 20-some, which sounds like a potentially poor life choice.

6) something else?

I'm trying to avoid major stressful travel, but I'd also like the experience to be as much fun as a first marathon can be.  Just finishing is the PR.  Any feedback on these races, others, or more generally is welcome and appreciated!

[scm1011]

Yay! I'm excited for you!
I'm doing a fall full, and if I don't get into NYC via lottery (I find out later this month) I plan to do either MCM or Philly. I'd considered Twin Cities but its first weekend of Oct and makes training not ideal (it was also canceled due to heat last year).

[scm1011]

Also, I've done 2 smaller marathons (Bay State and Cape Cod) where crowd support was not great and I know I want the experience of a bigger race next. The lack of course support, especially in the last 10k or so, was so soul crushing.

[rhian]

I ran the Philly marathon a few times about 15 years ago. I took a quick look and the route looks roughly the same as it was then. It's overall a nice course with good crowd support which is nice - BUT miles ~21-25 have pretty limited spectators (along the river in a park, so people can't access it without walking in a good distance), which was mentally really hard at that point. That section is an out and back, so you run it initially around miles 15-19, but it's less difficult to do then. Plus if you're not super fast, you watch the elite runners zip by on their way out, which is fun and energizing. Miles 19-21 are through Manayunk and lots of fun with a lot of energetic (and probably drunk lol) spectators, so while I expected to hit a "wall" around mile 20, it really hit me around mile 22, when it felt like I still had so far to go and there was no one cheering me on. On my first one, I found a stranger and we ran together for a few miles which was nice and encouraging.

That being said, I'd overall recommend it! I really like big city races with lots of spectators (my all time favorite is the Broad Street Run, also in Philly). It makes it feel more like a race than a random long run for me.

[wanderingback]

I personally have only and plan to only ever do big marathons. I’ve done chicago, nyc, Philly and DC (that was my first before rock n roll took over, don’t even know if they do it now). After nyc even chicago and Philly seem small and lacking crowd support lol.

So anyway of your choices I would do Philly or mcm. It really does make a different to have crowd support and a "fun" race, in my opinion (but I’ve never had time goals, just plans to run the whole time and finish).

[Susie]

Mar 6, 2024 16:17:57 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Also, I've done 2 smaller marathons (Bay State and Cape Cod) where crowd support was not great and I know I want the experience of a bigger race next. The lack of course support, especially in the last 10k or so, was so soul crushing.

At Mohawk Hudson, the half is the 2nd half of the full, so I've had a preview of what miles 13.1-26.2 would be.  I was trying to talk myself into it because the swag is pretty this year and "home" is easy, but that's exactly what I'm afraid of.  

Even in the half I felt kinda low around mile 9 (and my pace showed it), which would be mile 22 of the full.  Ok, so MCM is sounding better and better...

rhian, that is good to know about the 2nd half of Philly.  I've done the half there too, but there the half was the first half of the full, so I haven't run the 2nd half before.  

[ebeth]

I agree with wandering that I've only done big marathons and probably won't ever do a small one. That said, I've done MCM three times and IMO the biggest cons are:
a) though there's good crowd support for most of the race, the last 5K or so is a slog. Full sun; minimal crowd support til you hit the hill/finish (like last .2 or so)
b) packet pick up, at least the last two times I did MCM, is not metro accessible, which to me takes away some of the convenience of a city marathon
c) the course is mostly through touristy/commercial areas and doesn't have the neighborhood feel of NYC or Chicago

so given that I'd probably pick Philly over MCM if you think it will be a first and last situation (I've never done Philly though so can't compare to MCM). However, being home and not having to worry about travel logistics is also a big plus for a first marathon if you think you'll do another in the future.

[Susie]

I registered for MCM!  omg.  I am equal parts terrified and excited.

The timing for Philly just isn't great for my family, it's right on top of my daughter's bday, hosting TG, etc., but I do think I want that kind of experience.  

I've been working with a client for 15+ years now in the Foggy Bottom/GW area of DC, so I've been running there on work trips for a long time.  I guess I have a certain resulting fondness for the area that was appealing.  

omg, I can't believe I'm doing this!

[brooke77]

That’s so exciting! I love big marathons, so that was going to be my suggestion. I’m excited to hear how it goes! I’ll be training for a fall marathon too 😊

[mrshandy]

Just popped in here too late to weigh in. But MCM is a great choice for a first marathon. It was my first in 2012 that people on this board encouraged me to do.

You’ll do great!!

[minzy]

Exciting and good luck! I ran MCM once. It is definitely a big city race, fellow runners with you the entire time, crowd support was pretty good, and you’re running past cool stuff. I got a kick out of crossing state lines in a race. I did not love the bridge/(overpass?) near the end; it just felt really hard at that point. It was also really hot the year we did it. I did not love how they handled the finisher’s chute; I wound up waiting entirely too long to get even water. I am sure they’ve improved on that since. I will say the military/medical presence is strong. If, say, one were to hypothetically pass out even after finishing the race, a mere THREE steps from boarding a shuttle back to obscurity, the wait for aid and a hypothetical ambulance ride might not be long at all. (Ask me how I know. 🤦‍♀️🤪)

[sdlaura]

I’m not a regular poster on this board, but I’ve run MCM twice and it’s great! So fun to run around the monuments and across state lines and with marines cheering you on.

[scm1011]

After getting yet another rejection from the NYC Marathon this year I went ahead and signed up for MCM too Susie and brooke77, lets def revive Marathon Monday check-ins once we start training!! Anyone else running a fall full?

[campermom]

Mar 29, 2024 7:46:55 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

After getting yet another rejection from the NYC Marathon this year I went ahead and signed up for MCM too Susie and brooke77, lets def revive Marathon Monday check-ins once we start training!! Anyone else running a fall full?

I’d love this. I am running Richmond a 4th time this fall.

[scm1011]

Mar 30, 2024 14:18:35 GMT -5 campermom said:

Mar 29, 2024 7:46:55 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

After getting yet another rejection from the NYC Marathon this year I went ahead and signed up for MCM too Susie and brooke77, lets def revive Marathon Monday check-ins once we start training!! Anyone else running a fall full?

I’d love this. I am running Richmond a 4th time this fall.

Yay!!