Hey Chicago Marathon experts!..

Quoted message said:

A new year and my goal is to qualify for Boston. I am looking for
opinions on the corral system I see that is used in Chicago.. (I would
be in the "Preferred Start (I)" corral if I registered)

Strictly secondhand, but I've heard a lot of praise for the corrals at
Chicago from the fast guys who run it.

If you don't hear from the likes of Andy Hass here (not sure who else
around here has run Chicago), you're sure to get plenty of responses to
this question on letsrun.com

If you have a time that will get you in what they call "preferred start" at
Chicago, then you are home free. The COURSE is fast.

If not and you can't manage to move yourself into the low 3 hour corralls
then you are SOL. I've run Chicago, NYC, and Boston. Chicago
is by far the most crowded at the start and persists for the longest time.
Wall to wall people for 5 - 6 miles and then thinning to simply crowded.

Everyone there wants to cross the start line ahead of everyone else. NYC
has WIDE, multiple starts, BOSTON simply enforces their corralls with
the threat of execution.

Best bet for a BQ is somewhere else. Don't get me wrong though, Chicago
was a blast. I enjoyed it. Just would hate to have you build your year
around something that could slow you that's beyond your control.

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A new year and my goal is to qualify for Boston. I am looking for
opinions on the corral system I see that is used in Chicago.. (I would
be in the "Preferred Start (I)" corral if I registered)

I love the crowds of big marathons so I would love to qualify here..
but I hear lots of people say 'you don't run PBs at big marathons'..
This qualifier corral system looks appealing to me as it seems to
negate the problem of having to dodge around too many slower runners.

I would like to hear about runners experiences at Chicago and whether
they would recommend it or not.

Thanks!

Ian said:

A new year and my goal is to qualify for Boston. I am looking for
opinions on the corral system I see that is used in Chicago.. (I would
be in the "Preferred Start (I)" corral if I registered)

I love the crowds of big marathons so I would love to qualify here..
but I hear lots of people say 'you don't run PBs at big marathons'..
This qualifier corral system looks appealing to me as it seems to
negate the problem of having to dodge around too many slower runners.

I would like to hear about runners experiences at Chicago and whether
they would recommend it or not.

I've run Chicago 3 times. My fear of the crowds in Chicago made me
choose the Steamtown Marathon for a BQ. It is on the same date as the
Chicago Marathon. It is also a fast course, slightly downhill, about
30,000 fewer runners, great hometown atmosphere and personal service.

Reviews - http://tinyurl.com/bg5or
Home page - http://www.steamtownmarathon.com

--
Phil

"Phil M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I've run Chicago 3 times. My fear of the crowds in Chicago made me
choose the Steamtown Marathon for a BQ. It is on the same date as the
Chicago Marathon. It is also a fast course, slightly downhill, about
30,000 fewer runners, great hometown atmosphere and personal service.

I've never run a huge race, the largest probably being the Sporting
Life 10k in Toronto which had 5200+ finishers the year I ran it (04).
However, I have always found the bigger races to be good for
my own performance. There is always someone to run behind, or
a group to run in. I'd much rather have that option than running
alone and have to worry about pace judgement, wind, etc... but
I'm sure things change a lot when it's 30,000+ people.

cheers,
--
David Hirsh, director
www.urbanburn.com - half marathon, full throttle!
www.absolutelyaccurate.com - Hamilton's summer series!

Quoted message said:

I've never run a huge race, the largest probably being the Sporting
Life 10k in Toronto which had 5200+ finishers the year I ran it (04).
However, I have always found the bigger races to be good for
my own performance. There is always someone to run behind, or
a group to run in. I'd much rather have that option than running
alone and have to worry about pace judgement, wind, etc... but
I'm sure things change a lot when it's 30,000+ people.

The year I ran Steamtown there were 1,400 runners. At least at my pace you
have a choice of running with the pack or by yourself. The sub 3 runners
may be running alone much of the time. The last year I ran Chicago there
were only 15,000. Even then I thought it was way too crowded. Last year
there were 33,000 finishers. No thank you!

--
Phil M.

I ran Chicago in 2004. I had a preferred start. Took me 20 seconds
to cross the start line. Within a half-mile I was able to run in my
own "space". It was nice to always run with someone. The crowds
really lifted my spirits. Smaller marathons I usually end up alone
the last ten miles.

Jim

Ian said:

A new year and my goal is to qualify for Boston. I am looking for
opinions on the corral system I see that is used in Chicago.. (I would
be in the "Preferred Start (I)" corral if I registered)

I love the crowds of big marathons so I would love to qualify here..
but I hear lots of people say 'you don't run PBs at big marathons'..
This qualifier corral system looks appealing to me as it seems to
negate the problem of having to dodge around too many slower runners.

I would like to hear about runners experiences at Chicago and whether
they would recommend it or not.

Thanks!

Thanks for the info - I have already qualified for a 'preferred start
I' corral this past October at the Marine Corps marathon..

That race filled up in only 72 hours(!) - I know Chicago fills up much
slower than that, but even so, how long would you wait before
registering?
I could register today, but there is always risk of injury etc...(given
that registrations are not refundable/deferrable).

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:1136854751.088161.134240
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the info - I have already qualified for a 'preferred start
I' corral this past October at the Marine Corps marathon..

That race filled up in only 72 hours(!) - I know Chicago fills up much
slower than that, but even so, how long would you wait before
registering?
I could register today, but there is always risk of injury etc...

(given

Quoted message said:

that registrations are not refundable/deferrable).

I believe for Chicago, a person can wait until September to register. I
have run Chicago twice. Sure, there is many runners, but I like the
crowds. I don't like to run alone.