The usual flurry of Boston-related news and posts this time of year has caused me to wonder: for
non-elite but serious marathoners--not a code for "fast," necessarily; rather, let's just say
runners who are dedicated to training and have run multiple marathons or have their ongoing training
pointed toward marathons--what are the most appealing marathons to you? Would be interested to hear
anyone's personal list of marathons they'd most like to run (or run again), and why. Maybe a top
three and bottom three if you're feeling creative. It will be some time before I can call myself
serious and probably will never be all that fast, but for now my wish and don't-wish list would be:
1. Boston, someday, but after reading recent threads I expect just qualifying and "being there" may
be the real thrills.
2. Marine Corps any year, don't think I'll ever tire of it
3. that ultramarathon in S.Africa that goes from one ocean to another has a strange appeal for me
don't wish list--nothing personal and I like the places and am sure they are great runs, but Marine
Corps Marathon gives me all the large-field thrills I can take:
4. New York
5. Chicago
6. Disney
I'm sure location will be a big deal for many; when I lived in New Orleans, that marathon had a
powerful appeal, now that I've run it once as a local and once as a visitor it will fade for me.
There are marathons I'd like to do someday for other reasons (the ones that go up--or-down--a
mountain, or through any European city, etc.). Although not either one of the polar-themed races. I
like my toes too much. -chris