10 Things to Think About When Choosing Your First Marathon
If you are thinking about running your first marathon, there are several things to consider when choosing which race to run.
- Time of Year - You should pick a date range that is at least 4-6 months out and during a time of year when the temperatures are between 45-55 F (7-13 C).
- Location - For your first marathon, you should select a location within driving distance of your home. Try to avoid the logistics challenge of staying overnight in a hotel and/or flying to your first marathon.
- Flat/Downhill Course - Pick a course where you can run a fast time and the hills won’t wear out your legs.
- Water/Gel Stops - Make sure that the race is well supported, ideally with water stops every mile and at least a couple of gel stops.
- Chip Timing - Make sure that the race has chip timing, ideally with timing pads at the Start, Finish, and every 5K in between.
- Size - For your first marathon, you might want to select a smaller race. Fighting thousands of people for a spot in line for the porta-potty is not a lot of fun.
- Spectators - Pick a course where there are supportive crowds and your family and friends can cheer you on.
- Scenery - Pick a course that has some scenic views. It makes the race much more enjoyable and memorable.
- Qualifying/Registration - Pick a race that doesn’t require a qualifying time and that is easy to get into.
- Deferral Policy - Make sure that you can defer your race until the next year or switch to a half marathon or shorter race, if your marathon training doesn’t go well or you get injured.
The best place to look for marathons to run is the Marathon Guide website. Take a look at their calendar for the time period you are interested in and see if there are any races near you, then check out the details of those races to see if they meet your criteria.
Are you planning to run your first marathon? What races are you considering and why? Tell me in the comments.
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