Recommendation for first Marathon
xcmum
Posts: 136
Trail or road?
I've run 1 Half Marathon (a local one) which was quite boring. The course went down and back up the same road.
They have a Marathon option but there's no way i wanna do that course again.
Maybe a mixture would suit me more?
What are your experiences with a Marathon distance and where they have been held?
I've run 1 Half Marathon (a local one) which was quite boring. The course went down and back up the same road.
They have a Marathon option but there's no way i wanna do that course again.
Maybe a mixture would suit me more?
What are your experiences with a Marathon distance and where they have been held?
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Replies
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Trail marathons are usually much harder than regular road marathons because of hills.
I would suggest finding a road marathon on a more interesting course. Maybe in a city you love or have always wanted to visit or along a beach, or somewhere else pretty.0 -
I agree with above. Trail running is significantly different from road running. I would suggest for your first full marathon that you do a road race and then progress to trail races. Travel somewhere close by (or far away!) for the experience, you definitely don't want a boring race!0
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My first marathon was a trail marathon. I knew going in that it would be vastly different than road running. It took me just under 7 hours to finish it. But I had a blast & loved it.0
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Look for point to point runs.0
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As people stated before, trails can be much different and much more difficult than road races. I don't know your level of fitness, but be sure to check out the elevation graphs for the course and make sure you can handle the hills. My first full marathon was very challenging (it was in SF) and the hills made a big difference (aside from also being my first full). But it was fantastic
No matter what you choose, I'm sure it will be very memorable!0 -
What do you enjoy more? Do you have ready access to trails for the training if you opt for a trail marathon? Do you have enough time to devote to training for trails?
If it were me, I'd do a road race first. I've done two full marathons and both had some off-road portions. The first one I'd characterized as some "unpaved" trails - while technically not a road surface, they were as close as you could get to being paved. Not technical, not hilly. The second marathon, while mostly paved, did have some significant hilly trail portions that kicked my butt (see my profile picture)! I did do a trail half marathon in preparation for this most recent full and I was more sore after the trail half than I was after the full. If you go for a trail, just make sure you can train on similar terrain!0 -
I've done both trail and road marathons. I started my running life on the road like most people but I now almost exclusively do trail races. You can do either as your first. It just depends on where you prefer to spend your time and money. Try and train as much as possible on conditions that simulate whatever course you end up deciding on. Some trail races can be brutally difficult so I tend to go more by perceived effort. I've walked up hills where my heart rate was pegged at above 80% of max.0
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Thanks for all your responses. I found a race which has little hills nothing major and is a winding road so i wont be able to see miles ahead. Plus it doesn't turn around halfway and come back to where you started from 0
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I love training on trails but running races on roads.
For me, my training runs are my time for me time so I like the peace and the scenery.
But I love road races because of the energy and the excitement of the people and the bystanders and the sights. I have done two trail races and they are very different creatures.
I don't know where you live but
East Coast:
Philly Marathon
Marine Corps Marathon
Shamrock
Middle:
Houston Marathon
RnR New Orleans (I just love NOLA period)
Arkansas has a HUGE medal
Flying Pig
Chicago
West Coast:
Big Sur
Seattle Marathon
Portland Marathon
These are all on my bucket list. Oh to have endless funds and unlimited time!0 -
Just to chime in with some of my favorites. I've run 9 marathons and enjoyed them all. For a first marathon I'd probably say Richmond. Really great race, not too big, not too small, not too flat, not too hilly.
For scenery it's hard to beat Crater Lake. Small marathon, but very difficult course because of the elevation and hills.
Big Sur is awesome, but fills up fast. I believe it is already sold out for next year.
Next year I'm going to try some trail marathons and ultras...I'll let you know after that what I like better!0
