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[Posting on behalf of /u/Percinho who is busy trying on his new tri suit that he got on Black Friday sale]
Define scenic? Right now I’m debating next fall’s marathon (I know I’m planning super far out it’s what I do) so currently I’m thinking between duke city, twin cities, Richmond (VA), Detroit, Baltimore and Steamtown for next fall. Twin and duke I would have to fly to but I have friends that live there so I might be able to wrangle free lodging not sure about lodging for the rest though, but I’m not closed to considering other fall marathons for next year.
Baltimore is a 50-50 risk of being HECKIN’ HOT. And cool if you live here, but not scenic.
I hear Steamtown is pretty.
Have you thought about Wineglass? Haven’t run it, hear great things about the course and organization.
I do have that flagged as a NY option but for some reason it’s not on my radar for next year.
I do 100% have to do steamtown as my PA race because of my namesake (I promise to sing to song to everyone as I roll down the hill) plus my partner does like trains so we can visit the historic park.
The nice thing with Baltimore is I could take the train there, no driving or flying! And I would get a crab medal to go with my lobster claw medal from this year.
If you want to double-up on crab medals, you can do King Crab. Frederick+Baltimore 10+Baltimore Running Festival.
Frederick could get you the squirrel medal for the Nut Job Challenge too! More animal medals!
I was considering the Chessie Challenge, but that’s Baltimore and Ocean City both in October. Not sure I could do marathons that close together.
But then you have to do B10 and potentially die in the heat.
One day I will go back and get revenge on that race because I really like the course.
If you come to Baltimore I will come cheer for ya!
I will certainly let you know if I choose that one! Also if I do I will require some coffee and croissant recommendations!
Ditto about Baltimore. I have no croissant recommendations but I can point you to some really good duck fat fries.
I have no idea how those are different from regular fries but I’m in for it after the race though.
I am now confused though as to if you two are trying to talk me into or out of Baltimore.
Run Baltimore if you like hills, you have decent heat tolerance, you want a really cool medal, and you would like food and drink recommendations from two locals who will come out and scream your Reddit handle in the name of “support.” Skip it if you will be sad if it turns out to be hot and humid, or if you value having scenery as opposed to a tour of the city.
Duck fat fries are so much more delicious than regular fries, by the way.
I did sign up for a Georgia race in June and it’s significantly less hilly than where I live so I’m not too worried about those first points, I will definitely do Baltimore at some point it’s just a question of which of the next ten years, I like mixing and matching between my city and scenic races so I’m fine with the city tour experience of racing as well.
Duke City is a cool one. The weather in ABQ in the fall is about as perfect as it gets for running, but the altitude is a bitch if you’re not ready for it. Parts of this city are higher than Denver.
With that one I would fly out a week early to acclimate and would definitely depend on my friend being willing to put up with me visiting for an entire week to save cost, but I’m a sign up early person and I feel if I ask them now they will probably say something about it being too far away to know yet so it would be a gamble on the lodging costs.
Having done a marathon where I had to travel, I would not recommend it unless it’s a bucket list type race. Sleeping in a hotel is poor sleep to me so recovery sucks. And it’s expensive on top of that.
I almost never struggle with sleeping in a hotel, and I’ve already worked the costs into my budget as long as I stay away from the stupid expensive ones like Disney, so none of those are factors to me , plus doing a race in every state challenge means that those are gonna happen.
I live in Baltimore and obviously love it but I think other races on your list are more scenic. I don’t know the course but Richmond as a city is sooo cute and certainly worth a visit.