I have shared that I have been looking for a marathon to run in 2009. I have spent about a month researching marathons which would fulfill the following criteria:
1) A fall marathon
2) Flat
3) Interesting for me to do.
Ok....clearly the third is optional. :-)
Because of my arthritis, I have to do a 32-week training plan. So as much as I would love to run Boston, it is in the Spring, too soon to train, and I haven't qualified.
So the list I formed were the following:
Chicago Marathon
Toronto Waterfront Marathon
New York Marathon
Fox Cities Marathon
Detroit Marathon
Portland Marathon
Here is how I narrowed it down.....
I would truly love to run New York, but at this point, I think it is a bit too hilly, especially at the start and at the finish in Central Park.
Fox Cities would be near cousins, and I think it would be a blast, but again, I saw one hill too many for this go around.
Portland Marathon would be lovely, but being the wimp I am, I worried I would be running in the rain, which is a possibility.
The 2007 Chicago Marathon still holds a bitter taste in my mouth. There will come a time where I feel I have unfinished business on that course, but that time is not 2009.
So I got it to the final two Detroit and Toronto.
Detroit is flat, and at one point goes below sea level. In fact you go under a tunnel, and have your underwater mile timed. Now who would not want that?
Toronto is along the shores of Lake Ontario, and the course elevation map looks like someone flat lined.
Detroit is in October. Toronto is at the end of September. Both are not mega-marathons. So no 100,000,000 runners on the course. Detroit's dips over to Canada and back. Toronto's is all in Canada. :-)
In the end though, I have decided to run the 2009 Toronto Waterfront Marathon! The course has good reviews. I like the allure of an international marathon. Of course I love the flat nature of the course. So now all I do is go over this with the doctor.
The race is September 27, so training will begin at the end of February, following the 32-week plan that has developed for me. I am so excited about this. I have a goal! Woo Hoo!
Of course I will be happy to finish. I still have hopes of a sub 6 hour marathon - same goal I had for Chicago. We will see what my hips have to say about all this.
Very excited and happy that I have made this decision.
Here is the course map ----
Charlie
7 comments:
Charlie, it looks like a really scenic course along the water. And now that you've picked it - its yours!
Have fun with the training, but take the build up slowly, you want to get to the start! Good Luck!
Hi Drusy....
Oh yes...the 32-week training plan is slow...and slow. :-) So there will be no quick ramp up of running.
Hope all is well with you. Happy Holidays!
Sounds like a lot of fun, close to my hometown of Buffalo, maybe I could do it too. Do you think it would be to close the Disney 2010 marathon that I have planned? I was thinking of doing the goofy (1/2 sat/full sun) challenge. I think a september marathon should give me enough time to recover by December. Let me know what you think.
Not sure if I am the right person to advise on that Toronto then the Goofy Challenge. I know I couldn't do it, but I know runners who bounce back very well to do stuff like that.
Hey, Charlie - my selfish side wishes you were doing the Portland marathon, because there'd be a better chance of my getting down there - but I think you'll like Toronto. While you're there, be sure to check out St. Lawrence Market (everybody knows where it is) and go somewhere for Dim Sum. Oh, there's lots to do in Toronto!
Toronto is one of my FAVORITE cities in the world. You'll have a blast! And if you're not careful, you might have some company. :O
Company? YES!!!!
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