Help me find a fun half-marathon!
September 25, 2010 11:23 PM Subscribe
My friend and I are looking for a half marathon to run together in February.
She lives in Idaho, I'm in Southern California. We'd like to make a weekend out of it, so preferably it'd take place in a city that's got enough to keep us busy the whole weekend. I'd like the race to be big enough that it feels like an event, but not too overcrowded. Someplace with mild weather and in the western portion of the USA (and if we can get away with it, a relatively flat course) would be ideal.
She lives in Idaho, I'm in Southern California. We'd like to make a weekend out of it, so preferably it'd take place in a city that's got enough to keep us busy the whole weekend. I'd like the race to be big enough that it feels like an event, but not too overcrowded. Someplace with mild weather and in the western portion of the USA (and if we can get away with it, a relatively flat course) would be ideal.
You could try the Cowtown Half-Marathon in Fort Worth, TX.
http://www.cowtownmarathon.org/
The course itself has a few hills, but it's nothing too bad. Unfortunately, I don't have an elevation map link to post as well.
When I ran it in 2009, there were a couple thousand runners in that race.
If you're worried about stuff to keep you busy, well, it's in the fourth most populous metro area on the US, so you should be able to find something you like (unless you have your heart set on snowboarding, it's pretty rare for us to get enough snow to make a snowman, let alone enough to snowboard).
Logistically speaking, there should be direct flights from southern California to DFW airport, and there may likely be some from Idaho to DFW as well.
posted by AMSBoethius at 11:52 PM on September 25, 2010
http://www.cowtownmarathon.org/
The course itself has a few hills, but it's nothing too bad. Unfortunately, I don't have an elevation map link to post as well.
When I ran it in 2009, there were a couple thousand runners in that race.
If you're worried about stuff to keep you busy, well, it's in the fourth most populous metro area on the US, so you should be able to find something you like (unless you have your heart set on snowboarding, it's pretty rare for us to get enough snow to make a snowman, let alone enough to snowboard).
Logistically speaking, there should be direct flights from southern California to DFW airport, and there may likely be some from Idaho to DFW as well.
posted by AMSBoethius at 11:52 PM on September 25, 2010
Maybe too East, but Disney Princess is the last Sunday in February, and is great fun.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:31 AM on September 26, 2010
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:31 AM on September 26, 2010
New Orleans Rock & Roll Marathon, February 13: Link
posted by SugarFreeGum at 6:46 AM on September 26, 2010
posted by SugarFreeGum at 6:46 AM on September 26, 2010
They haven't announced the 2011 date, but I ran the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon in San Francisco last February and enjoyed it. The weather is certainly mild here, and there's definitely enough to entertain you for a weekend.
It's not an iconic huge race like the Nike Women's Marathon in October (40,000 people) or the SF Marathon, but there's about 10,000 people signed up for the different races, and the route goes through Golden Gate Park and along Great Highway near the ocean. It's a flat course too.
posted by soleiluna at 7:49 AM on September 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's not an iconic huge race like the Nike Women's Marathon in October (40,000 people) or the SF Marathon, but there's about 10,000 people signed up for the different races, and the route goes through Golden Gate Park and along Great Highway near the ocean. It's a flat course too.
posted by soleiluna at 7:49 AM on September 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
Perhaps a bit too far east as well, but the Scenic City Half in Chattanooga TN is in Feb. "Mild" weather depends on your definition...it was definitely cool at the start, but warmed a bit as the sun came up* .
posted by jquinby at 7:51 AM on September 26, 2010
posted by jquinby at 7:51 AM on September 26, 2010
* - Mrs. q ran this as her first half. I don't run, but the course looked interesting and it was very well supported.
posted by jquinby at 7:53 AM on September 26, 2010
posted by jquinby at 7:53 AM on September 26, 2010
Check out www.active.com I have found a few runs listed there that I hadn't even heard of in our area.
posted by MsKim at 8:36 AM on September 26, 2010
posted by MsKim at 8:36 AM on September 26, 2010
I will 2nd the Kaiser Half in SF. Be aware that it is generally scheduled for superbowl sunday, which i guess could be an issue for some people.
posted by juliapangolin at 8:41 AM on September 26, 2010
posted by juliapangolin at 8:41 AM on September 26, 2010
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http://arizona.competitor.com/
(sorry can't link from my phone right now)
posted by dogwalker at 11:48 PM on September 25, 2010