Big Five Marathons

SheRuns

Is anyone out there aiming to run the "Big Five" marathons (Berlin, London, Boston, Chicago, New York)?

Peckham

Yep - two down (London, Berlin) and three to go.

Plan is Boston 2012 (as my qualifying time should be good for then), and then NYC and Chicago at some stage over the next 5 years.

ThePiedPiper

Yes, I'm planning this too.. 3 down so far, Berlin, Boston and New York. Atmosphere in Boston and New York was outstanding. Coming off the Queensboro Bridge onto Manhattan is one of my all time favourite running moments.

I'll maybe try and get into London 2012. The ballot for 2011 was closed in less than a day as far as I remember so I'll have the finger out for the 2012 ballot. Chicago looks like a fantastic race to do too. I'll have to save up for a bit to take Mrs Forest with me I'd imagine! :rolleyes:

ecoli

Throw in 2 more ( Rotterdam + Paris) and you have my Big 7 targets for when i move up to the distance (for now happy plugging away at 5k-HM times:D)

liamo123

ecoli wrote: »

Throw in 2 more ( Rotterdam + Paris) and you have my Big 7 targets for when i move up to the distance (for now happy plugging away at 5k-HM times:D)

U might as well throw the Conn Ultra in to make a nice even 8

Krusty_Clown

Yep. I've done Berlin and Berlin. Will do NY in a months time. Hope to do Chicago next year, Boston the year after and London the year after. Then it will be 2014,and I don't know what I'll do then. Start over?

SheRuns

Are they the most popular or what? Are they particularly good races is it just because they are hard to get into?

Krusty_Clown

They are known as the marathon majors and are part of a specific league/series. They are also known (not necessarily fairly) as the larger and better marathons, though most of us will have run a marathon which has been a superior experience to a marathon major. Some are hard to get into unless you have a good for age time (London, New York), others need a qualifying time (Boston) and for others, all you need to do is sign up on time (Berlin and Chicago).

run_Forrest_run

ecoli wrote: »

Throw in 2 more ( Rotterdam + Paris) and you have my Big 7 targets for when i move up to the distance (for now happy plugging away at 5k-HM times:D)

I'll never know why Paris never gets the same mention as the likes of London and Berlin. Paris is a great marathon with excellent support along the route and what a city to run around...oh, and I've done it twice

Peckham

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

I'll never know why Paris never gets the same mention as the likes of London and Berlin. Paris is a great marathon with excellent support along the route and what a city to run around...oh, and I've done it twice

That's one of the few positive things I've heard about Paris - previously it's been noted to me that it has shambolic organisation and a city that treats it as a major inconvenience. But I guess you've got first had experience!

run_Forrest_run

Peckham wrote: »

That's one of the few positive things I've heard about Paris - previously it's been noted to me that it has shambolic organisation and a city that treats it as a major inconvenience. But I guess you've got first had experience!

the first year I found it to be well organised, the second year there were issues at the starting line, they had too many barriers up and not enough entry points so people were climbing the 8ft barriers prior to running a marathon, not ideal I'll admit.

The Parisians treat most things as an inconvenience, I wouldn't worry about them:D

ThePiedPiper

The lack of adequate toilet facilities at the start in Paris is a complete shambles. I waited in line for 45 minutes to go to a portaloo. There were still hundreds of people waiting to go with 5 minutes to go to the start of the race!! In Berlin, Boston and New York, the toilet facilities are infinitely better.

As well as that, the course is very pooly marshelled in places in Paris. At the halfway distance, the crowd had come so much onto the road that there was probably only ten feet of road left to run on. This was when I was on 3 hour pace, so I can only imagine what it was like 20-30 minutes after that.

I do however think that Paris is a fantastic marathon to run. It's a beautiful city and the course is fairly flat. It does not though have the level of organisation of the majors from what I've experienced so far.

HardyEustace

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

the first year I found it to be well organised, the second year there were issues at the starting line, they had too many barriers up and not enough entry points so people were climbing the 8ft barriers prior to running a marathon, not ideal I'll admit.

The Parisians treat most things as an inconvenience, I wouldn't worry about them:D

Sorry, but I have to say I HATED Paris. The support was rubbish and why on earth do they make you slog through an empty park for the last few miles. And those manky, stuffy underpasses. And getting ripped off with bad, slow service and bad, expensive food everywhere we went.

And we came to a complete STOP at the first two water stations due to congestion.

Berlin is million, billion times better. It kicks Paris's arse. Finishing up that long stretch to the Brandenburg gates with people cheering for the last mile .... you can't beat it. You get to feel like a rock star!

Izoard

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Yep. I've done Berlin and Berlin. Will do NY in a months time. Hope to do Chicago next year, Boston the year after and London the year after. Then it will be 2014,and I don't know what I'll do then. Start over?

Some serious marathoning in a short space of time (Berlin/DCM/NYC).

What's your goal for NYC? - 6 days on from DCM right?

I did this a few years ago - DCM on the Monday (3.38), followed by NYC on the Sunday. Wheels came off big time on the Queensboro Bridge, limping to a 4.03 finish - thankfully, finished ahead of P.Diddy:D but was a very hard day out.

sideswipe

Anybody any experience of the San Francisco marathon? I've always thought it's one I'd love to do as It's one of my favorite places to visit.

Krusty_Clown

Izoard wrote: »

Some serious marathoning in a short space of time (Berlin/DCM/NYC).
What's your goal for NYC? - 6 days on from DCM right?

Nah, nearly two weeks, and I have no plans to race either of the next two, Dublin will be a nice leisurely 3:15, and I might try and nip in under the three hour mark in NYC, if the body feels ok, but NYC is all about the experience and the fun!

--amadeus--

Peckham wrote: »

That's one of the few positive things I've heard about Paris - previously it's been noted to me that it has shambolic organisation and a city that treats it as a major inconvenience. But I guess you've got first had experience!

Personally I think it depends on where you are in teh pack and why you're there. It claims to have more sub 3 finishers than any other marathon so it's clearly a quick course and I think those at the head of teh field (say 2:45 - 3:15) where there are smaller numbers probably enjoy it more than the mid pack. The year I ran it I was aiming at sub 4 and missed it by seconds (a recurring theme in my running career) and that was purely down to the congestion - lots of teh course is narrow and there were frequently sections where I had to slow down as teh way in front was blocked by teh volume of runners.

That said if time isn't your thing then it's a great experience - wine, cider and beer were provided at some of teh rest stops and for teh ladies there were Parisien firemen dousing people with hoses so it has some charms!

Izoard

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

...I might try and nip in under the three hour mark in NYC

You make sub 3 sound pretty leisurely:)

Good luck with it, you'll have a blast.

opus

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

I'll never know why Paris never gets the same mention as the likes of London and Berlin. Paris is a great marathon with excellent support along the route and what a city to run around...oh, and I've done it twice

HardyEustace wrote: »

Sorry, but I have to say I HATED Paris. The support was rubbish and why on earth do they make you slog through an empty park for the last few miles. And those manky, stuffy underpasses. And getting ripped off with bad, slow service and bad, expensive food everywhere we went.

And we came to a complete STOP at the first two water stations due to congestion.

Hmmm I was half thinking of an April marathon next year & Paris was top of my list. Lots of different experiences it seems.

RayCun

opus wrote: »

Hmmm I was half thinking of an April marathon next year & Paris was top of my list. Lots of different experiences it seems.

And it seems that Forrest just can't make up his mind...

In the Woods

Did Paris this year and with only Dublin and Connemara to compare it to, I really enjoyed Paris. It helped that I got a PB, but I enjoyed the whole experience. Probably wouldn't do it again though as I feel I've done it now and there's plenty of other spring marathons to do (London 2011).

Woundedknee.

opus wrote: »

Hmmm I was half thinking of an April marathon next year & Paris was top of my list. Lots of different experiences it seems.

Have your own experience.

liamo123

opus wrote: »

Hmmm I was half thinking of an April marathon next year & Paris was top of my list. Lots of different experiences it seems.

Opus why not join us in Barcelona for marathon on 6th March..Ran it last year and doing so again..Nice course, lovely city, and reasonably priced...Lots of Boardies going there next year..

Just after getting return flights for OH with Ryanair for 67.98..

Krusty_Clown

Izoard wrote: »

You make sub 3 sound pretty leisurely:)

You missed the emphasis on the word 'try'! I've never blown up in a marathon before, so this could be the ideal opportunity. No pressure, lots of pubs around.

I'd love to pace a sub-3 marathon sometime, so this could be an ideal opportunity to see if I'm able. But I'm 100% there for the fun.

opus

liamo123 wrote: »

Opus why not join us in Barcelona for marathon on 6th March..Ran it last year and doing so again..Nice course, lovely city, and reasonably priced...Lots of Boardies going there next year..

Just after getting return flights for OH with Ryanair for 67.98..

I was tempted but think a marathon in April suits me better. A friend of mine's parents have a flat in Paris so if it turns out that I can stay there then I'll go for it.

village runner

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

You missed the emphasis on the word 'try'! I've never blown up in a marathon before, so this could be the ideal opportunity. No pressure, lots of pubs around.

I'd love to pace a sub-3 marathon sometime, so this could be an ideal opportunity to see if I'm able. But I'm 100% there for the fun.

This time last year you hadnt broken 3. Now you want to pace it.;););)

dizzymom

I have done 9marathons and one of the big five NEW YORK
nothing will ever compare to it, it the holy grail of marathons, its so epic, it goes thru the 5 boroughs and the crowd is spectacular thru out and it somethings 20 people think. It humbled me when i saw people without limbs finishing this marathon.

I would love to do London soon but its so hard to get a place.
I plan to do the other 4 in the next 5 years!

Krusty_Clown

village runner wrote: »

This time last year you hadnt broken 3. Now you want to pace it.;););)

That was 7 marathons ago. Time flies when you're having fun.

village runner

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

That was 7 marathons ago. Time flies when you're having fun.

List them for me.
Dublin
Baraclona
Limerick
Connemara ulta
That 30 miler in training
Miss anything ?
I thought i was mad.

Woddle

village runner wrote: »

List them for me.
Dublin
Baraclona
Limerick
Connemara ulta
That 30 miler in training
Miss anything ?
I thought i was mad.

I think he has Berlin x2 and Longford

Krusty_Clown

Yeah, I was counting a couple of. Berlins and the bogtrotter marathon/ultra. A bit of poetic license applied! If all goes to plan, I'll have done 7 by the end of 2010, though multi-marathon was never a goal. I just enjoy running marathons.

I'm in New York at the moment. Had I known I'd be here two weeks before NYC marathon, I don't think I'd be heading back in two weeks time.

Cork boie

ah yes ....paris in ze spring time....did it 2008 and it was very enjoyable, fanatstic sights as you slog along and great crowds.....would defo recommend. As for big 5, ive done chicago, berlin, and boston come april...then its all out to bag the last two!!!

HavingCrack

sideswipe wrote: »

Anybody any experience of the San Francisco marathon? I've always thought it's one I'd love to do as It's one of my favorite places to visit.

No experience of it but I'd imagine there could be an awful lot of hills