Here’s a quick preview of some cool races coming up in October 2015. You still have a month to book travel and tweak your training plans to get into these races.
Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
Date: October 4, 2015
Marketed as “the most beautiful urban marathon in America,” the course runs from Minnesota Vikings Stadium to the State Capitol in St. Paul. Race organizers estimate 300,000 spectators will be cheering along the way.
Portland Marathon
Date: October 4, 2015
Hailed by Runner’s World as a fun, friendly and well-organized race. Portland hosts a fast Boston Qualifier each October. A great excuse to visit PDX in the fall, but I think I might hold out for Portland’s Naked Bike Ride.
Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon
Date: October 5, 2015
I’ve always dreamed of climbing Mt Everest. Running this marathon would be checking a top 5 off the bucket list. Billed as the worlds highest marathon, the website describes the course difficulty as “adventurous.” The start line sits at over 17,000 feet, so I definitely have a little more training to do.
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Date: October 11, 2015
The Windy City welcomes 45,000 runners from all 50 states and over 100 countries each year. The course is known for being flat, fast and an ideal place to BQ.
Steamtown Marathon
Date: October 11, 2015
Located in Scranton, PA (yes, The Office) the Steamtown Marathon has a net drop of 955 feet! For obvious reasons, this race is consistently ranked as one of the fastest marathons in the US.
Nike Women’s Half Marathon
Date: October 18, 2015
The San Francisco Women’s Half attracts 25,000 female runners and is one of the largest women’s half marathons in the world. In case you didn’t know, they give out really classy Tiffany & Co. necklaces at the end of the race.
Marine Corps Marathon
Date: October 25, 2015
Dubbed the “People’s Marathon” because it doesn’t offer any prize money, the Marine Corps Marathon once sold out in two hours and 27 minutes. They now use a lottery system to distribute bibs to over 30,000 participants. The course is chock full of Marines who cheer runners on and place the finishing medals around their necks.