When it comes to choosing a marathon or half marathon there are many things to consider. Every time I start looking for a new race I find myself considering the same handful of things. Depending on what is most important to you, the below factors may be weighted completely differently for you than for me, and that’s great! Figure out what matters the most to you, and choose your race based on that. Here are some guidelines on how to choose your next marathon (or half)!
Location
Location will most likely be a big deciding factor for your race. Do you want to travel? How far are you willing to go for a race? Or, are you looking for something close and/or driveable? These questions will greatly narrow down your race options. If you are willing to travel, that’s great! Maybe looking for a specific city, or region will help guide you. Always wanted to check out a certain national park? Maybe there’s a race in or around it!
Course
When looking into a race I always pull up the course map and elevation. This tells me what the terrain will be like (trail, road, or combo), plus how difficult the elevation is. Sometimes I want a downhill, fast race, thus I choose my marathon accordingly. If that doesn’t matter as much to you, then possibly the cool downtown start line will draw you in.
Obviously, the course should be a huge deciding factor because this is what you are paying for! You can run whenever you want, but a race is a special time when you run someplace different. This is the reason that people (like myself) pay the BIG BUCKS to run through Disney parks! It’s because we LOVE it!
If you want beautiful natural surroundings, even at the expense of some hills, there is a race for that too. Just figure out what appeals to you the most!
Crowd Support
Not all races are created equal when it comes to crowd support. And not all runners care about that aspect of a race. I’ve run minimal crowd-supported races, and very well-supported races, and they were both great in their own respects. I personally do not need a ton of crowd support, though I find it can be a really nice perk when you are having a rough day. For example, when I ran Boston I was having the WORST day of racing in my life, but the crowd really helped get me over the finish line. It is definitely something to consider!
After-Party/ Food
Something that will also help you finish a race is the food or after-party situation of a race! I won’t say it’s why I intend to race the Urban Bourbon Half this fall, but the rave reviews about the after-party make me a little more excited about it! Some races have tons of food, free drinks, and are known to be a good time at the finish. Usually, this isn’t very important to me, but it can be nice after a tough race to have some good eats to look forward to!
Event Size
Do you prefer a small local race? Or a huge event like the Rock’n’Roll races? This is another thing to consider when choosing a race, and it’s just personal preference. I’ve enjoyed both, large and small races, they all have their pros and cons. Larger races will typically have better expos, more after-party events, and more pacers. Smaller races have a less intimidating feel, more local runners, and a greater possibility of placing (if that matters to you). It’s just one more thing to consider!
Cost
This could easily be one of the first things you think about when signing up for a race. Some races are EXPENSIVE, so much so that they may deter you from running them. It’s a very valid thing to think about, and something that usually doesn’t stop me from running a race, but stings a little bit when I hit that register button. On the flip side, signing up for a cheaper race makes me feel very smart. 
Swag
Last but not least, some races have AMAZING swag! When I used to run in Austin the 3M Half Marathon always had the coolest, and most random, swag bag (lots of 3M products). For me, as long as I get a cool shirt and a medal I feel like it’s worth it. But the cooler the swag, the more appealing the race! Heck, some races give you a bottle of wine, now that is something I can get excited about!
Now Go Find Your Next Marathon!
Hopefully, these tips help you choose your next marathon (or half). Don’t forget to read all those race recaps, reviews, and race rating websites, but ultimately listen to your gut. I know I get stuck on race reviews and tend to put a lot of stock in what others are saying, but really your experience will be 100% your own. Just because one person had a bad day at a race doesn’t mean you will too. So yes, race reviews are helpful, but also make sure to do what sounds good to you! So go out there and find that next race and HAVE FUN! At the end of the day, that’s what this is all about, right?!
Once you pick that next race, what training program are you going to choose? Read all about the Garmin Coach training programs HERE!
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