The Best Marathons to Set a New Personal Best in 2025

Coach Ruiari [00:00:00]: Maybe you haven't nailed down your calendar and you're you're trying to pick up some events to really get that PRBQ. I would say, typically, I think you have 2 really good targets each year where you can just run all out, swing for the fences. Definitely have one on your calendar that gets you excited and amped, and that's gonna really help improve training.

Cory Nagler [00:00:25]: The new year is just getting started, but now's the time to start thinking about races if you have goals to set new PR's in 2025. It sounds early to register in January for the spring or even the fall, but lots of popular races can fill up months in advance. Plus, signing up early will help to map out your training, so you can peek at the right time for race day. That's why I brought on coach Rory, and we're giving you our top picks for marathons to set a new personal best. He'll be damned, because the focus today is fast and flat courses that will help you shave off those extra few seconds or minutes. We'll get into the factors that make a marathon fast, and then chat through the best options within the US and internationally. There's too many great options out there to cover in a 1 hour podcast, but the races we mention are some of the best out there. So let's get into it.

Cory Nagler [00:01:20]: Hello, runners, and welcome to the Run to the Top podcast, where our goal is making you a better runner with each and every episode. Episode. I'm your showrunner, Corey Nagler. And I'm not an elite runner, but together, we'll explore new strategies and topics to take your running to the next level. This podcast is created and produced by the expert team of coaches at runnersconnect.net, where you can find the best running information on the Internet as well as training plans to fit every runner and every budget. Rory, it's good to see you, man. As we're recording this, we're right at the end of the summer just before New Year's, last recording of 2024. How are you feeling?

Coach Ruiari [00:01:59]: Hey. I'm feeling good. Little tired from, you know, the holiday get togethers and travels, hosting people, stuff like that. But overall, gonna get energized and looking for a comeback in 2025. I know you're you might be in a different frame of mind coming off your big PR and recovering. So how about you?

Cory Nagler [00:02:22]: Yeah. I mean, it was exciting to to run a PR. And, for for those who haven't heard on other shows, I I read Valencia, which was December, so pretty recent for me. So feeling good on that, but, yeah, just hoping to to build on that and and stay healthy, which I'd imagine is probably a a goal for you as well in 25.

Coach Ruiari [00:02:40]: For sure. Hey. When you run that fast, I think it should just be in your tagline bio. You can start off off every podcast with that if you want.

Cory Nagler [00:02:49]: Just throw it out there on every podcast. Hey. I'm a 2 20 x, YouTuber. Like, all the what do they do in, like, the reels where that's in the thumbnail? Yep.

Coach Ruiari [00:02:59]: You know it.

Cory Nagler [00:03:04]: Well, I do love running fast marathons. I hope to run more. And that's kind of our theme today is just finding the right races in 2025 or other years to PR. So you have a few in mind?

Coach Ruiari [00:03:16]: Love it. I could talk about it all day. Which ones do I have in mind? Let's see. Yeah. We'll definitely, like, break all these races down, but just one I'll I'll point out at the top because it's, you know, being from Arizona, it was announced recently that it's back as the Marathon Project in Chandler, Arizona, which is basically, like, fast race course. It's a multi loop race. I believe it was, like, 10 k ish loops, and they modify one of them. Anyway, it's been 5 years since they've had that race, and I got to attend in person and watch Sarah Hall win it in what was the 2nd fastest marathon time for women at that during that year.

Coach Ruiari [00:04:01]: So, yeah, really pancake flat course, and we can talk about what factors make a marathon fast, but that's one that's honestly intriguing me right in my backyard. Proximity is nice too. So on my radar. Rory,

Cory Nagler [00:04:17]: we've got to come back to that one, partially because, yeah, it's a super flat fast marathon. They have a bajillion different paces to help you to PR. But the sheer cost of it is mind boggling. What is it? Like, 500 US dollars? 700?

Coach Ruiari [00:04:31]: Oh, I think it's up there. Yeah. It's a few few hundred for sure, closer to that. I don't know if there's some incentives or if they help out some of the athletes, but it's a lot.

Cory Nagler [00:04:44]: Maybe we can get into a chat about, which is more worth your money to PR, the the Evo Pro, Adidas Super Shoes, or getting into to the marathon project where you have somebody pacing you.

Coach Ruiari [00:04:55]: Yeah. Either way, and then end up dropping a lot of money. So for for some people it's worth it.

Cory Nagler [00:05:03]: Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Definitely. That that PR feeling is hard to beat. So if you're craving that before we get into more specific races, what should you even look for a race? How do you know if a race is is fast or if it's suitable for your goals?

Coach Ruiari [00:05:18]: You know, I I don't know. I always go by this, but I would say if if you hear one come up a lot, the people talking about hype, sometimes the hype is real. You know? For the the major ones that all come to mind, Chicago, Valencia, those ones. I mean, that's for a reason. But in in terms of some factors, the number one thing or the top two things I'm thinking about would be terrain and, like, weather, which can tie into time of year. Right? So for me, I lean towards the fall winter marathons. I guess, technically, they'd most of them would all be fall, depending when they fall in December. But a lot of the ones I like are in December, and then they're flat, but they have some undulation to the terrain.

Coach Ruiari [00:06:10]: Right? A pancake flat course, which I did mention that one in Chandler, that's happening. There can be some problems with that too, because if you have any weaknesses, you're just gonna have that same repetition. And, you know, I've had athletes and myself where I've just had different aches and pains that hurt worse, and cramping because you're not getting variation with the muscle groups that you're using.

Cory Nagler [00:06:34]: Rory, this is how I know you live in a dramatically different climate for me. Because until Valencia, I'd never run a marathon after October, let alone December.

Coach Ruiari [00:06:44]: That's true. Where I'm at and close to the desert, we actually the race season is really picking up. It's hot right now. You know? It's like November to February is a great time to race, especially in the Phoenix area southwest. So

Cory Nagler [00:07:00]: Yeah. I'll bet. Is it is it February or is it July when we often do our running retreats in Arizona?

Coach Ruiari [00:07:07]: And then we do the running retreat. Big difference is in Flagstaff in July. So that's more of like a Denver climate since we're high up and gonna be a lot cooler. It can can still be hot in the sun, direct sun. But, yeah, overall, I'd say if you're going lower elevation here, yeah, surprisingly, there's great race options in December, and then internationally too. You know? Obviously, you did Valencia. So I don't know. Did you wanna touch on those those other factors? Like, I mentioned surface terrain.

Coach Ruiari [00:07:41]: Are there any other factors that come to mind for you when picking a fast marathon?

Cory Nagler [00:07:46]: I think there's a few just to finish off on surface terrain. Are you meaning purely flat? Are there other things you wanna consider there?

Coach Ruiari [00:07:55]: Yeah. Definitely. You know, the type of pavement can make a difference. Paris is pretty flat. Right? But I know don't they have cobblestone sections and different kind of terrain like that? So that's something to to keep in mind. I don't know too many of these really fast ones that have gravel mixed in, but I've heard of that. You know? Maybe those downhill revel races, which we could touch on as well. They have some they start you up high, and they have some gravel sections before you hit the pavement.

Coach Ruiari [00:08:28]: So but for the most part, I don't know. You don't want, like, beat up rundown roads, which I've experienced too.

Cory Nagler [00:08:36]: Yeah. Is there one that comes to mind with a lot of beat up roads?

Coach Ruiari [00:08:38]: Oh. Man, I don't wanna put my hometown on blast. I think Fargo just had a couple. Fargo, North Dakota, it was more a result of flooding, which we can also, touch on as well. This is actually very flat fast course being in the Great Plains. However, there's some issues due to flooding. This year, the course was changed, and it had somewhere in the ballpark of, like, a 150 turns because we had to reroute. The river had covered up some main main roads, and there's still some closures, so we had to kind of do a lot of cul de sacs and neighborhoods and just kill some miles in there and stay on this one part of town.

Coach Ruiari [00:09:23]: And then also related to the flooding, and then also the harsh winters it creates, you know, I'm sure you get that in Canada too. You get a lot of potholes, and the roads that look nice in the summer look beat up, come spring after the winter. So there's just a few sections where in the super shoes, you know, if you really wanna go fast, then you gotta watch yourself. You can roll an ankle, and I almost did in a couple spots. So Yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:09:50]: I think that's something to consider if you're wearing high stack super shoes, especially, you know, some of the more outlandish ones like the Primaxes. If there's a lot of hairpin turns, that's gonna affect you.

Coach Ruiari [00:10:00]: And, and then also there being in the great plains, one weather factor that I think about a lot is wind. Wind will really derail the race. It could be the fastest course, and if you have that wind switch directions, it's not at your back. I mean, I had that happen at Houston on the back part of the course that's in January, very fast course. And as you got into the city, the windows almost kinda funneled through the building. So it was really frustrating to see just 10 to 15 seconds added on to my mile pace, and I was just putting forth the same effort. I don't know if you've had that in some races.

Cory Nagler [00:10:39]: Oh, yeah. I I did one that actually ended up being okay this fall in Georgina, which is kind of cottage country just outside of Toronto. But, luckily, it was an out and back, so at least you had the wind at your back for half of it. But we had gust up to, like, 60 kilometers an hour, or sort of in the ballpark of, like, 35, 40 miles an hour. So it's certainly enough that you would really feel it. Yeah. Yeah.

Coach Ruiari [00:11:03]: Is there a point during that type of race where you just if you're going for a PR, you kinda shift your mindset?

Cory Nagler [00:11:10]: So it's it's funny you bring this up, because this was a half marathon for me. So I think there was a point kind of 3 to 5 miles into the race where the gusts were really bad, when I was kind of already shifting in that mindset of, you know, I'm off pace. This is really tough. It's probably not a PR day, but just keep with it. You're fit enough to still run a good effort. That'll give you confidence. But I kept rolling with it. And after I got around that churn, it just felt so good with the tailwind at my back.

Cory Nagler [00:11:39]: And it wasn't a huge PR, but it ended up still being an okay day. So I I think sometimes, you know, be prepared for the weather. Don't be afraid to adjust your goals, but, also, you know, don't be afraid to push it a little.

Coach Ruiari [00:11:51]: Yeah. That's a good point. I'm glad that one worked out. Do they have a full marathon there?

Cory Nagler [00:11:56]: They do. Yeah. And it it actually caused some logistical challenges too because they have a marathon that starts at the same time ordinarily, but they actually started at 5 minutes earlier this year.

Coach Ruiari [00:12:08]: They were

Cory Nagler [00:12:08]: kinda weaving around marathoners the the first half if you were doing the half marathon.

Coach Ruiari [00:12:14]: Yeah. And this might be a case where I'd I'd just point out to people when you're picking a race, I would always talk to someone who's done it, and maybe done it in the last year or 2. You know, maybe they did it 5 to 10 years ago, and things change, they tweak the course, the start times. Those things can really make a difference if you're picking one solely to run a PR, EQ, or something else.

Cory Nagler [00:12:37]: Yeah. Other people you've talked to will have a good sense of the course and the weather and all the other factors that impact it. Also, I'll I'll say when it comes to weather, I think people obsess a little in the days leading up to it. But one thing to check is even before you sign up with the historical weather. If you look at the past sort of 2 to 4 race days, you can kind of get a sense of what it typically is and how much variation. And I always look for 3 things. 1, what's the temperature? 2, how much wind are you going to see? And 3, how often is there precipitation? A little drizzle is not gonna impact you, but if there's a downpour, that's gonna be tough. And if you look at something like a Boston, you're gonna see a ton of variation, and you'll see some tough weather conditions going back over a few years.

Cory Nagler [00:13:19]: Whereas one of the reasons I picked Valencia is, you know, it's a fast course, but also the weather is pretty consistent year over year. Like, you're always getting that sort of 8 to 15 degrees sunny, clear little wind, which is exactly what you want come race day.

Coach Ruiari [00:13:35]: Yeah. Exactly. I mean, you might hear about the one bad year that they ran it, but if that's not the trend, I wouldn't be too worried about that. But, yeah, Valencia and then I think CIM has the most consistent weather that I've seen when checking the trends.

Cory Nagler [00:13:53]: Yeah. I should also say when I say 8 to 15, I'm talking Celsius. So more in the ballpark of, I guess, kinda 45 to 55 Fahrenheit.

Coach Ruiari [00:14:02]: Got it. We'll we'll try to go back and forth with those numbers. I think I wrote kinda half and half with talking about meters as well. But Yeah. Just so we we knock out the the remaining factors that we might be thinking about. Do you wanna just touch on or both of us can do it? The other things that came to mind were logistics and then the the race vibe, the crowds, competition, stuff like that.

Cory Nagler [00:14:28]: Yeah. I think the other one that I wanted to bring up is sort of, how many people you're likely to have running with you. So, like, if they have pace groups that's big or just if you think there's gonna be people running at your pace. And that's often sometimes a trade off with the logistics piece because oftentimes a race close to you, you're not gonna have time zone changes or or travel. But if there's fewer people in the race, you might also not have as many people to run with or as many crowds cheering you on.

Coach Ruiari [00:14:54]: Yeah. Yeah. That's a good point. I kinda it's harder to find, but I like those medium sized marathons.

Cory Nagler [00:15:05]: Yeah. I'm with you.

Coach Ruiari [00:15:06]: And if you're going through super fast times. I was

Cory Nagler [00:15:09]: gonna say one other factor that maybe people don't think of as much, but the timing and logistics specific to your personal lifestyle. And what I mean

Coach Ruiari [00:15:18]: by that is Oh, yes.

Cory Nagler [00:15:20]: Say you're somebody who works in retail, you probably don't wanna do a race right around Black Friday because it's gonna be crazy. So knowing that it's not close to weddings or major work periods is gonna just take away a lot of the stress in your training.

Coach Ruiari [00:15:37]: I yeah. I totally get that. I had some some athletes do the this one's gonna come up. The how do you say it? Keawah? Is it the Keawah? Keawah in South Carolina?

Cory Nagler [00:15:48]: I think coach, Michael who did it pronounced it Kauai. Does that sound right?

Coach Ruiari [00:15:52]: Kauai?

Cory Nagler [00:15:53]: Kiwa? I don't know. I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't even try.

Coach Ruiari [00:15:57]: Then I'm thinking of Hawaii for some reason. Anyway, he's probably right. Kauai, because, South Carolina that marathon and half marathon. I just had a couple athletes. They ended up doing the half marathon. It just it wasn't a good time time in the year. We did the best training we could, but it was just patchy and spotty with the holidays. 1 of the athletes was younger, finished coming off a cross country season, actually.

Coach Ruiari [00:16:23]: And then the the other athlete was actually they're both RC athletes. Her mom, and then her schedule is crazy. And just yeah. That timing of year was just not great. They didn't have the best days. But, yeah. Definitely something you wanna try to plan out timing wise.

Cory Nagler [00:16:41]: Yeah. A 100%. And one thing to throw in before we get into specific names of marathons is how to pick out a marathon for you. I know oftentimes if I have ones in mind that I've heard from other people, I'll Google the braces. But otherwise, there's a great tool called Find My Marathon that I'll link in the show notes that sort of allows you to search by month, and you can see how hilly it is and what the field size is. Are there any other tools you've used when you're trying to figure out what marathon to enter?

Coach Ruiari [00:17:05]: Yeah. That's one that's been really good, just getting a course profile, elevation gain. It kind of ranks, you know, how many people get a BQ or PR and whatnot. I like if you're talking US, it's called running in the usa.com. It might have the in there. I can't remember. But, anyway, you can just break down all the races by state filter for marathon, And it just has ones that might be a little bit under the radar, but still worth looking into. And then if you're wondering about those, I would always like hop on, you know, maybe some of the online forums like a Facebook group.

Coach Ruiari [00:17:45]: Maybe you could find it on Reddit or something like that, but definitely a Facebook group. You could, come in that local running club and just ask, hey. Can you give me some information about this course? Is it, like, a fast one? What should I expect? And a lot of those people are more than happy to just give you their honest opinion about it.

Cory Nagler [00:18:05]: Yeah. 100%. I think that's gonna be a recurring theme is like the more people you can talk to who've done it, the the better sense you're gonna be how good a fit it is for you. Mhmm.

Coach Ruiari [00:18:14]: And I guess you could do that in Strava Club too. They're kinda they've changed their format more where they're they're becoming more like a social media site, can interact. You can send a DM to someone who you saw did that race too. It's the way to go.

Cory Nagler [00:18:29]: Yeah. Or some races will even have their own Strava groups. When I ran the Copenhagen marathon, they had a group just for runners doing that, and you could you could even, you know, find people selling their bibs through Strava and see all the training people are doing and what areas people like to run to in the city. Mhmm.

Coach Ruiari [00:18:45]: Yeah. Good point. I know some athletes who are resisting getting Strava, but I think there's definitely more pros and cons to it in my opinion, if you can use it responsibly. So

Cory Nagler [00:18:57]: 100%. Yeah. Alright. Let's, let's kick off, getting into our best marathons to PR. And I wanna start I'll say with the spring season, but I think, really, let's go with the first half of the year because I know there are some as early as January, February. So in the US, if you're looking for a marathon in the early part of the year, I know you prefer the fall winter season, but what are what are some of the marathons you'd recommend to somebody looking to PR?

Coach Ruiari [00:19:24]: Alright. Two big ones that I hear, bigger ones that come up, obviously, Houston Marathon is in January. I've run it personally. So I have more insight on that course. I was really impressed with how pretty it is. Very more variation in scenery than I thought. It just kind of rolls really nicely. My only critique, which I hinted at was like this the headwind at the end.

Coach Ruiari [00:19:49]: But typically, the weather is like really nice and that the winds are are less of a factor. Great competition for those people who are may be in that sub elite category, you're gonna have lots of people to run with. But then, you know, it's not a lot of the pros may have raced those other, you know, like, New York City or Chicago. So you won't get like the top tier runners like really dragging the pace to just these crazy unattainable times. So I kind of kind of like that if you're, you're in the hunt for OTQ or something. I know that's like, like way up there. But then also, yeah, lots of depth for, like, running a BQ, and it doesn't feel as crowded, at least from what I've seen. You know, you could be further back in the corral and disagree, but it doesn't seem like overwhelmingly massive.

Coach Ruiari [00:20:48]: And then another one would be the I think now they just call it Mesa Marathon, but the Phoenix Mesa Marathon is in February, and it's kind of got a downhill marathon vibe, but it's not the straight up aggressive rebel race type event. You just kinda start higher up and run into downtown Mesa, ultimately. The courses can be a little bit boring, but, I mean, just fast. It's got what you need. A little bit of variation. But, yeah, you can run some fast times out there. Logistics, I will admit, have become a headache because people have caught on how fast it is. They they might like the timing, and you have to, like, get a shuttle and get up ridiculously early for the time that you start.

Coach Ruiari [00:21:38]: So, I could speak to that one if people wanna follow-up with me, you know, on social media or email or something. Those 2 come to mind for just the first part. And then I'll just name drop Louisiana Marathon, is in January, and then the Jekyll Island Marathon in Georgia, also January.

Cory Nagler [00:22:00]: Rory, I don't think you named a single marathon after February.

Coach Ruiari [00:22:03]: I don't. I have a I have a a lot here. I mean, March, what what's coming to mind? I have in my notes the Shamrock marathon. I think it's, like, Virginia Beach or something in March. I can go later into the spring. How about you for those first few months? Anything? I'm gonna buy

Cory Nagler [00:22:26]: talk yeah. If you're talking those first few months before you even get into April, May, which in my mind is kinda more peak marathon y season for those of us that don't live in a super warm climate, I think Houston for sure, but that's probably, like, the weekend after this episode's coming out in mid January.

Coach Ruiari [00:22:42]: That's a tough training tough time to peak with your training.

Cory Nagler [00:22:46]: Yeah. The Disney marathon, I think, is January or February. That's a popular one, but it sells out crazy early. One that I've personally done is The Woodlands Marathon, which is in March. It's sort of a medium sized race, maybe a few thousand people just outside of Houston. But it's 2 loops, so it's not too many. And it's very flat, very fast. It's well organized, and lots of decent sub elite, to borderline elite runners if if you want people to run with on the faster end too.

Cory Nagler [00:23:19]: And then it's not really a fast course, but obviously, you have LA in March as well, which is just a big city marathon where you're definitely gonna have lots of crowds, lots of people cheering you on. And I think they have shuttle service as well to the start lines.

Coach Ruiari [00:23:35]: Nice. Yeah. The The Woodlands, for sure. I've heard about that. I'm curious. What are your thoughts on a loop race where you're maybe doing 2 or 3 loops?

Cory Nagler [00:23:44]: I don't think I don't think I mind 2 loops. I think once you get above 2 to 3, it starts to get a little bit redundant. I'll admit when I did The Woodlands, due to injury, I actually had to step down to the half marathon, so I only did one loop. But I I think it would have been fine doing 2. When I ran Georgina, I've done both the half marathon and the full marathon there, so the full just being the same out and back twice. And, I don't think I minded it too much. And that's even though the course is pretty much the same scenery the entire way.

Coach Ruiari [00:24:17]: Nice. I'm a fan of it. I think in a time situation, if you're going for full on experience and scenery, obviously, you're gonna see the same thing twice. Not as ideal, but if you wanna get tactical lock in, know where your stuff is at, know exactly what to expect on the course. Yeah. Mentally, I think you can get kind of in this zone, and it helps you break up the race incrementally, which can be beneficial.

Cory Nagler [00:24:47]: Yeah. I think it's also super helpful if you haven't run the course before to kind of know as you're finishing how far out you are. I've had so many races when maybe you see that last mile, but it feels very different on your finishing kick being, like, a mile out versus say 500 meters, and you have a much better sense where you're at if you're doing a lead course.

Coach Ruiari [00:25:05]: Totally. Yeah. That would be another factor, like you mentioned with marathons close to home. If you know the course, and have just run on it, yeah, more than once, that helps so much mentally.

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Cory Nagler [00:27:55]: Plus? Runners Connect fans will automatically save 20% on any purchase. Yeah. I I think one piece of advice I'd give people, if you're talking to somebody who's run the race, ask them for landmarks. Like, if you know something to look for at a show you're near halfway or to show that you have, you know, 400 meters to go and are ready to start kicking, it's it's gonna help to ground yourself.

Coach Ruiari [00:28:19]: Mhmm.

Cory Nagler [00:28:21]: Those are some very early in the year. Let's let's talk maybe more kind of traditional spring marathon, so, like, April to June or maybe even July. Are there any marathons that you've run that you really enjoy?

Coach Ruiari [00:28:35]: Let's see. I've referenced Fargo Marathon, which is in mid to late May, and none, or floods permitting or cooperating. Hopefully, there's not flooding. And if they have a normal course, I think it can be pretty fast. There can be a risk of it sort of, if it's later in May, getting a little bit humid, which is can be a similar problem at another super fast one, which is grandma's marathon, which I have done a few times. I've run the full twice. It was my first marathon ever, and then, I ran it in 2023 trying to run an OTQ time. And, yeah, that that has kind of a generally a down downhill grade point to point, and, now it can go really well for some people.

Coach Ruiari [00:29:28]: I had a bad day, which may have soured my opinion on it, but it just happened to be humid there. Midwest weather is a little bit variable, but if you have a good weather day, I've seen some monster PRs there. And, yeah, generally, it's gonna be better than worse, but it's a gamble, and that might be another one where I know logistics in Duluth, Minnesota. It's just really hard to get a hotel near the course, and it gets expensive. We yeah. Just with housing and trying to figure out your ride, to the shuttles or to the start line. So but I I do love that. If you can get into it, apply early enough, that's up there.

Cory Nagler [00:30:12]: Is is this for the Fargo marathon you're talking about?

Coach Ruiari [00:30:14]: I I kind of switched from Fargo to Grandma's marathon Grandma's. In Duluth.

Cory Nagler [00:30:19]: Okay.

Coach Ruiari [00:30:19]: Yes.

Cory Nagler [00:30:19]: And that that's in June. Right?

Coach Ruiari [00:30:21]: That's in June.

Cory Nagler [00:30:22]: Okay. Okay. Yeah. I've I've heard that's a very fast course.

Coach Ruiari [00:30:26]: Mhmm. There is, mountains to beach marathon, which has kind of a downhill grade in April. Lots of people like to do that for a b q, but I've also heard mixed reviews on how fast that is. Maybe it's a little harder than advertised and but I don't know. Do you have anything in that time range? Maybe April, May, June?

Cory Nagler [00:30:51]: So I don't think I've personally yet raced a US marathon in that time range in part because it's good weather here that time of year, so you don't need to look around as much. But one that I might actually end up doing in 2025 is the Glass City Marathon, which is April in Toledo, Ohio. So that's kind of, you know, an easy 7, 8 hour drive ish for me from Toronto. And if you're living anywhere in the northeast, it's probably relatively easy to road trip. The other more major one I think, is worth mentioning is the Eugene marathon.

Coach Ruiari [00:31:24]: Oh, okay.

Cory Nagler [00:31:24]: I'm not sure if that one's April or May, but that's a more big city marathon that's known to be flat and fast.

Coach Ruiari [00:31:29]: Yes. Yeah. That one is in April, I believe.

Cory Nagler [00:31:32]: April. Okay. Okay. Yeah. And is is it relatively easy to sign up for? Like, can you still sign up in January?

Coach Ruiari [00:31:39]: Yeah. That one, I don't think is as, like, in demand. I think you could still get in later than, like, definitely grandma's marathon. You gotta yeah. You're not gonna get in in January. So

Cory Nagler [00:31:54]: Alright. And I think one we have to mention before I go to international races is Boston. Yes. Not a flat course, but a lot of fast runners. What are your thoughts on Boston? Is it a as a PR attempt?

Coach Ruiari [00:32:09]: You can PR there if the stars align. I mean, you know, you got Ryan Hall who does he still have the fastest, not official American record, but fastest marathon time run by an American on that course? There was, like, a unique tailwind that year. Sometimes the weather can cooperate. And then if you can really hold back, you know, which is talked about to exhaustion, hold back in that first half, there is a chance where you can power through those hills and end up with a good time. So and I mean it. Yeah. I definitely gotta mention it because both for a lot of runners were talking about this because they're they're running these races to get into Boston if they haven't run it before.

Cory Nagler [00:32:56]: Yeah. I think, to me, Boston, a good mindset is to think of it as a victory lap because you just don't know what you're gonna get. But as you said, if the stars align, if you get that tailwind and you don't get crazy wind or rain or hot temps, then, yeah, it is a net downhill. Mhmm.

Coach Ruiari [00:33:13]: Yeah. But definitely a race to go into. There's just some races you gotta run it as an experience. And that's that's a good one. I like that victory lap.

Cory Nagler [00:33:22]: And that's a pretty cool experience at that. Exactly.

Coach Ruiari [00:33:26]: Alright.

Cory Nagler [00:33:26]: Let's before moving to the fall, let's talk about some international races if you're willing to venture outside of the US. Have you done any spring, spring marathons outside of this outside of the, country?

Coach Ruiari [00:33:39]: Spring marathons? Not like well known ones or fast ones. I've run a marathon in Fiji.

Cory Nagler [00:33:49]: Cool.

Coach Ruiari [00:33:49]: It was in the spring. Yeah. So

Cory Nagler [00:33:52]: What brought you to Fiji?

Coach Ruiari [00:33:55]: I I've referenced it a little bit. I work with a travel company, so, I lead some student trips to different countries around the world, and I'll usually line up a race. So I I won't waste people's time with that, but I I definitely think there's something to be said for doing those quirky off the grid marathons. If you're a new place, sign up for it. So we'll we'll stay disciplined and and go with fast ones. I haven't run too many in that time frame internationally, but the ones that do come to mind, and I'm sure you might have them, would be Rotterdam in April. It's got, like, 70 meters of elevation gain going back to the the marathon project. Ben Rosario puts that that one on.

Cory Nagler [00:34:42]: Yeah. That that's less than Berlin. What? I think that's less elevation gain than Berlin. So that's pretty good.

Coach Ruiari [00:34:48]: Elevation gain than Berlin. And Ben Rosario, z yeah. NAZ, former NAZ elite. Oh, no. He's still with NAZ elite. He's called that one, like, the perfect lab created race,

Cory Nagler [00:35:06]: the rider there. Kelvin Kiptum's sub 2 hour attempt.

Coach Ruiari [00:35:09]: Yep. That's where Kiptum was going for the sub 2 hours. And then Paris is in that same time frame. Right? Also pretty quick in April, rolling hills, good weather. That one's, like, 450 feet elevation gain. It's not to be confused with the Olympics course that they did, Summer Olympics course.

Cory Nagler [00:35:32]: Which was not flat.

Coach Ruiari [00:35:34]: It was not flat. Yeah. What what about what else other ones are you thinking of?

Cory Nagler [00:35:40]: Well, we can't not mention London and Tokyo. Right?

Coach Ruiari [00:35:44]: Oh, London and Tokyo. Yeah. Yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:35:46]: Like Well,

Coach Ruiari [00:35:46]: those are just so I mean, they're just, yeah, world major. So definitely

Cory Nagler [00:35:52]: They're iconic, and you pretty much your your your only ways into to London unless you live in the UK are either by lottery or by charity. So, you know, you're you're certainly not guaranteed to get in, but from what I've heard, a cool experience if you can.

Coach Ruiari [00:36:07]: If you could do only one of those, which would you choose?

Cory Nagler [00:36:12]: That is a tough question. I I actually considered whether I should try and put on my radar Tokyo for 2026. But I'll be traveling to Tokyo, not to run, but to watch some of the track world championships in 25. So I don't know if I can justify 2 trips out out to Japan in such a close time frame. But I I I think just as an experience, if I put aside, you know, other trips that I have planned, it it might have to be Tokyo. Because it's it's just, in my mind anyways, likely to be such a different experience from any race you're gonna get back home.

Coach Ruiari [00:36:51]: Yeah. Totally. And that can give you energy and excitement. I agree. I might go with that one just for the the novelty. I just like when you're a little bit out of your comfort zone with the different language and just things being kind of foreign. And honestly, it can relate to logistics time zones just from my experience. If you're gonna like switch time zones, the Europe time zone for me is a little bit harder because it's just an awkward amount of time.

Coach Ruiari [00:37:22]: 5 to 7 hours difference versus if you're just going, like, 12 to 14 hours. I don't know. I can just roll in more tired and fall asleep easier and lock into it a little bit quicker from what I've experienced.

Cory Nagler [00:37:38]: Yeah. I I should give one caveat though that if I were going for a PR, I might choose London just for the familiarity. Like, if I'm going for the experience, for me, it's Tokyo. But oftentimes in those 2 to 3 days before the race, I want familiar food. I wanna feel like I'm sleeping somewhere close to home, which is the opposite of what I normally want traveling. But leading up to race day, there's just a certain comfort in it.

Coach Ruiari [00:38:00]: Yeah. That's a good point. And maybe that course is just a little bit more tailor made for fast time design.

Cory Nagler [00:38:08]: Yeah. I agree. If, if you're not looking for a major though, I mentioned Copenhagen earlier. Fantastic course.

Coach Ruiari [00:38:17]: Mhmm.

Cory Nagler [00:38:17]: Like, the the fans there are great. I met up with a local running club before, and they were so so welcoming. Super nice people. Everyone speaks English in Denmark, and it's a very flat fast course. So it's a great opportunity for PR.

Coach Ruiari [00:38:32]: What time of year or what month is that in?

Cory Nagler [00:38:35]: This is early May.

Coach Ruiari [00:38:37]: Early May.

Cory Nagler [00:38:38]: Yeah. I think that one typically fills up somewhat early. So it might be sold out already for 2025 as this airs. But, if that's something you'd be interested in running, definitely look out for it after the race to sign up for 2026.

Coach Ruiari [00:38:52]: I have heard good good things and seen some some fast times from some, locals here. So, when is Toronto waterfront?

Cory Nagler [00:39:05]: So that's a good bridge to the fall because, that one happens in October.

Coach Ruiari [00:39:09]: Oh, okay.

Cory Nagler [00:39:10]: But it's it's a beautiful course. It goes all the way along the the lake shore here, and you see lots of different parts of the city. And it's, you know, super flat, super fast. And I believe it's a gold label race as well.

Coach Ruiari [00:39:22]: Yeah. Don't hesitate to to throw in more Canadian marathon. So

Cory Nagler [00:39:28]: Yeah. So, I mean, Toronto waterfront is fantastic. Not to be confused with the Toronto Good Life Marathon in May, which is a fast course, but maybe not as big and maybe not quite as quite as well run as the October 1. I've I ran the Montreal marathon this year, and it's not super, super flat, but it's, you know, it's just a couple, big hills, and it's pretty well run. And then I've I've heard good things about the Vancouver marathon in May. It's it's it's not pancake flat, but it's got good weather, especially if you like cooler temps kinda more in the, like, you know, 40, maybe low to mid forties, and and not so hilly that it that you're gonna be way off the PR if, if you're in shape for it.

Coach Ruiari [00:40:22]: Right on. Appreciate that insight.

Cory Nagler [00:40:26]: Yeah. I love throwing in some, some Canadian races. So, if anyone hasn't traveled to Canada for race, definitely come on down.

Coach Ruiari [00:40:32]: I'm game for it. So, yeah. If you wanted, you know, switch to that second half of the year, fall fall winter, I can, you wanna start in the US maybe?

Cory Nagler [00:40:45]: Yeah. Let's do it.

Coach Ruiari [00:40:46]: And again, I think we'll we'll definitely talk about the big name ones, and give our 2¢ on that. I'll I'll kinda give just a a brief list of some ones that maybe don't jump into people's minds right away. I just have a few jotted down. There's the Mohawk Hudson Valley marathon. I think that's more upstate New York. That's October.

Cory Nagler [00:41:11]: How many people is that? This is out of left field.

Coach Ruiari [00:41:14]: I know. Hey, I have a source. Okay? I have a good source where, he he just knows so many, fast marathons and has a big athlete roster. He's coached me before too. It's my intel.

Cory Nagler [00:41:31]: You you do have good intel, I guess.

Coach Ruiari [00:41:34]: Yeah. Coach Dylan Bellas.

Cory Nagler [00:41:37]: Oh, okay. He he's got the insider info on all these, unknown marathons,

Coach Ruiari [00:41:43]: Yeah. And, originally well, he had some East Coast ties as well. And another one I've also heard in New York, this is in Corning, New York, is the wine glass marathon. It's like a 120 5 meters or so, of gain, 400 feet of elevation gain. It has a nice downhill grade for the most part with a little undulation, and I've seen some RC athletes do that and perform really well. So that one comes to mind. We've already said California International Marathon. We say CAM for short.

Coach Ruiari [00:42:21]: That's in December. That's one of my top choices. And the the one in South Carolina that I mispronounced, why? Two loops. That's a loop. Loop marathon. So I believe you run that that marathon, half marathon course twice, which I personally, like we discussed earlier, I like. And it's coming in at a whopping 39 meters of elevation gain, 120 feet.

Cory Nagler [00:42:51]: Wow. That is pancake flat.

Coach Ruiari [00:42:54]: Could be. That could be one of those ones where it gets a little scary flat. Like, you might wanna mix in some surges as you grab a cup of water, and your legs could feel a little stale, on that type of course. Just a heads up.

Cory Nagler [00:43:09]: Alright. And by the way, just as you were, listing out some details, I was looking up how do you actually pronounce it? Because honestly, I'm not personally sure. And I'm not sure how much I can completely pronounce or, trust this website how to pronounce. But going off a quick Google search, it's saying Kiowa. So I I think you were closer.

Coach Ruiari [00:43:28]: Okay. Yeah. Kiowa's yeah. Anyway Yeah. Kiowa.

Cory Nagler [00:43:35]: Yeah. I, I have a couple of friends who are going and doing the wine glass, marathon, and I've I've heard it's flat and fast as well.

Coach Ruiari [00:43:42]: Yeah. Because that wouldn't be a terribly far journey from Canada.

Cory Nagler [00:43:47]: Yeah. Exactly. I think for them, they were looking for something fast that wasn't Canada, but that also didn't require a flight and somewhere too far.

Coach Ruiari [00:43:56]: And I think they have some other counterparts, because you got wine country on the West Coast in Northern California, and there's another one. Is it Lake Sonoma, probably? I've heard that one's fast, but that might be earlier in the year. So not to be confused with that.

Cory Nagler [00:44:14]: Yeah. I am. Before, just one more, that's not really fall. And I know this isn't the US, but, I've heard the Gold Coast marathon, which is in July, is really fast if you're willing to venture all the way out to Australia. So

Coach Ruiari [00:44:27]: True.

Cory Nagler [00:44:28]: Thought I would check out that one.

Coach Ruiari [00:44:30]: Cooler then. Right?

Cory Nagler [00:44:32]: Yeah. Because that's that's for them their winter time.

Coach Ruiari [00:44:35]: Mhmm.

Cory Nagler [00:44:36]: Yeah. As far as US fall marathons go though, a couple that I don't think you mentioned that I've heard talked about a lot. One, I know a lot of people come September that go to the Erie marathon just because it's the last weekend to submit a BQ time. So if you're looking for a fast course that's kind of in the northeast United States, that aligns with that timeline, it works really, really well. I think also there's in November, the indie marathon, is a very fast one in the same area.

Coach Ruiari [00:45:07]: Monumental. Correct?

Cory Nagler [00:45:09]: That's right. Yeah. And then, my coach, not her PR anymore, but at one part had ran her PR in the Philly marathon. So I think it's maybe not quite as flat as a couple of the others we've named, but definitely one where you can run really fast that's certainly not hilly like a Boston or anything like that.

Coach Ruiari [00:45:27]: Yeah. Glad you mentioned Philly. I've had a personal coaching athlete with runners connect who ran a a PR out there. Can be a little chilly, but seemed like a fast course. And then while we're kinda in that time frame to Columbus, Ohio, you could put that on your radar. Maybe kind of a nice size race where it's definitely not monster crowds, but big enough where you're gonna have people to run with if you wanna run fast. And, yeah, just good good weather generally.

Cory Nagler [00:46:03]: What do you think of something like a tunnel marathon that's very flat, but I believe that one is on, like, some buffed out trails. Is that right?

Coach Ruiari [00:46:14]: Mhmm. Yeah. It's more like gravel road type thing.

Cory Nagler [00:46:19]: Yeah. I think so.

Coach Ruiari [00:46:22]: Yeah. I'd I'd say if you're, you know, it depends, like, for just getting a b q, I I think it could be a good one. If you're trying to run, you know, for we've kind of referenced the sub elite OTQ type range. I don't think anyone's doing that there. But, yeah, it could be something to to try out, especially if you have a chance to train on, like, rail trail. But I would just be aware of get comfortable, like, with doing workouts and feeling what those paces feel like. If you're really used to road marathons, it's kind of a trip, and then foot footwear might be something to consider. I think it's still very runnable, but, yeah.

Coach Ruiari [00:47:06]: I wouldn't rule it out.

Cory Nagler [00:47:08]: Okay. And then one more US one that we already mentioned, so I feel like we kinda have to come back to it, is the marathon project. And this obviously didn't happen in 2024. It was held in 2020 when COVID first started, and now coming back in 25 as an inaugural race. I believe this will be mid to late December, and the entry fee is just completely absurd. So from what you've heard, like, is it flat and fast enough that you would justify that cost if you're looking for a PR?

Coach Ruiari [00:47:42]: I'd say, potentially, yes. But this is pretty exclusive. I think they're just adding, like, a sub elite field. For the most part, they want women to be under 230, men to be under 220. And they down the road, they might kind of expand the field, but they're keeping it, like, yeah, very, very quick time. So I think to some of those athletes, it is worth it because you need to be really selective. You can do some of these big races and still end up by yourself, which is hard to run a fast time, and there's maybe 3 or 4 people around you, or they're just too far ahead and you're kinda stuck in this island where we've been at, you know, with our times, maybe sub 2:30, which I know can sound crazy fast and elitist to some people, but, you know, that's a consideration, and that's what this race is designed to be. So in this case, I I and I personally know the runners who are gonna be there.

Coach Ruiari [00:48:43]: It's gonna be really meticulous, methodical planning. You're just gonna have crowds of people maybe blocking wind for you and well put together. So the price tag would be worth it if you want that lifetime PR or a shot at the Olympic trials.

Cory Nagler [00:49:00]: Yeah. And just looking at details now, so it's 520 US, but that cost is not for elites. So the times you listed for, like, a sub 2 20, you get a discounted entry. They have what they're calling a gold wave, so sort of the equivalent of, like, a sub elite entry. So it looks like here don't quote me on this, but it seems like the entry is either a 2 245 for men Okay. Or 310 for women, which, not OTQ level, but obviously still quite quick.

Coach Ruiari [00:49:29]: Yes. Yes. Oh, thanks for looking at that. I didn't quite have a chance to look at all the details of the new new rollout. But, yeah. Definitely at least, yeah, worth poking around and looking at that info.

Cory Nagler [00:49:43]: Yeah. Yeah. I think probably the only race in the US we'll name that might actually be pricier to run than, going to an international race or another major.

Coach Ruiari [00:49:53]: Yeah. That's true. But, yeah, I was just in that area. I don't know. You can get some plenty of hotels in the area. I don't think you'll get too priced out there. Alright. Whereas some of the international races, I'm sure it gets it's really pricey to find find a place to stay, like in Paris, that's gonna be comfortable and what you need and not a hostel.

Cory Nagler [00:50:17]: Yeah. If if you're in the States, I think one of the most expensive, fall races to run is probably the new major, which would be Sydney, because I'd imagine the the flight prices are definitely up there.

Coach Ruiari [00:50:28]: Mhmm. Yeah. Absolutely.

Cory Nagler [00:50:31]: Yeah. And that one's I don't even think it's a a flat course. I think that's pretty hilly. So maybe an experience, but not one for PR.

Coach Ruiari [00:50:39]: Yeah. I had one athlete do that. And, yeah, that that was my impression. Not super speedy, but, you know, can meet the other criteria for being kinda special, unique race.

Cory Nagler [00:50:53]: Yep. Alright. Maybe maybe let's name a few that are speedy, international races in the the winter. I I might just list a few I have, here, and we'll see if there's any gaps, gaps there. Others you wanna mention? I'll I'll start with the majors. So I mentioned Sydney, but, obviously, Berlin is one that is quite quick and in the fall. Or I don't even think we mentioned Chicago, which is obviously, in the states and super fast, New York being a major as well, but, super hilly. I said Toronto waterfront is in October.

Cory Nagler [00:51:25]: Great race if you wanna come to Canada. Not international for me. The Amsterdam marathon in October, I ran then and unfortunately had to pull out. But the half of it that I actually ran was an amazing time and, quite fast. And then, obviously, I have to say, Valencia, right at the beginning of December, it's great weather, great vibe, and just so many talented runners. I will say if if you are a sub, maybe 3 hour marathoner for men or or sub 3:20 for women, you will not have as many people running with you as you did at that race. I I think even when I ran Boston, I felt totally alone compared to just how many people were running near me at Valencia. So definitely shout out to that race.

Coach Ruiari [00:52:11]: Incredible. I mean, I think that could be a good good way to wrap things up, because you you hit everything on my list. But at the same time, I feel like we're we're probably blanking on some races. Once you, like, actually prep for this, it's, like, it's almost exhausting with the list. So if you wanna chime in and comment or send us a message and be like, how'd you forget this one? Or this one's in my area. Definitely let us know about those, because I'm sure you just kind of blanked. But, yeah, I I just wanted to maybe say the my top two ones and then ask you, you know, now that you're recovering coming off your PR, would you, like, repeat some of the races you've done or, like, pick a new lineup? And to just cut to the chase. I think the the two ones that are top top of my list would be Chicago coming up.

Coach Ruiari [00:53:04]: I don't know if it'll be in 2025, but I definitely want to to race that. I would be more hesitant with, you know, climate change could be a factor. There's been some years where it's hotter, and heat is something that really dissuades me. I just want that cool those cool crisp temps. So if I had to pick my top choice, and based on what you've told me, I think Valencia is gonna be number 1. So, maybe a 20 based on my recovery, which I've referenced from Haglund's deformity removal surgery, I could see that one being on my racing list in 2026.

Cory Nagler [00:53:48]: Yeah. Yeah. And when you say top 2, are you thinking, like, if you had 2 races to pick to go run a PR, which would they be?

Coach Ruiari [00:53:54]: Yes. Just my top 2 that I I know I need to do for, hitting my PR.

Cory Nagler [00:54:01]: Yeah. So I'll start by egging you on to do Chicago because I'm doing that in 2025 and would love to Okay. To meet up and see more fast runners running that one. So hopefully it lives up to the hype. From what I've heard, I'm I'm sure it will. It's it's hard to pick out because there's just there's so many good options out there. But I I think I have to put Berlin on my list among those that I haven't run, because it it it's just so iconic and one of the most consistent races you're going to do weather wise. But I'm also torn because even though I've done Valencia, I definitely wanna go back to that race because it is just such a cool experience.

Cory Nagler [00:54:43]: So I I don't think I've run my last Valencia. Nice.

Coach Ruiari [00:54:49]: Yeah. Yeah. Good answer.

Cory Nagler [00:54:51]: Yeah. I'm I'm just excited to race after all this. I don't know about you, but I'm, I'm excited to just kinda start my training build, as we're getting into 2025.

Coach Ruiari [00:55:01]: Oh, yeah. Anytime you you talk about these events, it's like, man, I should do that one and this one. So I guess to wrap up, I might say if you are, and if you wanna add on to this, thinking of maybe you haven't nailed down your calendar and you're you're trying to pick up some events to really get that PRBQ. I would say, typically, I think you have 2 really good targets each year, where you can just run all out, swing for the fences. Maybe you can sneak a third in there as training run or experience marathon, but I would pick one from the list if it fits in with your schedule in the spring, and then one in the fall winter.

Cory Nagler [00:55:44]: Yeah. I think I found that works well. And sometimes I've done 3 marathons and used one as kind of a workout to just kinda get in the 26 miles. But, yeah, I think definitely if if you wanna give it an all out rougherd and go for PR, I think doing one in the spring and, one in the fall makes a lot of sense. And maybe just one quick question before we wrap up. But you mentioned a lot of races in January, February. That's obviously not kind of traditional seasons. So do you think you can fit in a 3rd if you do it earlier? Would you still hold off and maybe just do one earlier in

Coach Ruiari [00:56:15]: the fall? Oh, that's a good good point. That one might be just my might be my West Coast, Southwest bias with weather here. So, yeah, sometimes I I like that earlier marathon in the year to be a little less pressure. Like, you still run it hard, but you kinda see what you can do, and then you know where to build off from the fall. So to answer that, if if it fits in with my life schedule, I like some of those races I mentioned. I might try to run that one pretty hard knowing it might not be as good as my fall marathon. And then since I raced in January or February, I know I can definitely hit race a, you know, a potentially an April marathon, May marathon. And def I might even be able to race something like grandma's pretty hard in June.

Coach Ruiari [00:57:06]: So I could have, in that case, 3 targets where I go all out.

Cory Nagler [00:57:11]: I I was just gonna say grandma's in June is probably, makes a lot more sense for timing if you're doing one in Jan Feb than a lot of the other races we mentioned.

Coach Ruiari [00:57:19]: So for those who like a more aggressive schedule, you can do it. But even when I've raced 3, I feel like only, yeah, 1 or 2 of them are went really well. This is gonna be just one off day.

Cory Nagler [00:57:33]: It's it's also just really hard, I found in my build to Valencia being in December, which is also kind of off timing, being in peak training when nobody else is, and feeling like your race is far away when everybody's getting ready to run. It it does take you out of that, marathon excitement a little, but maybe that kinda depends what city you're in and what races people are signing up for.

Coach Ruiari [00:57:55]: Yeah. That's a good point. I mean, end of the day, definitely have one on your calendar that gets you excited and amped, and that's gonna really help improve training.

Cory Nagler [00:58:06]: Yeah. I think that's a good way to wrap up. I'm I'm still trying to finalize for the spring, but I'm amped up about Chicago and whatever else I end up running. So, Rory, best of luck to you with your running and everyone listening. I hope you guys have an awesome time running in 2025.

Coach Ruiari [00:58:20]: Right on. Thanks guys. Best of luck.

Cory Nagler [00:58:38]: Thanks for listening to the Run to the Top podcast. I'm the showrunner at Runners Connect, where as always, our mission is to help you become a better runner with every episode. You can connect with me on Instagram at Corey underscore Nagler. Birth your Strava by searching Corey Nagler, and please consider connecting with the rest of our team at runnersconnect.net. If you're loving the show, you can help us reach

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Cory Nagler [00:58:58]: want bonus content, Spotify or Apple Podcast. Lastly, if you want bonus content, behind the scenes experiences with guests, and premier access to contests, and consider subscribing to our newsletter by going to runnersconnect.net forward slash podcast. I'll see you on the next show, but until then, happy running, everyone.