Pick a race

I will never run (or at least will try to avoid running) the same marathon twice.

Come on. Twenty-six miles is a lot of work. I need as much distraction – and stimulus – to keep me inspired. I choose my marathons specifically for what they may offer by way of stimulation. New York and Marine Corps? That’s obvious. Racing though DC and NYC is more like a sightseeing trip. The others, Alaska, Montana, Atlanta and Chicago were chosen for purely aesthetic reasons. There are several marathons that bill themselves for what they have to offer as distraction, like Big Sur and Cape Cod, which strive to appeal to your sense of beauty. Others like Disney, San Diego, and Nashville hope to distract you like an A.D.D. patient at a whistles and bells convention with their productions and theatrics.

My criteria for race selection include:

• Place – city, scenic vistas
• Time of year – spring and fall are pleasant racing seasons
• Course – flat, scenery, distractions
• Scenery – cityscape, ocean view, mountainscape, etc.
• Temperature – 72 degrees or lower is good for running.

Races are easy to find by visiting Runner's World Race Finder or Active.com, among others. Running clubs, stores, and other running web sites are also great sites to explore.