Since a few years, one of my objective is to run a marathon. To be even more motivated, one solution is to fix yourself a goal.
So, since a few weeks I'm skimming websites to select some marathons.
The biggest criterion of choices were:

  • The location: not too far (ie Taiwan is a bad idea).
  • Low differences in height: it will be my first marathon, remember?
  • The possibilities to sleep in the town: most of great races require that you come at least one day before the start to get your number (and I don't want to pay a hotel room).
  • Late in the sport season: I'm not yet ready to do 42.195 km.
  • The price: the road races are becoming more and more expensive. So if it's too expensive, find a way to get money ;-)

Here is the current list organised by date:

  1. Oslo marathon[1][2]: 28th of september 2008; I will still be in Norway, so it could be possible. The road seems flat and fast.
  2. Reims marathon: 19th of october 2008; The route seems flat. The town isn't so far from my native hometown, nor from Paris. So I perhaps can travel by car. Moreover, they are advertising for sustainable development by using hybrids cars to follow the runners, clean bus and bicycle station, recyclable glass, etc...[3]
  3. Amiens marathon: 26th of october 2008; this is the first time they organised a marathon to the best of my knowledge; I love this town; the problem is I haven't more information (ie: no price, no register form, no road plan). They probably have some organisations problem to publish it for the first time.
  4. La Rochelle marathon: 30th of november 2008; this is far away from my home, but I perhaps have a possibility to sleep there; it's a well-known town I don't know yet.

Perhaps, I will add some others races soon.
The aim is to choose at least one race, and a maximum of two races and having about 30 days between the two races.
I hope that I can do at least one race, because although easy to say, running them will be a premiere.

Notes

[1] Named Glitnir Oslo Maraton in fact.

[2] Easier to pronounce that way, right?

[3] The green touch is fashionable nowadays.