Top 25 Marathons

What with the marathon fever spreading here at RDAD mostly due to the ING NYC marathon, I have entered that peculiar period where I start to look for any marathon that will have me to run in. I came across this list of the top 25 marathons in America to run, I have written the top 10 here, but it is worth checking out the rest. Also, it should be noted that this list is only for the USA, not for international marathons, of which I hear that Paris and Berlin are two of the best there are (A frog commented to me that the beauty along the route of the Paris marathon is matched only by their incompetence at setting up and organizing the race).
1. The Boston Marathon - I have some real issues with the Boston Marathon and its exclusionary policies regarding entry. It's nice that they want people to have some experience with marathons, but a sub-3:10:59 marathon? Thats intense, yo! Also, I could understand this limit if they were going to close the race shortly thereafter, but in that Nova documentary, those people were finishing above 6 hours! It is so typical of Boston to think that they are so cool and so above everyone else as to exclude people from participation and, as a result, be left with a city full of fat ugly massholes. Also, how the crap are you supposed to train for a marathon in April when the winter in the Northeast is never ending and cold and snowy.
2. The ING NYC Marathon - Needs no further writeup here. The Best. Eat that Boston.
3. Honolulu Marathon - I have spent some time in Honolulu and, as far as cities go, it is very much eh. However, the second that you set foot outside of the city and get to the more residential and rural areas of the island, it is really what you might imagine an island paradise to be like. Personally, I have never been a huge fan of the beach and I love Autumn and Spring in the Northeast, so Honolulu ended up not being the place for me, but if you like that stuff, you really can't do much better. The marathon course looks nice what with its scenic jaunt up Diamond Head and the website is very attractive; the top 10 list of reasons to run the Honolulu marathon is uproarious! I imagine that this would have to be part of a larger trip because the prospect of running a marathon and sitting on a plane for the next 8 hours is daunting.
4. Chicago LaSalle Marathon - Sad Chicago. I hear that it's a great marathon, but yet, with the spectre of heat and mugginess and race cancellations and death, its image is tainted (notice the correct usage of both "it's" and "its"). On the plus side, though, it will probably be easier to get in next year and you can't beat those Chicago style dogs for a post-race pig out.
5. The Walt Disney World Marathon - It seems really weird to consider Disney World and running linked, but yet they are for this awesome marathon. I have heard great things about it, especially the fact that much of the course is actually through the park. Also, it is one of those warm-weather-winter marathons, which makes it feesable to do a fall marathon and then this one shortly thereafter. While the race seems awesome, I cannot be held accountable for the training gear. I actually saw a recap of this race on the early morning "Running on YES" show and it looked like the gnu hotness!
6. Rock n' Roll Marathon - I know nothing about this marathon except that it appears to be in San Diego in the middle of the summer, but the temperatures seem oddly ok. Apparently there are a lot of bands along the course (they say 45, which means almost 2 per mile, that sure is a lot of rock n' roll!), which should take some pressure off the anti-iPod lobby.
7. The Carlesbad Marathon - I don't understand why two marathons in San Diego can be considered really awesome marathons, but nonetheless, there they are. It's another nice winter race, thats really all that I can say about it. Other than the course passes by the scenic airport, which always makes me want to run faster!
8. The Maui Marathon - Another Hawaii marathon? We get it, Hawaii is a nice archipelago. I don't know, but something about a marathon proclaiming that it is viewed as "the most scenic marathon" just doesnt sit right with me. I would rather have crowds the whole way than a pretty view the whole way, I guess.
9. The Marine Corps Marathon - This is another one of those legendary marathons that I actually may run at some point in my life. DC gives a pretty sick course the entire way and I hear that a group of marines runs the entire race all up in their fatigues in formation carrying a flag. It seems really patriotic and would give that extra boost that you may need to finish. Also, how can I fault a race that The Dame Mary Wittenberg once won and is in the hall of fame of?
10. Grandma's Marathon - I don't know why I know so much about this marathon, but somehow, it has osmosed into my consciousness. It is a summer marathon in Duluth, Minnesnowta, so I imagine that it's fairly temperate and, being right along the shore of one of the great lakes, probably has nice scenery. I don't know why, but I want to run this race. Is it the name? I have heard good things about the ethos there? Is it my desire to see scenic Duluth? Unclear.......

The rest of the top 25 can be seen in their original form here, so check it out! Has anyone run any of these? Are they nice? Post your comments in the comments section!