Hall to Run 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

[Andrew A.]

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=19233

[Andrew A.]

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=19247
"Planning early alleviates   some pressure for Boston, Hall says"
And it conveniently steals the thunder of the NYRR announcement that came a day later:
"Olympic marathon medallists Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor, both of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., committed today to run the 2010 ING New York City Marathon, the New York Road Runners announced here today.  Keflezighi will attempt to retain the ING NYC Marathon title he won last year --the first by an American in 27 years-- while Kastor will attempt to win her first."
                        

[Ed]

I wish I could afford to run in just one of these spectaled events for the experience.  I would like one experience with a monster field and elite athletes and one would be enough for me.

[Andrew A.]

Something like Bix 7 or Steamboat Classic might be a more reasonable version of that. 
I recall my first really big race, it was a road race after cc season in high school.  It was a Jinglebell 5 miler with something like 5000 entrants.  While 5000 is a whole lot less than the 50,000 at Bank of America Chicago or BolderBoulder, it was quite enough.

[Ryan]

Ed, if you don't want to shell out for a marathon, consider something like the Bellin Run in Green Bay or Bix 7 in the Quad Cities. Close enough to not need a plane ticket, hotel prices would be a lot more reasonable, and entry fees aren't as crazy as the big marathons. Not 40K participants but a big enough crowd you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from within the crowd and they both get elites coming in.

[Ed]

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll look into them.  The biggest event so far has been Brig's and Al's and that is not thousands upon thousands of runners.  But I'll look into Green Bay - I wouldn't even need a hotel for that one. 

[Ryan]

Well, keep in mind, Al's Run is around 15,000 total participants and I believe between 3000 and 4000 who paid the extra $5 to be timed. You don't see the out of town pros or large packs of fast runners but, even in these bigger events with the pros coming from around the world, most of the numbers come from those who would be behind you.

[Ed]

Unfortunately Bellin is the weekend before my event and I'll be a bit busy and unable to ruyn that event (at least this year.)  I'll have to check out BIX 7 but that will require a hotel stay.

[Andrew A.]

Quad Cities or Peoria (Steamboat Classic) would be a far more reasonable stay than Chicago or the like.

[Ryan]

Didn't think of Steamboat but that would be another relatively local option for around here.

[grasshopper]

It will be interesting to see Hall go after the AR in Chicago and where that slots him among his competitors.  It is a long time between now and then, though.