At FindMyMarathon.com we have compiled our list of the winners of the Best Marathons of 2016. Our lists are based on runner reviews, social media comments, and various input from the running community for races run in 2016. In the case of the Fastest Marathons and Best Marathon to Qualify for Boston categories, additional statistical data was used to determine the winners. In all of the categories, the races are listed in no particular order.
Several races appear in more than one category. The REVEL Mt. Charleston Marathon shows up three times in our lists (Fastest Marathons, Best Marathons to Qualify for Boston, and Best New Marathons). In addition, the California International Marathon, Big Sur International Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Boston Marathon, Akron Marathon, and Mount Desert Island Marathon all appear in two categories.
Best Marathons of 2016
Narrowing down the Best Marathons of 2016 from hundreds of races was very challenging. Unfortunately, we couldn’t include every great race (and there are a lot). Our list is based on reviews from our site as well as from social media and running community comments, and other reviews. The list is in no particular order.
- Big Sur International Marathon – Carmel, CA
- Richmond Marathon – Richmond, VA
- Boston Marathon – Boston, MA
- California International Marathon – Sacramento, CA
- Chicago Marathon – Chicago, IL
Best Mid-Sized Marathons of 2016
Like with the Best Marathons list, narrowing down the Best Mid-sized Marathons of 2016 was also very challenging. Our list is based on reviews from our site as well as from social media and running community comments, and other reviews. The races on this list range from approximately 500 to 2,000 marathon finishers.
- Wineglass Marathon – Corning, NY
- Mount Desert Island Marathon – Bar Harbor, ME
- Akron Marathon – Akron, OH
- Grand Rapids Marathon – Grand Rapids, MI
Fastest Marathons
Our Fastest Marathons list is based on our PR Score for each marathon in 2016. The PR Score is calculated using an algorithm based on the course elevation changes, weather during the race, and the race elevation. Read more about our Marathon PR and Course Scores and view the Scores for all marathons in 2016.
- REVEL Canyon City Marathon – Azusa, CA
- REVEL Mt. Charleston Marathon – Las Vegas, NV
- Peak to Creek Marathon – Morganton, NC
- Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon – North Bend, WA
- Jack & Jill’s Downhill Marathon – North Bend, WA
Best Marathons to Qualify for Boston
Our Best Marathons to Qualify for Boston list includes races with both a high percentage of runners achieving Boston Qualifying standards for their age group and also having a high number of runners qualifying. In addition, runner reviews and running community comments are also taken into condieration.
View the BQ percentage and number of BQers for all marathons on our Marathon Rankings list or check out all Boston Qualifying races on our BQ calendar.
- Mountains to Beach Marathon – Ventura, CA
(29% qualified / 603 total BQs) - Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon – Geneva, IL
(35% qualified / 66 total BQs) - Pocono Mountain Run for the Red Marathon – Stroudsburg, PA
(37% qualified / 207 total BQs) - REVEL Mt. Charleston Marathon – Las Vegas, NV
(39% qualified / 237 total BQs) - California International Marathon – Sacramento, CA
(23% qualified / 1,413 total BQs) - Boston Marathon – Boston, MA
(34% qualifiers / 8,947 total BQs) - REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon – Cottonwood, UT
(29% qualifiers / 383 total BQs) - Erie Marathon at Presque Isle – Erie, PA
(30% qualifiers / 410 total BQs)
Most Scenic Marathon
The Most Scenic Marathon is based on runner reviews, course descriptions, and social media and running community comments.
- Avenue of the Giants Marathon – Weott, CA
- Mount Desert Island Marathon – Bar Harbor, ME
- San Francisco Marathon – San Francisco, CA
- Big Sur International Marathon – Carmel, CA
- Kauai Marathon – Poipu, HI
Best Organized Marathon
The Best Organized Marathon is based on runner reviews and social media and running community comments about the race organization.
- Chicago Marathon – Chicago, IL
- Akron Marathon – Akron, OH
- Steamtown Marathon – Scranton, PA
- St. George Marathon – Carmel, CA
- Houston Marathon – Houston, TX
Best New Marathon
The Best New Marathon is based on runner reviews, course descriptions, social media and running community comments.
- REVEL Mt. Charleston Marathon – Las Vegas, NV
- Joplin Memorial Marathon – Joplin, MO
Please feel free to post a Review for any marathon you’ve run.
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