I recently signed up for the the Ninth Annual Marshall University Marathon, which is scheduled for Sunday, November 11th, 2012  at 7:00 am. They offer a half and full marathon, marathon relay and a 5k.This is a great fall race!

Course:
The course is flat and fast and USATF certified.  It is a perfect course to run to qualify for Boston. The highlight is to run through Marshall University campus on their way to a goal-line finish in Marshall Football Stadium.  Footballs will be available to carry in the final 100 yards if desired!

The flower:
Flowers will be handed out as you enter campus.  This is a memorial for the plane crash victims from November 14th, 1970 (for which the movie We are Marshall  was made).

Amenities:
All full marathon registrants who enter by September 2nd will get a full-zip jacket made by Brooks !! Everyone (including early marathon participants) will receive a short sleeve tech shirt from Brooks also.  Everyone also gets a unique finisher’s medal, which is specially designed for the event in a 3D format.

And if this still hasn’t convinced you, here are 11 reasons why you should run the Marshal University Marathon:

1. Be a part of the largest marathon in West Virginia
2. A super fast course;  rated top 10 on MarathonGuide.com in percentage of people qualifying for the Boston Marathon
3. Great Finishing Medals
4. Great Brooks Jacket to early marathon registrants;  Brooks long sleeve tech shirts without advertising all over for  later registrants
5. Great Awards  (usually collectible Blenko Glass)
6. Run along the Ohio River and also thru Ritter Park
7. Timed by disposable chronotrack tags
8. Carry a football to the goal line finish at Marshall University Football Stadium
9. Complimentary Dean Ornish pasta dinner pre-race
10. Great post race food and refreshments on the football field
11. Last and most important: I will be there! Let’s meet!!

For more info, check out the race website HERE

Last year’s medal