Bottomline Scores
In every issue, we review a race in great detail. We have weighed various aspects of a marathon within a 1,000-point scoring grid. Besides the author of the article, two dozen runners at the race were randomly chosen to score the race for us.
Here are the Codes with their explanations:
- HT = History/Tradition: Evaluate the race’s sense of history and tradition.
- EF = Entry Form: Is the race entry form clear, concise, attractive, complete, and easy to fill out?
- EC = Entry Cost: For most races, the entry fee covers between 30 and 50 percent of the cost of putting on the event. Rate the value of your dollar relative to this race.
- LS = Locale/Scenics: s the race held in an area that is easy to get to and scenic and offers adequate food and housing services and nonrace activities for family and friends?
- RG = Registration: Is registration well organized and efficient? Does it bog down unnecessarily?
- PA = Prerace activities: Evaluate activities, such as pasta feeds, parties, and so on, during the days before the race.
- EX = Expo: Does the expo offer a fair number and variety of booths relative to the race’s size? Are there quality exhibitors and good guest speakers?
- CO = Course: Take into consideration the following: degree of difficulty, certified, sanctioned, quality of road or trail surface, adequate mileage and directional markers, aid stations, medical coverage, race communications, accessibility to course for friends and family, typical weather, and so on.
- RA = Race Amenities: This category includes race T-shirt, finisher’s medal, finisher’s certificate, adequate and efficient finish area, ease of sweatbag retrieval, showers, postrace refreshments, awards ceremony, raffles, results postcard, results book, and so on.
- VO = Volunteers: Are the volunteers experienced and adequate in number?
* race no longer held ** race replaced with new event
Race | Issue | HT | EF | EC | LS | RG | PA | EX | CO | RA | VO | Total | Max |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adirondack Marathon | 5.2 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 45 | 20 | 40 | 30 | 300 | 250 | 90 | 845 | 1000 |
Airforce Marathon | 15.3 | 25 | 19 | 28 | 45 | 17 | 45 | 39 | 345 | 232 | 98 | 893 | 1000 |
Aspen Fila Skymarathon* | 4.1 | 25 | 15 | 30 | 50 | 20 | 45 | NA | 363 | 235 | 80 | 863 | 950 |
Atlanta Marathon | 4.5 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 47 | 18 | 19 | 40 | 375 | 170 | 96 | 840 | 1000 |
Austin Marathon | 5.6 | 19 | 19 | 27 | 41 | 19 | 41 | 41 | 351 | 228 | 90 | 876 | 1000 |
Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon | 10.1 | 29 | 18 | 27 | 27 | 18 | 28 | 27 | 351 | 225 | 98 | 868 | 1000 |
Bellingham Bay Marathon | 14.3 | 14 | 19 | 27 | 48 | 20 | 18 | 23 | 352 | 201 | 98 | 820 | 1000 |
Big Sur International Marathon | 6.6 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 49 | 19 | 44 | 44 | 372 | 243 | 98 | 937 | 1000 |
Boulder Backroads Marathon | 7.4 | 18 | 20 | 26 | 44 | 19 | 35 | 33 | 357 | 241 | 93 | 886 | 1000 |
Calgary Marathon | 3.2 | 25 | 17 | 28 | 38 | 19 | 45 | 41 | 345 | 238 | 80 | 876 | 1000 |
California International Marathon | 13.5 | 27 | 20 | 26 | 47 | 18 | 38 | 41 | 360 | 223 | 93 | 893 | 1000 |
Cape Cod Marathon | 7.5 | 24 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 17 | 36 | 36 | 341 | 221 | 98 | 863 | 1000 |
Capital City Marathon | 11.1 | 15 | 18 | 26 | 43 | 19 | 14 | 38 | 382 | 238 | 96 | 863 | 950 |
Charlotte's Thunder Road Marathon | 14.5 | 26 | 20 | 30 | 44 | 14 | 34 | 36 | 320 | 211 | 100 | 835 | 1000 |
Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon | 3.6 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 46 | 17 | 42 | 43 | 364 | 220 | 100 | 901 | 1000 |
Columbus Marathon | 8.4 | 22 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 17 | 37 | 40 | 362 | 201 | 99 | 866 | 1000 |
Country Music Marathon | 14.6 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 48 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 375 | 230 | 95 | 898 | 1000 |
Cowtown Marathon | 13.6 | 27 | 20 | 21 | 46 | 20 | 35 | 33 | 288 | 189 | 78 | 757 | 1000 |
Crater Lake Marathon | 7.3 | 26 | 19 | 28 | 46 | 20 | 22 | NA | 350 | 195 | 96 | 790 | 950 |
Dallas White Rock Marathon | 4.6 | 23 | 14 | 28 | 43 | 18 | 36 | 33 | 344 | 220 | 97 | 856 | 1000 |
Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon | 18.2 | 27 | 19 | 29 | 45 | 20 | 33 | 36 | 373 | 210 | 96 | 888 | 1000 |
Des Moines Marathon | 19.3 | 20 | 20 | 27 | 45 | 18 | 48 | 45 | 370 | 230 | 100 | 923 | 1000 |
Detroit Free Press Marathon | 5.3 | 26 | 17 | 27 | 37 | 17 | 37 | 41 | 372 | 219 | 99 | 892 | 1000 |
Disney Marathon | 10.3 | 26 | 18 | 26 | 47 | 20 | 39 | 34 | 366 | 233 | 97 | 906 | 1000 |
Edge to Edge Marathon | 12.3 | 25 | 9 | 23 | 48 | 20 | 47 | NA | 330 | 193 | 100 | 805 | 950 |
Edmonton Marathon | 2.2 | 15 | 18 | 28 | 46 | 18 | 48 | 5 | 313 | 241 | 82 | 814 | 1000 |
Eugene Marathon | 19.2 | 26 | 17 | 28 | 44 | 16 | 40 | 44 | 365 | 234 | 98 | 912 | 1000 |
First Light Marathon | 17.6 | 22 | 19 | 29 | 43 | 19 | 35 | 33 | 362 | 216 | 99 | 877 | 1000 |
Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon | 16.6 | 28 | 18 | 29 | 49 | 20 | 35 | 35 | 348 | 220 | 95 | 877 | 1000 |
Fox Cities Marathon | 3.4 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 20 | 35 | 20 | 340 | 225 | 100 | 865 | 1000 |
Glass City Marathon | 6.1 | 26 | 19 | 28 | 42 | 19 | 38 | 26 | 350 | 220 | 94 | 862 | 1000 |
God's Country Marathon | 6.2 | 28 | 17 | 30 | 46 | 17 | 22 | NA | 285 | 175 | 75 | 695 | 950 |
Governor's Cup Ghost Town Marathon | 2.1 | 28 | 19 | 30 | 45 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 311 | 208 | 91 | 795 | 1000 |
Grand Island Trail Marathon | 18.5 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 50 | 20 | 30 | NA | 350 | 200 | 85 | 793 | 950 |
Grandfather Mountain Marathon | 10.2 | 29 | 19 | 29 | 45 | 16 | 45 | NA | 350 | 200 | 95 | 828 | 950 |
Grandma's Marathon | 3.1 | 27 | 19 | 25 | 42 | 19 | 49 | 42 | 395 | 250 | 100 | 968 | 1000 |
Hartford Marathon | 6.3 | 27 | 20 | 30 | 47 | 16 | 47 | 44 | 338 | 229 | 100 | 898 | 1000 |
Hatfield-McCoy Marathon | 17.2 | 30 | 20 | 27 | 42 | 19 | 43 | NA | 313 | 190 | 100 | 784 | 950 |
Honolulu Marathon | 2.4 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 50 | 16 | 48 | 35 | 350 | 245 | 99 | 906 | 1000 |
Houston Marathon | 9.6 | 27 | 19 | 25 | 48 | 19 | 44 | 49 | 383 | 243 | 96 | 953 | 1000 |
Humboldt Redwoods Marathon | 2.3 | 25 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 15 | 18 | 1 | 360 | 211 | 81 | 809 | 1000 |
Hyannis Marathon | 18.6 | 30 | 20 | 30 | 35 | 18 | 40 | 45 | 380 | 200 | 100 | 898 | 1000 |
Idaho Great Potato Marathon | 7.2 | 23 | 16 | 28 | 42 | 18 | 27 | NA | 322 | 208 | 87 | 771 | 950 |
ING New York City Marathon | 12.5 | 28 | 19 | 21 | 46 | 20 | 47 | 41 | 351 | 158 | 100 | 831 | 1000 |
Kiawah Island Marathon | 6.5 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 20 | 39 | 22 | 341 | 209 | 83 | 826 | 1000 |
Kilauea Volcano Marathon | 11.3 | 25 | 18 | 28 | 30 | 12 | 25 | NA | 300 | 250 | 100 | 788 | 950 |
Lake Tahoe Marathon | 6.4 | 17 | 19 | 26 | 49 | 17 | 45 | 39 | 359 | 206 | 90 | 867 | 1000 |
Lakefront Marathon | 9.3 | 25 | 20 | 29 | 46 | 20 | 32 | 33 | 365 | 230 | 98 | 898 | 1000 |
Las Vegas International Marathon | 1.5 | 25 | 18 | 25 | 50 | 20 | 39 | 38 | 335 | 205 | 77 | 832 | 1000 |
Lehigh Valley Health Network Via Marathon | 18.3 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 35 | 15 | 40 | 40 | 345 | 200 | 89 | 826 | 1000 |
Lincoln Marathon | 8.6 | 25 | 19 | 26 | 42 | 19 | 32 | 36 | 330 | 225 | 89 | 843 | 1000 |
Little Rock Marathon | 15.6 | 29 | 20 | 30 | 44 | 20 | 42 | 43 | 349 | 246 | 100 | 923 | 1000 |
Los Angeles Marathon | 8.1 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 37 | 17 | 38 | 39 | 295 | 208 | 89 | 788 | 1000 |
Lost Dutchman Marathon | 15.5 | 30 | 18 | 28 | 45 | 19 | 40 | 35 | 345 | 225 | 90 | 875 | 1000 |
Maine Marathon | 10.4 | 23 | 19 | 28 | 48 | 20 | 29 | NA | 334 | 198 | 100 | 799 | 950 |
Marathon to Marathon | 16.2 | 26 | 15 | 28 | 48 | 20 | 32 | NA | 320 | 235 | 100 | 824 | 950 |
Mardi Gras Marathon | 7.1 | 23 | 19 | 25 | 47 | 15 | 19 | 33 | 333 | 233 | 90 | 837 | 1000 |
Marine Corps Marathon | 11.2 | 29 | 19 | 27 | 47 | 9 | 48 | 41 | 375 | 209 | 100 | 904 | 1000 |
Missoula Marathon | 15.2 | 19 | 19 | 28 | 48 | 16 | 22 | 33 | 364 | 219 | 99 | 857 | 1000 |
Mohawk Hudson River Marathon | 14.4 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 25 | NA | 325 | 176 | 82 | 708 | 950 |
Mount Desert Island Marathon | 16.4 | 29 | 20 | 28 | 50 | 20 | 45 | 34 | 380 | 245 | 100 | 951 | 1000 |
Napa Valley Marathon | 2.5 | 28 | 20 | 23 | 50 | 17 | 40 | 40 | 375 | 230 | 90 | 913 | 1000 |
Niagara Falls International Marathon | 11.4 | 28 | 19 | 23 | 50 | 20 | 40 | 44 | 363 | 223 | 97 | 907 | 1000 |
Ocala Marathon* | 7.6 | 18 | 18 | 30 | 41 | 20 | 25 | NA | 352 | 209 | 97 | 810 | 950 |
Ocean State Marathon | 5.5 | 26 | 20 | 29 | 46 | 20 | 35 | 25 | 350 | 240 | 95 | 886 | 1000 |
Omaha Marathon | 17.4 | 20 | 15 | 25 | 45 | 18 | 40 | 45 | 350 | 200 | 90 | 848 | 1000 |
Paavo Nurmi Marathon | 13.3 | 30 | 19 | 30 | 44 | 19 | 48 | NA | 347 | 219 | 92 | 848 | 950 |
Pacific Shoreline Marathon | 10.6 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 48 | 20 | 41 | 46 | 379 | 240 | 93 | 929 | 1000 |
Park City Marathon | 8.2 | 19 | 17 | 28 | 47 | 16 | 30 | 27 | 352 | 210 | 91 | 837 | 1000 |
Philadelphia Marathon | 1.4 | 19 | 17 | 23 | 44 | 19 | 39 | 33 | 336 | 212 | 96 | 838 | 1000 |
Pike's Peak Marathon | 14.1 | 29 | 18 | 24 | 48 | 20 | 38 | 30 | 387 | 215 | 97 | 906 | 1000 |
Pittsburgh Marathon** | 1.6 | 28 | 19 | 28 | 48 | 18 | 40 | 28 | 365 | 235 | 95 | 904 | 1000 |
Pocatello Marathon | 16.3 | 18 | 20 | 27 | 46 | 19 | 42 | 34 | 373 | 244 | 97 | 920 | 1000 |
Portland Marathon | 3.3 | 27 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 18 | 48 | 35 | 375 | 250 | 100 | 943 | 1000 |
Quad Cities Marathon | 4.3 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 42 | 18 | 40 | 35 | 371 | 216 | 93 | 885 | 1000 |
Race | Issue | HT | EF | EC | LS | RG | PA | EX | CO | RA | VO | Total | Max |
Richmond Marathon | 9.4 | 28 | 19 | 25 | 45 | 8 | 39 | 29 | 373 | 312 | 91 | 870 | 1000 |
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon | 12.1 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 20 | 36 | 41 | 348 | 203 | 95 | 855 | 1000 |
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon San Diego | 9.1 | 26 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 18 | 42 | 47 | 368 | 225 | 95 | 919 | 1000 |
Rocket City Marathon | 11.5 | 25 | 19 | 29 | 44 | 19 | 43 | 38 | 351 | 237 | 97 | 902 | 1000 |
Royal Victoria Marathon | 5.4 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 18 | 45 | 10 | 375 | 250 | 95 | 918 | 1000 |
San Antonio Marathon | 10.5 | 23 | 19 | 25 | 46 | 18 | 49 | 40 | 230 | 222 | 91 | 763 | 1000 |
San Francisco Marathon | 1.2 | 27 | 18 | 27 | 50 | 20 | 46 | 45 | 377 | 208 | 88 | 903 | 1000 |
Santa Clarita Marathon | 4.4 | 15 | 18 | 30 | 47 | 20 | 45 | 31 | 330 | 235 | 95 | 866 | 1000 |
Scheels Fargo Marathon | 16.1 | 27 | 19 | 27 | 47 | 19 | 46 | 46 | 349 | 233 | 99 | 912 | 1000 |
Select Medical Corporation Harrisburg Marathon | 12.4 | 25 | 19 | 30 | 45 | 20 | 40 | 40 | 350 | 210 | 99 | 878 | 1000 |
Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon | 2.6 | 28 | 18 | 29 | 39 | 16 | 47 | 45 | 325 | 240 | 79 | 866 | 1000 |
Shiprock Marathon | 15.1 | 25 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 19 | NA | NA | 359 | 225 | 90 | 808 | 900 |
Silver State Marathon | 9.2 | 30 | 19 | 25 | 50 | 18 | NA | NA | 310 | 228 | 98 | 778 | 900 |
Sioux Falls Marathon | 19.4 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 350 | 150 | 95 | 785 | 1000 |
Space Coast Marathon | 9.5 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 45 | 19 | 38 | NA | 347 | 209 | 89 | 815 | 950 |
St. George Marathon | 13.2 | 30 | 19 | 30 | 41 | 19 | 38 | 38 | 385 | 127 | 100 | 937 | 1000 |
St. Jude Memphis Marathon | 16.5 | 28 | 20 | 28 | 50 | 18 | 40 | 40 | 370 | 230 | 100 | 924 | 1000 |
Steamboat Marathon | 12.2 | 25 | 20 | 26 | 48 | 18 | 42 | NA | 308 | 212 | 93 | 792 | 950 |
Steamtown Marathon | 3.5 | 22 | 19 | 28 | 44 | 20 | 46 | 31 | 371 | 212 | 99 | 892 | 1000 |
Stinson Beach Marathon | 18.4 | 26 | 18 | 28 | 50 | 18 | 10 | 0 | 400 | 195 | 98 | 843 | 950 |
Tacoma City Marathon | 17.1 | 25 | 20 | 26 | 44 | 14 | 42 | 36 | 351 | 236 | 93 | 887 | 1000 |
Tallahassee Marathon | 17.5 | 20 | 19 | 30 | 40 | 15 | 25 | 20 | 310 | 200 | 100 | 779 | 1000 |
Top of Utah Marathon | 17.3 | 24 | 19 | 28 | 44 | 18 | 35 | 34 | 359 | 233 | 97 | 891 | 1000 |
Tucson Marathon | 12.6 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 50 | 19 | 36 | 38 | 358 | 200 | 85 | 842 | 1000 |
Twin Cities Marathon | 8.3 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 50 | 20 | 40 | 48 | 350 | 213 | 98 | 888 | 1000 |
Under Armour Baltimore Marathon | 13.4 | 18 | 19 | 25 | 41 | 17 | 37 | 41 | 357 | 216 | 93 | 864 | 1000 |
Valley of Fire Marathon | 15.4 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 45 | 18 | 20 | NA | 350 | 200 | 100 | 788 | 1000 |
Vancouver International Marathon | 1.1 | 25 | 15 | 29 | 47 | 20 | 44 | 40 | 297 | 238 | 96 | 851 | 1000 |
Vermont City Marathon | 4.2 | 25 | 18 | 25 | 46 | 17 | 45 | 38 | 353 | 225 | 96 | 888 | 1000 |
Windermere Marathon | 19.1 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 50 | 20 | 26 | 44 | 374 | 224 | 100 | 908 | 1000 |
Wineglass Marathon | 1.3 | 19 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 19 | 34 | 30 | 344 | 217 | 90 | 839 | 1000 |
Yakima River Canyon Marathon | 18.1 | 26 | 20 | 28 | 43 | 19 | 43 | n/a | 370 | 222 | 99 | 870 | 950 |
Yonkers Marathon | 8.5 | 25 | 19 | 30 | 38 | 19 | NA | NA | 329 | 199 | 92 | 751 | 900 |
Yukon River Trail Marathon | 5.1 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 355 | 225 | 95 | 870 | 1000 |