Great advice on drafting. I’m the legs of a wheelchair duo team, and I’ll tell runners that we pass on the course to get behind us, as we are a great wind block.
Good advice! Let me add a 6th - consider running your marathon at an age-break point. This year, at age 59 I ran two marathons. I ran the fast-course NJ marathon in the spring at a 3:34 time which was a 2020 BQ (age 60 qualifier is 3:50). Then in October, in Dublin, I ran a 3:30, which should be a comfortable BQ for 2021.
Good advice. Wish I had seen this 3 years ago when I really starting trying to qualify for Boston. I would note that I found that larger marathons (Marine Corp and Chicago) that had great support and spectators were more fun and energizing for me to perform (part of course selection). There are also net downhill courses (but some have impact on quads if too severe of a grade). Weather is also a factor, so courses with consistent conditions (calm, 45 degrees) are going to be optimal. I trained for a target of a 5 minute buffer against the qualifying times to ensure that I was going to make it into the race. The drafting suggesting is interesting, since I normally try not to get too close to other runners.
I say check out the course yourself. Actually get out there so you can psych yourself out. I ran a 5K but ran 5 min. slower bec I never looked at the course. The course ended up being three 80° hills! Many people wearing Nike Next% DNF the course. I ran with my cheapo Saucony & still finished. It was also ran at 2pm (very hot 90°F weather)
