Your next marathon: spring 2019?

If you’re thinking about a spring marathon in 2019, congratulations! Time to start planning, since training season is right around the corner. If you’re a veteran marathoner, you’ll already be thinking about starting to train in mid-December for an April race. If this will be your first 42.2, be aware you need a decent base (preferably including a half-marathon or two) and four months on a training plan that includes easy runs, harder runs, and long runs.

RELATED: Spring marathon season is around the corner. Where are you racing?

If you’ve never run through the winter and are apprehensive about it, you could choose a fall 2019 marathon, build up your base over the winter, and put off serious training til the warmer months. If you’re OK with running through the winter (and if you have access to a treadmill or indoor track for those days when bad weather threatens to derail your plan), we say go for it.

Here are some Canadian races to consider for spring 2019. All are certified Boston qualifiers. Registration is open, and some races offer an early-bird discount:

Eastern Canada

Scotiabank Fredericton Marathon (Sunday, May 12, 2019)
Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon (Halifax–Sunday, June 9, 2019)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSyykN-g3x0/?taken-by=bluenosemarathon

Ontario

Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon (Sunday, May 26, 2019)
Waterloo Marathon (Sunday, April 28, 2019)
Toronto Marathon (Sunday, May 5, 2019)
Mississauga Marathon (Sunday, May 5, 2019)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjSShDUgPgM/?tagged=tamarackraceweekend

Quebec

Marathon SSQ de Longueuil (Montreal area–Sunday, May 19, 2019)

Western Canada

Manitoba Marathon (Winnipeg–June 16, 2019)
Saskatchewan Marathon (Saskatoon–Sunday, May 26, 2019)
Woody’s RV World Marathon, Red Deer, Alta. (Sunday, May 19, 2019)
Scotiabank Calgary Marathon (Sunday, May 26, 2019)
Banff Marathon (Sunday, June 16, 2019)
BMO Vancouver Marathon (Sunday, May 5, 2019)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCKT6_gPiv/?taken-by=banffmarathon

U.S. races

And if a destination race is something you’re considering, why not travel to the U.S. for a spring marathon? Fan support is generally very enthusiastic in the U.S. Obviously Boston comes to mind, but registration is now closed for Boston 2019, so consider trying to qualify for 2020.

Other possibilities include the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio (Sunday, May 5, 2019), the Big Sur International Marathon in Big Sur, California (Sunday, April 28, 2019), the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va. (Sunday, March 17, 2019) and Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minn. (Saturday, June 22, 2019).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiH8PIZA_G3/?tagged=bigsurmarathon2018

Spring marathons in Europe

the NN Marathon Rotterdam (April 7, 2019) and the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (April 14, 2019) are two to consider, and registration is open. (Note that for the Paris marathon, you must present a medical certificate signed by a doctor when you pick up your race kit. Here’s the link to the downloadable form.)