Smaller marathons are definitely the way to go, but there can still be an opportunity for PBs. In the past few years, I've run Newport marathon in Wales, Pisa marathon, and most recently Düsseldorf, and they were all fast courses perfect for a PB.
Thanks for the suggestions. I ran the Connemarathon and Dingle marathon, and both were pretty hilly (but the views were really awesome). Another I have on my list, Flanders Fields, seems to be flat, but looking at the finish times from the past few years, doesn't seem to be too fast. I'll check the ones you mentioned, especially Wales, as I could just take a boat there and make it a weekend.
Smaller marathons are definitely the way to go, but there can still be an opportunity for PBs. In the past few years, I've run Newport marathon in Wales, Pisa marathon, and most recently Düsseldorf, and they were all fast courses perfect for a PB.
Thanks for the suggestions. I ran the Connemarathon and Dingle marathon, and both were pretty hilly (but the views were really awesome). Another I have on my list, Flanders Fields, seems to be flat, but looking at the finish times from the past few years, doesn't seem to be too fast. I'll check the ones you mentioned, especially Wales, as I could just take a boat there and make it a weekend.
Regardless of what time you're going for, I do recommend the Sub-3 World Marathon Index if you're looking for a fast course.