Field notes · the blog
Honest writing on running the right race.
Data, opinion, and the occasional vendetta against the phrase “fast course.” Written by people who actually run these races. One new post a week, no sponsors, no SEO filler.
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Race Comparison · 7 min read
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CIM vs Indianapolis Monumental: Which Is the Better BQ Race?
Two of the fastest fall marathons in America. One is a net-downhill point-to-point that rewards quad strength; the other is a pancake-flat loop that rewards pacing discipline. Here's how to choose.
Matt Cuddy
Jun 11, 2026
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Race Comparison · 7 min read
Chicago vs Berlin for a Marathon PR: Which Major Is Faster?
Both are flat, both are fast, both are a lottery to get into. If your only goal is a personal best, here's how the Chicago and Berlin marathons actually stack up.
By Matt Cuddy·Jun 11, 2026
Race Selection · 8 min read
The Flattest Marathons for a Boston Qualifier (2026)
Flat helps. But the flattest course isn't automatically your best shot at a Boston qualifier. Here's how flatness, net downhill, field quality, and weather really combine, with the races that get all four right.
By Matt Cuddy·Jun 11, 2026
Race Selection · 8 min read
The Fastest Fall Marathons for a PR (2026)
Fall is the deepest PR season of the year: cool air, flat courses, and fields full of people chasing the same thing. Here are the fastest fall marathons in 2026, sequenced from September to December.
By Matt Cuddy·Jun 11, 2026
Race Selection · 7 min read
The Best Cool-Weather Marathons for a PR (2026)
You can train for the course. You can't train the thermometer. Here are the marathons with the most reliably cool race-day weather, the variable that quietly decides more personal bests than elevation ever does.
By Matt Cuddy·Jun 11, 2026
Marathon Data · 9 min read
I Scored 200 Marathons for BQ-Friendliness. Here's the Method.
Most BQ-friendly lists are vibes. We built a repeatable way to score every marathon in our catalog on the things that actually move a qualifying time, then ran all 200 through it. Here's exactly how it works and what it turned up.
By Matt Cuddy·Jun 11, 2026