The Case for Skipping That Big-City Marathon (and Running a Smaller Race Instead)

If you’ve ever wondered why your training doesn’t always translate to the race-day performance you expected, you’re not alone. There are countless non-training factors that affect how a race unfolds, but one of the biggest is simply the size of the event itself.

Here’s why smaller races might be the key to running your fastest—and happiest—race yet.

Why Big City Marathons Can Hold You Back

Big-city races can be incredible experiences, but the sheer number of participants means logistics often take priority over the runner experience. The scale and spectacle of massive events can also add unnecessary mental pressure especially for runners chasing a PR.

This side of race planning doesn’t get talked about much, but most experienced coaches agree: if you want to improve your odds of running your fastest time, choose a smaller race.

I’ll mostly focus on marathons here, since they tend to highlight the biggest tradeoffs—think 50,000 runners in a big-city race versus under 2,000 in a smaller one. But if you’re aiming for a fast 5k, 10K or half marathon, much of the same logic still applies.

Of course, there’s such a thing as too small, and that sweet spot depends on your pace and your goals. If you’re fast enough to win a race with a time slower than your PR, you might not push to a personal best (but hey, you’ll have won the race!). If you’re more mid-pack, though, then some very small races might be the perfect fit.

Beyond logistics and course design, though, there’s another major factor that sets smaller races apart: how they shape your mentality.

Mindset and Mental Load

This encompasses both how you think about the race in the months leading up to it, and how you approach race day itself.

Let's get a few facts out of the way.

You are NOT your race result. Your fitness improves regardless of when—or even IF—you race. Just because things don’t go according to plan doesn’t mean you aren’t fit.

Second, the most effective training for long-term fitness isn’t tied to a single race date, especially if you’re trying to run multiple big-city marathons each year. I see a lot of runners take on a spring marathon and a fall marathon, sometimes even the same ones year after year. While that can work for some people for a few years, it also boxes you into a corner when it comes to long-term development and fitting in other fun races.

Third, countless uncontrollable factors affect how your training unfolds and how quickly your body adapts. All of that influences when your best race window might be.

Finally, remember there is a massive number of variables that affect performance on any given day—and many are out of your control. You can show up with the best fitness of your life, pace and fuel perfectly, and still have an off day. That’s why we race, and don’t just compare everyone’s training logs and VO₂max scores!

So with all that in mind, here are some ways that choosing Big-City races can affect mentality.

Pressure

A pattern I’ve seen in many athletes is that big-city marathons feel more important than smaller races. That perception can change how they think about their training, the pressure they put on themselves, and even their willingness to adjust when life happens.

Here’s an example: Let’s say some unexpected life stress is piling up, and fitting in your training is adding even more pressure. It’s peak training time for your goal race.

Do you:

A: Re-evaluate whether your chosen race still fits with your life and training right now?

B: Adjust your training but stick to your chosen race?

C: Take the “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” approach and push through no matter what, because following the plan is all that matters.

From what I’ve seen, athletes planning for smaller races are often more flexible—willing to switch to a later event, defer, or adjust their distance. Those training for big-city marathons, though… most will toe that start line no matter what, short of a major injury. Sometimes even with one.

From a long-term health and progress standpoint, option A is often the best choice. Option C is the least healthy, because miles are meaningless without context. It’s stress that matters, and you could be risking far more than a race result by pushing through.

Option B is safer in terms of training, but showing up undertrained can still increase your injury risk at the race itself. Both B and C add recovery time before you can rebuild, and almost always mean missing your goal on race day.

On race day, big-city marathoners are also more likely to take a “death before DNF” mindset—which might sound gritty, but can limit long-term progress. It can lead to unhealthy pacing choices, fueling mistakes, or obsessive focus on perfection. None of those help you grow as a runner.

The mental load is just one part of it; smaller races can also change how the whole day unfolds, from the moment you wake up to when you cross the finish line.

Pre–Race Logistics

Let's picture what an ideal pre-race routine might look like at a smaller race.

You awaken in a comfortable bed (perhaps even your own!) and eat your pre-race breakfast at the most ideal time for you. Your drive yesterday to the hotel was less than two hours, or maybe the race is close enough that you’ll head directly to the start line this morning. 

After breakfast, you have time to relax and limit mental stress. You drive or walk easily to the race venue, arriving about 45–60 minutes before the start. You pick up your bib, chat with other runners or race staff, and maybe sit for a few minutes on a picnic table or bench.

About 20-30 minutes before the start, you begin your warmup with some leg swings and lunges and an easy loop on neighborhood roads, followed by some strides from the starting line.

You finish your warmup about 10 minutes before the start, line up, and you’re ready. Even if you’re not near the front, you’ll likely cross the line within a minute. The National Anthem plays, the race begins — and you’re off.

All told you've probably been on your feet for less than an hour prior to the race.

Now let's think of your typical Big-City marathon.

First, you need to plan to pick up your bib one to three days before the race, which means arriving well in advance. There’s usually a big expo that’s fun to explore — and if you’re in a new city, it’s tempting to walk around and take in the sights. There’s so much to do!

On race morning, the elites start at 9:00 a.m., but you won’t be starting until 10:30 or 11:00. It’s already warming up! That means you need to eat breakfast around 7:00 or 8:00 a.m., but here’s the problem: you have to take a bus to the start line or arrive at the venue 3+ hours before your wave begins. You may be standing the whole time, or sitting on the ground if you’re lucky enough to find a spot. If you’re really lucky, there might be a chair.

You try to stay loose and keep moving, but that’s about the best you can do for a warm-up—you’re surrounded by 40,000 of your 'closest friends.' About 30-45 minutes before your start, you’re herded into your corral with a few thousand others, shoulder to shoulder, just waiting. The race started hours ago for the elites, the temperature’s climbing, and you’re still waiting.

There’s nothing wrong with this as a fun experience — it can be unforgettable! But unless you’re extraordinarily lucky, you’re unlikely to perform at your best with a pre-race routine like that.

With smaller races, the chances of recreating that calm, ideal routine are much higher.

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During the Race

In many big-city marathons, you can be a competitive runner in your age group and still start behind thousands of people. Even near the front, you’ll have a steady crowd all around you.

In some ways, that can be a strength. You’re never running solo, which means you can settle into a pack, draft efficiently, or find others to pace with. There’s always someone nearby to push you—or at least to chat with if you like. But there’s a limit to how much company helps. With so many runners around, it can be overwhelming to focus on racing rather than simply navigating the flow.

Crowds bring challenges, too: long waits at water stations, piles of discarded cups and gels underfoot, and the extra distance you cover weaving through slower runners. All those little detours add up!

At smaller races, the opposite is true. Fewer people mean clearer paths, less chaos, and easier access to aid stations. The flip side for the smallest races is that if you’re faster—but not quite up with the lead pack—you could find yourself running alone. No one to draft behind, fewer runners to chase, and sometimes less of that competitive spark. For some, that solitude feels peaceful; for others, it can be tough.

You’ll also find fewer spectators. The cheers you do hear tend to stand out more—individual voices instead of a wall of noise—but the course will feel quieter. That can make it easier to stay calm and focused, or it might leave you missing that energy boost from the crowd. Either way, smaller races shift the focus inward, to you and your own rhythm.

Note: Through my coaching and personal running I've found the best balance is races with 1,000-4,000 participants, but only you know your goals and comfort level with all we've discussed.

Course

With a few exceptions, most big-city marathon courses are designed around what’s logistically feasible for the host city. Closing dozens of miles of roads to traffic means the course has to fit what’s possible—not always what’s ideal for runners.

By contrast, many smaller races design their courses to be fast, scenic, and fun. Some include stretches on dirt roads, bike paths, or quiet backroads that make for a more personal, enjoyable experience. Because these events often use partially open roads, race directors have far more freedom in how they lay out the course. That does mean runners need to stay alert on open sections, but it’s rare for accidents to occur.

That’s not to say every small race has a perfect course—or that big-city marathons are automatically flawed. Far from it. But it’s a difference worth considering, especially if you’re used to large events where logistics often take precedence over runner experience.

If you’re curious which smaller races might fit your goals, check out my post on race course selection.

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Post–Race Logistics

Just like before the race, logistics at the finish line are much simpler at smaller events. There may only be a few finishers per minute (if that!), which means you can take a moment to celebrate, grab photos without getting in anyone’s way, and find your family or friends easily. You might even have time for a short cooldown—especially important at half marathons and below.

Your family or friends were probably able to watch you finish and even give you a high five while leaning on the barricade right at the finish line.

You likely won’t have to walk far to your car, and might even go get showered and changed, then return to cheer on other runners or celebrate together. At many smaller races, the finish area feels more like a family or team gathering than a large commercial event. The finish line might be in a park or open space where you can find a quiet spot to celebrate and decompress.

In a big-city race, the sheer number of participants creates a completely different atmosphere. You’re more likely to be funneled into a slow-moving line of finishers working through a pre-determined “post-race checklist”: medal, water, space blanket, maybe a snack or two. Then it’s on to a designated pickup area for your gear bag or family meeting zone.

As for your family or friends, they might not even be able to spot you finish—and from experience, it’s stressful for them too! Spectators often can’t get close enough to cheer where you’ll actually hear them, and after the race they have to navigate their own crowd just to meet up.

And then, of course, comes the trip back to your car, hotel, or post-race plans—which may or may not be straightforward in a big-city race.

None of this is a criticism of those events; it’s simply the reality of hosting 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers, and crowds that can number in the millions.

Miscellaneous Benefits to Smaller Races

There are other benefits to smaller races as well.

• Smaller races may have a fun and quirky atmosphere, or even a theme.

• Previewing the race course is often much more straightforward.

• Family or friends can usually access multiple points along the course to cheer you on, not just the finish line.

• They may be able to take photos or video of you and offer more personal support.

• You may feel treated more like someone special when you are among ~2,000 runners versus among 50,000.

• If you’re a fairly competitive runner, you might find yourself racing directly alongside others in your age group, rather than running solo and waiting to see results later.

• You’ll finish higher in your age group than you likely would at most big-city races.

• Participant photos are usually higher quality and easier to access—sometimes even free! Smaller races are far more likely to hire dedicated photographers or offer complimentary downloads with the race logo. In contrast, big-city races are usually locked into the large “spray and pray” photo companies. $40 for one sub-par photo to celebrate your accomplishment? Insane.

• Post-race amenities can be more generous, especially the food. Many smaller races want you to stick around and enjoy the atmosphere, not rush out the door.

Are there drawbacks? Only one significant one comes to mind: if you’re doing a smaller destination race, travel might take a little more coordination. But there are so many incredible smaller events out there—and chances are, some great ones are close to home.

Summary

There are plenty of reasons to do a big-city marathon, and they can be unforgettable experiences. But if you’re feeling stuck in a rut with your racing, or struggling to snag that next PR, it might be time to think smaller.

Smaller races can bring you calmer logistics, better focus, and a more personal experience—and sometimes, that’s where the magic happens.

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