Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is hard and I know a lot of fellow runners who have gotten frustrated by missing their qualifying times, sometimes by minutes or even seconds. It can be easy to forget that even finishing a marathon or half marathon at all is a major accomplishment.
So if you want to run a marathon without having to worry about the pressure of being able to finish within a strict time limit to even get in, here are some of the most beautiful courses in the world that you don't have to qualify for. (And the time limits during the races themselves are all very reasonable).
I'm including a mix of urban and rural settings and there are a few bonus ones because I couldn't narrow it down to jusy 10.
1. Antarctica
The Antarctica Marathon
The terrain is challenging and getting there is rough but it's well worth the trip. It'll be a once in a lifetime experience where you'll get to some amazing wildlife up close and personal and learn a lot about ecology and the effects of climate change from the guides that accompany you to the continent.
