2009 Marathons

Thinking of training for a marathon in early 2009--about six months out.

Local possibilities (no particular order):

• Sunday, March 1: 31st Annual Napa Valley Marathon : mostly flat, downhill.
  
• Saturday, March 28: 19th Annual Napa Valley Trail Marathon : 3,200' of elevation gain.
  
• Saturday, April 4: 22nd Annual Golden Gates Headlands Trail Marathon : 3,000' of elevation gain (4,400' total up/down).
  
• Saturday, April 11: 21st Annual Muir Woods Trail Marathon : 3,400' of elevation gain. Apparently a ladder exists on this trail near Steep Ravine.
  

Marathons I do not plan to attend because they're freaking crazy:

• Saturday, April 11: Diablo Marathon and 50-mile Endurance Run: 7,950' of elevation gain. The pictures of the Diablo 50-mile Endurance Run look gorgeous though.
  

Big Sur, the hardest one I've run so far, had between 1,000'-2,000' of elevation gain.

Apparently Auburn State Recreation Area represents a good trail running resource according to local runner Julie Fingar (I noticed Julie's vehicle back in 2006).