5 Spring Half Marathons to Add to Your Bucket List
Are you on the hunt for a great spring half marathon? In no particular order, check out these 5 races that are worth the travel!
1) Austin Half Marathon [Austin, TX]
The race itself is fun, but the city of Austin alone is worth traveling for. Austin has great food [don’t miss the tacos and food trucks], live music aplenty, and a very laid back vibe. The race has good crowd support and you pass by a lot of landmarks. There are a reasonable amount of hills on the course, though, including a big one at mile 12, so be prepared for that. There’s a great path along the river to do your shakeout run the day before.
There’s also marathon and 5K options. The 2023 races happen on Sunday, February 19th. Find more details and register here.
2) Little Rock Half Marathon [Little Rock, AR]
With a different theme every year and humongous medals, this is a fun race worth adding to your list. The course runs by some famous landmarks in Little Rock, including the State Capitol which the Little Rock Nine Memorial is located. It’s a very friendly course for back of the pack runners, with an 8:00 time limit and early start available for the marathon. It’s definitely not a flat course, though [especially the marathon]. When I ran it, the post-race food was inside a building, which was great because it was raining.
There’s also marathon, 10K, and 5K options, as well as various challenges if you want to run multiple distances. The 2023 races happen the weekend of March 4-5. Find more details and register here.
3) Shamrock Half Marathon [Virginia Beach, VA]
If you’re looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a race, this is the way to go. Shamrock features a flat course, great swag [a fleece blanket + a hat when I ran it, in addition to a long sleeved tech shirt + medal], and a huge after party on the beach. The weather can be hit or miss given the time of year, but the fun atmosphere doesn’t miss.
There’s also marathon and 8K options, as well as two challenges. The 2023 races happen the weekend of March 18-19. Find more details and register here.)
4) Flying Pig Half Marathon [Cincinnati, OH]
This race has fun medals, a well-supported course, and Midwestern charm. It’s not a flat course, but the largest hill on the half course is early on, and I ran one of my better half times here. If you’re staying in a hotel, be sure to stay downtown, as you’ll be walking distance from the start/finish line along the river.
There are also marathon, 10K, 5K, and marathon relay options, as well as challenges for running multiple distances. The 2023 races happen the weekend of May 6-7. Find more details and register here.
5) Grandma’s Half Marathon [Duluth, MN]
If you can’t get into the half marathon [it always sells out quickly], the marathon is also a great option. This is a well-organized and fast course, and the entire race is along Lake Superior. It’s a medium sized race – you’re always going to be near other runners, but there aren’t any bottlenecks along the course. The biggest challenge is finding lodging, so be sure to book a hotel room ASAP or wait until the dorm options open up.
There is a marathon option, as well as a 5K the evening before. The 2023 race is on Saturday, June 17th. Find more details and register here.
