Looking for:
Best half marathons in north america - best half marathons in north americaThe Best Half Marathons in the U.S. That Are Worth Traveling For.
11 Best (and Most Scenic) Half Marathons in the U.S.
Running a half marathon is a great way to stay motivated throughout the year to maintain a running routine, and check out new parts of the U. Runners will face a challenging and hilly route that climbs feet throughout the course of the race.
Chase the sunset over The Watchman, a famous peak in Zion , while soaking in vibrant red cliffs surrounding the trail. This race has sold out the last 6 years, so sign up early! S has to offer. Over the course of The course begins in the Boise foothills and ends at Aldape Summit. Age group winners even take home Vermont maple syrup and cheese as prizes. The post-race party includes a catered spread of local food and beverages. Runners can also enjoy this sunlit filled day in the Last Frontier with fantastic views of Denali on a clear day and running along forested trails with endless mountain views.
Missoula hosts 4, runners on this rural, point-to-point race that travels through the countryside with views of the rockies, along the glistening Bitterroot River and finishes in downtown Missoula, a town with a strong western heritage.
Be prepared for elevation—this race starts at 3, feet above sea level. The run begins at Cuvaison Estate Wines and ends with tasting in Sonoma Plaza to celebrate what your legs can do. This is a point-to-point course starting in Snowmass Village and finishes in Aspen. There are major elevation changes on backcountry trails, so this is typically for trail runners looking for a heft challenge.
Get ready for some scenic, high elevation, Rocky Mountain views! More information on the Missoula Half Marathon. Surrounding Attractions : Route 66, downtown Tulsa, Tulsa riverfront.
Best For : history buffs, Americana, high energy. This high energy course embraces its namesake, Route 66, with two separate sections of running on this iconic roadway! Though Oklahoma may be known as a relatively flat state, this course is surprisingly hilly, so be ready! Spectator and crowd support is one of the best aspects of this US half marathon, so embrace the high energy of this race!
More information on the Route 66 Half Marathon. Best For : maritimers, New Englanders, ocean view appreciators. This coastal course packs the oceanside views, as well as paths through historic Rhode Island neighborhoods and New England countryside!
The course views of Easton Beach and Bay are arguably hard to beat! More information on the Amica Newport Half Marathon. Best For : outdoor appreciators, history buffs, off the beaten path. The Crazy Horse Memorial is one of the most impressive monuments in the state of South Dakota, if not the entire country! There is also nothing to complain about when running through the spire-filled Black Hills region of South Dakota.
The bonus of this rugged, outdoorsy course? After a short, initial, uphill climb, its smooth sailing with a mostly downhill course! Surrounding Attractions : downtown Nashville, country music venues.
Best For : southern charmers, country music lovers. Follow this course through the streets of Nashville, filled with the sights and on course sounds of country music and honky tonk, for a finish at the home of the Tennessee Titans! Nothing quite says Nashville like this energy packed course! Best For : history appreciators, Americana, outdoor lovers. What do you think of when you think of the American Northeast? Not only do runners have a chance to run through covered bridges, characteristic of this region, but they also get to enjoy plenty of farmland and river views in this quintessential New England race!
Need another reason? Need still one more reason? Vermont maple syrup and cheese are the prizes for the top finishers! More information on Covered Bridges Half Marathon. Surrounding Attractions : beaches, jungle, resorts, outdoor opportunities.
Best For : island lovers, tropical adventurers, beachers. As stunningly beautiful as this Hawaiian favorite is, be ready for some potentially intense heat and humidity!
Best For : National Park lovers, outdoor sight-see-ers and appreciators, mountaineers, rugged runners, uphillers and high elevation gainers.
Those that have run the Glacier Half Marathon will staunchly argue that it is the most jaw droppingly scenic best half marathon course in the USA! And they have good reason to say so. But the reward and subsequent bragging rights will be worth it! More information on the Glacier Half Marathon. Best For : high energy, big city, night runners, night lifers. This half marathon is amped as high as it possibly gets on race energy, and fully embodies the surrounding Vegas vibe!
This race is so big, it actually shuts down the iconic Las Vegas Strip while it is being run! Best For : city lovers, high energy, big crowds, cowboy and history buffs. Everything is bigger in Texas, so why not run the biggest half marathon event to be held in the Lone Star State?
More information on the Cowtown Half Marathon. Best For : National Parkers, outdoor lovers, red rock junkies. Nothing says Utah quite like Zion National Park! It is truly a treat to visit this gem, but it is even better to run through it! Interested in other National Park half marathons? Check out the whole National Park series organized by Vacation Races!
More information on the Zion Half Marathon. Best For : hill runners, city lovers, high energy, historical appreciators, waterfront runners. Most importantly, the chance to actually run across the Golden Gate Bridge as part of the course. As well as running through San Francisco neighborhoods, the Embarcadero waterfront, Mission Street, and views of the Bay!
This is a sentimental favorite of mine, as my first half marathon took place in San Francisco over a decade ago! More information on the San Francisco Half Marathon.
Best For : ocean and beachers, outdoor appreciators. Just outside of San Diego lies the rugged seaside community of La Jolla, the perfect setting for this US half marathon! This course epitomizes the best of oceanside California, which is simply never a bad backdrop to have while running!
More information on the La Jolla Half Marathon. Surrounding Attractions : California coastline, beach towns, coastal state parks, hiking and camping. Best For : beach, coastline, and ocean lovers. One more beachy Californian just for good measure! Highlighting its best quality, this course is almost entirely run along the coast, with shimmering ocean views to guide you over those 13 miles!
More information on the Big Sur Half Marathon. There you have it! The 26 best half marathons in the USA, encompassing every aspect of long distance running that a runner could want! Whether you are a big city or small town runner, mountain or ocean viewer, or a combination in between, committing to training for and running a half marathon in any of these destinations will be a challenge you never regret taking on!
Now that you know where running can take you, are you ready to get started training? I am a hiker, backpacker, camper, state highpointer, long distance runner, cyclist, kayaker, tower runner, and avid pursuer of new destinations that allow me to interact with them in an active way!
If you are looking for a new kind of vacation, active travel is your answer! So what exactly is trail running versus regular running? What defines a trail runner?
What trail running gear is…. A lot of times, it comes down…. I thoroughly enjoy sharing about destinations in which people think they know everything already. Take Las Vegas, for example,…. I have seen this joke posted in random places throughout…. Your email address will not be published. I want to hear more! Sign me up for the newsletter! Skip to content. Pin Share 6. Table of Contents.
No comments:
Post a Comment