Courtesy Platte Valley Companies Monument Marathon
1) Monument Half Marathon • Scottsbluff, NE
Run where the pioneers traversed the Oregon Trail some two centuries ago at this race, which unfolds through the stunning 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska.
Sat, Sep 29, 2018 • View this race »
2) Middlebury Maple Run Half Marathon • Middlebury, VT
Rolling green hills, quaint New England streets and a college town atmosphere are just a few of the charms of this annual springtime race, nicknamed “The Sweetest Half.”
Sun, May 6, 2018 • View this race »
3) Steel Rail Half Marathon • Lanesborough, MA
The gorgeous, tree-covered hills and woodlands of Berkshire County in western Massachusetts offer a scenic backdrop for this race, run on a 10-ft.-wide paved trail that has just 3 turns for the entire route.
Sun, May 20, 2018 • View this race »
4) Iron Horse Half Marathon • Midway, KY
Nestled in the heart of Kentucky’s bluegrass country, this race follows an out-and-back route that rises only about 100 feet over the course of the race, past thoroughbred horse farms lined with split-rail fencing.
Sun, Oct 14, 2018 • View this race »
5) Malibu Half Marathon • Malibu, CA
It’s pretty much impossible not to include this race on a list like this, as it’s run along one of Southern California’s most scenic roads, where rocky bluffs overlook sandy beaches with waves crashing onshore.
Sun, Nov 4, 2018 • View this race »
6) Bryce Canyon Half Marathon • Bryce, UT
Likewise, this 13.1-miler through Utah’s stunning canyon country will make your draw drop, thanks to its incredible red rock formations, wide-open skies, and sandstone pinnacles and spires.
Sat, July 14, 2018 • View this race »
7) Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon • Sonoma, CA
It’s been called one of the races with the best finish line in the country, thanks to the wine and music festival that awaits after you trek through Napa’s beautiful rolling farmlands and vineyards.
Sun, July 15, 2018 • View this race »
8) Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon • Myrtle Beach, SC
Fast, flat and a great race for recording a PR, this half unfolds along South Carolina’s “Grand Strand,” where you’ll run long stretches along North Ocean Boulevard before finishing next to the beach.
Sun, Oct 21, 2018 • View this race »
9) Gansett Half Marathon • Narragansett, RI
With a gorgeous shoreline along Narragansett Bay that runners will follow for all but a few miles of the course, this race also features a run from this town’s historic Towers to the Point Judith Lighthouse and back.
Sun, Oct 21, 2018 • View this race »
10) Autumn Color Run Half Marathon • Buena Vista, CO
Run through Colorado’s Arkansas River valley about two hours from Denver at this gorgeous fall race, which unfolds largely along dirt roads and drops some 2,500 feet by the time you reach the finish line.
Sat, Sep 15, 2018 • View this race »
11) Pier to Peak Half Marathon • Santa Barbara, CA
It’s sometimes called “the world’s toughest half marathon,” and for a reason, as it runs from the edge of Sterns Wharf all the way up to La Cumbra Peak, which overlooks Santa Barbara from 4,000 feet above.
Sun, Sep 2, 2018 • View this race »
12) The Giant Race Half Marathon • San Francisco, CA
If you’re a baseball fan and you love San Francisco, this is definitely the race for you — you’ll cross the finish line on home plate inside the confines of AT&T Park, the home of the city’s Giants baseball team.
Sun, Sep 9, 2018 • View this race »
13) Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon • Santa Fe, NM
The dramatic landscapes of New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, as well as the architectural treasures of the city, are a big part of what makes this race special, which finishes at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino.
Sun, Sep 16, 2018 • View this race »
13.1) Navy-Air Force Half Marathon • Washington, DC
You’ll start and finish on the National Mall in front of the Washington Monument — and run past the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials — at this popular race, which draws more than 6,000 runners every year.
Sun, Sep 16, 2018 • View this race »
Register for the Navy Air Force Half and use code JOSHUA17 for a 15% discount.
I love the Squaw Valley Half marathon in June! It starts and finishes in the Village at Squaw and follows a flat, fast course…a rarity in Tahoe!