Are you bummed that you didn’t make it into the Chicago or New York City Marathons?
Well, you’re not alone. New York City had 200,000 applicants for its lottery, and only 2-3% got in. There were ‘only’ 160,000 applicants for Chicago’s lottery, so your odds there might have been a bit better.
But far more people got a rejection email than an acceptance email.
Don’t worry. Fall is the most popular time of year for marathons in the United States, and there are plenty of other great options out there.
I recently wrote an analysis of the marathon calendar in the United States, and there are a ton of races in the fall. This includes a mix of some of the largest races in the country, along with some small ones.
Frankly, my bucket list of fall marathons is too long. Other than Boston, there aren’t a lot of spring races I’ve got my eye on, so I find myself returning to my local race (the Jersey City Marathon) year after year. In the fall, though, it’s always somewhere new – even though I’d love to repeat some of the ones I’ve already done.
Let me run down the data real quick, and after that I’ll share a list of ten other fall marathons that are worth checking out.
Which Months Have the Most Marathons?
First, let’s take a quick look at some data about when and where marathons take place in the United States. You can find the full analysis in Runner’s Life on Medium, and if you’re not a subscriber, you can request a special link to get behind the paywall here.
The visual below shows the number of races per month in the United States – based on races in 2024 that had at least 200 finishers.
The number one month? October.
The 40 races taking place in October exceeds every other month. Although April and May have the 2nd and 3rd most races, September and November aren’t far behind.
If you were to look at the total number of finishers – not races – then October and November tower over the rest of the year. In part, this is because October has 50,000+ finishers at Chicago and New York has 50,000+ finishers at New York.
But if you were to erase the finishers from Chicago and New York, the other 39 races in October would still have about 65,000 finishers – more than every other month, including April (when Boston takes place).
So while both spring and fall are popular times for marathons, fall is the more popular time with more options.
The map above shows a good overview of when and where these races are. The color indicates the season and the size of the circle indicates the size of the race.
There are a decent number of winter races – December through February – throughout the southern United States. Some of them are large (CIM, Honolulu, Disney). There are a handful of summer races – most notably Grandma’s in northern Minnesota, the San Francisco Marathon, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon.
Then there are a bunch of tiny purple dots. Boston and LA are large spring races, but the rest are pretty small.
But there are lots of fall races – and many of them are large. There are four large circles (NYC, Chicago, MCM, and Philly), along with some medium sized circles (Richmond, Twin Cities, St. George, Columbus), and a ton of smaller dots spread throughout the country.
Fall is full of good options.
Ten Fall Marathons Worth Checking Out – Besides Chicago and NYC
So if you’re not running the Chicago or New York City Marathons, what race should you run in the fall?
Here’s a list of ten races that are worth checking out. Keep in mind that this is not exhaustive – and there are definitely more options out there. But this is the highlight reel.
The Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota
I’m going to start the list here, because this is the race I’m running this fall – and registration just opened up.
The Twin Cities Marathon is a point to point race that starts in Minneapolis and ends in St. Paul. Along the way, you’ll find out why this is called the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes – and you’ll also cross over the Mississippi River. And this should be the perfect time of year to enjoy the fall foliage.
It’s one of the ten largest races in the country, so expect a good crowd. The course has a few minor hills, but it’s otherwise quite fast. It’s in early October, but it’s far enough north that the weather is usually good. There was that one little snafu in 2023 – when the race was canceled due to an extreme heat wave – but otherwise, expect better conditions there than elsewhere in the Midwest.
The Marine Corps Marathon in DC
Next up is the Marine Corps Marathon – MCM. It’s been on my bucket list for years, and I’m hoping to check that box sooner than later.
It’s also one of the largest races in the country – usually in or around the top five. At it’s peak, MCM required a lottery for entry. But participation levels have moderated, and it’s back to first come, first served.
The main attraction here is the scenery. It starts and ends across the Potomac, but the middle part of the race takes you through DC – past the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Rotunda, and on a full loop through the National Mall. Maybe it’s my background as a history teacher, but I love running through DC. And doing it in a major marathon would be amazing.
The weather here is a little iffier. It’s late October in the mid-Atlantic, so it could be perfect. Or it could be warm and humid. You’ll just have to roll the dice.
Registration opens on April 7.
The Philly Marathon
Keeping with the historical theme, the Philly Marathon is another great choice.
You start and end at the art museum in downtown Philadelphia, but you loop through the historic section of town before heading out along the Schuylkill River. That segment out to Manayunk is long … but it’s a party once you get there! If you’re not particularly competitive, stop for a pretzel or a shot of beer.
It’s one of the ten largest races in the country, and it’s a big city race with big city crowds – but manageable logistics. It starts and ends at the same place, and you can stay in one of many hotels within walking distance. Security is pretty quick, too, so you won’t be stuck sitting around all morning.
The course loops through downtown a few times, too, making it a great course for spectating. If you plan things out right, you can see someone at least two or three times through the race – maybe four if you’re ambitious.
Oh, and the timing? Late November is (mostly) perfect. You’ll never have to worry about it being too warm. But be aware that it might be cold.
I’ve run this race, and I’ve been a spectator. It’s definitely at the top of my list of races to run a second time – if I ever whittle down my to do list.
The only thing I found disappointing was the number of times I heard, “Eye of the Tiger” along the course. It definitely could have been higher.
The Richmond Marathon
Sticking with late November, but moving further south, the Richmond Marathon is another option. Most of the fall races are in the northern half of the country. But Richmond kind of straddles the border – towards the south, but still likely to have great weather in mid-November. At Philly, you’re flirting with the possibility of a deep freeze, but that’s less likely to be the case at Richmond.
The course is scenic, passing through downtown and historic Richmond. It also runs across and along the river. Given the time of year, you’re likely to enjoy some fall foliage along the way. It’s also flat-ish. There are some rolling hills in the middle, but it’s fast enough for those trying to BQ.
With around 5,000 finishers, this race is big enough to attract a large crowd. But it’s not large enough to require overly complicated logistics complicated logistics. It’s right in that large, but not too large zone.
The Wineglass Marathon in New York
For a destination race off the beaten path, check out the Wineglass Marathon in New York State. It’s a point to point course in the New York countryside from Bath to Corning.
The course is fast and flat, and it has a slight drop in elevation. If the weather cooperates, the scenery is great. The field is on the smaller side of large, and it’s out towards the middle of nowhere, so don’t sign up for this race if you’re expecting huge crowds.
But it’s popular and well organized, and there’s some nice swag. Early October weather can be iffy, but expect it to be cool in the morning and warmer if you’re still out there in the afternoon.
This is a great choice for someone who wants a quieter, smaller race. Not the best choice if you were expecting the hoopla of the New York City Marathon.
The St. George Marathon in Utah
Now, for something completely different, consider the St. George Marathon in Utah.
While most of the rest of this list is situated in the Northeast or the Midwest, St. George is in southern Utah with the Rocky Mountains as your backdrop. The scenery in this land of national and state parks is breathtaking – in a way that’s very different from the wooded routes of rural New York.
It’s also net downhill – in a big way. You start about 5,000 feet up, and you drop 2500 feet over the course of the race. The decline is more gentle in the first half, with most of the net elevation loss in the second half of the race.
What does that mean? If you’re looking to set a new PR or qualify for Boston – this is a great choice. The only downside is waking up early to take the bus out to the start.
The Columbus Marathon in Ohio
Now that we’ve detoured through Utah, let’s head back to the Midwest. And frankly, that and New England is where a lot of these races take place.
The Columbus Marathon is another great choice for October. Maybe I’m partial to this one because my family is from Columbus, but it’s on my shortlist for races to do in the next few years.
It’s another flat course, making it a good choice for fast times. The logistics are easy, with the start and finish both located in the same place. It loops through the city, so expect good crowd support, and if you’re a Buckeye fan you’ll get to run by the Horseshoe.
The Erie Marathon on the Lake
For something smaller and out of the way, check out the Erie Marathon at Presque Isle. It’s around 1,000 runners, and it has the vibe of a small local race – not a big city spectacle.
This race is in a park on Presque Isle, on the shores of Lake Erie in northern Pennsylvania. You loop through the course twice, and it’s nice and flat. There will be quiet parts as you run through the park, but the crowd support near the start and finish is great – and local sports teams and groups man the aid stations throughout the race.
What makes this race different, though, is the timing. It’s in early September, typically the Sunday before registration opens for the Boston Marathon. This means that it’s your last chance to notch a qualifying time for the year.
Early September is an iffy time for the weather here, so just know that you’re taking a chance. But if you want that BQ, you’ll just have to roll the dice. I ran this race in 2023 looking for a last chance BQ, and it worked for me – although I didn’t make the cutoff that year. I recommend it to anyone looking for a last chance race.
The Indy Monumental Marathon
Here’s one last option in the Midwest – the Indy Monumental Marathon.
This is a relatively new race, founded in 2008, and it takes place in Indianapolis in early November. It’s another fast, flat course. This is one of the rare races on a Saturday morning. It makes travel to the race a little more complicated – but you can take your time on the way home.
It’s nice not having to go to work the next day.
I’ve only heard good things about the race, and it’s a favorite of many runners.
The Seattle Marathon After Thanksgiving
And finally, here’s something a little different: the Seattle Marathon.
Just about every race on this list can be described as “fast and flat” or “net downhill.” Great choices for Boston qualifiers. Not great if you want to truly test your mettle.
The Seattle Marathon is a hilly course, and you’ll enjoy the scenery as you run through the Pacific Northwest. It takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving, and if you’re particularly crazy you can take on the Quadzilla – a series of four marathons in four days, starting with Thanksgiving.
Or you could just run the main marathon on Sunday like a normal person.
What Race Are You Going to Run This Fall?
I was going to add the Detroit International Marathon to this list – but when I started looking around I realized it was already sold out. But if you plan ahead, it’s another one to put on your bucket list!
Crossing over into Canada in the middle of the race is a cool little gimmick. It’s also one of the older races in the country, and – fun fact – it used to take place on Thanksgiving Day.
Personally, I’ll be headed to Minneapolis this fall to run in the Twin Cities Marathon. I’ve been eying it up for the last few years. I made it into Chicago last year, so I couldn’t pass that up. But I didn’t make it into New York this year, so I’m more than happy to “settle” for Twin Cities.
What about you? What race are you running this fall – or which race would you recommend to someone else who’s looking for a backup plan?