Featured race you shouldn’t miss

If you’re the runner scanning the calendar every October for a February race that won’t punish you with wind chill, ice, or a 4,000-foot vertical gain, put the St. Petersburg Distance Classic on your short list. It’s a Sunday morning waterfront race on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it offers four distances under one roof, and its marathon carries a USATF certification that makes it a legitimate Boston Qualifier – not a “technically eligible” one. This year’s edition runs Sunday, February 7, 2027, starting and finishing at North Shore Park in downtown St. Petersburg.

Read the full event preview!

Run Callaway

📍Pine Mountain, GA

Run Through the Splendor of Christmas at Callaway! Lace up your running shoes and be part of history at the inaugural Run Callaway Race Weekend. From a festive Kids Fun Run to a thrilling nighttime 5K, a scenic 10K, and our signature Half Marathon, there’s a race for every runner and every pace. Experience the beauty of Callaway Resort & Gardens in a whole new way as you run through breathtaking landscapes, holiday lights, and unforgettable race-day celebrations.

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⭐️ Training Tip

How to Train for a Hilly Marathon

Here’s the mistake that wrecks more hilly-marathon race days than bad weather: runners see “hilly” on a course description, add a few hill repeats to their Tuesday workout, and call the terrain covered. Then they stand at the start line of a race that is nothing like what they trained for. “Hilly” is not one thing. A course that rolls for 26 miles trains a different muscle group, at a different intensity, than a course with one brutal climb in the middle.

And a net-downhill course – the kind that looks like a gift on paper – might be the hardest of the three, because the damage it does doesn’t show up until the legs are already spent. The fix isn’t more hill training. It’s the right hill training, matched to the specific course profile of the race you signed up for. Before you build a single week of your plan, pull up the elevation chart for your race and figure out which of these three courses you’re actually running.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/11-12/2026 - Wicked Fast - Poconos - Lehighton, PA

⭐️ 9/12/2026 - Sunbury Marathon - Sunbury, OH

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Sep 5 - Pocatello Marathon — Pocatello, ID
Sep 6 - Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon — Geneva, IL
Sep 6 - Surfers Point Marathon — Ventura, CA
Sep 6 - Beantown Marathon — Hingham, MA
Sep 12 - Lock 2 Lock Marathon — Williamsport, MD

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Sep 6 - Sackets Harbor Marathon & Half Marathon — Sackets Harbor, NY
Sep 6 - Minocqua “No Frills” Marathon — Minocqua, WI
Sep 12 - Ultra-Trail Harricana (UTHC) Marathon — La Malbaie, QC
Sep 12 - Superior Fall Trail Marathon — Minnesota North Shore, MN
Sep 12 - Tobermory Trail Race Weekend Marathon — Tobermory, ON
Sep 12 - Pine Creek Challenge Marathon — Wellsboro, PA

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Sep 6 - Diablo Trail Run Marathon — Clayton, CA
Sep 12 - Old Forge Marathon Weekend — Old Forge, NY
Sep 13 - Run Iron River Marathon — Iron River, WI

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Sep 6 - Bootleg Marathon — Oak Ridge, TN
Sep 6 - Tupelo Marathon and 14er — Tupelo, MS
Sep 6 - AIDSPIRIT USA Marathon — Harlowton, MT
Sep 12 - Malad Valley Marathon — Malad City, ID
Sep 12 - Elroy Apple Dumpling Day Marathon — Elroy, WI
Sep 12 - Run WoodStock Marathon — Gregory, MI
Sep 12 - American Heroes Run Marathon — Longmont, CO
Sep 13 - Carpe Diem – Carpe Noctem Half Marathon and 10K — Pleasant Garden,

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

36,291 people ran a marathon in Sydney this weekend. Thirteen ran one in Berea, Kentucky. Nineteen ran one in the hills above Woodside, California. Same distance, same two days, three completely different sports. Sydney is the story by sheer force of numbers – and of three men inside 2:05 – but the smallest race of the weekend produced its own headline: in Kentucky, the women’s winner crossed the line faster than every man in the field.

All results!

Claim and Save Your Results

Keep your running history organized in one place. Create a free MarathonGuide account, then click “Claim” next to your race result to add it to your personal profile. Once claimed, your results are saved in a single location, making it easy to track your race history, celebrate your progress, and build your running record over time.

Claim Your Results!

Run On The Rocks 10 Miler, Half Marathon & 20 Miler

📍Point of Rocks, MD

Join us at the 2026 Team AIMS Run On The Rocks! Whether you’re up for a delightful 10 Miler, a hilarious half marathon, or an epic 20 Miler, our beautiful, lightning-fast, pancake flat course awaits. Get ready for a running adventure that’ll have you sweating, smiling, and feeling like a champion on a mission! See you at the starting line.

Register now!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

Featured race you shouldn’t miss

In 1975, two runners lined up in Florida’s capital city and ran a marathon that almost nobody noticed. Fifty-two years later, that same race, now run by volunteers from a local non-profit track club, has grown into a 2,700-runner weekend with a Bank of America title sponsor, a four-figure prize purse, and a Boston Marathon-style corral start. On February 7, 2027, the Tallahassee Marathon returns for its milestone anniversary with a brand-new route through the city’s oak-canopied neighborhoods, having outgrown the very park that used to anchor its finish.

Read the full event preview!

When Are All the 2027 NYRR Events? $

If you’re mapping out a 2027 racing calendar in New York, five dates matter more than any others: the United Airlines NYC Half, the Maybelline New York Women’s Half Marathon, the RBC Brooklyn Half, the NYRR Staten Island Half, and the big one – the TCS New York City Marathon. Together, these five New York Road Runners (NYRR) races form the backbone of the city’s racing year, and for many runners chasing guaranteed marathon entry, they’re also checkpoints on the road to November.

Read the full article!

Run Dollywood Fall Race Weekend

📍Pigeon Forge, TN

This fall, add a new tradition at Dollywood's Run Dollywood Fall Race Weekend, September 25–27, 2026. Set against the Smoky Mountains' fall colors, courses wind through Dollywood and the surrounding resort. The weekend kicks off Friday with the 5K, continues Saturday with the 10K and Kids Fun Run (ages 4–12), and wraps up Sunday with the signature half marathon.

Register now!

⭐️ Training Tip

Downhill Racing Ruins Quads – Unless You Prep Them

You trained on the flat towpath by your house. You hit your goal splits in every long run. And then somewhere around mile 18 of a downhill course like Boston, your quads stop listening to you. Not tired in the usual sense – seized, wooden, unable to absorb another footstrike. Runners who trained hard for months describe it the same way: the lungs were fine, the legs just quit.

That’s not bad luck or bad pacing. It’s a training gap. Downhill running loads muscle in a fundamentally different way than flat or uphill running, and if your buildup never included that load, your quads show up to race day undertrained for the exact thing the course demands.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/19/2026 - Cytiva Top of Utah Marathon - Logan, UT

⭐️ 10/10/2026 - Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon - Bemidji, MN

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Aug 30 - Millennium Meadows Marathon — Grand Rapids, MI
Aug 30 - Oak Ridge Qualifier: Half and Full Marathon — Oak Ridge, TN
Sep 5 - Pocatello Marathon — Pocatello, ID
Sep 6 - Beantown Marathon — Hingham, MA

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Aug 29 - Moonlight on the Falls Marathon — Davis, WV
Sep 5 - Salmon Marathon — Salmon, ID
Sep 6 - Sackets Harbor Marathon & Half Marathon — Sackets Harbor, NY
Sep 6 - Surfers Point Marathon — Ventura, CA
Sep 6 - Minocqua “No Frills” Marathon — Minocqua, WI

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Aug 30 - Two Hollows Monster Marathon and Half Marathon — Virgil, NY
Sep 5 - Firefly Trail Festival Marathon — Fort Wayne, IN
Sep 6 - Diablo Trail Run Marathon — Clayton, CA
Sep 6 - Six-O Trail Run Marathon — Cleburne, TX

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Sep 5 - Nebraska Marathon — Papillion, NE
Sep 5 - Abebe Bikila Day International Peace Marathon — Washington, DC
Sep 6 - Bootleg Marathon — Oak Ridge, TN
Sep 6 - AIDSPIRIT USA Marathon — Harlowton, MT
Sep 6 - Tupelo Marathon and 14er — Tupelo, MS

Half Marathon Results
Are Now On MarathonGuide

We are excited to announce that half-marathon results are now available on MarathonGuide! We’re working to become the comprehensive, complete resource for all your race data in one place. Sign up for a free account to claim your results, tag your races, and start building your running history with us.

Claim Your Results!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

Thirteen marathons crossed finish lines over the weekend of August 21–23, 2026, spread across nine states from Northern California to New York. It was a weekend defined by contrast: a 1,356-runner field in wine country ran alongside three-person finishes in the woods of Maine and California, and a women’s champion beat every man in her race outright while, a few states over, another women’s race produced the single fastest time of the entire weekend. Late August also means late-summer heat, and the results from Texas and the Carolinas show it plainly.

All Results!

Fort De Soto Oktoberfest 15K•10K•5K

📍Saint Petersburg, FL

Have a blast and kick off Tampa Bay’s race season at historic Fort De Soto Park with a 15K, 10K, or 5K, followed by a fun Oktoberfest celebration. You’ll enjoy an awesome medal, a cool t-shirt, tasty craft beer, delicious food, great music, and plenty of fun.

Register now!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

Half Marathon Results
Are Now On MarathonGuide

We are excited to announce that half-marathon results are now available on MarathonGuide! We're working to become th;e comprehensive, complete resource for all your race data in one place. Sign up for a free account to claim your results, tag your races, and start building your running history with us.

Claim Your Results!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

Nearly seven years after New Orleans last had a marathon to call its own, the finish line is coming back — and this time it’s not on Poydras Street or under a Rock ‘n’ Roll banner, but laced entirely through the ancient live oaks of City Park. On November 14, 2026, thousands of runners will start at the steps of the New Orleans Museum of Art, loop past Bayou St. John and the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, and finish at a stadium party built just for them. It’s pancake-flat, Boston-qualifying, wrapped in a brand-new wellness festival, and — for a city that hasn’t hosted 26.2 miles since 2020 — it’s a genuine comeback story as much as it is a race. Here’s what to expect.

Read the full event preview!

Tallahassee Marathon

Embark on a captivating adventure with the Tallahassee Marathon, an event that seamlessly blends the charm of Florida’s capital city with a dynamic and engaging race experience. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or a first-time participant, this race offers a unique opportunity to explore picturesque landscapes, historic neighborhoods, and vibrant communities.

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⭐️ Training Tip

The 90-Second Fix: How a Small Cadence Adjustment Can Take the Pounding Out of Your Marathon Stride

If your knees ache by mile 18 every long run, the problem might not be your shoes, your mileage, or your age. It might be how far your foot lands in front of you.

That’s overstriding: one of the most common, and most fixable, form flaws in distance running. The fix isn’t a gait overhaul. It’s cadence: steps per minute. Nudge it up slightly, and you shorten your stride, land closer to your body, and cut the braking force jarring your knees and hips on every step. Do it wrong (too much, too fast) and you’ll trade one overuse injury for another. Here’s how to make the change correctly, with a four-week plan that gets you there without losing speed.

Read the full article!

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▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/26/2026 - Run On The Rocks Half Marathon - Point of Rocks, MD

⭐️ 12/5/2026 - Rehoboth Seashore Marathon - Rehoboth Beach, DE

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Aug 23 - The Santa Rosa Marathon — Santa Rosa, CA
Aug 23 - Wausau Marathon — Wausau, WI
Aug 30 - Millennium Meadows Marathon — Grand Rapids, MI

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Aug 23 - Leading Ladies Marathon — Spearfish, SD
Aug 23 - Nocterra Quitter’s Run presented by Brooks Marathon — Powell, OH
Aug 29 - Moonlight on the Falls Marathon — Davis, WV

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Aug 30 - Two Hollows Monster Marathon and Half Marathon — Virgil, NY
Aug 30 - Yard to Yard Marathon — Grand Haven, MI

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

The weekend of August 15–16, 2026 delivered one of the widest performance spreads MarathonGuide.com has tracked in a while. At one end: a 2:18 winning marathon time in Edmonton that would hold up at most major-city races. At the other: a Montana trail marathon where the average finisher took nearly six hours and 41 minutes to get home. In between, 27 events across the U.S. and Canada — from half marathons in suburban Georgia to a Wyoming race where the women’s champion crossed the line seven minutes ahead of the men’s winner.

All Results!

Ottawa Marathon

Get ready to experience the thrill of the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon, one of Canada’s most celebrated marathons for over 50 years! With breathtaking scenic routes that weave through the nation’s capital, this race offers an unforgettable backdrop for runners of all levels. The atmosphere is electric, buzzing with the energy of thousands of passionate participants and elite athletes from around the globe. As a prestigious World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon promises not just a race, but a celebration of endurance, community, and the joy of running. Join us and be part of the excitement!

Register now!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

Half Marathon Results
Are Now On MarathonGuide

We are excited to announce that half-marathon results are now available on MarathonGuide! We're working to become th;e comprehensive, complete resource for all your race data in one place. Sign up for a free account to claim your results, tag your races, and start building your running history with us.

Claim Your Results!

⭐️ Training Tip

Train Your Gut, Not Just Your Legs:
A Carb-Tolerance Protocol for Race Day

You’ve done the long runs. You’ve hit your tempo splits. But if you haven’t trained your gut to handle race-day fuel, none of that mileage matters when you’re doubled over at mile 20 looking for a portable toilet.

Most marathoners train their cardiovascular system for months and their digestive system for exactly zero minutes. Then on race day they try to absorb 60-90 grams of carbohydrate per hour, a rate their gut has never seen, and wonder why their stomach revolts. The fix isn’t a better gel. It’s a plan that builds carb tolerance the same deliberate way you built your aerobic base.

Here’s a week-by-week protocol to get your gut race-ready, plus the practical details on product choices, hydration, and how to lock it all in before race day.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/12/2026 - Essentia Health Dick Beardsley Races - Detroit Lakes, MN

⭐️ 9/27/2026 - Clarence DeMar Marathon - Keene, NH

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Aug 16 - Edmonton Marathon — Edmonton, AB
Aug 16 - Bound for Boston Marathon & Half – Minneapolis — Richfield, MN

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Aug 16 - Nitty Gritty Off Road Race Marathon — Red Lodge, MT
Aug 22 - Staunton Rocks! Marathon and Half Marathon — Pine, CO
Aug 22 - Moose Mountain (Alberta) Marathon — Bragg Creek, AB
Aug 22 - Trail Run at Sly Park – Summer Marathon — Pollock Pines, CA
Aug 23 - Leading Ladies Marathon — Spearfish, SD

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Aug 22 - Habanero Hundred Marathon — Cat Spring, TX
Aug 22 - North Country Trail Run Marathon — Wellston, MI
Aug 23 - Thacher Park Trail Running Festival Marathon — Voorheesville, NY

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Aug 22 - Summer's Done 13.1 Marathon — Cary, NC

Wicked Fast Marathon & Half Marathon - Montana

Get ready for a race that redefines what it means to run downhill. Wicked Fast Marathon & Half Marathon Montana offers a unique blend of breathtaking scenery, mountain air, and momentum-powered miles. Set against the majestic backdrop of Montana’s natural beauty, this course transforms the traditional marathon into a fast, gravity-assisted journey through the Big Sky landscape.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

If you wanted proof that a marathon time means nothing without its context, this was the weekend for it. Seven races went off across six states between Saturday and Sunday, and the results ranged from a runner-up gap of 85 minutes to a photo finish separated by the time it takes to read this sentence — plus two mountain courses where the fastest woman on the day would have out-run every man on the podium except one.

All Results!

Montana Marathon

The Montana Marathon course is one of the fastest and most scenic in the region, making it a favorite for runners chasing personal bests or a Boston Qualifier. Starting high on the rolling plains outside Billings in the small town of Molt, the route follows a gradual downhill descent (1,000’ Net Drop) into the Magic City, showcasing wide-open skies, mountain views, and the beauty of Big Sky Country. This Point-to-Point race will have you picking up the 1/2 Marathon, 10K and 5K runners along the way.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

For sixteen years, the Mankato Marathon has been the race where the Minnesota River Valley showed off — a downtown-and-neighborhoods route with the city’s trademark hills bent around, never through. The Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay, and 10K all run a brand-new, purpose-built course this year, and for the first time in the race’s history, the numbers on the clock from past editions no longer tell you what to expect.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Reading Your Own Warning Signs: Niggle vs. Injury

Every marathon training block runs through the same test, usually somewhere around week six or seven: you wake up, take the first few strides of your run, and feel something. A tightness behind the knee. A dull ache along the shin. A hot spot in the arch. Your brain immediately asks the only question that matters — is this nothing, or is this the thing that ends my training cycle?

Most runners answer that question badly. They either push through everything because backing off feels like weakness, or they panic and shut down at the first twinge, torching momentum they’ll never fully recover. Both instincts are understandable and both are wrong more often than they’re right. What you need instead of an instinct is a framework — a short, repeatable process for reading your body’s signal and matching it to the correct response, every time, before the decision gets emotional.

That’s what this is: a triage system built around three outcomes — run through it, cut the workout short, or take three days completely off. No diagnosis required, no medical degree, just a disciplined way of asking the right questions in the right order.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 10/25/2026 - The Haunted Forest Marathon - Canal Fulton, OH

⭐️ 11/14/2026 - New Orleans Marathon - New Orleans, LA

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Aug 9 - Tunnel Vision Marathon — North Bend, WA
Aug 15 - Boulder Rez Marathon — Boulder, CO
Aug 15 - Med Bow Rail Marathon and Half Marathon — Laramie, WY

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Aug 9 - Emerald Mountain Epic Marathon — Steamboat Springs, CO
Aug 9 - The 11th Humboldt Bay Marathon — Eureka, CA
Aug 15 - Run With the Horses Marathon — Fort Collins, CO
Aug 15 - Drake Well Marathon — Titusville, PA

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Aug 15 - Redwood Trail Run – Summer Edition Marathon — Oakland, CA
Aug 15 - Underdown Trail Races Marathon — Merrill, WI
Aug 15 - Mt. Sneffels Marathon — Ouray, CO

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Aug 9 - The Great Waterville Marathon & Half — Waterville, ME
Aug 15 - The Riley Trails Marathon and Relay — Holland, MI
Aug 15 - Almaden Hills Trail Run – Summer Edition Marathon — San Jose, CA
Aug 15 - The Next Loop Endurance Series – Busse Woods Marathon — Elk Grove

Battleship Half Marathon

Lace up for one of North Carolina’s most iconic races! The Battleship Half Marathon, 10K & 5K invites runners of all levels to experience a scenic, spirited, and historic course through beautiful downtown Wilmington. With the mighty USS North Carolina Battleship as your backdrop and the Cape Fear River beside you, this event offers more than just a race, it’s a celebration of community, history, and endurance.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

If you wanted proof that a marathon time means nothing without its context, this was the weekend for it. Seven races went off across six states between Saturday and Sunday, and the results ranged from a runner-up gap of 85 minutes to a photo finish separated by the time it takes to read this sentence — plus two mountain courses where the fastest woman on the day would have out-run every man on the podium except one.

All results!

Claim and Save Your Results

Keep your running history organized in one place. Create a free MarathonGuide account, then click “Claim” next to your race result to add it to your personal profile. Once claimed, your results are saved in a single location, making it easy to track your race history, celebrate your progress, and build your running record over time.

Create account

Sunbury Marathon

The Sunbury Marathon offers small town charm, a beautiful out-and-back course, an excellent participant experience all at an affordable price. Come experience the hospitality of the Sunbury community and enjoy one of the flattest race courses you can find showcasing lovely mid-ohio scenery. Marathon, 20 Mile, Half-Marathon, 10K, and 1 Mile Races offered complete with chip-timing, live results, in the heart of a great and welcoming community.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

Most marathons ask you to run past scenery. The Back Your Badge Marathon asks you to run through it — literally, through the open bay doors of a working fire station, siren-red trucks parked just off your left shoulder as you pass mile 15. That single moment captures what makes this Plainfield, Indiana race worth the trip: it isn’t a course built around a skyline or a river. It’s built around the people who show up when everything else goes wrong.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Running Your First Marathon After 40: What Changes, What Doesn’t, and How to Adjust Your Training

You can run a marathon after 40. That’s not motivational filler — it’s a physiological fact. The masters runners who flame out aren’t victims of age; they’re victims of a training plan written for a 28-year-old that they refused to modify. Adjust the inputs and the outcome holds.

But adjustments are required. Your cardiovascular engine still responds to aerobic training. Your VO2 max still improves. Your legs will still carry you 26.2 miles. What changes is the rate at which your body rebuilds between sessions — and if you don’t account for that, the plan that works for younger runners will gradually grind you down.

Here’s what the evidence actually says, and what to do about it.

What Actually Changes After 40 ⬇️

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 10/25/2026 - 7 Bridges Marathon - Chattanooga, TN

⭐️ 12/05/2026 - Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon - Little Rock, AR

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Aug 2 - Camarillo Marathon — Camarillo, CA
Aug 2 - Bound for Boston Marathon & Half Marathon – Denver — Denver, CO
Aug 9 - Tunnel Vision Marathon — North Bend, WA

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Aug 2 - Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon — Rachel, NV
Aug 8 - Haulin’ Aspen Trail Marathon — Bend, OR
Aug 8 - Skyline Mountain Marathon — Liberty, UT
Aug 9 - Emerald Mountain Epic Marathon — Steamboat Springs, CO
Aug 9 - The 11th Humboldt Bay Marathon — Eureka, CA

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Aug 2 - Badger Trail Races Marathon — Belleville, WI
Aug 8 - Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series #4 Marathon — Bellevue, WA
Aug 8 - Crystal Springs Ultra Races Marathon — Wytheville, VA

Run Dollywood Fall Race Weekend

For generations, Dollywood has been a place where families come together to make lasting memories. This fall, guests can add a new tradition to the season during the Run Dollywood Fall Race Weekend, taking place September 25–27, 2026.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

The last weekend of July delivered one of the year’s most varied stretches of marathon racing: a 7,000-person road spectacle threading through San Francisco’s hills, a handful of altitude-battered trail efforts in the mountain West, and a brace of small-town events that reminded you why runners travel for this. Here’s what happened:

All Results!

Claim and Save Your Results

Keep your running history organized in one place. Create a free MarathonGuide account, then click “Claim” next to your race result to add it to your personal profile. Once claimed, your results are saved in a single location, making it easy to track your race history, celebrate your progress, and build your running record over time.

Create account

Fort De Soto Oktoberfest 15K•10K•5K

Kick off your race season at historic Fort De Soto Park with a 15K, 10K, or 5K – a distance for every runner and walker. As the sun rises, the start is underway! And when you finish then celebrate your effort and the start of Tampa Bay's running season with good food, great craft beer, and awesome music. Florida Road Races, "Where Running and Fun Meet"!

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

Most runners chasing a Boston Qualifier have been conditioned to think canyons, net downhill, and 4 a.m. bus rides. The formula is familiar: get dropped in a mountain hollow, grind down a canyon, and pray the second half cooperates. The Cytiva Top of Utah Marathon, in its 28th year, offers a different theory — and if your fitness is honest, you’re going to like what it says.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Cross-Training Done Right: Which Activities Actually Help Your Marathon Time

Most marathon training plans carve out one or two days a week labeled simply: cross-training. What fills that slot varies wildly. Some runners clip into a spin bike. Some swim laps. Some load a barbell. Some roll out a mat and call it recovery. The implicit assumption is that any of these activities serves the same purpose — giving your legs a break while keeping the engine running.

That assumption is only half right. Yes, cross-training protects your joints from the cumulative load of high-mileage running. But the activities are not interchangeable. Some carry over directly to marathon performance. Others are pleasant but largely irrelevant to your race day goals. And one — strength training — is probably the most underprescribed tool in the serious recreational runner’s toolkit, despite a mountain of evidence supporting it.

This article ranks the four most common cross-training modalities by how much they actually improve marathon performance. Each ranking is grounded in the physiology and biomechanics of running — not preference, not tradition, not what feels like a workout. If your goal is a faster marathon, this is the framework for choosing where to spend your non-running hours.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 10/17/2026 - Mankato Marathon - Mankato, MN

⭐️ 11/14/2026 - Rivers & Rails Marathon - Brunswick, MD

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jul 25–26 - Jack and Jill’s Downhill Marathon — Riverpoint, WA
Jul 26 - The San Francisco Marathon — San Francisco, CA
Aug 2 - Camarillo Marathon — Camarillo, CA

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jul 26 - The San Francisco Marathon — San Francisco, CA
Jul 26 - Rapid City Marathon — Rapid City, SD
Jul 26 - Run for the Elk Race Festival — Emporium, PA
Aug 1 - Aspen Backcountry Marathon — Aspen, CO
Aug 2 - Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon — Rachel, NV

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Jul 25 - Burning River Marathon — Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Aug 1 - Moorehead Park Trail Mazathon Marathon — Ida Grove, IA
Aug 1 - Tushars Ultras Marathon — Beaver, UT
Aug 1 - Point Mariah Trail Marathon — Soda Springs, CA
Aug 2 - Badger Trail Races Marathon — Belleville, WI

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Aug 1 - Sundown Rundown – Summer Edition Marathon — Kempton, PA
Aug 1 - Valentine Marathon — Valentine, NE

Hernando Water Tower 10K and Half Marathon

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, running enthusiasts from across the Mid-South and beyond are invited to “Mississippi’s Front Porch” to participate in Hernando’s 17th Annual Water Tower 10K & Half Marathon road race. This beloved event highlights the charm of Hernando’s historic districts and one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, the Hernando Water Tower.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

This weekend’s slate ran the full spectrum of what the sport looks and feels like — a fast Atlantic road race where two men went stride-for-stride through 26.2 miles, a rugged Montana trail with barely a dozen finishers, a scenic Idaho course delivering the weekend’s quickest winning time, and a high-altitude Colorado grind where just finishing is the headline. Here’s what happened.

All results!

Claim and Save Your Results

Keep your running history organized in one place. Create a free MarathonGuide account, then click “Claim” next to your race result to add it to your personal profile. Once claimed, your results are saved in a single location, making it easy to track your race history, celebrate your progress, and build your running record over time.

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Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon

Step into a race steeped in local tradition with the Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon. Set in the vibrant community of Bemidji, Minnesota, this marathon offers a course that meanders through scenic lakeside views, dense forests, and charming small‑town streets. Runners appreciate the predominantly flat layout with subtle, rolling hills that provide natural pacing opportunities, along with the unique cultural heritage and friendly local support that have made this event a beloved tradition in the Upper Midwest.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

There’s a certain kind of race that doesn’t need to be famous. It doesn’t need a city skyline backdrop or a field of 30,000 strangers. What it needs is a flat, fast course, a community that actually shows up, and a reason to go 26.2 miles rather than stay in bed on a Saturday morning.

The inaugural Sunbury Marathon — set for Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Sunbury, Ohio — has all three. And for runners chasing a Boston qualifier in the back half of the year, it deserves a hard look.

Read the full event review!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Your First 100-Day Plan: Building a Marathon Base From Zero

A guide for occasional joggers who are serious about going the distance — and honest about what it takes.

Before You Read One More Word About Running

You can jog a 5K without training for it. You cannot run a marathon without earning the right to start. That distinction is the whole point of this guide.

The internet is full of 16-week marathon plans that assume you’re already logging 25-30 miles per week. They are not for you — not yet. This guide is for the runner who gets out two or three times a week, finishes feeling fine, and has started to wonder whether they could go further. Much further.

The answer is yes. But the path has a shape, and that shape matters.

One hundred days. Fourteen weeks plus a few days of buffer. That is how long it takes to build a body that can handle marathon training — not complete a marathon, but train for one seriously without breaking down. The distinction is critical. A base is not a peak. You’re not tapering at the end of Day 100; you’re ready to taper two to four months after Day 100, when the real marathon plan kicks in. This guide builds the foundation.

What you’ll build over the next 100 days:

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/12/2026 - Sunbury Marathon - Sunbury, OH

⭐️ 9/26/2026 - Run On The Rocks Half Marathon - Point of Rocks, MD

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jul 19 - Nova Scotia Marathon — Barrington, NS

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jul 25 - Enchanted Forest Marathon — Red River, NM
Jul 25 - Grand Island Trail Marathon — Munising, MI
Jul 25 - Maah Daah Hey Trail Run Marathon — Medora, ND

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Jul 19 - Summer Camp Series – Day 2 Marathon — Sauk Rapids, MN
Jul 20 - Summer Camp Series – Day 3 Marathon — Saint Cloud, MN
Jul 25 - Burning River Marathon — Cuyahoga Falls, OH

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Jul 18 - Hell’s Half Acre Marathon — Fort Worth, TX
Jul 19 - Run With Rob Marathon — Nova Scotia, NS
Jul 25 - Halfway To The Holidays Marathon — Johnstown, OH

Cape Cod Marathon

Embrace the timeless charm of coastal New England with the Cape Cod Marathon. Set along picturesque beaches, quaint seaside towns, and rolling coastal roads, this race invites you to experience the serene beauty of Cape Cod while challenging your endurance. The predominantly flat course is designed for speed, offering ample opportunities for record-setting performances, yet gentle undulations provide natural pacing checkpoints that allow you to enjoy every breathtaking ocean view.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

The weekend of July 11–12 brought a strong spread across the marathon calendar — from the fast, flat coastal road at Ventura to the rugged forest singletrack around Wisconsin's Devil's Lake. Two events broke the 200-finisher mark; one cracked 16. Wherever the field, someone ran a race worth talking about.

All results!

Clarence DeMar Marathon

The Clarence DeMar Marathon is a tremendously well-organized, welcoming race held during early New England foliage season. The 26.2-mile course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier. At the DeMar, we give our runners a world-class experience as we celebrate each and every cross of the finish line.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

When the starting gun fires on the Embarcadero in the pre-dawn darkness of July 26th, some 6,500 marathon runners will join a tradition nearly five decades in the making. The 49th annual San Francisco Marathon is not merely a race — it is a tour of one of the world's most visually arresting cities, a test of will on some of the most iconic pavement in American running, and this year, for the second consecutive season, a sold-out celebration of the sport.

Read the full article!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

The Forgotten Recovery Window: What to Do in the 30 Minutes After a Long Run

You cross the finish line of your long run, hands on knees, breathing hard. You’ve just put in 18 miles. You did the hard part. Now, most runners do one of two things: collapse on the couch or immediately jump in the shower before heading to brunch.

Both are understandable. Neither is optimal.

The 30 minutes that follow a long run are, metabolically speaking, one of the most valuable windows in your entire training week. Miss it, and you blunt the adaptation you just worked so hard to earn. Use it well, and you accelerate recovery, reduce next-day soreness, and come back stronger for your next session.

Here’s exactly what to do — and why it works…

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/19/2026 - Cytiva Top of Utah Marathon - Logan, UT

⭐️ 9/20/2026 - Fort De Soto Oktoberfest - Saint Petersburg, FL

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jul 12 - Shoreline Marathon — Ventura, CA
Jul 18 - Mesa Falls Marathon — Ashton, ID

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jul 11 - The Yellowstone Trail Marathon and Trail Races — West Yellowstone, MT
Jul 12 - Big Sky Marathon — Ennis, MT
Jul 18 - Bob Marshall Trail Races Marathon — Seeley Lake, MT
Jul 18 - Totem to Totem Marathon — Skidegate, BC
Jul 18 - North Country Trail Races Marathon — Solon Springs, WI

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Jul 11 - Waugoshance Trail Marathon — Mackinaw City, MI
Jul 12 - Heartland Series – MI Marathon — Niles, MI
Jul 13 - Heartland Series – IN Marathon — South Bend, IN
Jul 18 - XTERRA Conquer the Crater Trail Run Marathon — Greater Sudbury, ON

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Jul 12 - Augusta Running Festival Marathon — Augusta, ME
Jul 18 - Eastern Legend Marathon — Gilmer, TX
Jul 18 - Hell’s Half Acre Marathon — Fort Worth, TX

Back Your Badge Marathon

The Back Your Badge Marathon is a premier running event proudly sponsored by the Town of Plainfield to honor and support all Public Safety Agencies — Police, Fire, and Communications. Celebrate community, wellness, and service at the 4th Annual Back Your Badge Marathon, featuring three exciting race distances — the 5K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon — giving runners and walkers of all levels a chance to participate.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

The Fourth of July weekend lived up to its reputation as one of the busiest weekends on the running calendar. From a brutally honest trail race in the Washington Cascades to a fast, flat PR-fest on the streets of Portland, runners across North America laced up, toed the line, and went to work. Here's what happened.

All results!

Essentia Health Dick Beardsley Races

On Saturday, September 12 join thousands of runners as you take on mile after mile of scenic Minnesota roadway. With options for runners/walkers of all ages and abilities (Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Youth Run courses), these races are fun for the whole family!

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

The Deseret News Marathon, set for Friday, July 24, 2026, marks its 56th consecutive running — making it not only the longest-operating marathon in Utah, but also the fourth oldest marathon west of the Continental Divide. That longevity alone earns it a place in the conversation alongside the great regional marathons of the country. What makes it truly special is the story woven into every mile.

Read the full article!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Running Shoes Demystified: How to Choose the Right Pair for Marathon Training

Before diving into specs, let’s settle a foundational point: you probably need two different pairs of shoes for marathon training, not one.

This isn’t a sales pitch — it’s practical. The shoe that protects you through 16-mile Sunday long runs is different from the shoe that makes your Tuesday tempo feel electric. Using a race-day super shoe for all your miles is expensive and unnecessary. Using a heavy trainer on race day leaves performance on the table.

Think of it like this:

• A workhorse trainer for 80–90% of your miles — easy runs, long runs, recovery jogs

• A performance shoe (racer or fast trainer) for 10–20% of your miles — tempo runs, race-pace workouts, and race day itself

With that framing in mind, here’s what to look for in each:

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 7/18/2026 - Alaska Salmon Runs - Cordova, AK

⭐️ 9/20/2026 - Montana Marathon - Billings, MT

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jul 5 - Hotter Than Hell Marathon for RaceMD — Metairie, LA
Jul 12 - Shoreline Marathon — Ventura, CA

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jul 5 - Hellz Bellz Marathon — Yacolt, WA
Jul 11 - The Yellowstone Trail Marathon and Trail Races — West Yellowstone, MT
Jul 12 - Big Sky Marathon — Ennis, MT
Jul 12 - Augusta Running Festival Marathon — Augusta, ME

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Jul 11 - Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon — Duluth, MN
Jul 11 - Waugoshance Trail Marathon — Mackinaw City, MI

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Jul 11 - Madison Marathon — Ennis, MT

Christmas in July Series

Why wait until December to feel the holiday spirit? The Christmas in July Half-Marathon Series brings Santa, sleigh bells, and serious miles to three great Midwest cities — Indianapolis, IN, the Chicago area, and Dayton, OH. Festive costumes encouraged. PRs welcomed. Join Santa & Friends!

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

Seven marathons reported results through MarathonGuide.com for the June 27–28, 2026 weekend, drawing a combined total of nearly 2,800 finishers across road and trail events in the American West, the Canadian Rockies, and the desert Southwest. The weekend’s two standout fields — Leadville in the Colorado high country and Missoula on the banks of the Clark Fork — accounted for the vast majority of runners, while five smaller events filled in a portrait of marathon racing at every scale and setting. Here is a race-by-race breakdown of every event reported.

All results!

Olympia Lakefair Races - Half Marathon, 8K & 3K

The Olympia Lakefair Races are part of a weekend-long running festival that features a Half Marathon, 8K and 3K; taking runners on routes that will circle around the town of Olympia and beyond into Tumwater and Thurston County. All three races start on 5th Avenue in downtown Olympia, and finish on 5th Avenue in front of Heritage Park. The 3K and 8K events circle Capitol Lake, with the 8K continuing into Tumwater Historical Park before returning. Both are flat and fast courses.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

When runners talk about fall marathons, they usually mean New England leaves and packed corrals. The Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon offers something different: deep northern Minnesota wilderness, glassy lake reflections, and the kind of small-town race atmosphere where volunteers know your name by mile 10. If you’re looking for a fall race that earns its place on your calendar on scenery alone — and then earns it again on course and community — the Blue Ox deserves a hard look.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Tapering Without Going Crazy: A 3-Week Guide to Peak Race Readiness

Tapering is the deliberate reduction of training volume and intensity in the weeks before a goal race. It’s not rest. It’s not detraining. It’s the final chapter of your preparation.

The science is unambiguous. A well-executed taper produces measurable gains: studies consistently show improvements in race performance of 2-3% — roughly 3-5 minutes for a 3:30 marathoner — compared to runners who maintain full training load into race week. The mechanisms are well documented:

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/19/2026 - Cytiva Top of Utah Marathon - Logan, UT

⭐️ 2/27/2027 - Wilmington Marathon - Wilmington, NC

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jun 28 - Missoula Marathon — Missoula, MT
Jul 4 - Foot Traffic Flat Marathon — Portland, OR

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jul 4 - The Limberlost Challenge Marathon — Huntsville, ON
Jul 5 - Hellz Bellz Marathon — Yacolt, WA

🇺🇸 INDEPENDENCE DAY RACES - Run your miles while the fireworks fly

Jul 4 - Liberty Station Half Marathon, Marathon Relay & 5K — San Diego, CA
Jul 5 - Hotter Than Hell Marathon for RaceMD — Metairie, LA

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Jul 3 - Popsicle Marathon — Bothell, WA

Mad Marathon, Half, 5K, 10K & Relays

The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon. We have a course for every level of runner. Take it easy or take it tough! The Mad Marathon, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains, is a race that embodies the spirit of challenge and reward. Known for its scenic beauty and unique small-town charm, this event offers a one-of-a-kind experience for runners seeking to conquer both hills and personal limits. From covered bridges to rolling farmland, the course is as picturesque as it is demanding.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

An exceptional weekend of marathon racing unfolded across North America on June 20–21, 2026 — headlined by one of the continent's most storied road races and complemented by a remarkable collection of trail, mountain, and road events from the Pacific Northwest to the Canadian prairies. Thirteen marathons reported results through MarathonGuide.com, drawing a combined total of more than 13,200 finishers. Here is a race-by-race breakdown of every event reported.

All results!

The Haunted Forest Marathon

Dare to run through mystery and legend at The Haunted Forest Marathon, held in the heart of Ohio. This uniquely themed event transforms the natural landscape into an eerie yet exhilarating course, where shadowy woodlands, quiet trails, and creatively decorated landmarks bring the spirit of Halloween to life. The predominantly flat, record‑friendly route features gentle natural undulations, offering strategic pacing opportunities for runners of all levels.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

There are marathons, and then there is the Gold Coast. When 42,000 runners from 60 countries sell out every distance category within eight hours of entries opening, you stop describing an event and start describing a phenomenon. The 46th edition of the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon — set to unfold along Queensland’s glittering coastline on July 4–5, 2026 — is not just the largest race in the event’s history. It is, by almost any measure, the hottest marathon on the planet right now.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Train Hot, Race Fast: The Serious Runner’s Guide to Heat Acclimatization for Fall Marathons

Summer running is either an obstacle or an edge. Most runners treat it as the former — backing off mileage, skipping workouts, counting the days until September cool. The runners who show up to October marathons fitter than expected treat it as the latter.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 10/10/2026 - Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon - Bemidji, MN

⭐️ 10/17/2026 - Mankato Marathon - Mankato, MN

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jun 25-26 - Jack and Jill’s Downhill Marathon — North Bend, WA
Jun 27 - Morgan Valley Marathon — Morgan, UT
Jun 28 - Missoula Marathon — Missoula, MT

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jun 21 - Bay of Fundy International Marathon — Lubec, ME
Jun 21 - Estes Park Marathon — Estes Park, CO
Jun 21 - Manitoba Marathon — Winnipeg, MB
Jun 27 - Powderface Marathon and Half Marathon — Bragg Creek, AB
Jun 27 - Fluted Rock Marathon — Kinlichee, AZ

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Jun 21 - Race the Wolf Marathon — Sandpoint, ID
Jun 27 - Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half — Leadville, CO
Jun 27 - Running With The Devil Marathon — Las Vegas, NV
Jun 27–28 - Independence Double Marathon — Winter Park, FL

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Jun 21 - Community Strong Race Weekend Marathon — Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Jun 27 - Powderface Marathon and Half Marathon — Bragg Creek, AB
Jun 28 - Five Valleys Aid Station for Missoula Marathon — Missoula, MT

Ottawa Marathon

Get ready to experience the thrill of the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon, one of Canada’s most celebrated marathons for over 50 years! With breathtaking scenic routes that weave through the nation’s capital, this race offers an unforgettable backdrop for runners of all levels. The atmosphere is electric, buzzing with the energy of thousands of passionate participants and elite athletes from around the globe. As a prestigious World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon promises not just a race, but a celebration of endurance, community, and the joy of running. Join us and be part of the excitement!

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

Nine marathons and ultras spread across North America and New Zealand produced some of the weekend’s most competitive small-field racing of the year so far. The Wicked Fast Marathon in San Diego set the pace for weekend performances — three men crossed inside 2:51 to stack one of the tightest open podiums of the season. Matt Tuohy turned in the weekend’s second-fastest individual time with a 2:39:51 at the Zip Code 07662 Marathon in Rochelle Park, NJ, and Amelio Chio posted the outright weekend-best men’s time of 2:35:12 in El Cajon.

All results!

Beckley Half Marathon & 5K

Active Southern West Virginia is excited to welcome runners back to the Beckley Half Marathon on September 26, 2026! Starting and finishing at the iconic Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, this race blends local history with a course that highlights the best of Beckley. The Exhibition Coal Mine is a preserved historic coal camp and underground mine experience that tells the story of West Virginia’s coal heritage. With original buildings, period equipment, and guided tours through an actual mine, it offers a powerful glimpse into the region’s past, making it a truly unique backdrop for race day.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

Every summer, roughly 1,900 runners arrive in the highest incorporated city in the United States with one common goal: survive the nation’s most punishing marathon. The Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half presented by La Sportiva returns on June 27, 2026, and as always, general registration has already sold out — a testament to the cult-like devotion this brutal Rocky Mountain race inspires.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

The 4-Week Taper Blueprint: How to Reduce Mileage Before Race Day Without Losing Your Edge

You’ve logged the miles, endured the long runs, and pushed through more early mornings than you’d care to count. Now, with race day approaching, it’s time to do something that feels utterly counterintuitive: slow down. The taper — that deliberately reduced training window before a marathon — is one of the most misunderstood (and mismanaged) phases in the entire training cycle.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 10/10/2026 - LewisGale Salem Half Marathon - Salem, VA

⭐️ 10/17/2026 - Fargo Mini Marathon - Fargo, ND

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jun 20 - Boise Marathon — Boise, ID
Jun 27 - Morgan Valley Marathon — Morgan, UT

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jun 21 - Bay of Fundy International Marathon — Lubec, ME
Jun 21 - Estes Park Marathon — Estes Park, CO
Jun 21 - Manitoba Marathon — Winnipeg, MB
Jun 27 - Leadville Trail Marathon — Leadville, CO
Jun 27 - Powderface Marathon and Half Marathon — Bragg Creek, AB
Jun 27 - Fluted Rock Marathon — Kinlichee, AZ

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Jun 13-14 - Sri Chinmoy Midnight Marathon & Sunset Half — Valley Cottage, NY Jun 21 - Race the Wolf Marathon — Sandpoint, ID
Jun 21 - Foy’s to Blacktail Trail Marathon — Kalispell, MT
Jun 27–28 - Independence Double Marathon — Winter Park, FL

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Jun 20–21 - Community Strong Race Weekend Marathon — Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Jun 27 - That Dam Race Marathon — San Jose, CA

New Orleans Marathon

Get ready to lace up your shoes and let the good times roll as the New Orleans Marathon returns to the streets of the Big Easy after a five year hiatus. We’re thrilled to invite you to the inaugural New Orleans Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and Marathon Relay—your chance to conquer your next running challenge in the most vibrant city in America.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

From the Colorado Rockies to the coast of British Columbia, the June 4–7 marathon weekend delivered 20 races, more than 4,200 finishers, and a weekend’s worth of personal bests, podium runs, and trail-tested grit. Utah Valley led the pack as the biggest field of the weekend with 1,519 finishers and a blazing men’s winning time, while smaller events — a 10-person field in Williston, North Dakota; a 23-finisher mountain race in Utah’s Sevier Valley — proved that no race is too small to chase something worth finishing. Here’s how the weekend played out.

All results!

Oktoberfest Half Marathon & 5K

Celebrate autumn, craft beer & running with a half marathon in the mountains of North Carolina. Experience the true essence of autumn in Asheville, North Carolina, as you indulge in a delightful celebration of craft beer and running at the Oktoberfest Half Marathon & 5k.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

Fifty years ago, a group of local runners gathered in Two Harbors, Minnesota, with no GPS watches, no finisher medals, and a race budget that barely cleared $1,200. The newly opened Grandma's Restaurant kicked in $600. A red truck driven by a volunteer named Gordy Nichols led 160 pioneers down Scenic Highway 61 toward Lake Superior. Garry Bjorklund — a University of Minnesota legend and 1976 Olympian — crossed the finish line first in 2:21:54, wearing leather shoes.

That founding edition's innocence feels worlds away from what descends on Duluth this June 20th. The 50th annual Grandma's Marathon sold out 9,500 marathon entries in a jaw-dropping 12 hours when registration opened last December — shattering the previous record of just over a month set the year before. Add in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (7,000 entries, gone in 75 minutes), the William A. Irvin 5K, and both Great Grandma's Challenge events, and more than 19,000 participants will converge on the North Shore for what organizers are billing as the biggest weekend in the race's history.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

The Hidden Injury You’re Ignoring: Why IT Band Syndrome Derails Marathoners and How to Stop It

You’ve logged the miles, built your base, and finally feel like a real marathoner — until a sharp, burning sensation flares up on the outside of your knee, and suddenly you can barely walk down stairs. Welcome to IT band syndrome (ITBS), one of the most common and frustrating injuries to strike marathon runners. The good news: it’s preventable, manageable, and entirely beatable — if you understand what’s actually going on.

Read the full article!

🏃🏻‍♀️ Today Is Global Running Day — And That Means You

Every year on the first Wednesday in June, runners across the world do something simple: they run. No race bib required, no finish line, no PR pressure. Just movement — and the reminder that this sport belongs to everyone.

Global Running Day has been around since 2009, when New York Road Runners launched it as a way to get America moving. By 2016 it had outgrown its borders entirely, going global and drawing pledges from runners in over 170 countries in its very first year as an international event. What started as a domestic fitness push is now one of the most participated-in running moments on the calendar.

The beauty of the day is its zero barrier to entry. A mile before work counts. A lunch loop counts. A slow neighborhood jog with someone who’s never run before counts double. Running has always been the most democratic sport — no equipment, no court, no team — and today is basically its annual reminder of that fact.

So if you haven’t laced up yet: today’s the day. And if you’re already thinking about what comes after today’s run, we’ve got a full calendar of races to point you toward👇

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 6/20/2026 - Night Train Ultra Marathon - Farmville, VA

⭐️ 7/18/2026 - Alaska Salmon Runs - Cordova, AK

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

Jun 13 - Wicked Fast Marathon & Half Marathon — El Cajon, CA
Jun 14 - Bound for Boston Marathon & Half Marathon – Seattle — Olympia, WA Jun 20 - Boise Marathon — Boise, ID

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

Jun 13 - Super Marathon & Half Marathon — North Bend, WA
Jun 13 - Hatfield-McCoy Marathon — South Williamson, KY
Jun 20 - Niagara Marathon — Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Jun 20–21 - Ward Mountain Trail Run Marathon — Ely, NV

📢 TRAIL & ULTRA RACES - For runners who prefer dirt, distance, or both

Jun 20 - Wild Woman Marathon — Trout Lake, WA
Jun 20 - Jasper Mountain Trail Fest Marathon — Dayton, WA

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

Jun 14 - Demi-Marathon Chapais Opémiska — Chapais, QC
Jun 20 - Varsity Sports Marathon Retro Relay — Baton Rouge, LA

7 Bridges Marathon

The 7 Bridges Marathon brings you epic river views, a smooth and scenic course, and unbeatable energy from start to finish. Join us Sunday, October 25, 2026 - for live music, custom medals, Wiki-donuts, and memories that last. All finishers will receive a finishing medal. Age group awards will be awarded at the awards tent.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

Ten marathons spread across North America delivered a full slate of racing across the last weekend of May, with runners navigating everything from the wave-battered Pacific coast to the prairie skyline of Saskatchewan. Five races contested Sunday, May 31, and five more on Saturday, May 30 combined to send 1,843 finishers across finish lines in what proved a competitive and occasionally dramatic close to the month.

All results!

3 Bridges Marathon

The 3 Bridges Marathon crosses all three of Central Arkansas’ magestic bridges, the Big Dam Bridge, the Two Rivers Bridge, and the Clinton Presidential Bridge, which are joined by the North Little Rock River Trail.

Register now!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

Halloween and marathons share at least one thing in common: both require you to push through discomfort in pursuit of something you can’t quite explain to non-participants. The Haunted Forest Marathon in Canal Fulton, Ohio, leans into that overlap with gleeful abandon. Now in its 6th annual edition, this family-friendly event has quickly carved out a reputation as one of Northeast Ohio’s most festive and legitimately fast race weekends. But don’t let the pumpkins and costumes fool you — underneath all the Halloween décor is a course that is dead serious about helping runners get to Boston.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

Plus, upcoming races on the US calendar and a spotlight on the Casper Marathon — a Wyoming classic that starts with a cannon shot at dawn.

⭐️ Training Tip

Fueling the Long Run: A Race-Tested Nutrition Plan for Miles 1–26.2

Running a marathon is a 26.2-mile test of endurance, determination, and — often underestimated — nutrition strategy. No matter how well your legs are trained, bonking at mile 20 because you under-fueled is one of the most predictable (and preventable) ways a marathon can go wrong. The good news: with a well-rehearsed nutrition plan, you can cross the finish line strong and fueled from start to finish.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 9/12/2026 - Essentia Health Dick Beardsley Races - Detroit Lakes, MN

⭐️ 10/10/2026 - Hernando Water Tower 10K and Half Marathon - Hernando, MS

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

May 31 - Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Diego — San Diego, CA
May 31 - Carmel Marathon — Carmel, IN
Jun 6 - Utah Valley Marathon — Provo, UT
Jun 7 - Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon — Deadwood, SD

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

May 31 - Newport Marathon — Newport, OR
Jun 4 - Bear Lake Marathon — Cokeville, WY
Jun 6 - God’s Country Marathon — Coudersport, PA
Jun 6–7 - North Olympic Discovery Marathon — Port Angeles, WA
Jun 7 - Steamboat Marathon — Pagosa Springs, CO
Jun 7 - Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon — North Bend, WA
Jun 13 - Hatfield McCoy Marathon — Williamson, WV

📢 BIG CITY & HIGH-ENERGY RACES - Crowds, atmosphere, and scale

Jun 7 - Cedar Rapids Marathon Weekend — Cedar Rapids, IA
Jun 21 - Manitoba Marathon — Winnipeg, MB

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

May 31 - Red Island State Marathon — Warwick, RI
May 31 - Nutmeg State Marathon — Hartford, CT
May 31 - Course des pompiers de Laval Marathon — Laval, QC
Jun 6 - Sandhills Marathon — Valentine, NE
Jun 6 - Bear Paw Marathon — Havre, MT
Jun 7 - Casper Marathon — Casper, WY

Beckley Half Marathon & 5K

Starting and finishing at the iconic Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, this race blends local history with a course that highlights the best of Beckley. The Exhibition Coal Mine is a preserved historic coal camp and underground mine experience that tells the story of West Virginia’s coal heritage. With original buildings, period equipment, and guided tours through an actual mine, it offers a powerful glimpse into the region’s past, making it a truly unique backdrop for race day.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

Across North America on the weekend of May 23–24, 2026, more than 11,500 runners laced up their shoes for marathons ranging from elite-level showdowns on the flat streets of Ottawa to small-field mountain trail adventures in the Colorado Rockies. Eleven races in total — spread across the United States and Canada — delivered everything the sport has to offer: sub-2:10 elites, a sub-4:00 field average, first-time finishers, and trail runners chasing the horizon. Here is the full roundup.

All results!

Sunbury Marathon

The Sunbury Marathon offers small town charm, a beautiful out-and-back course, an excellent participant experience all at an affordable price. Come experience the hospitality of the Sunbury community and enjoy one of the flattest race courses you can find showcasing lovely mid-ohio scenery. Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K, and 1 Mile Races offered complete with chip-timing, live results, in the heart of a great and welcoming community.

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🏃🏻‍♀️ Grace Sugut, Eliud Kipchoge’s Wife, Runs Her First Marathon

Grace Sugut crossed her first marathon finish line in Cape Town. Her husband, the greatest marathoner of all time, was there to meet her.

Grace Sugut completed her debut marathon at the Cape Town Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 4:29:59 — placing 2,353rd among nearly 7,000 women. Waiting at the finish line with open arms was her husband, Eliud Kipchoge.

It was a quiet reversal of a famous moment from 2019, when Sugut was the one embracing Kipchoge after his historic sub-two-hour run at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. This time, it was her milestone, and he was in the crowd for it.

“My heart is filled with pride, for my wife Grace completing her first marathon in Cape Town.” — Eliud Kipchoge, on Instagram

Kipchoge himself had a strong day at the same race, finishing 16th overall in 2:13:29 — checking Africa off his continent-by-continent marathon mission. The 41-year-old is working his way through all seven continents over the next three years.

Before the race, Kipchoge offered his wife some simple advice: line up, embrace the pain, and cross the finish line. "She will not be the same," he said. Next up for him is the Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on July 12, followed by Melbourne in October.

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

You know a race has character when it starts with a cannon shot. At 6:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in June, the Casper Marathon announces itself with a thunderclap boom that echoes across the Wyoming high plains — and from that moment, runners are committed to 26.2 miles of one of the mountain West’s most distinctive marathon experiences.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Running Through the Wall: Mental Strategies for Miles 18–26

There’s a moment in nearly every marathon — somewhere between mile 18 and 22 — when your legs stop listening and your mind starts negotiating. The crowd thins. Your pace slips. A voice in your head whispers: Why are you doing this? You could just stop. This is the wall. And it’s not a myth.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 10/11/2026 - Cape Cod Marathon - Falmouth, MA

⭐️ 10/17/2026 - Mankato Marathon - Mankato, MN

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

May 24 - Ottawa Marathon — Ottawa, ON
May 24 - Coeur d’Alene Marathon — Coeur d’Alene, ID
May 24 - Minocqua Northwoods Escape Marathon — Minocqua, WI
May 30 - Spring – Mud Mountain Dam Marathon & Half — Enumclaw, WA
May 31 - Newport Marathon — Newport, OR
May 31 - Saskatchewan Marathon — Saskatoon, SK

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

May 24 - Buffalo Marathon Weekend — Buffalo, NY
May 31 - Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon — San Diego, CA

📢 BIG CITY & HIGH-ENERGY RACES - Crowds, atmosphere, and scale

May 24 - CDA Marathon — Coeur d’Alene, ID
May 24 - Wyoming Marathon — Laramie, WY
May 29 - Old Colony Marathon — Westfield, MA

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

May 30 - Nutmeg State Marathon — Hartford, CT
May 30 - Conquer the Canal Marathon — Delaware City, DE
May 31 - Red Island State Marathon — Warwick, RI
May 31 - Course des pompiers de Laval Marathon — Laval, QC

Back Your Badge Marathon

The Back Your Badge Marathon is a premier running event proudly sponsored by the Town of Plainfield to honor and support all Public Safety Agencies — Police, Fire, and Communications. Celebrate community, wellness, and service at the 4th Annual Back Your Badge Marathon, featuring three exciting race distances — the 5K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon — giving runners and walkers of all levels a chance to participate.

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past week's results

A wide swath of North America — from the Wasatch Front in Utah to the shores of Lake Superior in Wisconsin, from the mountains of Maine to the streets of Longueuil, Quebec — came alive with marathon racing over the weekend of May 16–18, 2026. Twenty-two events drew a combined total of roughly 9,600 finishers, spanning road and trail, flat and mountainous, mass-market city events and intimate backcountry adventures. The weekend’s flagship performances came out of Denver and Cleveland, where the Colfax and Cleveland marathons each drew fields well north of 2,000 runners. Here is a complete race-by-race breakdown.

All results!

The Haunted Forest Marathon

Dare to run through mystery and legend at The Haunted Forest Marathon, held in the heart of Ohio. This uniquely themed event transforms the natural landscape into an eerie yet exhilarating course, where shadowy woodlands, quiet trails, and creatively decorated landmarks bring the spirit of Halloween to life. The predominantly flat, record‑friendly route features gentle natural undulations, offering strategic pacing opportunities for runners of all levels.

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🧭 I ditched my GPS tracker — and became a better runner

One runner’s month-long experiment with going fully analog changed how she trains, moves, and thinks about running altogether.

By Katja Vujić

For years, Katja Vujić ran with a coaching app in her ear, her phone tucked into a fanny pack, and her eyes glued to her pace and step count. Then she read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari — and decided to leave everything at home.

Over the past month, she ran two to three times a week with no phone, no guided app, and no music. What she discovered surprised her: better form awareness, longer runs, and a renewed love for the sport itself.

“It felt like if my phone didn’t record it, it didn’t count. But I run primarily because of how it makes me feel — and analog running was really positive for me.”

Her five key takeaways:

1. Sharper mind-body connection. Without app cues, she tuned into pain signals, breathing, and pace intuitively — and actually enjoyed the run itself more.

2. Endurance went up. Her runs extended from 30 to 45 minutes naturally — without any deliberate training plan pushing her.

3. More physical comfort. No phone bouncing in a fanny pack or slipping from a waistband — she felt, in her words, “physically and spiritually lighter.”

4. Discovered her own neighborhood. Breaking out of her usual park loop, she explored new streets, found coffee shops, and greeted neighbors.

5. Clarity on her running goals. She’s not training for a sub-3 marathon. Running for joy — not stats — is reason enough to keep going.

The analog trend that's swept through other parts of daily life — mornings without scrolling, park visits without a phone — has found its way to running too. Vujić plans to keep most of her runs screen-free from here on out, occasionally using her phone but no longer relying on it.

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

Runners looking for a fast course, scenic Montana views, and the chance to stand on the podium will find it all at the 41st Annual Big Sky State Games Road Race, taking place Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Billings, Montana.

The Road Race is one of the premier endurance events of the Big Sky State Games, Montana’s Olympic style amateur sports festival that brings thousands of athletes together each summer in 40 different sports. The Games welcome participants of all ages and abilities from across Montana and neighboring states to compete, celebrate sport, and experience the energy of a multi-sport festival.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

Sleep as Your Secret Training Tool: How Rest Transforms Your Marathon Performance

Most runners obsessively track their miles, monitor their heart rate, and fine-tune their nutrition. Yet one of the most powerful performance enhancers available is completely free, requires zero equipment, and is available to every single runner — and it’s the one most commonly sacrificed when training ramps up. Sleep isn’t passive recovery. It’s active adaptation. And if you’re not treating it like a training session, you’re leaving serious gains on the table.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 5/16/2026 - Famous Idaho Potato Marathon - Boise, ID

⭐️ 11/15/2026 - Battleship Half Marathon - Wilmington, NC

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

May 16 - Cleveland Marathon — Cleveland, OH
May 16 - Ogden Marathon — Ogden, UT
May 24 - Vermont City Marathon — Burlington, VT
May 30 - Fargo Marathon — Fargo, ND

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

May 17 - Colfax Marathon — Denver, CO
May 23 - Bayshore Marathon — Traverse City, MI
May 24 - Ottawa Marathon — Ottawa, ON

📢 BIG CITY & HIGH-ENERGY RACES - Crowds, atmosphere, and scale

May 25 - Buffalo Marathon — Buffalo, NY

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

May 16 - Beach to Bay Relay Marathon — Corpus Christi, TX
May 17 - Windermere Marathon — Vantage, WA
May 17 - Med City Marathon — Rochester, MN

Fort De Soto Oktoberfest 15K•10K•5K

Have a blast and kick off Tampa Bay’s race season at historic Fort De Soto Park with a 15K, 10K, or 5K and a fun Oktoberfest celebration.

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👉 Catch up on the past week's results

The weekend of May 9-10 delivered a full slate of marathon action across North America – twelve events in all, drawing a combined field of approximately 1,229 finishers from the Atlantic provinces of Canada to the Texas Hill Country, from the Northwoods of Minnesota to the shores of Portland, Maine.

All results!

Billings Skyline Races

The Skyline Races Half Marathon and 30K brings runners to the top of Billings’ legendary Rimrocks for a race like no other. Experience Montana’s wide-open beauty on a paved path of moderate elevation changes that makes it ideal for both competitive athletes and first-time half-marathoners or 30K participants.

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⚡️ Cocodona 250: The Race That Breaks You Just Before the Finish

There are ultramarathons, and then there is the Cocodona 250. One of the most brutal foot races on the planet, the Cocodona 250 winds through the Sonoran and Colorado Plateau landscapes of Arizona, demanding everything a human body and mind can offer — and then a little more. What makes it especially cruel, and especially compelling, is that some runners find their limit not at mile 100 or mile 200, but in the final handful of miles before the finish line.

The Numbers Are Staggering

To put the scale in perspective:

• 250+ miles of trail and dirt road

• 40,000+ feet of elevation gain

• 125 hours to finish — roughly five days

• Temperatures swinging from desert heat to near-freezing nights

• Terrain ranging from cactus-lined desert trails to alpine forest

Why Do Some Runners Stop So Close to the End?

The phenomenon of runners stopping, slowing dramatically, or having profound emotional breakdowns in the final miles is well documented in ultrarunning, and the Cocodona amplifies it for several reasons…

Read the full article!

➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss

For nearly five decades, runners, walkers, and families have gathered in the heart of Billings to kick off Father’s Day weekend with one of the city’s most cherished traditions, the Heart & Sole Run.

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the 47th Annual Heart & Sole Run returns, bringing the community together for a morning focused on health, family, and giving back. What began as a small local event has grown into one of Billings’ most anticipated summer races, welcoming participants of all ages and abilities.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team

⭐️ Training Tip

The 10% Rule Is Dead: A Smarter Approach to Building Weekly Mileage

For decades, the 10% Rule has been the golden guideline of marathon training: never increase your weekly mileage by more than 10% from one week to the next. It’s simple, memorable, and repeated everywhere from beginner running programs to coaching certification courses.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 7/18/2026 - Alaska Salmon Runs - Cordova, AK

⭐️ 2/7/2027 - St. Petersburg Distance Classic - Saint Petersburg, F

🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

May 10 - Pine Tree Marathon — Portland, ME
May 10 - Fargo Marathon — Fargo, ND
May 16 - Famous Idaho Potato Marathon — Boise, ID
May 16 - Ogden Marathon — Ogden, UT
May 17 - Cleveland Marathon — Cleveland, OH
May 24 - Vermont City Marathon — Burlington, VT

⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel

May 10 - Stewart McKelvey Fredericton Marathon — Fredericton, NB
May 10 - Muir Woods Trail Marathon — Stinson Beach, CA
May 17 - Colfax Marathon — Denver, CO

📢 BIG CITY & HIGH-ENERGY RACES - Crowds, atmosphere, and scale

May 24 - Buffalo Marathon — Buffalo, NY

🏃🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

May 10 - Garland Marathon — Garland, TX
May 16 - Beach to Bay Relay Marathon — Corpus Christi, TX
May 17 - Med City Marathon — Rochester, MN
May 24 - Ottawa Marathon — Ottawa, ON

LewisGale Salem Half Marathon, 8K and Kids Fun Run

The City of Salem, known as “Virginia’s Championship City”, has hosted numerous NCAA National Championships as well as many other national and international sports tournaments. In 2016, we decided to branch out and bring that “Championship” mentality to running! The races start and finish at the Salem Farmers Market in downtown Salem, VA and take you on a scenic tour of Salem through neighborhoods, Roanoke College, and the downtown business district.

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👉 Catch up on the past week's results

Across the United States on the weekend of May 2–3, 2026, tens of thousands of runners took to roads and trails from the sun-baked coast of Southern California to the forested ridges of the Ozarks.

The marquee events drew thousands — Pittsburgh’s storied streets, Cincinnati’s iconic course — but the weekend’s full story is told in the long tail: the eight runners who showed up in Eminence, Missouri to race trails through the Bluffs; the seventeen souls who finished a marathon in Derwood, Maryland with an average time north of six and a half hours. All of them are here. All of them count.

All results!

Clarence DeMar Marathon

The Clarence DeMar Marathon is a tremendously well-organized, welcoming race held during early New England foliage season. The 26.2-mile course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier. At the DeMar, we give our runners a world-class experience as we celebrate each and every cross of the finish line.

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⚡️ What Are The Fastest Marathons In The World?

Marathon running is experiencing a golden era of speed. The 2026 London Marathon made history when Sabastian Sawe crossed the finish line in 1:59:30, becoming the first man ever to break the two-hour barrier — and he wasn't alone, with Yomif Kejelcha also dipping under two hours in the same race.

What Makes a Marathon Fast?

🛣️ Flat terrain is the foundation — the quickest courses have little elevation change and avoid obstacles like sharp corners, cobblestones, or speed bumps.

🌟 Four of the World Marathon Majors appear among the world’s fastest races. Their speed is partly down to course design, but the prestige and prize money they offer also draw elite talent, naturally pushing overall times down.

🏅 Races like Seville and Valencia serve as a launchpad for ambitious runners looking to post times good enough to earn invitations to the Majors — and they tend to be more accessible for amateur entrants too.

💨 When a course attracts a deep pool of quick runners, everyone benefits. The competition and camaraderie help push people to faster finishes across all ability levels.

🌤️ Weather plays a huge role. The fastest times tend to happen on cool, still days with no rain, at venues close to sea level.

🕕 That said, a fast course doesn’t mean an exclusive one. Marathons remain one of sport’s great open invitations — whether you’re chasing two hours or six, there’s a place for you at the start line.

Here are the 10 fastest men’s marathons of all time, including multiple times run by the same athlete:

Here are the 10 fastest women’s marathons of all time, including multiple times run by the same athlete:

➡️ Featured marathon you shouldn’t miss

There’s a particular kind of joy that comes from running a race that feels purpose-built for speed — where the terrain conspires with the scenery to produce something genuinely special. The Montana Marathon (formerly the Queen Bee Montana Marathon) in Billings, MT, is exactly that race. Now in its 46th year, this USATF-certified point-to-point classic on September 20, 2026, has quietly cemented its reputation as one of the fastest and most scenic fall marathons in the Mountain West — and if you haven’t put it on your race calendar yet, it’s time to fix that.

Read the full event preview!

Thanks for reading 🤍
Matt Fitzgerald & the MarathonGuide team

⭐️ Training Tip

Strength Training for Marathoners: The 4 Exercises Every Runner Should Be Doing Weekly

Most runners focus on one thing: miles. More miles, faster miles, better miles. That’s understandable — running is what it’s all about. But the same pattern repeats itself again and again: the athlete who skips the gym hits a wall around mile 18, or worse, shows up to the start line nursing a nagging IT band or a hip flexor that just won’t cooperate.

Read the full article!

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by:

⭐️ 6/7/2026 - North Olympic Discovery Marathon - Port Angeles, WA

⭐️ 10/25/2026 - 7 Bridges Marathon - Chattanooga, TN

⭐️ FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers

May 2 · Wisconsin Marathon — Kenosha, WI
May 2 - Potomac River Run Marathon & Half — Washington, DC
May 3 - Lincoln Marathon — Lincoln, NE
May 9 - Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon — Holdingford & St. Joseph, MN
May 9 - P.A.C.E. Marathon and Half Marathon — Layton, UT

🏞 SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES -Worth the travel

May 1–2 - Shiprock Marathon — Shiprock, NM
May 3 - Avenue of the Giants Marathon — Eureka, CA
May 9 - Starved Rock Country Marathon — Ottawa, IL

👟 BIG CITY & HIGH-ENERGY RACES - Crowds, atmosphere, and scale

May 1–3 - Long Island Marathon Festival — East Meadow, NY
May 3 - Vancouver International Marathon — Vancouver, BC
May 3 - Toronto Marathon — Toronto, ON Full

🙋🏻‍♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields

May 2 - Farm Park Marathon — Derwood, MD
May 2 - Boise River Marathon — Eagle, ID
May 3 - Sombrero Marathon — Santa Clarita, CA
May 3 - 60th Walter Childs Marathon — Holyoke, MA
May 9 - Granite State Marathon — Nashua, NH
May 9 - York Marathon and Half Marathon — York, PA

🎉 MULTI-DISTANCE FESTIVALS

May 2 - Texas Switchback Marathon — Johnson City, TX
May 2 - Great Allegheny Ohiopyle Marathon Race Festival — Ohiopyle, PA
May 2 - Festival Foods La Crosse Marathon — La Crosse, WI

Know a race that should be on this list? Reply to this email.

Charlevoix Marathon

Welcome to the 20th annual Charlevoix Marathon! We are so excited to host you on one of the most beautiful running courses in the world. Whether you’re trying to qualify for Boston in the full marathon, or challenging yourself at our half marathon, 10km or 5km course, you’re in for an amazing start line on the famous Bridge Street, along Lake Michigan and finishing in old town Charlevoix and Round Lake!

Register now!

👉 Catch up on the past Monday Musing

Mad Marathon, Half, 5K, 10K & Relays

The Mad Marathon, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains, is a race that embodies the spirit of challenge and reward. Known for its scenic beauty and unique small-town charm, this event offers a one-of-a-kind experience for runners seeking to conquer both hills and personal limits. From covered bridges to rolling farmland, the course is as picturesque as it is demanding.

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⚡️ HISTORY WAS MADE TWICE AT THE 2026 LONDON MARATHON

Sunday’s London Marathon will go down in history — not once, but twice over. For the first time ever, two runners broke the two-hour barrier in the same race. Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe crossed the line in 1:59:30, with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finishing just eleven seconds behind in 1:59:41.

But beyond the front of the pack, nearly 60,000 runners took on the streets of the capital. Here’s how the field broke down — and where your finish time would have landed you.

Sub-3:00 — 3,304 runners (6% of the field) The elite end of the mass race, including former Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel. Only 1 in 17 finishers made it under this mark.

3:00–3:59 — 16,993 runners (28% of the field) Finishing under four hours put you in the top third of all finishers — that’s a pace of around 9:09/mile. Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo ran 3:21, and BBC presenter Sophie Raworth came home in 3:36.

4:00–4:59 — 19,787 runners (33% of the field) The busiest finishing window of the day. More than one in three runners landed here, including actor James Norton in 4:29.

5:00–5:59 — 12,636 runners (21% of the field) Just over a fifth of the field finished in this range. Journalist and author Bryony Gordon just made it in at 5:56.

6:00+ — 7,010 runners (12% of the field) Arsenal legend Tony Adams finished in 6:21, among the 12% who took six hours or more to cross the line.

All results!

➡️ Featured marathon you shouldn’t miss

Nestled along the Illinois River in the heart of the Illinois Valley, the Starved Rock Country Marathon is one of the Midwest’s most scenic and underrated road races. Held annually in Ottawa, IL — the seat of LaSalle County and a town steeped in Lincoln-era history — this event draws runners who want more than a finish line. They want a journey.

Read the full event preview!

MarathonGuide

Thanks for reading 🤍
Matt Fitzgerald & the MarathonGuide team

One thing I’ve learned from all this experience is that my brain operates the same way behind the wheel as it does when I run. Here’s a brief excerpt from my book Life Is a Marathon, which chronicles an eight-week trip across the U.S. that I took with my wife, Nataki, and our dog, Queenie, in 2017, for the purpose of running marathons and meeting fellow runners:

Nataki and I (and Queenie) rolled into Clayton, New Mexico, at 4:02 p.m. on the eve of event number two in my search for the magic of the marathon. I note the exact time because it was a bit of a disappointment. Like many runners, I approach road trips with a marathon mindset, setting time goals and going to great lengths (such as enduring extreme bladder discomfort) to achieve them, even keeping track of personal records for long drives I repeat often (Oakland to San Diego: six hours and forty minutes). During the two hundred and seventy-mile drive from Albuquerque, where we’d spent the previous night, I’d set an utterly arbitrary goal of reaching our destination by four o’clock sharp, and it pained me to miss by two minutes.

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There’s a hint of self-mockery in this passage, but I don’t regret that my mind works this way because it’s one of the reasons I’m so good at pacing workouts and races. As most readers of this blog will know, I’ve long been an avid student of the science and art of pacing, and in studying other good pacers I’ve observed that they like to play little math games in their heads, both when they’re exercising and when they’re not. For example, they might have a ritual of guessing the time before checking the clock when they get up to pee at night (okay, that’s me again). It’s a frivolous little habit, but a runner who engages in it and in similar games during exercise will develop a superior internal clock that makes them better pacers compared to athletes who don’t naturally play these games.

Cruise Control

Another observation I’ve made out on the roads is that I am among a tiny percentage of drivers who routinely use cruise control. I know this because, thanks to cruise control, I am almost always moving at a constant speed on the highway, so it’s easy to tell if other vehicles are doing the same, and they almost never are. This is baffling to me. You save gas and/or electricity when you travel at a constant rate of speed, and over the course of a long trip you also save a lot of mental energy by not trying to maintain a more or less steady speed through frequent, manual microadjustments to the position of your right foot.

Most runners are also terrible at maintaining a steady pace when they run, which is also more efficient, and thought I won’t go so far as to say they’re erratic because they don’t use cruise control, I will say that erratic running and erratic driving are two manifestations of the same cognitive deficit. Each of us has only one mind, and it operates the same way in all situations—driving, running, and the rest.

Situational Awareness

The overwhelming majority of drivers also have incredibly poor situational awareness, and it drives me nuts. I’ll give you an example. I’m driving home to Flagstaff from Phoenix on a two-lane freeway, climbing a steep mountain grade in the left lane. All the long-haul trucks are in the right lane, struggling upward at 45 mph while I zip along at the legal speed limit of 75 mph. A slower-moving car ahead of me in the right lane is bearing down rapidly on an even slower-moving big rig ahead of it. I can tell the driver isn’t really aware that she’s 15 seconds away from colliding with the truck’s backend, and long before she does, I recognize that I will pass the driver on the left at the exact moment she has to either shift into my lane (slamming into my right side in the process) to avoid rearending the eighteen-wheeler or slam on the brakes.

This puts me in the position of having to essentially do the other driver’s job for her. I disengage cruise control and zoom ahead to ensure the driver has a clear space in the left lane to slide into when, sure enough, she realizes at the last second that she’s on a collision course with the truck’s back bumper and swerves left without signaling or looking. Don’t judge the driver too harshly, though, because based on my experience, there’s about a ninety-five percent chance that your situational awareness is just as bad.

The same cognitive deficit show up in a variety of ways in running. In road races, I often see runners failing to run the shortest possible distance, which requires that they look ahead, note whether their next turn is left or right, and cut a gentle diagonal across the road if their next turn is on the opposite side. On the trails, runners do the exact equivalent by choosing poor lines that forces them to vary their stride length, resulting in lots of unnecessary braking. And on the track, even at the elite level, I see runners mindlessly passing competitors on the turns, which is a lot less efficient than passing on the straightaways.

Manipulability

One more thing I see my fellow motorists do that I do not is allowing themselves to be manipulated by other drivers. For kicks sometimes when I’m cruising along in the fast lane and a particular vehicle has been behind me for a while, its operator showing no indication of wanting to pass me, I will shift over to the right. Almost invariably, the other driver will immediately accelerate and move through. That driver might have been going 67 MPH for the last forty-minutes, but like a puppeteer I can make them speed up to 74 mph with my own actions.

Similarly, anytime a runner fails to “run their own race” (like when they run the first mile way too fast because everyone around them is also running way too fast), they are also allowing themselves to be manipulated. The best tactical racers, though, are the manipulators.

I Got Nuthin’

Here’s the part of the blog post where I’m supposed to offer some practical take-home message based on the preceding observations. However, I don’t have one. Isn’t it enough sometimes to make an observation and let others decide what to do with it? The purpose of this essay was to remind you that you have one and only one mind, which operates in consistent ways when you’re running and when you’re not. Some of these tendencies may help you run better, while others do the opposite. A bit of reflection will allow you to identify them. What you do next is up to you.

Catch up on past Monday Musing posts ⬇️

🤍 Thanks for reading,
Matt Fitzgerald and MarathonGuide Team