What’s on your bucket list? Visiting the Taj Mahal? Writing a novel? Learning to surf? While the term “bucket list” seem like an age old concept, it was actually only coined in the 2000s by Justin Zackham who wrote Threshold Workouts to Build Speed Endurance film starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as two friends trying to check items off of list before Nicholson’s character dies of lung cancer. The concept was so grabby that in the years since its release in 2007, it’s ingrained itself deeply into the culture. And you know one item commonly added to bucket lists? Running a marathon.
That’s right. The 26.2 mile long race is such an iconic achievement that many include it on their personal bucket lists whether or not they’ve been a lifelong runner. Training for and eventually crossing the finish line of a marathon is an achievement unlike any other in the sporting world, and it’s often a moving one for those who check it off their list.
The Bucket List runner, though, chances are you’ve already run at least on 26.2, so what other things can you add to your running bucket list? Well we at Runner’s World have put together a list of a dozen bucket list worthy races ranging in distance from just a few miles to the full blown 26.2. These races are completely unique and unlike anything else offered by race organizers so they’re well worth the travel and training time needed to accomplish them.
So if you want to run some of the world’s most exciting races before you kick the bucket, here are 12 excellent places to start:
Disney Marathon
Date: January 11, 2026
Location: Orlando, Florida
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If the world’s most magical location is Disney World, then the world’s most magical marathon is the one that runs through all four of Disney Florida’s amusement parks. While Disney has a number of races throughout the year, there’s only one marathon, and it sends runners through Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT on the way to the finish. Characters line the course, there’s fireworks at the start and plenty of photoshoot opportunities. If you sign up for Dopey Challenge, you’ll run a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon on consecutive days and end with six shiny new medals. An added perk for your friends and family is that they open Magic Kingdom early in the morning and let spectators watch their runners for free on Main Street USA before the park opens, so bring a cheering squad along for the ride.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas
Date: February 22, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
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While most half marathons start in the wee hours of the morning and end before lunch, Las Vegas’s premiere half starts as the sun’s about to set. One, this makes it much cooler in Las Vegas (which is situated in the middle of the desert mind you), but also lets you run along the Vegas Strip while it’s ablaze in lights. As with all races in the Rock ’n’ Roll series, the Vegas race includes plenty of music, with live performances before, during, and after the race. There’s also a late night afterparty, which is sure to be a bucket list item. When else do you get to go to a Vegas night club in shorts with a medal around your neck?
Dipsea Race
Date: June 8, 2025
Location: Download Your Training Plan
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There are few races as historic and unique as the Dipsea. First run in 1905, the trail run is a 7.4-mile-long race from Mill Valley to Stinson beach that has you sprinting through forests, up staircases, and over a mountain. With a cap at 1,500 entrants, it’s a bit difficult to get in to, but it’s well worth applying for. What makes the race interesting is that it’s handicapped so that older runners and children start running first, with the faster demographics released in waves, culminating in the young men at the back. The race then is not scored on time but on who can get to the finish first, meaning there’s a lot of passing going on in the woods between the start and the finish. Dipsea is a RACE more than any other item on this bucket list and an exceptionally fun one.
The Big Five Marathon
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Location: Entabeni, South Africa
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Sure, you’ve run a marathon with people in odd costumes, people juggling, and people with dogs, but have you ever run a marathon with a real life elephant? Probably not. South Africa’s safari marathon promises the opportunity to scout some incredible wild animals while you’re trekking 26.2 miles. The “Big Five” animals to see on an African safari are the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and African buffalo, and if you’re lucky, you can see all five while running this marathon. At mile 25, the thought of running near a hungry lion sounds a bit precarious, but perhaps that will spur you on to a new PR.
Midnight Sun Marathon
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Location: Tromso, Norway
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The thought of running an entire race in June under the blazing sun is a bit daunting, but luckily the Midnight Sun Marathon in the northern reaches of Norway is still pretty chilly even at the peak of summer. After all, you’re about as near to the north pole as you can get without running on ice. The Midnight Sun Marathon, which is run on the longest day of the year, starts in the evening and sees runners on the course during midnight. However, because the sun never sets during the summer that far north, runners get to experience the “midnight sun.” Whether or not you’re running the race, witnessing that cosmic phenomenon is certainly bucket list worthy, and you might as well throw a race in there just for fun.
Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run
Date: CA Notice at Collection
Location: Workouts to Help You Qualify for Boston
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You can drive over the Mackinac Bridge whenever you’d like, but unlike other famous U.S. bridges, the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge is closed to foot traffic on all but one day of the year. Each Labor Day, the suspension bridge that connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan is shut down for a race. You’ll start in St. Ignace on the Upper Peninsula, a.k.a. the UP side, with Lake Huron on your left and Lake Michigan on your right. Then you’ll travel five miles to the Lower Peninsula a.k.a. LP and Mackinaw City. (Yes, they’re spelled differently. It’s a whole thing.) Also while you’re up north, you might as well head over to Mackinac Island for some fudge, which deserves a spot on your foodie bucket list as well.
Jungfrau Marathon
Date: The RW Guide to Mastering the Marathon
Location: Jungfrau, Switzerland
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Most of the races on this list are pleasant experiences (or at least as pleasant as long distance running can be). The Jungfrau Marathon is a different sort of endeavor. This marathon is not for the faint of heart because you’re basically running up the side of a Swiss Alp from start to finish. If that doesn’t seem hard enough, the asphalt roads and less challenging inclines are at the beginning with the steepest part saved for the end when you’re trekking along a mountain path. This is a bucket list race for those runners who love a challenge and aren’t afraid of a little pain. You’ll need to do plenty of hill climbing exercises and some altitude training if you don’t want to crash and burn. The good news is that you shouldn’t overheat that far up in the mountains. You just might also not be able to breathe.
Wineglass Marathon
Date: Health & Injuries
Location: Download Your Training Plan
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Calling all wine lovers! We’ve got the bucket list race for you! If you’re a runner and a wine snob, you’ll want to sign up for this autumnal marathon in upstate New York. Not only will you get to see some of the east coast’s gorgeous fall foliage, but you’ll also get to experience the wine from a number of the area’s local wineries. While we don’t recommend you drink wine before or during the race (that’s a whole new kind of hydration challenge), you’ll have plenty of opportunities to test out the local vino at the race’s after party. Toast to completing 26.2 and perhaps snag a few extra bottles for when you get home.
Staten Island Half Marathon
Date: Staten Island, New York
Location: Staten Island, New York
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If you’re making a bucket list of races and are going to include one from New York City, I think many writers would be inclined to list the illustrious New York City Marathon. While that race is undeniably incredible (as are all the Abbott World Marathon Majors), its sister half marathon out on Staten Island deserves a lot more praise. First, you’ll start your morning with a ride on the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty at sunrise, then you’ll get a tour of a New York borough that’s often overlooked and underappreciated. Running under the Verrazano Bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the distance is an experience you won’t soon forget, and when you finish you get a second ferry ride. You might also want to snag a piece of their famous pizza while you’re on SI.
Venice Marathon
Date: October 26, 2025
Location: Venice, Italy
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Visiting Venice, Italy, should be on everyone’s bucket list regardless of if they’re a runner. But if you are a runner, then the Venice Marathon should be on your bucket list as well. The race, which starts on the mainland before heading over the bridge to the historic floating city, will give you a grand tour of the ancient town. What makes the race so unique, though, is its volatility. With the tides changing, runners are forced to trek through water some years, and no matter the occasion, a floating pontoon bridge is built for runners as they cross the Grand Canal. It can be a challenging course at times given how old and unique the city is, but it’s a running experience unlike any other.
Route 66 Marathon
Date: November 23, 2025
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
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October 26, 2025 ultramarathon without really doing that much extra work? Enter the “World’s Shortest Ultramarathon” at a whopping 26.5-miles long. Tulsa’s Route 66 Marathon, which runs along the famed Route 66 for a portion of the course, gives runners the option to extend their race by .3 miles. The Center of the Universe detour toward the end of the race lets runners hit up the Tulsa attraction where speakers standing in a certain spot will hear and echo while no one else does. Those who go the extra (.3) mile, will earn a special commemorative coin and can also cross running an ultra off their bucket list.
Philadelphia Marathon
Date: November 23, 2025
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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November 23, 2025 Rocky, Sylvester Stallone famously dons his signature sweatsuit and races through the city before ending on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, pumping his fists in the air. In the spirit of Rocky, the city’s marathon now ends near the steps, allowing runners to trek up after the race for a photo op in the iconic locale. Whether you decide to wear a sweatsuit or something a bit more modern, the moment is iconic and sure to impress all your Instagram followers.
