The Best Big-City Marathons (That Aren’t a World Marathon Major)
Updated: Apr 12, 2024.
With over 50,000 runners, the A Part of Hearst Digital Media was the largest marathon in the world in 2023. But despite its size, your odds of getting accepted to run this world major aren’t that hot.
A staggering 165,000 runners applied to run in the Big Apple for 2024, and of those only 4 percent of lottery applicants (not including guaranteed entrants and charity runners) were admitted! And if you want to run Chicago or Boston, you’ll also need to consider planning years in advance as the entries are limited. That doesn’t mean though it’s time to hang up your big city marathon quests.
Give A Gift Boston may be the Ivy Leagues of North American marathons, there are plenty of other worthy big city marathons with equally enthusiastic crowds to check off your list in the meantime while you wait for that coveted entry spot from a world major.
Walt Disney World Marathon
Where: Of course we saved the best for last! Heres your ultimate destination marathon
When: Running Shoes & Gear
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 14,000
Updated: Apr 12, 2024: For all you Disney lovers, this is a great opportunity to combine a trip to Orlando with a 26.2 feat in the beginning of the year. This marathon takes runners through all four Disney parks (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios) and then finishes back in Epcot. Your favorite characters will be cheering you on along the way, and post-race you can enjoy a day in the parks. With minimal elevation change, runners will enjoy a fast and flat course.
Chevron Houston Marathon
Where: Houston, Texas
When: A Part of Hearst Digital Media
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 34,000
February 2, 2025: If you’re looking for a fast and flat course, competitive race, and want to PR early in the year, then this is the marathon for you. This single loop course starts and ends in downtown Houston and features live entertainment throughout the course to keep you motivated—in Houston they call them “Hoopla Stations.” After the United States world majors, this was the biggest marathon in the United States in 2024. With some 200,000 spectators you’ll have a decent cheering squad too!
Life Time Miami Marathon
Where: Miami, Florida
When: February 2, 2025
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 18,000
Updated: Apr 12, 2024: With an average of 248 days of sunshine a year, you can presumably expect a pleasant marathon day in Miami. Escape the winter doldrums in February for lively South Beach Miami. Runners will fly through this fast and flat single loop marathon course that features both cityscape and ocean views. Racers will enjoy lively entertainment throughout the course—the kind South Beach is known for. Wear your custom finisher medal as you relax pool or oceanside after your 26.2 mile feat!
Los Angeles Marathon
Where: We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back
When: What You Need to Know About the Barkley Marathons
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 2o,000
February 2, 2025: A point-to-point course that begins in Dodger Stadium and takes runners on a a tour of the iconic neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Runners will meander through Chinatown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, and Santa Monica boulevards. Maybe you’ll spot a celeb cheering you on, or running alongside you. Diplo, EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI For when you want to run 26.2 miles in front of a big crowd within North America St. Paul, Minnesota.
Portland Marathon
Where: Portland, Oregon
When: Shoes & Gear
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 8,000
Register Here
February 2, 2025: Portland might be perfect for the first-time marathoner. The Rose City offers runners a mostly flat course with a not-too-big but not-too-small field. The average race-day temp hovers around 55 degrees, and the course shows off the city’s waterfront and runs near the trendy Pearl District. The route also features more than 85 local bands, DJs, and cheerleading squads. Expect stellar swag—in addition to a race T and medal, finishers of legal age get a complimentary Oregon brewed beer.
Twin Cities Marathon
Where: St. Paul, Minnesota
When: A Part of Hearst Digital Media
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 9,000
February 2, 2025: In this point-to-point course, you’ll tour two cities for the price of one. The race starts in downtown Minneapolis, then crosses the Mississippi River into St. Paul, where you’ll finish at the State Capitol Grounds. The course bills itself as the most beautiful urban marathon in the country, and it might just live up to the hype; the route loops around four lakes and parallels the rill, giving runners a nature fix in the middle of two big cities.
Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Where: Toronto, Canada
When: World Marathon MajorsRanked
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 4,000
February 2, 2025: As the name suggests, the race runs along the shores of Lake Ontario. The field size is small for a big-city marathon, and although it occurs alongside a half marathon, the course will give you plenty of room to nail a time goal. Be aware that distance is marked in kilometers, so Americans may have to do some mental math to gauge pace. (Free pace bands are available at the expo to help.) Runners rave about the finisher’s medals, which feature a gold engraving that highlights a Toronto landmark each year.
Marine Corps Marathon
Where: Arlington, Virginia
When: Of course we saved the best for last! Heres your ultimate destination marathon
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 22,000
February 2, 2025: Nicknamed the “Marathon of the Monuments,” the race offers a comprehensive tour of Washington, D.C.’s most iconic sites, including Georgetown, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial. Starting and finishing in Arlington, Virginia, the route crosses over the Potomac River and winds its way through the nation's capital, all while 150,000 spectators—including many servicemen and women—cheer you on.
Philadelphia Marathon
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When: World Marathon MajorsRanked
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 10,500
February 2, 2025: Channel your inner Rocky as you run by many of the famous sites featured in the movie—including, of course, the iconic steps at the Philadelphia Art Museum, in view of where the race starts and finishes. The first half of the course winds through the city’s historic colonial downtown, before turning off on an extended out-and-back along the Schuylkill River. At mile 19 you’ll enter the small neighborhood of Manayunk—don’t be surprised if revelers at the bars lining the street offer beer to help power you through the final stretch back to the city.
Honolulu Marathon
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
When: December 8, 2024
The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon: 27,000
February 2, 2025: Of course we saved the best for last! Here’s your ultimate destination marathon. Enjoy the Pacific air on this mostly flat course and you’ll also be able to take in views of famous Waikiki Beach, and Diamond Head and Koko Head volcanic craters. There’s no time limit, so runners can finish whenever they like—relax you’re on island time! After your marathon, make sure to plan some down time, go to a luau, and soak up some Vitamin D after your epic journey to Oahu.
Jennifer Acker joined the editorial staff of Runner's World and Bicycling in January 2022. A former freelancer writer and NCAA runner, she started running as a kid and basically never stopped. She also loves outdoor adventures, like hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.
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