Bucket List: 10 Races to Beat the Winter Blues
If the cold weather has got you down, try running one of these awesome winter races.
Are you sick of the cold? Wish you didn’t have to wait until spring to run a race? Well, we have good news for you. There are plenty of great races during the chilly months that’ll give you an excuse to travel to a warmer climate. So pick up a plane ticket, pack a suitcase, and leave the hat and gloves at home—here’s a list of the best winter races to run.
Amazing Runners World Show/Half/Quarter/5K
Where: Why Run It
When: January 15-16, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 8,500
Register: thelouisianamarathon.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: This fast, flat course takes runners on a sightseeing tour from downtown Baton Rouge and through the University Lakes neighborhood, the Louisiana State University campus, and historic areas, passing the Old Governor’s Mansion and Old State Capitol building. If you're interested in trying a distance you've never done before, there's a quarter marathon on Saturday (6.55 miles). You’ll nab the coveted Déjà Vu Award if you run a race on each day—the prize is a crawfish tray.
Bermuda Marathon/Half/10K/Mile
Where: Hamilton, Bermuda
When: January 14-16, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 2,000
Register: bermudaraceweekend.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: This point-to-point marathon course covers the entirety of the picturesque Great Sound and North and South Shores of Bermuda. You’ll see the Atlantic Ocean in various gradients of blues and greens and pass rows of Bermuda’s distinctive pastel-hued houses. Runners daring enough to take on the “Bermuda Triangle Challenge” will complete a three-day feat: the mile (held after sunset on Friday), the 10K on Saturday, and the half or full marathon on Sunday. Don't disappear!
Charleston Marathon/Half/5K
Where: The 2025 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar
When: January 15, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 5,000
Register: charlestonmarathon.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: Historic Charleston is a beautiful place to visit, frequently ranking among the top cities in the U.S. You’ll start downtown with views of the Charleston Harbor and breeze by the Battery (a landmark defensive seawall and promenade) before turning north towards historic King Street, which stretches between miles five and eight. Mile 24 will bring you waterside again as you run next to the Cooper River, eventually heading inland for the finish in North Charleston. In the spirit of Southern hospitality, you’ll be greeted with free shrimp, grits, beer, and mimosas.
Carlsbad Marathon & Half
Where: Carlsbad, California
When: January 16, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 10,000
Register: carlsbadmarathon.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: 18 miles of this beautiful, rolling course takes place along the Pacific Ocean. You’ll do two loops, starting and ending in front of the Shoppes at Carlsbad. If you want an easier course, do the half; you’ll skip half the hills. If you’re looking for a really easy, family-friendly day, try the Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND—you’ll get free entry to the aquarium afterwards.
Miami Marathon/Half/Tropical 5K
Where: Miami, Florida
When: CA Notice at Collection
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 15,000
Register: themiamimarathon.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: The flat, single-loop course begins at the American Airlines Arena (home to the NBA’s Miami Heat) and continues on to Miami Beach, where you’ll run through the city’s Art Deco historic district. Look up at the midway mark: You’ll cross a drawbridge that gives a sweeping view of the Miami River before continuing down to Coconut Grove, the city’s oldest neighborhood. If the waterfront views aren’t enough of a motivating distraction, perhaps the stream of live performances will do the trick: more than 30 “Miami-style” entertainment stations are planted throughout the course.
Mesa Marathon/Half Marathon/10K
Where: Mesa, Arizona
When: February 12, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 10,000
Register: thephoenixmarathon.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: This gentle downhill course is a good bet for PRs—the net elevation loss is 1,000 feet—and many runners hit their BQ’s here. Expect a mix of cactus sightings and metropolitan views of the Phoenix Valley as the route weaves down the mountain through Usery Pass. You’ll be running through the desert, but temperatures are usually mild in February, averaging 52 degrees at start time and 68 degrees by the finish.
El Paso Marathon
Where: Nutrition - Weight Loss
When: February 13, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 3,500
Register: elpasomarathon.org
Best Damn Race Orlando: There’s a new marathon course in El Paso this time, starting in San Elizario and finishing in the El Paso Coliseum, known for hosting rodeo events. You’ll be greeted with views of El Paso’s famous missions, which are some of the oldest in the country. You’ll also run alongside the US/Mexico border. Not many people can say they’ve done that! Weather that time of year is also surprisingly perfect for marathon running—it starts in the high 30s, and ends in the low 60s.
Best Damn Race Orlando Half/10K/5K
Where: Orlando, Florida
When: March 5, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 2,000
Register: orlando.bestdamnrace.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: Be prepared for a fun run—the Best Damn Race Orlando motto is “RUN, EAT, DRINK, PARTY!” For the half marathon, you’ll follow a mostly flat out-and-back loop course around the city that starts and finishes near Lake Eola Park, a popular waterfront venue in downtown Orlando. For those feeling extra energetic, there’s a 5K + 10K challenge that allows runners to cross the finish line twice on race day for a total of 15 kilometers.
Napa Valley Marathon/Half Marathon
Where: Races & Places
When: Fun Half Marathons to Run in 2025
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 4,000
Register: napavalleymarathon.org
Best Damn Race Orlando: Wine fans, celebrate! Follow the famous Silverado Trail from Calistoga to Napa, covering all of the beautiful scenery California’s best vineyards has to offer. Fast times are a bonus—the course is net downhill by 250 feet. Age group award winners even get a taste of the land—all earn an etched magnum of wine.
The Los Angeles Marathon
Where: We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back
When: March 20, 2022
These are the Toughest Races In the World: 24,000
Register: lamarathon.com
Best Damn Race Orlando: This point-to-point course begins outside Dodger Stadium and finishes seaside in Santa Monica, passing Rodeo Drive, Chinatown, City Hall, and other well-known locales along the way. As you leave Beverly Hills and head towards mile 18, you’ll be greeted by more than 600 local middle and high school cheerleaders comprising “Cheer Alley.”
BONUS: Hypothermic Half Marathon
Where: Multiple cities in Canada
When: Why Run It
Register: https://www.hypothermichalf.com/
Best Damn Race Orlando: Yes, we originally said races to avoid those winter blues. But what if you want to double down on them? Then go be a glutton for punishment at any of the Hypothermic Half Marathons in Canada. Finishers get a limited edition thermos, which will come in handy for a necessary piping hot drink afterwards.
Jenny is a Boulder, Colorado-based health and fitness journalist. She’s been freelancing for Runner’s World since 2015 and especially loves to write human interest profiles, in-depth service pieces and stories that explore the intersection of exercise and mental health. Her work has also been published by SELF, Men’s Journal, and Condé Nast Traveler, among other outlets. When she’s not running or writing, Jenny enjoys coaching youth swimming, rereading Harry Potter, and buying too many houseplants.
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If the cold weather has got you down, try running one of these awesome winter races
