Whereas many individuals spend the summer season tackling lengthy mileage on scorching days in preparation for one of many fashionable fall marathons, there’s one thing to be mentioned about utilizing the cool of winter to rock one in every of these Spring marathons within the US.
Selecting a spring marathon can hold you motivated by way of the darkish and chilly days of November by way of March. It’s additionally an opportunity to essentially give it your all in velocity exercises in temperatures our our bodies can tolerate higher.
And most of the marathons on the listing beneath supply stunning surroundings and reasonable temperatures, that means runners have loads of alternatives to run private bests.
Past the coveted Boston Marathon, there are tons of spring marathons on the calendar all around the nation. Massive, small, city, rural, native, or vacation spot, there are alternatives for everybody. Take a look at our high picks beneath. From east coast to west coast and flat lands to rolling hills, there’s sure to be an incredible possibility for you.
12 Greatest Spring Marathons for 2025
Should you’ve determined to run a spring marathon, there’s a couple of issues to recollect so you may be sure to’re nicely ready.
First, it is advisable plan to coach for 16-24 weeks relying in your expertise and coaching plan. Ensure you plan forward and choose a race far sufficient out to permit for a superb construct.
Subsequent, it’s okay in the event you miss a pair runs or if it’s a must to practice on the treadmill. Dangerous climate occurs and treadmill miles are nonetheless good miles. Keep in mind although that consistency is vital so attempt to hold to your coaching plan as greatest you may.
Lastly, don’t neglect in regards to the significance of hydration and vitamin. We could sweat much less in colder temperatures and we could not really feel as thirsty as we do throughout summer season coaching, however make no mistake you continue to have to hydrate. Diet can also be essential, each earlier than and after a run but additionally throughout. We’re nonetheless burning energy and dealing exhausting and we have to gasoline our our bodies appropriately to carry out.
With all that mentioned, let’s dig into our high picks for spring marathons in 2025!
#1 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
Date: Could 4, 2025
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Profile: Hilly (round 1200 ft achieve)
Sort: Loop
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
Should you’re on the lookout for a race with nice crowd assist, a whole lot of character, a big area of runners, and an city setting, the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon is for you.
The course covers a various array of neighborhoods of Cincinnati with its loop course and even takes you throughout state traces into Kentucky. What number of races are you aware that allow you to run in 2 totally different states?
It is a HILLY RACE. You completely want to coach for hills.
The race has a beneficiant tempo requirement of 16:00 minutes per mile, which permits for quick walkers to take part. Checkout our full listing of walker pleasant marathons >>
There are additionally quite a few support, enjoyable, and leisure stations alongside the course to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
One other plus with this race is that it’s a full weekend of enjoyable. There’s the big expo on Friday and Saturday, a 1-mile race on Friday night, a 5k and 10k on Saturday together with a 1.3 mile race for people and their canine, adopted by the half marathon and marathon on Sunday.
There’s additionally a relay possibility, two problem choices the place you full a number of races over the weekend, and a post-race victory occasion.
All marathoners obtain a shirt, premium present, poster, a digital goodie bag, and a medal.
Runners have mentioned:
- Staying at a bunch resort makes it simple to stroll to the beginning
- The expo is superb
- The entire metropolis feels in on it and there are individuals sporting the flying pig gear in every single place
#2 Dick’s Sporting Items Pittsburgh Marathon
Date: Could 4, 2025
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Profile: Rolling hills (933 ft achieve)
Sort: Loop
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
Working the identical weekend as Flying Pig is the Dick’s Sporting Items Pittsburgh Marathon. That is one other massive, city race with good crowd assist, leisure all through the course, and a route that takes you thru the numerous distinctive neighborhoods of the town.
The course is a loop course and shares the primary virtually 11 miles with the half marathon earlier than the routes cut up. Pittsburgh, because the Metropolis of Bridges, and three rivers has you crossing every river at the least as soon as providing some nice views of the skyline and surrounding hills.
That is one other weekend occasion with an enormous expo and a 5k race on Saturday earlier than the half and full on Sunday. You may as well get the entire household concerned as there’s a Youngsters Marathon, Toddler Trot, and Pet Stroll. And don’t miss out on the End Line Competition in Level State Park.
Runners have mentioned:
- Course is hillier than anticipated, so practice for it!
- Loads of porta potties
- Actually nice crowd assist with of us creating their very own mini support stations (good day jello photographs)
- In 2024 the shirts ran small, however the expo was huge and enjoyable
#3 Carmel Marathon
Date: April 19, 2025
Location: Carmel, Indiana
Profile: Flat to rolling (682 ft achieve)
Sort: Loop
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
Heading into its fifteenth yr, the Carmel Marathon has cemented itself as an incredible race to make use of to attain a BQ. The course is flat and quick and consists of two distinctive loops with runners passing the beginning and end line space earlier than beginning the second half of the race.
The race gives pacers for anybody aiming for wherever from a 3-hour end to a 6:30 end.
Along with the marathon, there may be additionally a 5k and 10k that begin at 8 a.m. whereas the half marathon begins with the total and relay individuals at 8:10 a.m.
With the run in mid-April, the occasion typically boasts wonderful situations for runners with cooler temps. It is a main win for a lot of of you that shall be ready from working by way of winter and never but prepared for a heat race.
In accordance with the web site, greater than 21% of finishers ran a BQ time so if that’s a purpose of yours this can be a superb occasion to coach for.
I additionally really feel it’s essential to level out that the finisher’s space features a post-race pancake village. This seems like a good way to refuel after a marathon!
One further plus is that the race is on a Saturday. That is good as a result of it offers you Sunday to calm down and get well earlier than it’s a must to head again to work on Monday.
Runners have mentioned:
- Whereas there have been some complaints about crowded roads in 2024, most have solely good issues to say
- Crowd assist is extra minimal than a number of the different races, but it surely’s a pleasant space to run by way of
- Course is flat and quick, climate may very well be chilly
#4 Bayshore Marathon
Date: Could 25, 2025
Location: Traverse Metropolis, Michigan
Profile: Flat (329 ft of achieve)
Sort: Out-and-back
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
Should you’re on the lookout for flat, quick, and scenic, look no additional than the Bayshore Marathon. It is a nice race for each skilled and newbie marathoners.
The out-and-back course is generally alongside the waterfront of Grand Traverse Bay, which offers stunning surroundings. The route can also be shaded a majority of the time, which is nice because the race is Memorial Day weekend and also you simply by no means know if it’s going to be scorching or cool. The temps vary from 45-69 on common.
There are some good spectator spots they usually do present shuttles to assist ease site visitors across the space. Runners may also rely on tempo teams in the event that they’re trying to safe a particular ending time.
The Saturday race does have a strict 6-hour time restrict in order that’s one thing to bear in mind. It’s additionally one of many high races for these chasing a BQ. There’s additionally a 10k and half marathon at Bayshore and all occasions do promote out so be sure that to register early.
Massive, huge fan of this city for a runcation and the course. I noticed a whole lot of cheering and it’s on the better facet of programs for spring races. Nonetheless, hotter temps are positively doable. We had a reasonably toasty day.
Learn all our ideas for the Bayshore Marathon >>
#5 Eugene Marathon
Date: April 27, 2025
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Profile: Flat (although formally it says 760 ft of achieve, that’s 3X Chicago)
Sort: Loop
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
Should you’ve ever wished to run in probably the most well-known working cities within the U.S., then it is advisable run the Eugene Marathon. Run the identical streets as Steve Prefontaine and different working legends and let it encourage your efficiency!
The Eugene Marathon is the biggest race within the Pacific Northwest.
The marathon route begins within the shadow of the well-known Hayward Subject and excursions neighborhoods across the college and a number of other stunning parks. The end line on the monitor inside Hayward Subject is icing on the cake for individuals.
The race gives a half marathon, 5k, and a Duck Sprint for youths too. There are tempo teams primarily based on BQ instances and the course has a strict, however beneficiant 7-hour cutoff time. The half and full promote out often at the least one month earlier than the occasion in late April so don’t wait to register.
It is a race typically chosen by these looking for out quick marathon instances.
Runners have mentioned:
- Beginning is crowded for a couple of miles
- Half alongside a river, half residential, so not essentially the most scenic or largest crowd assist
- The scale of the medal obtained a whole lot of consideration and the Nike swag
#6 Los Angeles Marathon
Date: March 16, 2025
Location: Los Angeles, California
Profile: Rolling (round 950 ft of achieve)
Sort: Level-to-point
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
2025 marks the fortieth anniversary of the Los Angeles Marathon! The course known as Stadium to the Stars and begins on the Dodgers Stadium after which takes you alongside a route lined with spectators by way of distinctive neighborhoods and previous a few of LA’s most notable landmarks. The end line is on the world well-known Avenue of the Stars.
A number of the landmarks and neighborhoods you’ll expertise on the point-to-point course embrace LA Metropolis Corridor, the Chinatown Dragon Gate, the Hollywood Stroll of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese language Theater, Rodeo Drive and Historic Route 66.
The race has some rolling hills, but additionally some good downhills and is a USATF-certified course. There’s a 6:30 cutoff from when the final particular person crosses the beginning line. The occasion additionally gives a 5k on Saturday and a half marathon along side the marathon.
Suggestions for working the LA Marathon >>
#7 Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
Date: March 16, 2025
Location: Virginia Seaside, Virginia
Profile: Flat (270 ft achieve)
Sort: Out-and-back
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
On the identical day because the LA Marathon, however on the alternative coast, is the favored Yuengling Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Seaside. This race is a St. Patrick’s Day custom!
This has been thought-about a to not miss occasion for a lot of, a few years!
The Shamrock Marathon weekend boasts an 8k, half marathon, and marathon. The course is flat, quick, and scenic. The primary part heads north right into a state park and the Ft. Story, which is the place Jamestown colonists first landed in America in 1607. So that you get just a little little bit of historical past.
You then head south into extra resort areas and Camp Pendleton after which flip round to complete on the well-known Virginia Seaside Boardwalk completed simply previous the King Neptune statue with the Atlantic Ocean within the background.
The race weekend features a two-day expo, a end line occasion, Yuengling beer, a race shirt, and a medal.
You may as well get further bling by working the 8k on Saturday in what’s generally known as the Whale Problem. The course has a beneficiant 7:30 time restrict (17:09/mile) and is a superb possibility for first time marathoners, these chasing a PR or a BQ.
Runners have mentioned:
- Get your costume prepared, it’s far more enjoyable to get within the spirit
- Very nicely organized for a big race, go away loads of time to park in the beginning
- Good publish race with bands and meals, loads of water heading in the right direction too
#8 Little Rock Marathon
Date: March 2, 2025
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Profile: Rolling hills (round 1000 ft achieve)
Sort: Loop
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
Often called the “race for each tempo,” Little Rock Marathon is a superb occasion for newbies to elite athletes alike. The race gives a beneficiant 8-hour time restrict making it a welcoming place for runners and walkers of various paces.
The USATF-certified course is a loop and takes runners by well-known locations in Little Rock, together with the state capitol constructing, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, the Robinson Middle, and the Little Rock Central Excessive Faculty Nationwide Historic Website.
Along with nice crowd assist, the marathon is thought for its loopy marathon medals.
They weigh in at a whopping three kilos and correspond to a central theme with the race. Along with the marathon, there may be additionally a half, 10k, 5k, and a children race.
Runners have mentioned:
- Course goes by all the important thing native websites
- Crowd assist is implausible (once more extra of us handing out libations)
- Assist stations each couple of miles
- Undoubtedly keep within the host resort it makes life really easy
#9 Grandma’s Marathon
Date: June 2025
Location: Duluth, Minnesota
Profile: Rolling hills (470 ft), internet downhill (-578 ft)
Sort: Level-to-point
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
With greater than 20,000 individuals, the Grandma’s Marathon of right now is a great distance from the tiny race it began as in 1977 with solely 150 runners. At this time it’s a spotlight of the yearly calendar and makes an immense financial affect on the Duluth area.
The course is scenic and runs alongside the shores of Lake Superior earlier than heading into downtown Duluth. Whereas it has rolling hills, it’s a internet downhill course with a complete elevation change of -130 ft.
Along with a two-day expo, Grandma’s gives a 5k and half marathon, a children race, a pre-race spaghetti dinner, and a two-day music pageant.
As a coach, I’ve heard about this race yearly as a result of individuals return many times, although it sells out!
Runners have mentioned:
- “Duluth exhibits up” with nice crowd assist in second half, first a part of the race is quiet alongside the lake
- Sells out for a superb cause
- Flat and quick for getting these PR’s and BQ’s
#10 Myrtle Seaside Marathon
Date: March 1, 2025
Location: Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina
Profile: Flat (280 ft achieve)
Sort: Loop
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
On the lookout for a southern race? Look no additional than the Myrtle Seaside Marathon.
The race, with its flat and quick course, consists of 9 miles alongside the seaside. Whereas it may be humid, it’s the south in spite of everything, the climate is often temperate and sunny permitting for excellent performances by individuals.
Along with the marathon, there may be additionally a half, 5k and household enjoyable run to get the entire household concerned. There’s additionally a preferred End Line Festiva with reside music and loads of meals. Contributors earn a medal, shirt, and a finisher premium too.
As Myrtle Seaside is a summer season vacation spot and the race is in March, you’ll have your choose of lodging choices and loads of top-notch eating places, and tons of buying and leisure choices. You’ll be able to positively make this a run-cation!
Runners have mentioned:
- Stunning ocean views
- No expo, however an extended sleeve shirt
- Finances pleasant when it comes to inns, flights, and so forth
#11 Colorado Marathon
Date: Could 4, 2025
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Profile: Downhill (243 ft achieve, 1300 ft descent)
Sort: Level-to-point
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
When you do should cope with altitude, the Colorado Marathon is one in every of Colorado’s quickest downhill races. The race yearly qualifies 16-18% of all Boston qualifier entrants every year. That’s spectacular!
The race is held in stunning Poudre Canyon with runners having fun with unbelievable surroundings from canyon partitions to the Cache La Poudre River. The purpose-to-point course boasts a quick downhill part that rewards runners with a possibility to set a PR or get a BQ. The race finishes in downtown Fort Collins.
As a result of the race begins at over 6,000 ft above sea stage, it’s really useful you do arrive in Colorado a couple of days early that can assist you regulate in the event you’re not used to working at larger altitudes. It’s additionally essential to concentrate on hydration.
Along with the total, there’s additionally a half, 10k, and 5k.
Runners have mentioned:
- A couple of of our coaches can vouch for the great thing about this race!
- Buses to the beginning means it is advisable be ready with throw away gear, canyons are darkish and chilly
- Get these legs prepared for the downhill, it’s not like a Revel, however nonetheless wants applicable coaching
#12 Missoula Marathon
Date: June 29, 2025
Location:Missoula, Montana
Profile: Flat (362 ft achieve)
Sort: Level-to-point
Boston Qualifier?: Sure
Final, however most actually not least, is the Missoula Marathon. An excellent possibility for these looking for smaller races achieved nicely.
One other flat and quick point-to-point course, this one does have a reasonably vital hill on the midway mark. Nonetheless, as they are saying, what goes up should come down!
It is a nice possibility for people on the lookout for each a scenic and concrete course. It begins within the countryside and finishes in historic downtown Missoula. The race has 1,500 individuals within the marathon, whereas they’ve 3,000 slots within the half and 1,500 for the 5k.
Regardless of being a late June race, the world is often fairly cool with low humidity making it an excellent race in the event you’re striving for a superb efficiency. The race has a beneficiant 7:30 time restrict too making it one other walker pleasant course.
Whether or not you’re trying to go to a brand new state, run a BQ, or deal with your first marathon, Missoula is a superb possibility.
Runners have mentioned:
- 3 Mile beer run on Friday evening for some added enjoyable
- Not essentially the most scenic, however general nonetheless fairly and for a small race good crowds
- Shuttles are tremendous simple and downtown end space is actually walk-able
All proper I’m constructive somebody will say our listing of greatest spring marathons within the US is lacking one thing as a result of there are such a lot of! So in the event you’ve obtained an incredible one, be happy to drop it beneath!
These lists are regularly up to date primarily based on suggestions from our hundreds of athletes and also you!
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