Welcome to your RaceRaves guide to top upcoming races! Here we highlight some best bets & hidden gems to help you find your next fall favorite.
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NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, the following list includes only events that are now taking registrations for an in-person race.
🏆 = Top Rated (Overall rating of at least 4.7 across 10+ reviews)
- Early October Marathons
- Early October Half Marathons
- Early October Ultra Marathons
- Early October Other Distances
- Early October International Races
Early October Marathons
Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend 🏆
Sept 30–Oct 1; St Paul, MN
Marathon, 10 miler, 10K, 5K
“The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America” is all that
Wineglass Marathon
Sept 30–Oct 1; Bath, NY
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Pastoral point-to-point in the Finger Lakes wine region
Maine Marathon
Oct 1; Portland, ME
Marathon, marathon relay, half marathon
Rolling coastal tour w/ sweeping views of Casco Bay
St. George Marathon
Oct 6–7; St. George, UT
Marathon, half marathon, 5K, 1 miler
(Mostly) downhill BQ favorite near Zion National Park
Sleeping Bear Marathon
Oct 7; Empire, MI
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Hilly hidden gem 💎 in Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat’l Lakeshore
Cape Cod Marathon
Oct 7–8; Falmouth, MA
Marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 5K
Coastal charm, devoted volunteers & hot clam chowdah
Run Crazy Horse
Oct 7–8; Crazy Horse, SD
Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 5K
Black Hills beauty starts at the world’s largest mountain carving
Amica Newport Marathon
Oct 8; Newport, RI
Marathon, half marathon
Crashing waves & Gilded Age mansions at RI’s top marathon
Steamtown Marathon
Oct 8; Scranton, PA
Marathon
Net downhill powered by the local Lackawanna community
WhistleStop Marathon
Oct 14; Iron River, WI
Marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K
Fast & forested fall showcase celebrates its 25th year
👉 Or search for more October marathons
Early October Half Marathons
Urban Cow Half 🏆
Sept 30–Oct 1; Sacramento, CA
Half marathon, 5K
“A Race Like No Udder” features cowbell finisher medals
Smuttynose Rockfest Half
Oct 1; Hampton, NH
Half marathon, 5K
Go coastal & finish strong with a wicked aftah-pahty
Crawlin’ Crab Half
Oct 7–8; Hampton, VA
Half marathon, 5K
Festive “shell”ebration on the shores of Chesapeake Bay
Jackass Half 🏆
Oct 7; Kellogg, ID
Half marathon, 5K
Picturesque point-to-point provides plenty of positive vibes
Pacific Beach Half
Oct 7; San Diego, CA
Half marathon, 5K
Waterfront route follows Mission Bay to an oceanside finish
The Race
Oct 7; East Point, GA
Half marathon, 5K
Run for black-owned businesses, neighborhoods & charities
Black Bear Half
Oct 8; Hendersonville, NC
Half marathon, 8K
Small-town hospitality & big-time swag in the Blue Ridge Mtns
Lake Powell Half 🏆
Oct 14; Page, AZ
Half marathon
Red rock cliffs & sparkling blue water for the win
Queen Bee Half 🏆
Oct 14; Cincinnati, OH
Half marathon, 4 miler
You’ll “pollen” love with Cincy’s female-focused favorite
Urban Bourbon Half
Oct 14; Louisville, KY
Half marathon
Spirited showcase + Bourbon Bash = a barrel of fun 🥃
👉 Or search for more October half marathons
Early October Ultra Marathons
Heartland 100
Oct 13–14; Cassoday, KS
125 miler, 100 miler, 100K, 50 miler, marathon, half marathon
PR-friendly out-and-back thru expansive tallgrass prairie
Kodiak Ultra Marathons
Oct 13–15; Big Bear Lake, CA
100 Miler, 100K, 50K, Half Marathon, 10K
Long alpine climbs & thin air make for a bear of a challenge
Last Dot Standing, 24 & 48 Hour
Oct 13–14; Belleville, WI
Last Runner Standing, 48 hr, 24 hr, 8 hr
4.2-mile out-and-backs to local landmark Dot’s Tavern
Des Plaines River (DPR) Trail Races
Oct 14; Vernon Hills, IL
50 miler, 50K, marathon, half marathon
Go with the flow at this speedy riverside run
Indian Creek Fifties
Oct 14; Sedalia, CO
50 miler, 55K, 15 miler, 5 miler
Mile-high montage of red rocks, golden aspens & distant Denver
👉 Or search for more October ultra marathons
Early October Other Distances
Ocean Road 10K
Oct 1; Narragansett, RI
10K
Flat coastal course starts at a lighthouse & finishes at a beach
Grand Circle Trailfest: Kanab 🏆
Oct 5–7; Kanab, UT
16 miler, 11 miler, 10 miler
Three-day adventure in Zion, Bryce Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Army Ten-Miler 🏆
Oct 8; Washington, DC
10 miler
Run with the Cadets at this patriotic tour of the nation’s capital
👉 Or search for more October races of other distances
Early October International Races
Marathon P’Tit Train du Nord 🇨🇦
Sep 30–Oct 1; Val-David, Québec, Canada
Marathon, half marathon
Fast, downhill BQ favorite dazzles with fall colors
(Both distances at capacity, plan ahead for 2024)
Aoraki Mount Cook Marathon 🇳🇿
Oct 7; Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand
Marathon, half marathon, 10K
Dramatic landscapes in the shadow of NZ’s highest peak
Patagonia Running Festival 🇨🇱
Oct 7; Torres del Paine, Chile
50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K
Breathtaking beauty at the End of the World
Eindhoven Marathon 🇳🇱
Oct 7–8; Eindhoven, Netherlands
Marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K
Epic energy on one of the world’s fastest & festive-est courses
München (Munich) Marathon 🇩🇪
Oct 8; Munich, Germany
Marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 10K
Bavarian celebration finishes in the 1972 Olympic Stadium
👉 Or search for more October international races
Looking for more great races across the U.S. and around the world? Check out our Featured Races for:
Looking for more running events? Search for races by state/city or month, and try our handy Find a Race tool to search for events by name, date range, distance, location, terrain & more. Then sign up for a free account to build your wish list and start coloring in your 50 States Map!
Author: Mike Sohaskey
Mike Sohaskey is the co-founder of RaceRaves, the premier online reviews community for runners to share their race experiences and find their next challenge. Mike honed his creative and critical thinking skills as a research scientist, earning a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from Stanford. He’s also completed over 100 races — including 50+ marathons and ultras — in locations ranging from Antarctica to Zimbabwe.
Other RaceRaves articles you’ll enjoy (trust us!)
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Let’s Talk Marathons: The AMR Trains Podcast
The Best Race Distance
Top Five Things You Can Do as a RaceRaves Member
And for more helpful articles, check out our blog!
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