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Runners at the start line of the Louisiana Marathon
For mild winter weather & spicy Cajun cuisine, geaux big at the Louisiana Marathon

Welcome to your RaceRaves guide to top upcoming races! Here we highlight a sampling of best bets and personal favorites to kick off 2023. (Sign up now for a free RaceRaves account to add these events & thousands more to your Future Races!)

NOTE:Β Unless otherwise noted, the following list includes only events that are now taking registrations for an in-person race.

πŸ† = Top Rated (Overall rating of at least 4.7 across 10+ reviews)


January Marathons

Chevron Houston Marathon
Jan 14–15; Houston, TX
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Launch your year on Space City’s record-setting course

Daufuskie Island Marathon
Jan 14; Daufuskie Island, SC
Marathon, half marathon
Low-key, two-loop tour of SC’s southernmost sea island

Louisiana Marathon
Jan 14–15; Baton Rouge, LA
Marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K
Cajun favorite boasts one of the nation’s best finish festivals

Carlsbad Marathon
Jan 15; Carlsbad, CA
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Escape the cold with surf, sand & ocean views aplenty 😎

Jekyll Island Marathon
Jan 15; Jekyll Island, GA
Marathon, half marathon, 10K
Nowhere to “hyde” on this small but scenic barrier island

Maui Oceanfront Marathon
Jan 15; Lahaina, HI
Double marathon, marathon, half marathon, 15K, 10K, 5K
Hawaiian heat & humidity in spectacular surroundings

Red Rock Canyon Marathon
Jan 21; Las Vegas, NV
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Breathtaking sandstone beauty in the Mojave Desert

Big Beach Marathon
Jan 28–29; Gulf Shores, AL
Marathon, half marathon, 7K
Fast, flat circuit of Gulf State Park + a beachin’ after party

Miami Marathon
Jan 28–29; Miami, FL
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
South Florida’s finest rolls out the red carpet

Town of Celebration Marathon πŸ†
Jan 29; Celebration, FL
Marathon, half marathon
Disney-adjacent gem πŸ’Ž lives up to its name

πŸ‘‰ Or search for more January marathons


January Half Marathons

Charleston Half
Jan 14; North Charleston, SC
Half marathon, 5K
Charming port city puts its best foot forward

Shark Bite Half
Jan 14–15; New Smyrna Beach, FL
Half marathon, 5K
Fin-tastic weekend in the Shark Bite Capital of the World 🦈

Key West Half
Jan 15; Key West, FL
Half marathon, 5K
Oceanfront racecation on the southern edge of the U.S.

Rose Bowl Half
Jan 15; Pasadena, CA
Half marathon, 5K
Picturesque run finishes on the field of its iconic namesake

3M Half
Jan 22; Austin, TX
Half marathon
Speedy downhill course finishes alongside the state capitol

SHE Power Half Chandler
Jan 22; Chandler, AZ
Half marathon, 5K
Women-only celebration features top-notch medal & swag

Too Cold to Hold Half
Jan 28; Dallas, TX
Half marathon, 10K, 5K
PR-friendly run around popular White Rock Lake

πŸ‘‰ Or search for more January half marathons


January Ultra Marathons

Avalon 50K & 50M Benefit Run
Jan 7; Avalon, CA
50 miler, 50K
Explore idyllic Catalina Island at CA’s oldest trail ultra

Frozen Sasquatch Trail 50K & 25K
Jan 7; Charleston, WV
50K, 25K
Snowy, frosty challenge in Kanawha State Forest

Franklin Mountains Trail Run
Jan 20–22; El Paso, TX
50 miler, 55K, 30K, half marathon, 10K, 5K, King & Queen
Rugged mountain course overlooks Mexico & New Mexico
(Registration opens Oct 1)

Southern Tour Ultra
Jan 21; Wilmington, NC
Last Runner Standing, 50 miler, 50 mile relay, 50K
Woodstock-inspired festival features camping & camaraderie

Florida Skydive Ultra Run
Jan 28; Clewiston, FL
100 miler, 100K, 50 miler, 50K, marathon, half marathon, 10K
From 13,500 ft to sea level, the fastest first two miles in racing

πŸ‘‰ Or search for more January ultra marathons


January International Races

Ishavkraft Marathon & Polar Night Half πŸ‡³πŸ‡΄
Jan 7; TromsΓΈ, Norway
Marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K
Epic Arctic adventure in the land of the Northern Lights

Vietnam Trail Marathon πŸ‡»πŸ‡³
Jan 7; Mα»™c ChΓ’u, Vietnam
70K, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K
Remote wilderness run thru fruit orchards & tea terraces

Cadbury Marathon πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί
Jan 8; Hobart (Tasmania), Australia
Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
Hilly run starts & finishes at the Cadbury Chocolate Factory
(Registration opens in Sept)

Bermuda Triangle Challenge πŸ‡§πŸ‡²
Jan 13–15; Hamilton, Bermuda
Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 1 Miler
Lose yourself in the island life at this balmy winter getaway

Egyptian Marathon πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡¬
Jan 13; Luxor City, Egypt
Marathon, 22.2K, 12K, 5K
Run among ancient ruins in the footsteps of pharaohs

πŸ‘‰ Or search for more January international races

Looking for more in-person races that may actually happen? 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, Co-founder of RaceRaves

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 β€” including 50+ marathons and ultras β€” in locations ranging from Antarctica to Zimbabwe.


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And for more helpful articles, check out our blog!

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