Welcome to your RaceRaves guide to top January races! Here we spotlight best bets & hidden gems to help get your racing year off to a strong start.
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🏆 = Top Rated (Overall rating of at least 4.7 across 10+ reviews)
January Marathons
State 47 Las Cruces Marathon
Jan 6; Las Cruces, NM
Marathon, half marathon, 4.7 miler
Desert out-and-back dominated by the Organ Mountains
Daufuskie Island Marathon
Jan 13; Daufuskie Island, SC
Marathon, half marathon
Two-loop gem 💎 circles SC’s southernmost sea island
Lake Mead Marathon
Jan 13; Boulder City, NV
Marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 10K, 5K
Train tunnels & epic views of the nation’s largest manmade lake
Museum of Aviation Marathon
Jan 13; Warner Robins, GA
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Double loop of Robins AFB benefits its USAF namesake
Chevron Houston Marathon
Jan 13–14; Houston, TX
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Urban BQ favorite is a well-oiled marathon machine
Louisiana Marathon
Jan 13–14; Baton Rouge, LA
Marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K
Flat, fast & festive cultural celebration in the state capital
Maui Oceanfront Marathon
Jan 14; Lahaina, HI
Double marathon, marathon, half marathon, 15K, 10K, 5K
Respectful run to help heal fire-ravaged Lahaina ❤️🩹
Redding Marathon
Jan 14; Shasta Lake, CA
Marathon, marathon relay, 5K
Small, serene point-to-point along the Sacramento River
Big Beach Marathon
Jan 27–28; Gulf Shores, AL
Marathon, half marathon, 7K
Run through a state park, then party on a big beach
Miami Marathon
Jan 27–28; Miami, FL
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
From bay to beach, a spirited showcase of the Magic City
Town of Celebration Marathon 🏆
Jan 28; Celebration, FL
Marathon, half marathon
Charming winter winner on Disney’s doorstep
👉 Or search for more January marathons
January Half Marathons
I Just Want to be a Unicorn Half Marathon
Jan 6; Knoxville, TN
Half marathon, 5K
Don’t “myth” Knoxville’s colorful, quirky riverfront run 🦄
Newport Resolution Run & Polar Bear Plunge
Jan 6; Newport, OR
Half marathon, 10K, 5K
Road/trail hybrid ends with an (optional) plunge in the Pacific
Woolly Hollow Trail Half
Jan 13; Greenbrier, AR
Half marathon
Off-road adventure boasts fun trails & serious swag
Shark Bite Half
Jan 13–14; New Smyrna Beach, FL
Half marathon, 5K
“Fin”ish strong in the Shark Bite Capital of the World
(Registration opens soon)
Key West Half
Jan 14; Key West, FL
Half marathon, 5K
Destination sensation in the nation’s southernmost city
Best Damn Race Safety Harbor 🏆
Jan 20; Safety Harbor, FL
Half marathon, 10K, 5K
Beautiful bayside run & a damn good after-party, too
Charleston Half
Jan 20; Charleston, SC
Half marathon, 5K
Historic port city rolls out the red carpet with a new course
3M Half
Jan 21; Austin, TX
Half marathon, half marathon relay
“Downhill to Downtown” course celebrates its 30th year
Rose Bowl Half (above)
Jan 21; Pasadena, CA
Half marathon, 5K
Finish on the field of the world-famous host venue 🏈
👉 Or search for more January half marathons
January Ultra Marathons
Avalon 50K & 50M Benefit Run
Jan 6; Avalon, CA
50 miler, 50K
Catalina Island wows w/ ocean views & free-ranging bison 🦬
Wild Azalea Trail Challenge
Jan 6; Kisatchie National Forest, LA
50 miler, 27 miler, half marathon, 10K
Explore Kisatchie Nat’l Forest on Louisiana’s longest trail
Big Bend Ultra
Jan 14; Terlingua, TX
50 miler, 50K, 30K, 20K, 10K
Dramatic desert landscapes in remote Big Bend State Park
Arches Ultra
Jan 27; Moab, UT
50 miler, 50K, half marathon, 9K
Sand & slickrock a stone’s throw from Arches Natl Park
Mountain Mist 50K Trail Run
Jan 27 (est); Huntsville, AL
50K
Rugged Monte Sano hosts “Alabama’s toughest trail run”
(Registration opens soon)
👉 Or search for more January ultra marathons
January International Races
PolarNight Marathon 🇳🇴
Jan 6; Tromsø, Norway
Marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K
Arctic adventure w/ the potential for a northern lights sighting
Bermuda Triangle Challenge 🇧🇲
Jan 12–14; Hamilton, Bermuda
Marathon, half marathon, half marathon relay, 10K, 1 miler
Feel your worries disappear at this 3-day island getaway
Egyptian Marathon 🇪🇬
Jan 12; Luxor, Egypt
Marathon, 22.2K, 12K, 5K
Run among ruins in “the world’s greatest open-air museum”
First Light Marathon 🇳🇿
Jan 20; Gisborne, New Zealand
Marathon, half marathon
Be among the first on the planet to greet the sunrise
Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 🇭🇰
Jan 21; Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Marathon, half marathon, 10K
Stunning views of Victoria Harbour & the iconic city skyline
(Public ballot registration opens Sep 21)
👉 Or search for more January international races
Looking for more great races across the U.S. and around the world? Check out our Featured Races for:
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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.
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And for more helpful articles, check out our blog!
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