Welcome to your RaceRaves guide to January races! Here we spotlight best bets & hidden gems to help get your 2025 off on the right (left, right) foot.
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🏆 = Top Rated (Overall rating of at least 4.7 across 10+ reviews)
January Marathons
Mobile Marathon
Jan 12; Mobile, AL
Marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, half marathon relay
Civic-minded event with unique homemade woodallions
Daufuskie Island Marathon
Jan 18; Daufuskie Island, SC
Marathon, half marathon
Low-key, two-loop tour of Hilton Head’s nearest neighbor
Chevron Houston Marathon
Jan 18–19; Houston, TX
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Record-setting urban course is the stuff of BQ dreams
Louisiana Marathon
Jan 18–19; Baton Rouge, LA
Marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K
Flat, fast Cajun favorite features its famed finish festival
Carlsbad Marathon
Jan 19; Carlsbad, CA
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Escape the cold to surf, sand & SoCal sunshine 😎
Jekyll Island Marathon
Jan 19; Jekyll Island, GA
Marathon, half marathon, 10K
“Hyde” from the winter blues at this popular coastal retreat
Maui Oceanfront Marathon (above)
Jan 19; Lahaina, HI
Marathon, half marathon, 6 miler, 5K
Whales to the left of me, sunrise to the right, here I am
Red Rock Canyon Marathon
Jan 25; Las Vegas, NV
Marathon, half marathon, 5K
Hilly double loop showcases the magnificent Mojave Desert
Big Beach Marathon
Jan 25–26; Gulf Shores, AL
Marathon, half marathon, 7K
Festive beachside beauty on the Gulf of Mexico
ONU Polar Bear Indoor Marathon
Jan 26; Ada, OH
Marathon, half marathon
211 climate-controlled loops on a USATF-certified course
Town of Celebration Marathon 🏆
Jan 26; Celebration, FL
Marathon, half marathon
Disney-adjacent gem 💎 lives up to its name
👉 Or search for more January marathons
January Half Marathons
Key West Half
Jan 18–19; Key West, FL
Half marathon, 10K, 8K, 5K, Beach N’ Beer Mile
Breezy oceanfront party in the nation’s southernmost city
Shark Bite Half
Jan 18–19; New Smyrna Beach, FL
Half marathon, 10K, 5K
Fin-tastic weekend in the Shark Bite Capital of the World
Austin International Half (fka 3M Half)
Jan 19; Austin, TX
Half marathon, half marathon relay
New name, same popular “Downhill to Downtown” course
Rose Bowl Half
Jan 19; Pasadena, CA
Half marathon, 5K
Picturesque urban run finishes on the 50-yard line 🏈
Charleston Half
Jan 25; Charleston, SC
Half marathon, 5K
Charming port city welcomes winter snowbirds
👉 Or search for more January half marathons
January Ultra Marathons
Frozen Sasquatch Trail 50K & 25K
Jan 4; Charleston, WV
50K, 25K
Rugged, frosty challenge in Kanawha State Forest
Avalon 50K & 50M Benefit Run
Jan 11; Avalon, CA
50 miler, 50K
Unbeatable ocean views atop stunning Catalina Island
Franklin Mountains Trail Run
Jan 24–26; El Paso, TX
50 miler, 55K, 30K, half marathon, 10K, 5K
Mountain challenge overlooks Mexico, New Mexico & Texas
AZT Oracle Rumble
Jan 25; Oracle, AZ
50 miler, 50K, half marathon, 12K
Single-track beauty where the mountains meet the desert
Beast of Burden Ultra Winter
Jan 25; Lockport, NY
100 miler, 50 miler, 25 miler
Snowy, 25-mile out & backs on the Erie Canalway Trail
👉 Or search for more January ultra marathons
January International Races
PolarNight Marathon 🇳🇴
Jan 4; Tromsø, Norway
Marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K
Epic Arctic adventure in the land of the Northern Lights
Egyptian Marathon 🇪🇬
Jan 10; Luxor, Egypt
Marathon, 22.3K, 12K, 5K
Run in the footsteps of pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings
Dubai Marathon 🇦🇪
Jan 12; Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Marathon, 10K, 4K
Speedy circuit + prize $$$ attract top global talent
Bermuda Triangle Challenge 🇧🇲
Jan 17–19; Hamilton, Bermuda
Marathon, half marathon, half marathon relay, 10K, 1 miler
Lose yourself in the island life at this balmy 3-day getaway
👉 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:
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 completed over 120 races — including 60+ marathons and ultras plus all six Abbott World Marathon Majors — in locations ranging from Antarctica to Zimbabwe.
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And for more helpful articles, check out our blog!
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