Alabama in late fall and winter is a gift to runners. The summer steam has finally broken, race mornings come with a little bite in the air, and you can chase a finish line without feeling like you're running inside a sauna. There are seven upcoming half marathons in Alabama between November 2026 and February 2027, and the four we're highlighting here cover the whole range — from a fast November start in Huntsville to a Gulf Coast beach weekend in January.
Whether this is your first half or one of many, here's a look at four races worth circling on the calendar. And since these dates are coming up quickly, now is the time to pick one, register, and start building a plan around it.
Huntsville Half Marathon — Saturday, November 14, 2026
Huntsville, Alabama
This is the earliest of the bunch, which makes it the perfect target if you've been logging miles all fall and want to cash them in before the holidays. Huntsville is a solid, welcoming race city, and a mid-November date means you're running in the kind of cool, crisp conditions that make a half marathon feel doable. It's also the closest race on this list if you're reading this today — so if you've been on the fence, this is your nudge to commit. With a quality score of 86 out of 100, it's a Runner Favorite and a strong pick for a first-timer or a returning runner looking for a confidence-building day.
Coastal Half Marathon, 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run — Saturday, November 28, 2026
Orange Beach, Alabama
A Thanksgiving-weekend race on the coast? Yes, please. The Coastal Half Marathon lands the Saturday after the holiday, which means you can earn your turkey and then trade the couch for a beach-side starting line. Orange Beach brings the Gulf views and a relaxed, vacation-friendly vibe — bring the family, make a weekend of it, and let the 5K and 1-mile fun run give everyone else something to do while you race. It's a Solid Pick at 71 out of 100, and a genuinely fun way to close out your fall season.
Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K — Saturday, January 30, 2027
Gulf Shores, Alabama
If you want to make a half marathon feel like a real getaway, this is the one. Gulf Shores in late January is a welcome escape from winter everywhere else, and the Big Beach race weekend has the kind of energy that turns a race into a mini-vacation. It's the highest-rated race on our list at 95 out of 100 — a true Runner Favorite — and the Safari 5K gives friends and family a way to join in. A January beach weekend with a half marathon in the middle of it is a pretty great way to start the new year.
Railway Marathon & Half Marathon presented by CraneWorks — Saturday, February 6, 2027
Fultondale, Alabama
February can feel like a quiet month for racing, which is exactly why this one stands out. The Railway Half in Fultondale gives you a reason to keep training through the winter instead of waiting for spring. It's a Solid Pick at 71 out of 100, and it pairs nicely with a longer-term goal — maybe this is the race that kicks off your year, or the one that completes a winter streak. Either way, a February half marathon is a great way to prove to yourself that you don't need perfect weather to do hard things.
Find Your Alabama Half Marathon
Four races, four very different vibes: a crisp November morning in Huntsville, a Thanksgiving beach weekend in Orange Beach, a January escape in Gulf Shores, and a winter challenge in Fultondale. The common thread is that all of them are coming up soon, which means the best time to pick one is right now.
Ready to see the full slate? Head to our Alabama half marathon directory to browse all seven upcoming races in the state, compare dates, and find the one that fits your season. From your first 13.1 to your next adventure, we're in it with you.