Georgia in late fall is a runner's kind of place. The summer mugginess has finally let go, race mornings start in the 40s and 50s, and the trees are doing that thing where they make every training run look like a postcard. If you have been half-thinking about a fall or holiday half, this is the season to stop thinking and start planning.
There are 12 upcoming half marathons in Georgia in this window, which means you have real choices — a women's-only race in the northern suburbs, a trail-flavored point-to-point on a converted rail line, and not one but two Thanksgiving morning options. Here are four worth circling on the calendar right now.
2026 Alpharetta Women's Half Marathon & 5K
Sunday, November 1, 2026 — Alpharetta, Georgia
If your fall goal is a first half, or a comeback half, this one deserves a hard look. It is a women's race, which tends to mean a start line that feels more like a gathering than a proving ground — plenty of first-timers, plenty of familiar faces, and a 5K option if you want to bring a friend who is not quite ready for 13.1 yet. Early November in Alpharetta usually lands in that sweet spot where you can race hard without overheating, and the north-suburb setting makes it an easy add-on to a weekend. It scores a 76 out of 100 in our race ratings, which puts it comfortably in Standout territory.
Silver Comet Half & Full Marathon
Saturday, October 31, 2026 — Mableton, Georgia
Halloween morning, flat and fast, on a paved rail-trail. That is the pitch, and it is a good one. The Silver Comet Half & Full Marathon runs out of Mableton on the Silver Comet Trail, the kind of surface that is gentle on the legs and forgiving if you are chasing a personal best or just trying to finish upright. It is also the earliest date on this list, which makes it the natural pick if you want your half done before the holiday season swallows your weekends. At 68 out of 100, we rate it a Solid Pick — a dependable, low-drama race day.
Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon
Thursday, November 26, 2026 — Atlanta, Georgia
Here is the one with the highest marks on our board: 92 out of 100, a Runner Favorite. Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta, which means you earn your turkey before most people have turned on the oven. Racing in the city on a holiday morning has its own energy — quiet streets, big crowds at the finish, and the particular smugness of knowing you already ran 13.1 while everyone else is still in pajamas. If you want a race that doubles as a tradition, start here. Register early; this one fills.
Tryptophan Half/10K/5K
Thursday, November 26, 2026 — Cumming, Georgia
Same holiday, different vibe. The Tryptophan Half/10K/5K in Cumming gives you three distances on Thanksgiving morning, which makes it the easiest race on this list to turn into a family or friend-group outing — you run the half, someone else runs the 10K, and everybody meets back up for the rest of the day. It scores 74 out of 100, a Standout, and the name tells you exactly what the post-race plan is. If Atlanta's Thanksgiving race is the big-stage option, this is the cozy one.
How to Pick
A quick way to sort these four:
- Want the fastest shot at a PR? Silver Comet on October 31 — flat trail, early date.
- Want the biggest, most established race day? Thanksgiving Day Half in Atlanta.
- Want a women's race with a welcoming start line? Alpharetta on November 1.
- Want to make it a group thing? Tryptophan in Cumming on Thanksgiving.
And if none of these dates line up with your schedule, do not force it. There are 12 upcoming half marathons in Georgia in this window alone, spanning different cities, distances, and course styles. The right race is the one you will actually train for — so take ten minutes, look through the full list, and pick the one that makes you want to lace up.
Find Your Georgia Half
Ready to see everything on the calendar? Browse the full half marathons in Georgia directory to compare dates, cities, and details, then lock in your fall or holiday race before the good ones fill. Whether this is your first 13.1 or one of many, Georgia has a start line with your name on it.