It’s quiet on the new-race front, but that means more time to plan your next start line. This weekend, two half marathons are ready for you: a trail rumble in Maryland and a suburban Minnesota race that’s been a Twin Cities staple.
Step right into the Riley's Rumble Half Marathon on July 26 in Boyds, Maryland — a MCRRC event that threads through the woods, perfect for runners who like their half with a side of dirt. If you prefer pavement and fast times, the Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K (Richfield, MN) is set for July 25, a looped course through leafy neighborhoods with a reputation for solid crowd support.
Looking further ahead, August is stacked. The Goodyear Half Marathon & 10k in Akron, Ohio (August 8) is a flat, fast option that follows the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath. Then on August 15, you have a tough choice: the Anchorage RunFest in Alaska — a point-to-point course with mountain views and potential wildlife sightings — or the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon in West Virginia, a historic race that runs along the Ohio River.
Close out your summer with two Labor Day weekend staples: the Ashland Half Marathon & 5k in Virginia (August 29), a small-town classic, and the Iron Horse Half Marathon in North Bend, Washington (August 30), which dips into the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. And if you’re looking all the way to September, the Naperville Trails Half Marathon & 10K in Wheaton, Illinois (September 5) offers a mix of crushed limestone and paved paths through the DuPage River Trail system.
Quick calendar:
- Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K (Richfield, MN) — July 25
- MCRRC Riley's Rumble Half Marathon — July 26
- Goodyear Half Marathon & 10k — August 8
- Anchorage RunFest — August 15
- Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon — August 15
- Ashland Half Marathon & 5k — August 29
- Iron Horse Half Marathon — August 30
- Naperville Trails Half Marathon & 10K — September 5
That’s your dispatch. Lace up and go.