HalfRuns
Waverly Winter Warrior

Waverly Winter Warrior

Waverly Winter Warrior offers a trail half marathon to combat winter blues in Louisville.

Race Date

Dec 13, 2026

Location

Louisville, KY

Quick facts

Date
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Location
Louisville, Kentucky
Distance
Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 6.6 Miles, Virtual Half Marathon, Virtual 6.5 Mile
Course
Loop Course
Terrain
Trail
USATF certified
Not listed
Finishers on record
36

Highlights

Atmosphere

Local CommunityGreat SwagWell Organized

The Experience

The Waverly Winter Warrior half marathon is designed to keep runners motivated through the colder months, highlighting the natural beauty of Waverly Park. This event is part of a series aimed at providing a consistent challenge and encouraging participation across multiple races to earn special recognition.

The course takes runners through Waverly Park, offering a trail experience that is both scenic and engaging. With an aid station approximately halfway through, and a commitment to being cupless to minimize environmental impact, participants are reminded to bring their own hydration. The event emphasizes staying active and prepared for spring racing goals.

Awards are given for Overall Male/Female at each race. Completing three out of the four races in the Winter Warrior Series earns participants a special medal and shirt, fostering a sense of accomplishment and community among those who brave the winter conditions.

Race-provided description

Beat the winter blues and stay motivated by participating in our brand new Winter Warrior Series! Each race will highlight a different local park and keep you motivated for spring racing.  This time we are hitting the trails of Waverly park for a 6.6 mile loop or go all out for a half marathon.  

Will there be a virtual option? Yes! As with our Cryptid series in the summer, the Winter Warrior Series does offer a virtual option by request and we bump everyone over who did not finish in person to this option after the race. Instructions will be sent after the race with details of how to complete the virtual option. That said, virtual finishers count toward the Winter Warrior status, but are not eligible for Event or Series awards.   Complete all of the Winter Warrior Series to earn your Warrior status.  Deam Lake Winter Warrior Waverly Winter Warrior Rose Island Winter Warrior Ol' Silty Winter Warrior   Awards Each race will have awards for Overall Male / Female. You will want to complete 3 of the 4 races to earn your Winter Warrior Medal and Shirt!    Stay Hydrated & Stay Safe This event is CUPLESS. Please bring your own water bottle, hydration pack, or cup.   Restrooms We will be using the on-site restrooms near the start line.   Aid Station We will have an aid station about halfway through the course. Just a reminder our trail races are cupless. Please bring your own water bottle or hydration vest. This greatly reduces litter and waste from our trail events.   Course Description The Start/Finish line will be near the Playground Parking Lot. We will be starting at the Playground heading toward the lake. Just past the lake the course enters the trail next to the dog park follows the right most trail options for the majority of the course. As always we plan to have bright colored course markings throughout the course as confidence markers. Trails included are the Twisting Bends, Clinic Loop, and Fresh Air Loops. Total course distance will be between 6 and 6.5 miles. Course: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/245269882   Packet Pick-Up Packet pick-up will be on-site at the Playground Parking Lot. We will be set up and ready for you about 8:00 AM. Please plan to pick-up your race packet with enough time to allow for pinning your bib before race start.   T-Shirts Shirts for this series are an optional add-on.  This keeps the cost of the race reasonable for families. We will have a limited number of shirts available for sale on race day. If you know you want a shirt, please pre-order during registration.    Parking--ARRIVE EARLY & CARPOOL We ask that you plan to arrive early for parking. Carpool as much as possible. Parking is limited at Playground Parking Lot. We want to be respectful of the parks so we are able to have many more great events in the future. Carpooling is preferred to make space for everyone planning to participate. If you are planning to run with a friend, we encourage carpooling.   Water/Snacks This event is CUPLESS. Please bring your own water bottle, hydration pack, or cup. Bottled Water will be available in limited supply. Water and pre packaged snacks will be available post race.

Logistics

Race Day

Sunday, December 13, 2026

Start Time

9:00 AM

Start Location

4800 Waverly Park Rd, Louisville, KY, 40214

Directions

Course Info

Course Type

Loop Course

Terrain

trail

Scenery

Park

Surface

Dirt Trail

Difficulty

Ultra-Flat

Net Drop/km

0 m (Flat)

Separation

0.0%

Also Offers

6.6 MilesVirtual Half MarathonVirtual 6.5 Mile

Quality Score

Methodology
Heritage2/20

1 year running

Size8/15

~36 finishers a year

Momentum3/5

small race — neutral

Loyalty0/20

0% returning runners

Course & details5/15

3 timing sources

National draw3/10

runners from 3 states

Front-pack speed0/5

winner 1:53:11

Weather5/10

typical high 48°F

Race Day Weather

5-year historical avg

Start (Low)

32°

Afternoon (High)

48°

Cool conditions — dress in layers, perfect for fast times

0.1"

Precipitation

10 mph

Wind

76%

Humidity

Historical Finish Times

How 36 finishers actually crossed the line across 1 year.

Most recent

2026

Total finishers

36

Median time

2:29:04

Latest turnout

36

States

3

10%
25%
75%
90%
1:50p50 median ≈ 2:253:15
See full results

Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.

Frequently asked

When is the Waverly Winter Warrior?

The Waverly Winter Warrior is held on Sunday, December 13, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.

Where does the Waverly Winter Warrior take place?

It takes place in Louisville, Kentucky.

What distances does the Waverly Winter Warrior offer?

The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 6.6 Miles, Virtual Half Marathon, Virtual 6.5 Mile.

Is the Waverly Winter Warrior course flat and good for a PR?

The Waverly Winter Warrior is a ultra-flat, loop course course.

How many people run the Waverly Winter Warrior?

HalfRuns has finish records for 36 runners who have completed the Waverly Winter Warrior.

HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.

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