2027 Race for the Green 5K, Half Marathon, & Half Marathon Relay

Each March, Seneca, South Carolina turns green for a morning. The Race for the Green sends runners through the downtown streets of this small South Carolina city at the tail end of winter — crisp at the start, mild by the time most people finish — and wraps the whole thing in St. Patrick's Day. Now in its 15th edition, it has settled into the local calendar as a fixture.

The day comes in three shapes: a half marathon, a half marathon relay, and a 5K. In the relay, the second runner waits to be tagged in at Big Lots while the first takes the start line. The field is modest but far-flung — recent editions have drawn runners from around 13 states, and roughly one in five comes back for another year.

Finishing downtown earns a medal the organizers bill as one you'll be proud to own, plus a racing shirt and a swag haul that has included a seat towel, bag, and fanny pack. Cash prizes reward the fastest, and early registration is what guarantees the shirt.