100 Half Marathons Club

2016 "Best Of" Member Survey Results


The 100 Half Marathons Club is a racing club that celebrates those who have achieved the accomplishment of completing 100 lifetime half marathons (or more), and encourages and supports those who are on the way to reaching this goal.  Our members have completed anywhere from 10 to over 300 half marathons.  We love the 13.1 race distance, and we enjoy sharing our experiences and feedback on events to help each other select better races.  For more information about our club, please visit us online at www.100halfmarathonsclub.com.

Our members fill out an annual survey to recognize their favorite half marathons by state, theme, price, overall value, and other categories.  We vote in January for the prior year's favorite/best races.  These are the results of our 2016 member voting.

View prior year results here:

2015 Results
2014 Results


2016 Member Voting “Best of” Survey Results

How to "read" these results:

1. Members voted on their own personal experiences with races.  These are the races they identified as the "best of" in the categories listed below.
2. If multiple races are listed in a category, they are in no particular order.  We've listed multiple winners where there were votes that were too close to call the overall winner, or where there were multiple races repeatedly recommended. 
3. While our club has over 200 discounts for races nationwide, we do not accept paid advertisements from race directors. Our member’s responses are based strictly on their opinion and experiences.  We’re not paid to promote any of the events listed below, nor has any race paid us to be on this list.
4. If there is a race you are considering and you don't see it on the list- remember, this vote is based on actual race experiences, so if no one in the club has completed the race, they're not voting for it. 

Results Summary

There are some half marathons that really stood out in our member’s responses.  These are the races we’d call the “best of the best” based on the number of repeated praise for these events.  In no particular order, these are the races that were almost unanimously recommended by state and were nominated for several other categories.  If someone were to ask if they should do these races, the answer would be- yes, absolutely. 

Overall Best-Rated Top Individual Events (in no particular order):

Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, Michigan

Route 66 Half Marathon, Oklahoma

Celebration Half Marathon, Florida

Mississippi Blues Half Marathon, Mississippi

Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon, California

Flying Pig Half Marathon, Ohio

Shamrock Virginia Beach Half Marathon, Virginia

Bird in Hand Half Marathon, Pennsylvania

Gasparilla Half Marathon, Florida

Wineglass Half Marathon, New York

Mount Desert Island Half Marathon, Maine

Key West Half Marathon, Florida

La Jolla Half Marathon, California

Anthem Richmond Half Marathon, Virginia

Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon, California

Fargo Half Marathon, North Dakota

 

Section 1: Best Half Marathons in US Each State, Best of Canada, and Best International

We asked our club members to list what they consider to be the best half marathon in each state.  In cases where there’s a tie, or members listed multiple events (such as in large states or states with the highest amount of races, such as California or Florida), we’ve noted them all below. 

There are many races that have similar names.  We have done our best to make sure it is clear what race we are referring to by adding city names or the month of the race to try to avoid any confusion.
 

Again, if there is more than one race listed per state, these races listed are in no particular order.

Canada and international event results are also listed below.

 

Alabama

First Light Half Marathon, Mercedes Half Marathon

 

Alaska

Mayor's Midnight Sun Half Marathon

 

Arizona

Lost Dutchman Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon, Lake Powell Half Marathon

 

Arkansas

Little Rock Half Marathon, Fort Smith Half Marathon, RussVegas Half Marathon

 

California

Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon, Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon, San Francisco Half Marathon, Disneyland Half Marathon, Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon, Big Sur Half Marathon, La Jolla Half Marathon, Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon

 

Colorado

Revel Rockies Half Marathon, Dreamcatcher Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Half Marathon, Rocky Mountain Half Marathon, Kooky Spooky Half Marathon

 

Connecticut

Hartford Half Marathon, Gulf Beach Half Marathon, Fairfield Half Marathon, Redding Road Race "A Run for the Cows" Half Marathon, Hogsback Half Marathon

 

Delaware

Rehoboth Beach Half Marathon, Monster Mash Half Marathon, Caeser Rodney Half Marathon, Delaware Half Marathon

 

Florida

Space Coast Half Marathon, Celebration Half Marathon, Gasparilla Half Marathon, Key West Half Marathon, Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Walt Disney World Half Marathon (January), A1A Fort Lauderdale Half Marathon, Daytona Half Marathon

 

Georgia

Publix Georgia Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Half Marathon, Jeff Galloway Half Marathon, Soldier Half Marathon, Athhalf Half Marathon (Athens)

 

Hawaii

Maui Half Marathon, Kauai Half Marathon, Hibiscus Half Marathon

 

Idaho

Coeur d'Alene Half Marathon, Bear Lake Half Marathon, Famous Idaho Potato Half Marathon, FitOne Half Marathon, Idaho Falls M.A.D. Half Marathon, City of Trees/Fit For Life Half Marathon

 

Illinois

Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon, Chicago Half Marathon

 

Indiana

Indy Mini 500 Half Marathon, Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon, Carmel Half Marathon

 

Iowa

Des Moines Half Marathon

 

Kansas

Garmin Oz Half Marathon, Running with the Cows Half Marathon, Hangover Half Marathon, Prairie Fire Half Marathon

 

Kentucky

Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon, Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon, Hatfield & McCoy Half Marathon (could also count as WV- two halfs on the full course)

 

Louisiana

Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans, Baton Rouge Half Marathon, Ole Man River Half Marathon, Log Jammer Half Marathon

 

Maine

Maine Half Marathon (Portland-October), Mount Desert Island Half Marathon (October), Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Half Marathon (September), Race the Runways Half Marathon, Old Port Shipyard Half Marathon

 

Maryland

Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon, Fredrick Running Festival Half Marathon, Race 13.1 Baltimore Half Marathon, Potomac River Run

 

Massachusetts

Cape Cod Half Marathon, Boston’s Run to Remember Half Marathon, Hyannis Half Marathon, Plymouth Rock Half Marathon, Salem Wicked Half Marathon

 

Michigan

Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, Michigan Wine Trail Half Marathon, Kalamazoo Half Marathon

 

Minnesota

Med City Half Marathon, Run for the Lakes Half Marathon

 

Mississippi

Mississippi Blues Half Marathon

 

Missouri

Mo' Cowbell Half Marathon, Hospital Hill Half Marathon, Kansas City Half Marathon, Joplin Memorial Half Marathon, Waddell & Reed Half Marathon, Maynard Cohick Half-Marathon (Bass Pro)

 

Montana

Missoula Half Marathon, Yellowstone Half Marathon

 

Nebraska

Double Half Mary, Monument Half Marathon, Lincoln Half Marathon

 

Nevada

Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas, Six Tunnels to Hoover Dam Half Marathon, Lake Tahoe Half Marathon

 

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Half Marathon (Bristol), Big Lake Half Marathon, Traveler Beer New England Half Marathon, Jingle Bell Half Marathon, White Mountain Milers Half Marathon

 

New Jersey

Atlantic City Half Marathon, E Murray Todd Half Marathon, Asbury Park Runapalooza Half Marathon, The Wild Half Marathon, Trenton Half Marathon, Unite Half Marathon

 

New Mexico

Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon, Duke City Half Marathon, Pecos Valley Stampede Half Marathon

 

New York

Wineglass Half Marathon, New York City Half Marathon (NYRR), Brooklyn Half Marathon (NYRR), Celebrate Life Half Marathon, Holiday Half Marathon (Brooklyn), Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon

 

North Carolina

Ashville Biltmore Half Marathon, Race 13.1 Raleigh Half Marathon, Southern Fried Half Marathon (Outer Banks), City of Oaks Half Marathon, Tobacco Road Half Marathon, Thunder Road Half Marathon (new name- Novant Health Charlotte Half Marathon), Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh Half Marathon, Downhill at Dawn Half Marathon

 

North Dakota

Fargo Half Marathon, Mainly Marathons Center of the Nation Series ND Half Marathon

 

Ohio

Flying Pig Half Marathon, Air Force Half Marathon, Rite Aid Half Marathon, Akron Half Marathon, Columbus Half Marathon

 

Oklahoma

Route 66 Half Marathon, Oklahoma City Memorial Run Half Marathon

 

Oregon

Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon, Columbia River Gorge Half Marathon, Eugene Half Marathon, Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon

 

Pennsylvania

Bird in Hand Half Marathon, Dicks Pittsburgh Half Marathon, Garden Spot Village Half Marathon, Philadelphia Half Marathon (November), Leigh Valley Health Network VIA Half Marathon

 

Rhode Island

Bristol Half Marathon, Blackstone Valley Half Marathon, Newport Half Marathon

 

South Carolina

Kiawah Island Half Marathon, Myrtle Beach Half Marathon, Palmetto Half Marathon

 

South Dakota

Leading Ladies Half Marathon, Run Crazy Horse Half Marathon, Deadwood Mikelson Trail Half Marathon

 

Tennessee

Oak Barrel Half Marathon, St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon, Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Country Music Half Marathon, Scenic City Half Marathon

 

Texas

Cowtown Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon, Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Half Marathon, 3M Austin Half Marathon (January), Texas Half Marathon

 

Utah

The Other Half Marathon, Bear Lake Half Marathon, Ogden Half Marathon, Moonlight Half Marathon, Big Cottonwood Half Marathon

 

Vermont

Covered Bridges Half Marathon, Mad Half Marathon, Maple Leaf Half Marathon

 

Virginia

Shamrock Half Marathon, Marine Corps Historic Half, Anthem Richmond Half Marathon, VA Runner Blue & Grey Half Marathon

 

Washington

Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon, Amica Seattle Half Marathon, Tacoma City Half Marathon, Lewis & Clark Half Marathon

 

West Virginia

Hatfield & McCoy Half Marathon, Marshall Half Marathon, Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon

 

Wisconsin

Brewers Mini Marathon, Madison Half Marathon, Wisconsin Half Marathon, Rock n Sole Half Marathon

Wyoming

Bear Lake Half Marathon, Medicine Bow Half Marathon, Grand Teton Half Marathon, Jackson Hole Half Marathon


CANADA
Vancouver Half Marathon, Niagara Women's Half Marathon, Chilly Half Marathon (Burlington, ON), Rock 'n' Roll Vancouver (note- race is changing organizers in 2017), Scotiabank Toronto Half Marathon


INTERNATIONAL
Berlin Half Marathon, Prague Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Dublin Half Marathon, Gulfbank Half Marathon (Kuwait), Budapest Half Marathon, Chiba Aqualine Marathon, Edinburgh Running Festival Half Marathon, Grand Cayman Half Marathon, Great Limerick Half Marathon, Reggae Half Marathon (Jamaica), KLM Curacao Van den Tweel Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Madrid Half Marathon, Mooathon Donegal Half Marathon (Ireland),  Polar Night Half Marathon (Tromso, Norway), Sydney Blackmore Running Festival Half Marathon

 

Section 2: General Categories

The races listed below were our "top mentioned" in these categories.  We included the all of the most-frequently voted for races. Again, the winners are listed in no particular order.

Best Medal (Non-Disney and Non-Rock 'n’ Roll Series)
Space Coast Half Marathon (FL); Bird in Hand Half Marathon (PA); Mississippi Blues Half Marathon (MS); Monster Mash Half Marathon (DE); Route 66 Half Marathon (KS); Shamrock Virginia Beach (VA); Little Rock Half Marathon (AR)

We isolated the RunDisney and Rock ‘n’ Roll race series medals from this voting category so that the wonderful medals local and regional race directors offer could be recognized.

 

Best Race Shirt

Key West Half Marathon (FL); Space Coast Half Marathon (FL); Maine Half Marathon (ME); Gasparilla Half Marathon (FL); Route 66 Half Marathon (OK); Flying Pig Half Marathon (OH)


"Must Do In Your Lifetime" Half Marathon

Bird in Hand Half Marathon (PA); San Francisco Half Marathon (first half- with bridge) (CA); New York City Half Marathon (NY); Big Sur Half Marathon (CA); Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon (MI/Canada); Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon (CA); Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon (CA); Key West Half Marathon (FL); Mount Desert Island Half Marathon (ME); Wineglass Half Marathon (NY)

 

"The Course Almost Killed Me, But It Was Soooo Worth It" Half Marathon

Mount Desert Island Half Marathon (ME); Mad Half Marathon (VT); Oak Barrel Half Marathon (TN); Hatfield/McCoy Half Marathon (WV); Garden Village Spot Half Marathon (PA); Celebrate Life Half Marathon (NY); Jeff Galloway Half Marathon (GA); River Vista Half Marathon (GA); Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon (KY); Bird in Hand Half Marathon (PA)

 

Most Scenic Half Marathon

Mount Desert Island Half Marathon (ME); Big Sur Half Marathon (CA); Mad Half Marathon (VT); Newport Half Marathon (RI); Sedona Half Marathon (AZ); Montana Half Marathon (Billings) (MT); La Jolla Half Marathon (CA); San Francisco Half Marathon (CA)


Best Big Bucks Race That’s Worth the Registration Fee ($100 or more)
Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas (NV); Space Coast Half Marathon (FL); Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon (CA); Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon (CA); NYRR NYC Half Marathon (NY); Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon (MI)

 

The Half Marathon You'd Do Every Single Year If You Could
Kiawah Island Half Marathon (SC); Moab Trail Half Marathon (UT); Bird in Hand Half Marathon (PA); Shamrock Half Marathon (VA); Hartford Half Marathon (CT); Wineglass Half Marathon (NY); NYRR NYC Half Marathon (NY); Detroit Free Press Half Marathon (MI); Big Sur Half Marathon (CA); Space Coast Half Marathon (FL); Route 66 Half Marathon (OK); Flying Pig Half Marathon (OH); La Jolla Half Marathon (CA); Unite Half Marathon (NJ)


Best Multi-Day Event or Race Series
Mainly Marathons Series (nationwide); Shamrock Virginia Beach Dolphin Challenge (VA); Run Disney challenges (FL and CA); Vacation Races Half Marathons (nationwide); Revel Races (west coast); Brazen Racing (CA); Best Damn Race Series (FL); Bear Lake Series; Gasparilla Race Weekend (FL); Race 13.1 (Nationwide)

 

Best Communication From a Race Director
Vacation Races Half Marathons (multiple events); Celebrate Life Half Marathon (NY); Monster Mash Half Marathon (DE); Space Coast Half Marathon (FL); Baltimore Running Festival (MD); J&A Racing (VA- multiple events); Route 66 Half Marathon (OK); CGI Racing (NJ); Air Force Half Marathon (OH)

 

Best Swag Bag / Race Goodie Bag

Maine Half Marathon (ME); Flying Pig Half Marathon (OH); Mississippi Blues Half Marathon (MS); Niagara Women’s Half Marathon (Canada); Gasparilla Half Marathon (FL); Redding Road Race (CT); The Love Run (PA)


Best Spectators / Community Support

Fargo Half Marathon (ND); Flying Pig Half Marathon (OH); Detroit Free Press Half Marathon (MI); Hartford Half Marathon (CT); Gasparilla Half Marathon (FL); Shamrock Half Marathon (VA); Anthem Richmond Half Marathon (VA); Celebration Half Marathon (FL)

 

Best Volunteers

New York City Half Marathon (NY); Richmond Half Marathon (VA); Route 66 Half Marathon (OK); Flying Pig Half Marathon (OH); Run Disney half marathons; Mainly Marathons (nationwide series); Bird in Hand Half Marathon (PA)

Best On-Course Entertainment (music, live bands, displays, etc.)

Fargo Half Marathon (ND); Shamrock Virginia Beach Half Marathon (VA); Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon (CA); Indy 500 Festival Mini Marathon (IN); Anthem Richmond Half Marathon (VA); Mississippi Blues Half Marathon (MS); Sarasota Music Half Marathon (FL)


Best Destination Half Marathon

Key West Half Marathon (FL); Maui Half Marathon (HI); Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon (NV); Big Sur Half Marathon (CA); La Jolla Half Marathon (CA); Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon (CA); Mayors Midnight Sun Half Marathon (AK); Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon (CA)

 

Best Trail Half Marathon
Note: we did not define what we meant by “trail.”  Members nominated races that were all trail, half trail/half road, etc. These races could be entirely trail or partially trail, with any level of difficulty.

Delaware Canal Half Marathon (PA); 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Half Marathon (PA); Still Hollow Trail Half (TN); Yellowstone Half Marathon (MT); Wolf Hollow Half Marathon (NH); Rehoboth Beach Half Marathon (DE)


 Best Half Marathon Course to Get a PR (Personal Record/Best)
A1A Ft. Lauderdale Half Marathon (FL); Asbury Park Half Marathon (NJ); Shamrock Half Marathon (VA); Kiawah Island Half Marathon (SC); Space Coast Half Marathon (FL); Gulf Beach Half Marathon (CT); Celebration Half Marathon (FL); Prairie Fire Half Marathon (KS)

 

Best "Is This A Race Or Just Really A Huge Party?" Half Marathon

Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon (NV); Route 66 Half Marathon (OK); Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Half Marathon (LA); Shamrock Half Marathon (VA); Mainly Marathons races (nationwide); Flying Pig Half Marathon (OH)

 

Best Women's-Themed Half Marathon

Diva Half Marathon (series); Detroit Women's Half Marathon; Niagara Women’s Half Marathon (Canada); Indy Women's Half Marathon; Go Girl Run; Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon; More Magazine Women's Half Marathon; Zooma (Series)



Copyright 2018 100 Half Marathons Club