NOTE: This list is provided for informational purposes only as a resource for runners and race walkers. These are the races historically known for being welcoming to athletes of all paces. This list is not an endorsement of any specific race. The information was gathered by athlete submissions and by the information on the races' websites. All information is subject to change. No race directors paid us to be on this list.

We have tried to include every race we can based on the information on a race's website, and the suggestions of past participants. If you know of a race that should be added to this list, please let us know here- provide the race name, website, state and published time limit or specific race information.

The criteria to be listed: walker-friendly time limit (3:30 or more) and/or walkers and slower runners are offered an early start; finishers get a recorded race time; and aide stations, course volunteers/marshals and course direction signs are not taken down early.

100 Half Marathons Club

2014 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 200 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. These are the results of our 2014 member survey.

2014 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 idenitifed 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 one 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.

The Best of the Best:

Hartford Half Marathon, CT

Maine Half Marathon, ME

Shamrock Half Marathon, VA

Maui Half Marathon, HI

Space Coast Half Marathon, FL

Mad Half Marathon, VT

Dreamcatcher Half Marathon, CO

Mississippi Blues Half Marathon, MS

Niagara Falls Women’s Half Marathon, Canada

Flying Pig Half Marathon, OH

Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon, IN

Hatfield & McCoy Half Marathon, WV

Mainly Marathon Half Marathons (Series)

Section 1: Best Half Marathons in Each State

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 a large state), we’ve noted them all below. Again, if there is more than one race listed per state, these races listed are in no particular order.

Alabama

Mercedes Half Marathon

Alaska

Big Wildlife Runs Half Marathon (previously named Humpy's Half Marathon)

Arizona

Sedona Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon

Arkansas

Little Rock Half Marathon

California

Disneyland Half Marathon, Nike Women's San Francisco Half Marathon, Disney Avengers Half Marathon, Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon, Big Sur Half Marathon, Carlsbad Half Marathon, Tiburon Half Marathon

Colorado

Dreamcatcher Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Half Marathon

Connecticut

Hartford Half Marathon, Gulf Beach Half Marathon

Delaware

Rehoboth Beach Half Marathon, Monster Mash Half Marathon

Florida

Space Coast Half Marathon, Celebration Half Marathon, Gasparilla Half Marathon, 26.2 With Donna Half Marathon, Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon, Daytona Half Marathon, Melbourne Music Half Marathon, Disney Princess Half Marathon, Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, WDW Half Marathon

Georgia

Publix Georgia Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Half Marathon, Galloway Half Marathon, Make it by Midnight Half Marathon

Hawaii

Maui Half Marathon, Kauai Half Marathon

Idaho

Coeur d'Alene Half Marathon, Bear Lake Half Marathon

Illinois

Fox Valley Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, Lincoln Presidential 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, Eisenhower Half Marathon

Kentucky

Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon, Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon

Louisiana

Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans, Baton Rouge Half Marathon

Maine

Maine Half Marathon, Race the Runways Half Marathon

Maryland

Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon, St. Michael’s Half Marathon

Massachusetts

BAA Half Marathon, Salem Wicked Half Marathon, Boston’s Run to Remember

Michigan

Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, Run Woodstock Half Marathon, Capital City, Michigan Wine Trail Half Marathon

Minnesota

Med City Half Marathon

Mississippi

Mississippi Blues Half Marathon, Tupelo 13.1 Miler

Missouri

Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Louis, Mo' Cowbell Half Marathon, Hospital Hill Half Marathon, Kansas City Half Marathon

Montana

Missoula Half Marathon

Nebraska

Double Half Mary, Monument Half Marathon

Nevada

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

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Half Marathon (Bristol), Big Lake Half Marathon

New Jersey

Trenton Double Cross Half Marathon, Atlantic City Half Marathon, E Murray Todd Half Marathon

New Mexico

Duke City Half Marathon

New York

New York City Half Marathon, Brooklyn Half Marathon, Syracuse Half Marathon, Wineglass Half Marathon, Celebrate Life Half Marathon, Westchester Running Festival Half Marathon

North Carolina

Race 13.1 Raleigh Half Marathon, Flying Pirate Half Marathon, Southern Fried Half Marathon (Outer Banks)

North Dakota

Fargo Half Marathon

Ohio

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

Oklahoma

Route 66 Half Marathon, Oklahoma City Memorial Run

Oregon

Eugene Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon, Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon

Pennsylvania

Hershey Park Half Marathon, Dicks Pittsburgh Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia

Rhode Island

Cox Providence Rhode Races Half Marathon, Ocean’s Run Half Marathon

South Carolina

Myrtle Beach Half Marathon, Kiawah Island Half Marathon, Darlington Half Marathon

South Dakota

Leading Ladies Half Marathon, Run Crazy Horse Half Marathon

Tennessee

Oak Barrel Half Marathon, St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon, 4 Bridges Half Marathon

Texas

Austin Half Marathon, Cowtown Half Marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon

Utah

Revel Big Cottonwood Half Marathon, Zion Half Marathon, Canyonlands Half Marathon

Vermont

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

Virginia

Shamrock Half Marathon, Marine Corps Historic Half, Richmond Half Marathon

Washington

Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon, Vancouver USA Half Marathon, Amica Seattle Half Marathon

West Virginia

Hatfield & McCoy Half Marathon, Marshall Half Marathon

Wisconsin

Fox Cities Half Marathon, Madison Half Marathon, Wisconsin Half Marathon

Wyoming

Medicine Bow Half Marathon, Star Valley 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; Dreamcatcher Half Marathon (CO); Marine Corps Historic Half (VA); Maui Half Marathon (HI); Mississippi Blues Half Marathon (MS); Surftown Half Marathon (RI); 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

Maine Half Marathon (ME); Space Coast Half Marathon (FL); Maui Half Marathon (HI)

"Must Do In Your Lifetime" Half Marathon

New York City Half Marathon (NY), Sedona Half Marathon (AZ), St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon (TN)

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

Mad Half Marathon (VT), Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon (NY), Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon (KY)

Most Scenic Half Marathon

Mad Half Marathon (VT), Hatfield & McCoy Half Marathon (WV), Sedona Half Marathon (AZ), Maui Half Marathon (HI)

Best Value Half Marathon ($45 or less)

Celebrate Life Half Marathon (NY), E Murray Todd Half Marathon (NJ), Colchester Half Marathon (CT), Brazen Racing events (CA)

The Half Marathon You'd Do Every Single Year If You Could

The following races were repeatedly mentioned by so many members that we wanted to list them all (in no particular order).

Syracuse Half Marathon (NY), Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon (IN), Shamrock Half Marathon (VA), Hartford Half Marathon (CT), Wineglass Half Marathon (NY), New York City Half Marathon (NY), Detroit Free Press Half Marathon (MI), Big Sur Half Marathon (CA), Space Coast Half Marathon (FL)

Best Multi-Day Event or Race Series

Mainly Marathons Series (nationwide), Shamrock Virginia Beach Dolphin Challenge (VA), Run Disney challenges (FL and CA)

Best Communication From a Race Director
Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon (OR), Baltimore Half Marathon (MD), Vacation Races Half Marathons (multiple events)

Best Swag Bag / Race Goodie Bag

Maine Half Marathon (ME), Mississippi Blues Half Marathon (MS), Oak Barrel Half Marathon (TN), Niagara Women’s Half Marathon (Canada)

Best Spectators / Community Support

Flying Pig Half Marathon (OH), Missoula Half Marathon (MT), Detroit Free Press Half Marathon (MI), Hartford Half Marathon (CT)

Best Volunteers

New York City Half Marathon (NY), Richmond Half Marathon (VA), Run Disney half marathons, Mainly Marathons (series)

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

Fargo Half Marathon (ND), Shamrock Virginia Beach Half Marathon (VA), Disneyland Avengers Half Marathon (CA)

Best Destination Half Marathon

Hoover Dam Half Marathon (NV), Maui Half Marathon (HI), Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon (NV), Nike Women’s San Francisco 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.

1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Half Marathon (PA), Wolf Hollow Half Marathon (NH), Rehoboth Beach Half Marathon (DE)

Best Big Bucks Race That’s Worth the Registration Fee ($100 or more)

Nike Women’s Half Marathon San Francisco (CA), Rock ‘n’ Roll USA (DC), Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas (NV), Space Coast Half Marathon (FL), Disneyland Avengers Half Marathon (CA)

Best Flat and Fast Half Marathon Course
St. Michaels Half Marathon (MD), Indy Monumental Half Marathon (IN), Shamrock Half Marathon (VA), Baystate Half Marathon (MD), Kiawah Island Half Marathon (SC)

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)

Best Women's-Themed Half Marathon

Niagara Women’s Half Marathon (Canada), Nike Women’s Half Marathon San Francisco (CA), Indy Women's Half Marathon, Leading Ladies Half Marathon