A lot of races in the snow will be held in 2022-2023. In this blog post, we will look through the 6 best winter marathons and preview their courses.
Best December Marathons
1. St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend
December 3, 2022
Start Time : 8:00 a.m.
Number of Places: 17000
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend starts on December 3rd and features Memphis landmarks and local flavor, hills, and lots of cheer stations, entertainment, and neighborhood parties along the way. Events include the marathon, half marathon, and 10K, following the same route until the shorter distances split off for the finish. All courses run through the heart of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus.
The course starts on B.B. King Blvd. between Beale St. and FedEx Forum. The route takes athletes through Downtown Memphis and up 2nd Street to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus to greet patients and their families before heading south on Front St. through the bustling South Main District. Runners will then head east to Danny Thomas Blvd. and north to North Parkway.
Athletes will be attracted to distinctive neighborhoods like Hein Park and Evergreen’s Stonewall St., whose cheer parties will keep your spirits up. The route also includes a two loop-run through beautiful Overton Park. Runners will head back to Danny Thomas Blvd. and return downtown via Union Ave. to the finish line – AutoZone Park.
2. California International Marathon
December 4, 2022
Start Time : 7:00 a.m.
Number of Places: 9000
The California International Marathon, also known as the Sacramento Marathon, is a very popular race.
California International Marathon Route
The race runs from Folsom to Sacramento, passing through many beautiful neighborhoods such as Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Arden, East Sac, Midtown, and Downtown.
The first 15 miles of the route are run over rolling hills, after which the course becomes flatter. At mile 20, there is a ‘Party at the Wall’ to spur runners towards the finish line.
The California International Marathon is point-to-point, and the net downhill course has remained the same for 38 years, providing over 100,000 runners of all speeds – from first-timers to world-class – the opportunity to achieve their marathon goals.
It is certified and sanctioned by USATF and is a Boston Marathon and US Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier.
January Running Events
3. The Texas Marathon
January 1, 2023
Start Time : 8:00 a.m.
Number of Places: 400
The Texas Marathon was founded by Rick Worley in 2000 when he was working on setting a Guinness World Record. Now it is an annual race in Kingwood, Texas.
Route description
The course covers four loops on greenbelts in Kingwood, starting at the Greentree Pool, proceeding to Lake Houston, and returning to the Greentree Pool. The route is run entirely on concrete greenbelt trails, which are open to the public.
4. The Miracle Match Marathon
January 29, 2023
Start Time : 7:30 a.m.
Number of Places: Over 200 runners are expected.
With the help of fellow firefighters Wade Durbin and Joe Singer, Waco Firefighter C.W. Whorton organized the Miracle Match Marathon in 2004. Each year it raises money to help match bone marrow donors with recipients.
Miracle Match Marathon Course
The route is hilly. The race is point-to-point, looping around part of Waco. The race starts at Indian Springs Park on University Parks Blvd, in front of a suspension bridge. It follows a clockwise loop, heading towards Lake Waco and then back around to the Brazos River before the final leg to the finish line. When athletes see the suspension bridge again, the finish line will be on the other side.
February Marathons
5. The Death Valley Marathon
February 4, 2023
Start Time : 8:00 a.m.
Number of Places: 300
The Death Valley Marathon is an engaging road race through the famous Death Valley.
The Death Valley Marathon Course
Athletes will experience a scenic, relatively flat, out-and-back course. The race starts at Oasis Ranch at Furnace Creek. From there, runners follow Hwy. 190 through the heart of Death Valley National Park, including a section through scenic Mustard Canyon.
Running the complete distance below sea level, runners will get acquainted with exotic flora and fauna that can only be found on the desert floor while enjoying fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, including the Panamints, the Funerals, the Cottonwoods, the Blacks, and the Grapevines.
6. The Austin Marathon
February 19, 2023
Start Time : 7:00 a.m.
Number of Places: 5,000
The Austin Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier and attracts a lot of participants. For this reason, places fill quickly, and applicants are advised to apply as soon as registration opens.
The Austin Marathon course has some hills, so runners are advised to include hill training in their preparation.
The marathon starts at 16th Street and Congress Avenue, near the capital. Athletes then make their way through downtown Austin, finishing at 10th Street and Congress Avenue.
During the first 17 miles of the run, athletes climb a total of 304 feet. This elevation allows them to use a variety of muscle groups in their legs and time to recover with intermittent downhill and level running surfaces. The last nine miles take runners downhill at an average rate of 33 feet per mile.
