You’ve decided to run your first half marathon – congratulations! And welcome to the wonderful world of long distance running. Training for your first half marathon can be one of the most grueling experiences of your life, but also the most rewarding. Just wait for the euphoria of hitting your first runner’s high, not to mention the sense of accomplishment when you’ve run a distance you didn’t previously believe you could.
There’s now way around it: Your first half marathon will be difficult. But selecting the perfect race to sign up for can help. Your body is already going to be working overtime, so make it as easy for yourself as possible in your first outing.
I’m a longtime running journalist and the author of Marathoner: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon. I’ve run many, many half marathons; for your first race, you want:
- A flat course
- Good weather
- Solid support (meaning, water stations, first aid on trails, etc)
- A decent-sized field (it’s much easier to run a race with lots of people running around you)
I’d also recommend a road race over a trail race so you don’t have to worry about tripping over roots. Throw some good scenery and a cool course in the mix, and you’ve basically found the dream race. Here are 17 of the best half marathons for beginners that are excellent picks for your first 13.1 finish line.
Calendar: Best Half Marathons for Beginners in 2025
- Walt Disney World Half Marathon on January 11, 2025
- Key West Half Marathon on January 19, 2025
- Aramco Houston Half Marathon on January 19, 2025
- Surf City Half Marathon on February 2, 2025
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon on February 23, 2025
- Publix Atlanta Half Marathon on March 2, 2025
- United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on March 16, 2025
- The Hapalua on April 13, 2025
- Brew City Half Marathon on April 19, 2025
- Fargo Half Marathon on May 31, 2025
- Detroit Free Press Half Marathon on October 19, 2025
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Half Marathon on December 14, 2025
- Heartland Half Marathon on TBD 2025
- Urban Bourbon Half Marathon on TBD 2025
- Baystate Half Marathon on TBD 2025
- Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon on TBD 2025
- The Nebraska State Fair Half Marathon on TBD 2025
Key West Half Marathon
- Where: Key West, FL
- When: January 19, 2025
There are several reasons why a half marathon through the Florida Keys is ideal for a newbie. First, most every Florida race is a particularly flat course, and especially when you’re running along a beach, you shouldn’t have to face many hills. Second, the Key West Half starts early in the morning meaning you’ll be running in cool weather and get to watch a sunrise. Lastly, the out-and-back course runs through a notoriously popular tourist destination, which means there will be plenty of fans cheering you on the whole way. There’s also key lime pie as a treat when you finish.
Walt Disney World Half Marathon
- When: January 11, 2025
- Where: Orlando, FL
The Disney halves are always favorites for first time runners, and while they have a variety of halves with different themes, I opted to include their standard half, held the first Saturday after New Year’s. The Disney races excel for several reasons. First, because it’s Florida, the course is flat, flat, flat, and second, because they aim to get the runners through the parks before they’re fully open, the start time is early in the morning while it’s still dark. That means you’ll be running a flat course out of the direct sun. Disney is also top notch when it comes to on route entertainment. You run through the Magic Kingdom, past characters from their films, and get a massive medal when you finish. One note of warning, however, is that there are a ton of photos ops along the course which are a ton of fun, but if you’re looking to run your first half without stopping, you might want to pick a different race and circle back to Disney when you care less about the running piece. The pomp and circumstance of the race make it entertaining and celebratory which makes it one of the best half marathons for beginners.
Aramco Houston Half Marathon
- When: January 19, 2025
- Where: Houston, TX
While I haven’t ran the Houston Half exactly, I did run the Houston Marathon, so I ran alongside the half-marathoners for plenty of the course. Texas, like Florida, is flat, so if you want a course without any hills or bridges, this is the perfect choice. It’s also a little known fact that Houston has the fourth largest population of any city in the US (behind New York, LA, and Chicago), which means there is no shortage of people to cheer you on.
The loop course makes transportation easy, the aid stations are all well-executed, and the city is overflowing in queso. I don’t know about you, but queso sounds like a great celebration snack, so why not sign up for a race there just to get a bowlful as a reward? The Aramco Houston Half Marathon is quickly making a name for itself nationally as being a half marathon worth traveling for because of it’s flawless production, crowds and manageable course. While some runners enjoy a mountainous or beachside destination race, the unpredictability of both weather and production quality don’t make them safe options for beginners.
The Aramco Houston Half Marathon makes the top of our list as one of the best half marathons for beginners and is putting Houston on the map of top running cities.
Surf City Half Marathon
- When: February 2, 2025
- Where: Huntington Beach, CA
The Surf City Half is located along the shore of California just south of Los Angeles, and as such is another flat course. Most of the run is along the beach so you get plenty of breeze and the mostly straight course means you won’t have to do too much ducking and weaving. The February So Cal weather is usually temperate, and with runners coming from all over LA, there’s always plenty of runners and even more adoring fans to cheer you on. Some of the east coast beach races can be sort of miserable, especially in late spring or early fall, so this is a nice option if you’re looking for a race that allows easy access to a polar plunge post-run. This is one of the best half marathons for beginners that’s along the California coastline.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon
- When: February 23, 2025
- Where: Las Vegas, NV
Like the Disney, Rock ‘n’ Roll also hosts a series of events each year that are incredibly popular. If you’re looking for a race that doubles as a party, then these halves are the ones for you. The Vegas version, which starts in the evening after sundown, a fairly unique prospect for a long distance race, sends runners up and down the strip before ending with a concert. There’s live music along the course, beers at the finish line, and if you want to play a few slots as a reward for finishing, who’s going to stop you. If you want something that’s more than just a race, but aren’t keen on Disney, this is probably your best bet. Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas specializes in creating a unique, memorable experiences and because of its location in a United States entertainment capital, positions itself as one of the best half marathons for beginners every year.
Publix Atlanta Half Marathon
- When: March 2, 2025
- Where: Atlanta, GA
The Atlanta Track Club is one of the best race organizers in the world. They’ve hosted the Olympic Trials, they have an impressive roster of events every year, and they just generally know their stuff. Their premiere half marathon, therefore, is one that can be easily relied on to impress. It’s an easy loop course so that you start and end at the same area (which can save you a lot of headache with transportation), the course is mostly flat, and you get a scenic tour of Atlanta. And while Atlanta can certainly get muggy, February is pretty safe on the weather front, so you can run in the nice big crowds without worrying about keeling over. Publix Atlanta Half Marathon because of its deep connection with the city, crowds, and scenery makes it one of the best half marathons for beginners in the country.
United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
- When: March 16, 2025
- Where: New York, NY
From my experience as a runner, the NYC Half is the best half marathon around (although as a New Yorker, I will say I might be biased). That means it is slightly more difficult to enter (there’s a lottery or you need to raise money for charity), but it’s well worth it. While the course isn’t pancake flat like many others on this list, it makes up for the few hills with the splendor of the scenery and the verve of the crowds. No other race lets you run over the Manhattan Bridge, through Times Square, and to a finish in Central Park. No other race has crowds this massive. If you want to be completely overwhelmed in the best way possible, then I’d enter the lottery and cross my fingers.
The Hapalua
- Where: Honolulu, HI
- When: April 13, 2025
In Hawaiian, “hapalua” means “half,” so it makes sense that Honolulu would dub their half marathon “The Half.” While Hawaii is known for its steep volcanic mountains and humidity, this half is run along the coast meaning that you’ll get breezes to cool you off and a fairly flat course – with, of course, an amazingly scenic half marathon course. The course features several out-and-back segments after starting near the famed Waikiki Beach. You’ll also end close to the shore so if you need to take a quick dip to cool off, you’re welcome to.
Brew City Half Marathon
- Where: Milwaukee, WI
- When: April 19, 2025
If you’re having trouble motivating yourself to sign up for and run a half marathon, perhaps a few tasty treats will be a good incentive. The Brew City Half Marathon, which is run in Wisconsin (i.e. flat) in the spring (i.e. cool), also provides finishers with both ice cold beer and brats straight off the grill. No one knows brats and beer like Cheeseheads, so you’re in for something special. Plus the course runs along the Milwaukee River Greenway, which means some nice views on your journey to the finish line as well.
Fargo Half Marathon
- When: May 31, 2025
- Where: Fargo, ND
The Fargo Half boasts that it’s “America’s Best Small-Town Race,” and I’m not going to argue with them. While there’s certainly something to be said about large city races, because of their size and scope, often smaller races provide a more unique running experience. Fargo is sort of the best of both worlds, with enough entrants so that you don’t feel like you’re running alone, but also plenty of scrappy small town charm. Cheering is an endeavor taken on by the whole town, with many throwing block parties and passing out candy and shots (maybe not great for a first timer) to keep the mood festive. Also, with a late May date (because it’s still cold in North Dakota then), you might be able to avoid training in the snow if you sign up for this one.
Detroit Free Press Half Marathon
- When: October 19, 2025
- Where: Detroit, MI
The only half I can fully endorse for first time half marathoners is the Detroit Half, because it was the first I ever ran. I loved every second of it, and think it’s still too underappreciated. Detroit actually has two halves on race day, a US version that stays in Michigan and an international one that crosses the border into Canada. I’d personally recommend the international version. You get to run over the Ambassador Bridge during sunrise, zig zag through Windsor, and then return to Downtown Detroit via a tunnel under the river. The course is one of the most exciting and inventive on this list (or any list for that matter). It does have a few hills, and it can get hot running in the tunnel, but I think the visual interest really does keep it interesting.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Half Marathon
- Where: Biloxi, MI
- When: December 14, 2025
There’s something to be said for ending a year with a big accomplishment and finishing your first half marathon is certainly an accomplishment. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Half is run just a few days before Christmas meaning you’ll be heading into the new year with a medal around your neck and the knowledge that you’ve checked something major off your bucket list. A December date in the south also means you’re most likely going to get some cool weather, especially along the shoreline. And, as I’ve said before, shoreline usually also equals flat.
The Nebraska State Fair Half Marathon
- Where: Grand Island, NE
- When: TBD 2025
You know what state is known for being flat? Nebraska. You know what state is known for having a fun state fair? Nebraska. The Nebraska State Fair Half Marathon, therefore, combines a flat course with a lot of interesting activities happening both before and after the race. You can carb load with a giant pretzel and celebrate your 13.1-mile distance with a funnel cake and a ride on the Ferris wheel. The race starts early to keep things cool and the loop course will be lined with visitors in town for the fair, so you’ll have plenty of encouragement when things get tough as well.
Heartland Half Marathon
- When: TBD 2025
- Where: Omaha, NE
Notice that we jumped straight from May to September. Running in the summer can be a rewarding challenge, but for your first half, I’d highly recommend not running a race in June, July, or August. Even the end of September might be pushing it, but if you live in the north and the training weather isn’t too hot, Omaha’s half could be a nice choice. Being in Nebraska, the course is pretty flat, and you get to run over the Missouri River not once, but twice, which gives you some incredible views. This course is also an out-and-back, which some runners hate because you are basically running the same course twice. I disagree though, because the people watching during a half marathon is incredible, and you get to see EVERYONE on this course.
Urban Bourbon Half Marathon
- When: TBD 2025
- Where: Louisville, KY
Every half marathon has some sort of post-race festivities whether that be the meager banana and a Gatorade or something more exciting with live music, pizza, and beer. As I’m sure you’ve guessed from its title, the Urban Bourbon Half in Louisville offers an after party with a little extra kick. Finishers of the half get to enjoy some of the city’s famed bourbon while they cool down, and if you’ve just finished your first half, you certainly deserve a bit of a celebration. While the Kentucky course is a bit hillier than others on this list, if you think enough about the bourbon, you probably won’t even notice them.
Baystate Half Marathon
- When: TBD 2025
- Where: Lowell, MA
If you’ve never heard of Lowell, MA, you are certainly not alone. It’s a tiny town north of Boston up near Massachusetts border with New Hampshire. And while most of the races on this list are in larger cities because bigger crowds are more fun for first time runners, the Baystate course is known for being a flat runner-friendly option. There’s not nearly as many bells and whistles as Disney and Rock ‘n’ Roll, but the double loop course allows you to know exactly what’s coming in the second half before you get there. Often crowds are motivational, but if you’d prefer to run your first half a little less out of the spotlight, this lowkey race might be a nice choice as well.
Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
- When: TBD 2025
- Where: Indianapolis, IN
The Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon is one of the most popular and well-established running event held in the midwest. The race takes participants on a journey through the vibrant streets of downtown Indianapolis passing iconic landmarks like Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument and the picturesque White River State Park. The Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon has a notable flat and fast course which the full marathon had 20.4% of the field with Boston Qualifying times in 2022. Beyond the race itself, Indianapolis is a vibrant city with plenty to offer visitors like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This blend of a well-organized event and a lively host city makes the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon an appealing choice for beginners seeking a memorable and enjoyable racing experience.
FAQs
How Many Weeks Should a Beginner Train for a Half Marathon?
A beginner should expect to train between 6 and 20 weeks for a half marathon. The specific time allowed is dependent on your level of overall fitness prior to training.
How Do I Choose My First Half Marathon?
Your first half marathon should be picked based on what you’re trying to prioritize in your running experience. The most common factors runners consider when selecting a half marathon are – proximity, accessibility, and an easy course.
Can I Run a Half Marathon Without Training?
While it’s possible to do a half marathon without training, any physician or running coach will tell you it’s not advised! Your muscles, tendons, and ligaments need to adapt to the mechanics of running – therefore requires training to build the strength and endurance to run the thirteen miles.
