These Are the Best First-Time Marathons to Make Your 26.2 Debut

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many races were put on pause for 2020 and the first half of 2021.

But with a slew of new runners taking up the sport over the past year and half (running was probably one of the safest fitness activities to do when gyms had to close), it won’t be shocking to find a lot of new faces on the starting lines of races this fall and in the future. Deciding to run a race of any distance is a great achievement and is a wonderful test of your overall progression in running.

Even if you’re new to running and have your sights set on your first marathon, now is a great time to start logging miles and considering what race you can sign up for in the near future.

We’ve found this list of races to be quite ideal for first-timers when it comes to 26.2. Whether you’re looking for a great postrace party, a big city vibe, or a course that won’t beat you up too bad, there’s something here for you. Take note now of when these races are scheduled to open up registration and mark your calendars to register ASAP.

When you’re ready to train, we’ve got the training plans ready for you, or you can join Runner’s World+ and get access to all of our training plans so you can crush any race you want to run!

More Marathon Training Basics:

→ What You Need to Know Before Your First Marathon
→ Complete Guide to TrainingThe 10 Most Popular Plans
→ The 10 Most Popular Plans