{"id":153157,"date":"2026-03-05T00:34:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T00:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/153157\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T00:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T00:34:18","slug":"12-fall-marathons-for-runners-who-didnt-make-it-into-the-nyc-marathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/153157\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Fall Marathons For Runners Who Didn\u2019t Make It Into The NYC Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

With 59,226 finishers<\/a> in 2025, the New York City Marathon<\/a> is the biggest in the world. Starting on the iconic Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Staten Island to Brooklyn, the marathon passes through all five of New York City\u2019s boroughs before steering toward the famed Central Park finish line. The cheering crowds are legendary, the shiny finisher medal is highly coveted, and the racing experience is forever memorable.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, all the things that make the New York City Marathon<\/a> wonderful, also make it very popular. So popular that of the thousands of runners who enter the lottery this year trying to earn a spot, only about one percent<\/a> actually secured a bib. And while there are other ways to get in beyond the lottery, it still leaves thousands of runners without a place on the starting line in November.<\/p>\n

But we have good news! While you\u2019re waiting to get into NYC next year, there are plenty of other marathons<\/a> you could run this year that keep you involved in the hype of fall marathon season.<\/p>\n

Here, a dozen worthy expeditions held within a week of the 2026 New York City Marathon. Even if you lost the NYC lottery, fear not, because this fall could still hold your new favorite 26.2.<\/p>\n

GET YOUR MARATHON TRAINING PLAN HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Niagara Falls International Marathon\"Participants<\/p>\n

Courtesy MarathonPhotos.com<\/p>\n

Date: October 25, 2026
Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Although you won\u2019t actually run in New York, you will be able to see the state from Canada across the Niagara River. This out-and-back<\/a> race starts and ends near the famed falls, and follows the scenic river for 13 miles in both directions. Like the NYC Marathon, you can easily fit in tourist activities if you\u2019re looking to turn your marathon into a long weekend. You can visit the falls, check out the shops and restaurants in downtown, or hit up the casino. Just remember: Because this race is in Canada, American runners need a passport to run it.<\/p>\n

Marine Corps Marathon<\/p>\n

Date: October 25, 2026
Location: Washington, District of Columbia<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for another massive city marathon (but one that\u2019s quite a bit easier to snag a bib for), then Washington D.C.\u2019s Marine Corps Marathon<\/a> may be your best bet. In 2025, the Marine Corps Marathon ranked as the third largest<\/a> in the U.S. behind only New York and Chicago. Dubbed the \u201cPeople\u2019s Marathon,\u201d it doesn\u2019t offer prize money and isn\u2019t included in the Abbott World Majors,<\/a> but it drew more than 30,000 runners last fall.<\/p>\n

While there is no lottery for the Marine Corps Marathon, which boasts a scenic course that runs past the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Capitol Building, it does sell out quickly. General registration opens on April 6, 2026, and you\u2019ll want to sign up fast.<\/p>\n

Dublin Marathon<\/p>\n

Date: October 25, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Provided you\u2019re up for a hop across the pond, sign up for the Dublin Marathon. Similar to New York, Dublin\u2019s marquee race provides runners with an all-encompassing scenic tour of a magnificent, historical city. Starting near St. Stephen\u2019s Green, the loop course sends runners across the River Liffey, through Phoenix Park, southeast to the University College Dublin campus, and then back to a finish in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n

Ocean State Rhode Races Marathon\"Runner<\/p>\n

Courtesy Ocean State Rhode Races<\/p>\n

Date: October 25, 2026
Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Geographically, one of the closest major marathons to NYC during the adjacent weekends is the Ocean State Marathon in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The coastal New England enclave is easily accessible from New York or Boston by train, and offers plenty of cute bed-and-breakfasts and beachside hotels to help turn the marathon into an autumnal getaway. The course has rolling hills that add a challenge, but with beautiful seaside views and coastal breezes, the 26.2 miles will fly by. The race also ends with a postrun festival at the iconic Narragansett Town Beach, with food, drinks, and live music to send you out on a high note.<\/p>\n

Las Vegas Marathon\"Runners<\/p>\n

Ken Howard Images<\/p>\n

Date: October 25, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

When you think about Las Vegas, you probably conjure images of the city\u2019s neon-lit strip lined with casinos, restaurants, and shops. What people often overlook is the stunning natural landscape that surrounds \u201cSin City.\u201d The Las Vegas Marathon, however, aims to showcase the natural splendor of the area outside the city, with a course that starts in Mount Charleston to the northwest and sends runners on a point-to-point course down into the metropolis. While the race doesn\u2019t touch the Vegas Strip, it provides runners with some stunning views of the city and a different type of Las Vegas experience. You can always head back to the pool for a postrace pina colada.<\/p>\n

City of Oaks Marathon\"Runner<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Capstone Event Group<\/p>\n

Date: November 1, 2026
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Held every year on the same day as the New York City Marathon, Raleigh\u2019s City of Oaks Marathon offers the perfect counter-programming, especially if you\u2019re looking for something a bit lowkey. Raleigh is nicknamed the \u201cCity of Oaks\u201d due to the city\u2019s dedication to preserving the area\u2019s gorgeous oak trees, and those will certainly be on display as runners cruise through the inner city and the surrounding neighborhoods. The first half of the course weaves through Raleigh\u2019s charming downtown, before runners head out on a lengthy out-and-back segment in the second half. Well organized, but with plenty of small-town charm and Southern hospitality, this is one to add to your must-do list.<\/p>\n

Louisville Marathon<\/p>\n

Date: November 1, 2026
Location: Louisville, Kentucky<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Like the Las Vegas Marathon, the Louisville Marathon is a nature-focused race that takes place outside of the city\u2019s downtown. It features a scenic, out-and-back course through Floyds Fork, a stunning tributary that sits to the city\u2019s southeast. While running through nature is certainly a draw, the marathon\u2019s website also boasts, \u201cDerby Pie and beer waiting for you at the finish line!\u201d What is Derby Pie? Glad you asked. The Kentucky Derby staple is a luxurious pie made of walnuts and chocolate, and while traditionally served to spectators at the city\u2019s iconic horse race, it\u2019s also served to finishers of the city\u2019s iconic human race.<\/p>\n

Albuquerque Running Fiesta Marathon\"Runners<\/p>\n

Courtesy Albuquerque Running Fiesta<\/p>\n

Date: November 1, 2026
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Another race option held on the same day as the NYC Marathon is the Albuquerque Running Fiesta Marathon, which premiered in 2025 and is back for its second year. The extremely flat course is great for first-time marathoners<\/a> or those chasing a PR, and the route steers runners through downtown, the North Valley, and Old Town, as well as along the famed Route 66. If you live out west and you don\u2019t want to trek all the way to the East Coast, this is a great option.<\/p>\n

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon\"Runners<\/p>\n

Courtesy Jake Rytlewski \/ Beyond Monumental<\/p>\n

Date: November 7, 2026
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Of the many reasons to run the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, the race\u2019s website is quick to highlight its convenient location as a key factor, saying the city is within a day\u2019s drive of over half the U.S. population and the airport is only 15 minutes from downtown. New York certainly can\u2019t boast either of those stats.<\/p>\n

Indy\u2019s marathon starts and ends downtown with its loop course circling the city and sending runners through many of its historic neighborhoods. As you can probably guess, the Indy course is also extremely flat, making it a lot easier to PR here than on those NYC bridges.<\/p>\n

Moab Trail Marathon\"Participants<\/p>\n

Courtesy Aktiva Photo<\/p>\n

Date: November 7, 2026
Location: Moab, Utah<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Nearly the polar opposite of the NYC Marathon, you\u2019ll run the Moab Trail Marathon on a dirt path through nature. You\u2019d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful natural landscape in America than what exists in Moab, Utah, though, a town adjacent to two different National Parks (Arches and Canyonlands). This course, while remote and more difficult than many marathons, sends runners into a breathtaking wilderness, providing a truly one-of-a-kind running experience\u2014without a skyscraper in sight.<\/p>\n

Athens Marathon\"Athens<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Eurokinissi<\/p>\n

Date: November 8, 2026
Location: Athens, Greece<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

While the New York City Marathon may be the world\u2019s largest, the Athens Marathon is easily the most iconic. The name \u201cmarathon,\u201d after all, is based on the journey of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger who ran from Marathon towards Athens to proclaim Greek victory over the Persian army in 490 BC, only to collapse and die upon delivering his message. The modern Athens Marathon traces that route, sending runners from Marathon to Athens in a 26.2-mile point-to-point course. Unlike in Ancient Greece, the course is now lined with aid stations to prevent anyone else befalling Pheidippides\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n

Saddleback Marathon<\/p>\n

When: November 7, 2026
Location: Silverado, California<\/p>\n

Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n

California boasts one of the most diverse natural landscapes of any state, and nowhere is that more evident than at Saddleback Marathon in Southern California. While the race has been cancelled throughout its nearly three-decade history due to wildfires (and COVID), the 2026 iteration will hopefully run in November on a 26.2-mile out-and-back route through the Cleveland National Forest. This trail marathon provides runners an excellent opportunity to connect with nature and provides the perfect runcation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Matthew Huff is a freelance writer and runner, and he is the author of MARATHONER: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon, published by Rizzoli Publications. His writing has appeared in Runner’s World and BuzzFeed among others, and he is the co-host of \u201cP.S. You’re Wrong: A Pop Culture Podcast.\u201d Originally from Michigan, he now lives and runs in New York City, where he is pursuing a career as an expert chicken tender taster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With 59,226 finishers in 2025, the New York City Marathon is the biggest in the world. Starting on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":153158,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[63708,63711,63709,63710,63017,63707,569,568,9,24,55,54,56,63712,63706],"class_list":["post-153157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-collection-marathon","tag-collection-marathon-training","tag-collection-runners-world-story-previews","tag-collection-runners-world-exclusive","tag-content-type-how-to-service","tag-contentid-837084e0-ced9-491a-9e11-03ccab67b152","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-locale-us","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-city-headlines","tag-new-york-city-news","tag-ny","tag-read_time-7","tag-shorttitle-12-fall-marathon-alternatives-to-the-nyc-marathon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=153157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}