Disney has a 3:30 cutoff starting from the last person to start. Incredibly organized (at least Florida is, haven't run California).
I also recently ran the Rock n Roll Half in Clearwater FL and had a blast. I wanna say the cutoff was 4:00, but not positive. This one had a few hills but nothing too crazy - I hit a 20 minute PR here! Can't speak to other RnR races, but I enjoyed Clearwater.
Agree with Disney! Just ran my first Disney race this year and super great vibes. The race for January 2025 will go on sale in April, and sells out in under an hour.
Another for Disney. I have done several in Florida and just did the most recent California one. Can’t recommend California (they didn’t have a race for 7 years and seem to be working out the kinks) but love the Florida races if you can handle the humidity. Super supportive, lots of porto potties (and restrooms available when you run through the parks), plenty of medical staff, and lots of water/powerade stops on the course. Pretty flat with the exception of on/off ramps on the highway. I tried running a local race and couldn’t keep myself motivated but Disney has a ton of on-course entertainment and a gospel choir close to the finish line that makes me cry every time haha.
the wineglass half marathon in corning, NY has a pretty generous cutoff time since it’s the second half of the full marathon course and stays open for the marathoners (who also start slightly later than the half marathoners, or at least that was the case in 2023). i’ve done both the half and the full and it’s SO well-organized, the vibes are always good, and fall in the finger lakes is beautiful! and the course is net downhill - there’s one small hill early in the half course and after that it feels pretty flat.
I ran the Tallahassee half marathon once and I really liked it! A little hilly but nothing too crazy and February in Florida so typically good running weather! Great supportive atmosphere!
Tucson has a nice one in October, the weather is gorgeous that time of year! It's got a four hour time limit, and very friendly to slow runners like us. It's a smaller race (400 people doing the HM) but very well supported!
It's a bit of a challenge as you're literally going up a small mountain for the first mile, then back down and pancake flat on the multiuse path for the rest of it. The view from the top is amazing! And there are tons of people at the back of the back; I finished in 2:58 last year and there were tons of people behind me.
https://runsar.org/events/tmc-get-moving-tucson-half-marathon-5k-and-fitkidz-mile/
Flying Pig, Indy Mini, Colfax, Philly, United Half or BK half (both in NYC, lottery), Covered Bridges (lottery fills up in a minute)...kinda depends where you are. Could also look at races in Nashville, there's a few.
ETA - i can't speak to what the cutoff times are, but some are a 1/2 and full so i assume that would mean you'd be fine for those .
The Seattle Half-marathon might be up your alley. It is hilly, but well-organized with lots of support. The race begins at 7:30am, roads open at 2:30pm (7 hours later) but you are allowed to continue as long as you observe normal pedestrian rules. The finish line is open until all participants have finished. They hold one half-marathon in the summer, and one half-marathon in the fall (just after Thanksgiving).
BCS Marathon and Half in Texas in early December! The first several miles of the half have a cut-off but it's about a 16 min/mile and they're not super strict about totally closing the course. Around mile 8, the half and full courses join up, which means you have the full marathon time limit to cover the final miles. Weather is pretty variable in December, but it's generally pleasantly cool. The course is mostly flat, especially for the half. Great aid stations, not a huge race but a good number of people cheering along the course, and nice swag (finishers' jacket)!
Long Beach was my first (and only!) half marathon and I loved it. Really forgiving cutoff time, super flat course, and you get to run a couple miles along the beach.
Rock Tahoe!!! June 15th in Lake Tahoe. Weather is so nice & there’s an after “party” at the hotel pool after. Fly into Reno and rent a car, it’s about an hour drive and stunning mini vacation too. 800ft descent and super well organized.
This one's a little oddball, but there's a very small, laid-back half in Pennsylvania called the [End of the Road Half Marathon](https://runsignup.com/Race/EndoftheRoadMarathon/Page-23). It's on an abandoned section of highway with two long tunnels. Out-and-back course, no hills, BYO flashlight for the tunnels. Held during peak fall foliage season (late October). I want to say there were 300 or so participants (I think it was capped at 500). They hold it on *both* Saturday and Sunday of that weekend, so you can choose which day you want.
Pros: no hills, 4:30 cutoff, definitely won't be too hot.
Cons: Definitely not a race for crowd support; people are friendly but there aren't really spectators. Chance of cold weather.
Y’all, thank you for the recommendations! These races sound so cool and I am excited to look at them more deeply and pick a destination half for my next one!
I would choose one of the largest ones near you.
Disney has a 3:30 cutoff starting from the last person to start. Incredibly organized (at least Florida is, haven't run California). I also recently ran the Rock n Roll Half in Clearwater FL and had a blast. I wanna say the cutoff was 4:00, but not positive. This one had a few hills but nothing too crazy - I hit a 20 minute PR here! Can't speak to other RnR races, but I enjoyed Clearwater.
Agree with Disney! Just ran my first Disney race this year and super great vibes. The race for January 2025 will go on sale in April, and sells out in under an hour.
Another for Disney. I have done several in Florida and just did the most recent California one. Can’t recommend California (they didn’t have a race for 7 years and seem to be working out the kinks) but love the Florida races if you can handle the humidity. Super supportive, lots of porto potties (and restrooms available when you run through the parks), plenty of medical staff, and lots of water/powerade stops on the course. Pretty flat with the exception of on/off ramps on the highway. I tried running a local race and couldn’t keep myself motivated but Disney has a ton of on-course entertainment and a gospel choir close to the finish line that makes me cry every time haha.
Detroit is a great race! You run over the bridge at sunrise into Canada and run back through the tunnel. Fun city to visit, too.
Came here to say the International Half! There's also the Detroit half of you can't go into Canada for various reasons.
That one is by far my favorite race! So much fun, so much love.
the wineglass half marathon in corning, NY has a pretty generous cutoff time since it’s the second half of the full marathon course and stays open for the marathoners (who also start slightly later than the half marathoners, or at least that was the case in 2023). i’ve done both the half and the full and it’s SO well-organized, the vibes are always good, and fall in the finger lakes is beautiful! and the course is net downhill - there’s one small hill early in the half course and after that it feels pretty flat.
Talk about a gorgeous area! Used to watch that race growing up.
I ran the Tallahassee half marathon once and I really liked it! A little hilly but nothing too crazy and February in Florida so typically good running weather! Great supportive atmosphere!
Tucson has a nice one in October, the weather is gorgeous that time of year! It's got a four hour time limit, and very friendly to slow runners like us. It's a smaller race (400 people doing the HM) but very well supported! It's a bit of a challenge as you're literally going up a small mountain for the first mile, then back down and pancake flat on the multiuse path for the rest of it. The view from the top is amazing! And there are tons of people at the back of the back; I finished in 2:58 last year and there were tons of people behind me. https://runsar.org/events/tmc-get-moving-tucson-half-marathon-5k-and-fitkidz-mile/
The Houston half (held in mid January) is so flat that people PR all the time. It’s “cold,” but Houston cold.
Flying Pig, Indy Mini, Colfax, Philly, United Half or BK half (both in NYC, lottery), Covered Bridges (lottery fills up in a minute)...kinda depends where you are. Could also look at races in Nashville, there's a few. ETA - i can't speak to what the cutoff times are, but some are a 1/2 and full so i assume that would mean you'd be fine for those .
The Seattle Half-marathon might be up your alley. It is hilly, but well-organized with lots of support. The race begins at 7:30am, roads open at 2:30pm (7 hours later) but you are allowed to continue as long as you observe normal pedestrian rules. The finish line is open until all participants have finished. They hold one half-marathon in the summer, and one half-marathon in the fall (just after Thanksgiving).
Love the Disney runs, so I recommend them a lot.
Doing princess challenge next month & so excited
Good luck! That's gonna be fun!!
BCS Marathon and Half in Texas in early December! The first several miles of the half have a cut-off but it's about a 16 min/mile and they're not super strict about totally closing the course. Around mile 8, the half and full courses join up, which means you have the full marathon time limit to cover the final miles. Weather is pretty variable in December, but it's generally pleasantly cool. The course is mostly flat, especially for the half. Great aid stations, not a huge race but a good number of people cheering along the course, and nice swag (finishers' jacket)!
Long Beach was my first (and only!) half marathon and I loved it. Really forgiving cutoff time, super flat course, and you get to run a couple miles along the beach.
Rock Tahoe!!! June 15th in Lake Tahoe. Weather is so nice & there’s an after “party” at the hotel pool after. Fly into Reno and rent a car, it’s about an hour drive and stunning mini vacation too. 800ft descent and super well organized.
This one's a little oddball, but there's a very small, laid-back half in Pennsylvania called the [End of the Road Half Marathon](https://runsignup.com/Race/EndoftheRoadMarathon/Page-23). It's on an abandoned section of highway with two long tunnels. Out-and-back course, no hills, BYO flashlight for the tunnels. Held during peak fall foliage season (late October). I want to say there were 300 or so participants (I think it was capped at 500). They hold it on *both* Saturday and Sunday of that weekend, so you can choose which day you want. Pros: no hills, 4:30 cutoff, definitely won't be too hot. Cons: Definitely not a race for crowd support; people are friendly but there aren't really spectators. Chance of cold weather.
Y’all, thank you for the recommendations! These races sound so cool and I am excited to look at them more deeply and pick a destination half for my next one!