Registration for the 2018 Boston Marathon opens on September 11. If you’re the kind of person who likes to wait until the last minute to do things—or if you simply haven’t managed to qualify yet—consider starting to train for one of these races. (Need a plan? Find one here.)
Tunnel Vision Marathon
Where: North Bend, Washington
When: August 20
Approximate Number of Finishers: 225
Average Temperature: Starts in the high 40s and ends in the mid-60s
Register: tunnelmarathon.com
Course Description: The Tunnel Vision Marathon is a point-to-point race with a downhill loss of 2,000 vertical feet. You'll start in Snoqualmie Pass, run through the Snoqualmie Tunnel, pass Snoqualmie Mountain and numerous waterfalls, until you finish in North Bend. The course is mostly on gravel trails like the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. (If you won't be ready by August 20, the Tunnel Light Marathon on September 17 runs on the same course.)
Marquette Marathon
Where: Marquette, Michigan
When: September 2
Approximate Number of Finishers: 300
Average Temperature: Starts in the low 50s and ends in the mid-60s
Register: marquettemarathon.com
Course Description: This point-to-point race starts in Ishpeming, a small mining town, and ends in Marquette. In total, there’s a net elevation drop of 1,037 feet, making for a fast course. You’ll run along the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, a partially paved mixture of asphalt and crushed granite, with views of rock formations, trees, Lake Superior, and the Superior Dome. Finish on Third Street, which is lined with shops, restaurants, and bars.
Big Cottonwood Marathon
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
When: September 9
Approximate Number of Finishers: 1,400
Average Temperature: Starts in the low 40s and ends in the low 70s
Register: runrevel.com
Course Description: This speedy point-to-point race features a net elevation drop of 5,255 feet. Run through the scenic forests and canyons of the Wasatch Mountains past Big Cottonwood Creek and finish in the foothills of Salt Lake City. Though the course is mostly downhill, the middle section of the marathon is relatively flat with a few rolling hills.
Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
Where: Geneva, Illinois
When: September 9
Approximate Number of Finishers: 300
Average Temperature: Starts in the high 40s and ends in the low 60s
Register: bq2races.com
Course Description: This race, comprised of eight 3.21-mile loops on a paved trail, offers plenty of shade and views of forest preserves, the Fox Valley River, and downtown Batavia. In addition to BQ.2’s Chicagoland Marathon, the organization also holds a last chance marathon in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the same day. That version features six 4.1-mile loops around Millennium Park in Grand Rapids.
Erie Marathon
Where: Erie, Pennsylvania
When: September 10
Approximate Number of Finishers: 1,400
Average Temperature: Starts in the mid-40s and ends in the low 70s
Register: eriemarathon.org
Course Description: This flat and fast race through Presque Isle State Park offers views of Lake Erie, the Presque Isle Bay, and the city of Erie. You’ll start at the park’s Rotary Pavilion, run two loops around the peninsula, and end back in the same spot. Runners enjoy shade, moderate temperatures, a paved surface, and plenty of aid stations.
Note: The following races take place on September 16 or 17, between the two registration weeks for the 2018 Boston Marathon. Only runners who’ve beaten their standard by five minutes or more can register in Week 1; if spaces still remain, anyone who’s qualified can enter in Week 2, and the fastest runners relative to their standards get in first. The race has never filled in Week 1, so a result from that in-between weekend could potentially get you into next year’s race. (And possibly the following year’s as well: Historically, the next qualification window opens on that in-between weekend, though the BAA won’t confirm a starting date for the 2019 window until after the 2018 registration process is over.)
Air Force Marathon
Where: Dayton, Ohio
When: September 16
Approximate Number of Finishers: 2,100
Average Temperature: Starts in the low 50s and ends in the low 70s
Register: usafmarathon.com
Course Description: The Air Force Marathon is a flat road course that loops around the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Along the way, you’ll pass the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Institute of Technology, the Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and the Wright Brothers Memorial Monument.
Bismarck Marathon
Where: Bismarck, North Dakota
When: September 16
Approximate Number of Finishers: 1,500
Average Temperature: Starts in the low 40s and ends in the low 70s
Register: thebismarckmarathon.com
Course Description: This out-and-back race features flat paved trails that parallel the Missouri River. You’ll start and end at Cottonwood Park, and run past farms, bridges, and the 124-acre University of Mary campus.
Huntsville Marathon
Where: Huntsville, Utah
When: September 16
Approximate Number of Finishers: 700
Average Temperature: Starts in the low 50s and ends in the low 70s
Register: huntsvilleutahmarathon.com
Course Description: This point-to-point race starts in Monte Cristo and ends in Huntsville, with a steady decline of 3,500 feet. You’ll run along Utah State Route 39, which is a paved, two-lane designated scenic byway where you’ll pass the Ogden River, Ogden Canyon, Pineview Reservoir, and plentiful aspen trees that will make your race as beautiful as it is fast.
Montana Marathon
Where: Billings, Montana
When: September 17
Approximate Number of Finishers: 750
Average Temperature: Starts in the mid-40s and ends in the high 60s
Register: montanamarathon.org
Course Description: The Montana Marathon starts in the small prairie town of Molt and ends in the urban center of Billings. You’ll be running entirely on paved roads, and while the first 10 miles have some rolling hills, the final 16 miles feature a loss of 1,000 vertical feet.
Caribou Marathon
Where: Caribou, Maine
When: September 17
Approximate Number of Finishers: 400
Average Temperature: Starts in the mid-40s and ends in the low 60s
Register: caribouraces.com
Course Description: The Caribou Marathon features multiple loops with rolling hills all on paved roads. You’ll start at the Caribou Wellness Center, run past the Aroostook River, Maine farmland, and downtown Caribou—where you’ll see their library and rec center, among other popular landmarks. Finish back at the wellness center for a postrace festival full of good food, drinks, and entertainment.
