While I do moan and complain when summer ends, I do actually really enjoy fall. If it weren’t for what comes after, fall would be my #1 favorite season. I take that back. Fall might be my favorite season despite what comes after it.
Today’s topic for the Friday Five 2.0 is “unique running routes.” I don’t have any unique running routes at all. So I’m going rogue this week. Instead, I’m going with fall races! Seeing as fall racing season is officially upon us, I think it’s timely, don’t you?
5 Fall Races for Every Runner
1. Iron Horse Half Marathon
Picture this: rolling hills, large trees overhanging a narrow country road, fences lining pastures, and horses. Lots and lots of horses.
This is what it looks like in Midway, KY — the heart of horse country. It’s a beautiful sight in any season, but simply gorgeous with the colorful leaves and cool breeze of a fall morning.
The Iron Horse Half Marathon is a challenging race in a beautiful part of the country. There isn’t much crowd support but there doesn’t need to be. It’s a small race with a well stocked finish line area. I’ve only run Iron Horse once but it was incredible and I look forward to running it again in the future.
2. Northern Ohio Marathon/Half Marathon
The Northern Ohio Half Marathon (I’ve never run the full — yet…) is one of my all-time favorite races. It’s a hidden gem and if you’re not local to Cleveland you may not know about it. Heck, even if you are local to Cleveland, you still may not know about it.
Runners arrive at Mentor Headlands beach in darkness. Parking is a little bit of a challenge but even more so is maneuvering to the starting line. One moment you’re walking on asphalt, the next your feet are sinking into… sand? It’s hard to tell in the dark. But once the sun rises and seeing becomes easier, you see just how serene a setting the Northern Ohio course truly is. Northern Ohio begins and ends on the shores of Lake Erie. All throughout the course, runners wind through parks and neighborhoods with the lovely colors of fall hanging from the trees.
If you love fall races, Northern Ohio is the race for you. Read my recap from 2015 here and 2016 here!
3. Akron Marathon
Another really great fall race is the Akron Marathon/Half Marathon/Relay. I’ve only done this race once and I was on the relay team. But WOW, what an experience! The crowd support for this race is truly incredible. The aid stations and relay exchange points are well run and extremely organized. The part of the course I ran was lovely through residential areas. But the atmosphere was far and away one of the best race atmospheres I’ve experienced.
If you’re looking for an Ohio race, you might want to consider Akron. Come run the blue line!! (And yes, there really is a blue line!)
4. Autumn Leaves 5-Miler
I ran the Autumn Leaves 5-Miler in 2016 for the first time and I must say I really enjoyed it. It was the week following Marine Corps so I didn’t race it at all. I meandered the cross-country style course with my friend, and we had a really nice time. The course was challenging but very beautiful. Plus the post race fare was excellent! If you’re interested in an adventure through a beautiful part of Ohio, the Autumn Leaves 5-Miler might be right up your alley!
5. Marine Corps Marathon
And obviously I saved the best for last. Marine Corps Marathon is one of my all-time favorite fall races. I have such fond memories of it from 2016 and I’m hopeful I’ll have just as an amazing time in 2017 as I did then. What makes this race so special?
Running through D.C. is definitely one of the highlights of this race. I love Washington, D.C. — I love everything about it. Except for maybe parking. That part kinda sucks. But the monuments, the White House, the history of it all. It’s my place!
MCM is a very humbling race. I can’t adequately put it into words. If you’ve run MCM before, you know what I mean. And if you haven’t, I recommend that you do. Between the Marines, the Blue Mile, the camaraderie of runners and spectators — it’s just incredible.
Last year I was injured and I still had the time of my life. How could I not while running through such a beautiful, clean city with servicemen and women all around to cheer me on through the course?
Marine Corps Marathon is a top notch race. If you ever have the opportunity to run it, I can’t recommend it enough.
If you like fall and you like running, I highly recommend checking out one of these amazing fall races. There are so many more to name, but these are definitely some of the best.
Need other race ideas? You might like these:
- Themed Races for Every Season
- 5 Amazing Spring Races Cleveland Has to Offer
- 5 Bucket List Races in 2017
- Top 5 Favorite Races of 2016
- 7 Amazing Bucket List Races
- 5 Racecations You Don’t Want to Miss
Have a fantastic weekend, friends. Happy running!
xo
Let’s talk!
What’s your favorite fall race?
Do you travel for races, or race locally?
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56 Comments
I would love to do MCM one day! And fall is such a great season for races. I do hope to get in an least one before winter hits.
If you do MCM let me know and we’ll meet up! I hope I get to do it again after this year. It’s such an awesome race.
I hope you get to race before winter hits, too. Even if you don’t, you’ll race plenty next year I’m sure!!
Well, as you know, I LOVE to travel for races 😉 The MCM is very high on my bucket list. I have a huge respect for all things military (duh, I’m married to a retired Lt Cnl), and I totally love all the history and honor of DC. I would probably be a blubbering idiot, but MCM would not be a race to”race” for me, but to pay honor to the setting.
Right, MCM is not a race that I “race.” It’s so much more than that. I might try to race this year but even if I don’t, I’m going to savor every moment. I hope you decide to do MCM one day. You’ll love it.
I’ve done Akron and it’s great! I need to get to MCM. Chicago should probably make the list 😉
How fun! What year did you do Akron?
I considered adding Chicago to the list but I’ve never done it so I didn’t know what to say about it. 🙂 Maybe I’ll run it next year so I can add it in rotation!!
You know how I feel about MCM. I love all the feels and run it even though I hate training for it during the hot summers here. The other races sound interesting. Once I’m done with my 50 states, I’ll have to check them out.
It’s such an incredible race. We both agree on that, for sure. I think you’ve done a great job training this year!!
Fall running is my favorite! My sister is doing the Marine Core Marathon, she did it last year and I went to watch. I’m not quite a marathon runner, but I considered doing the 10k.
You should!!! It’s just as fun!!!
I am going to have to do a race in the mid west at some point! I love it out there. Fall is my favorite time for running as well. Hope I get to meet up when you are here next month
There’s always Indy Monumental in November! Then you can see your daughter, too! 🙂
Yes, I hope to meet you as well! We’ll make a plan.
Maybe we need to run Iron Horse together. 🙂 Well, obviously not together. Looks pretty amazing & my husband prefers smaller races (and I’ve done plenty with very little crowd support.
I’d say Gettysburg Blue/Gray would have been one of my favorites — if my hips hadn’t been bothering me & the last 4 miles were painful!
I’m totally in for Iron Horse! Just let me know and we’ll make a plan. 🙂
I would love to run Gettysburg Blue/Gray. I bet it’s amazing!!
MCM is on my bucket list. After I run my first marathon (Chicago) I plan to think long and hard about whether I’d like to run another marathon in 2018, or if I’d like to wait awhile and stick with half marathons for awhile.
I feel like I had this same conversation with myself once… 🙂 And here I am four marathons later…
I would LOVE to run MCM someday or any race in DC.
My favorites are in Florida – I am away from work, they are flat and have water views.
I’ve never run in Florida but I have to agree, the water views would be amazing. I’ll have to look into some down there.
MCM is amazing. And I’ve heard Cherry Blossom is also. Actually I’ve never heard a bad thing about any of the D.C. races come to think of it!
I agree with you MCM is one of my favorite marathons. I’m so glad I had a chance to run it before it went to a lottery.
Definitely. You’re one of the lucky ones! It’s such a great race. I love it.
Great list! Fall is my favorite season for races 🙂 And there are so many good ones around this time of year. I’m trying the Columbus Half Marathon in a month and I’m pretty excited for it.
You’re going to do great at Columbus! I know so many people who love that race. 🙂
I’ve been looking at the MCM 10k for next fall, but I’ve glossed over the spring. I have no idea what I want to do. I love fall running, and this weekend should be perfect for training.
I have a few races I’m considering for 2018 but I’m actually so exhausted from training that I’m trying to plan less and be more spontaneous next year. We’ll see if that ends up working in my favor. 🙂
I don’t think I have a favorite fall race, but there is one I have been wanting to do for two years, and I keep forgetting to sign up for it until after the price has gone waaaaay up. It’s the Bird In Hand Half Marathon in Lancaster County, PA, and I INTEND to register in Dec. this year so I can get the good price.
I’ve heard such great things about that race!! Maybe I’ll do that one, too!
Great list of races! The Iron Horse sounds like a beautiful course. I love running in the fall.
Running in DC would be amazing.
D.C. is the best! MCM is such an incredible race.
Iron Horse is beautiful. I can’t wait to go back someday!
MCM was one of my favorite races as well. There is a great race series J&A down in Virginia Beach that offer so many fall races during this time of year….love it!
I bet that’s a beautiful area in the fall!!
Iron Horse sounds amazing!
It is! I can’t recommend it enough.
Sounds like some awesome fall runs. The autumn one sounds beautiful!
It is! It’s a challenging course, too.
I’d love to do MCM. But I don’t know if there will be another marathon for me… sniff!
You could do the 10K! It’s just as amazing!!
Other than MCM, I had not heard of the other races, so definitely going to think about them! I did MCM a few years ago and LOVED it!!!
MCM is obviously one of my favorites. But there are SO MANY amazing races!!
Would love to run MCM!
I hope you do!!! It’s such a great race.
Sounds like a great bunch of races to run! I do miss running in the fall in the north! It is still in the 80s/90s down here in Houston!
Yup, that’s hot… but, it’s in the high 80s here, too. So there’s that. 🙂
All great races. Akron was my very first marathon so it holds very fond memories for me.
Aw, that’s awesome! Akron is such a great race.
Fall runs are great. There’s no heat and sweat like during summer. 😉
Ha! Right! Well, you’d think anyway… 🙂
MCM is on my bucket list! My mom and I have done NYCM 3 times and Chicago once, so we want to branch out and try new races.
MCM is such a great race. I can’t say enough good things about it!
The Blue Mile is something new since the last time I ran the MCM. It sounds like an incredible addition to the race.
It is. I believe there’s also a Blue Mile at RnR DC and I think they are at some other big races as well. It’s a very humbling two miles.
These all sound amazing!! Agree that MCM is a GREAT fall marathon!
It’s so much fun! I love MCM.
I wish I could easily travel to all of these super fun races! I love the Kingdom Challenge Half Marathon in the end of October in VT!
You have some pretty amazing races near you, and you have the beautiful scenery, too!!
[…] race week! I’ll be toeing the line at the Northern Ohio half on Sunday. It’s one of my all-time favorite races and I’m very excited for another year! I’m confident it won’t be miserably hot […]
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