The Best First-Time Marathons

Where: Burlington, Vermont
When: September 19, 2021 | May 2022

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Have an entourage clamoring to see your first marathon finish? This race is perfect for when you want to bring the whole crew along. The clover-shaped course includes several out-and-back and looped sections that pass the same area. Without moving, your support crew can see you four times. With a little planning and some short walks, they’ll see you as many as 10 times. And when family and friends aren’t providing doses of motivation, the scenery and residents of Burlington fill in. The course includes a few small hills—and one big one past halfway—as it weaves through the north and south sections of the city. A gentle downhill for the last four miles brings you to the finish, with stellar views of both Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.

Where: Chicago
When: October 10 2021

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The country’s second largest marathon is almost completely flat, providing a comprehensive tour of 29 Chicago neighborhoods. More than 1.7 million Windy City residents offer support along the way, and unlike the New York City Marathon’s spectator-less bridges, hardly any section of Chicago’s course comes without a band, cheerleaders, or shouts from rowdy Midwesterners. Plus, the start and finish line near Grant Park sits within walking distance to plenty of hotels, making your pre- and postrace navigation less of a hassle than some of the other large urban point-to-point races.

[How to Run the Chicago Marathon]

Where: Denver, Colorado
When: October 16-17, 2021 | May 2022

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The star of Denver’s signature marathon isn’t the altitude, medal, or crowd support. It’s the course itself: a creative tour of the city’s highlights including two detours through Mile High Stadium—home of the Denver Broncos—a trip through a working firehouse, a loop around Sloan Lake, and a finish inside City Park next to the Denver Zoo. When not meandering near or through another landmark, the route is an out-and-back following Colfax Avenue, one of Denver’s liveliest downtown streets.

Where: Cincinnati, Ohio
When: October 31, 2021 | May 2022

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Proud of their city’s pork industry heritage, Cincinnati residents go whole-hog on both pig puns and runner support. The race may be smaller than some big-city marathons, but 150,000 raucous spectators provide plenty of urban atmosphere—a major plus when debuting at the distance. Beware: The first five miles of the looped course include some hills, including a 300-foot ascent near mile six. But after mile 10, the route follows a gentle downhill with a fast finish in front of the city’s revitalized waterfront.

Where: Washington, D.C.
When: October 31, 2021

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As a marathon newbie, you’ll hardly be alone in the starting corral: Thousands of runners each year make their 26.2 debut on this looped course, which starts and finishes near the Arlington National Cemetery. Two nights before the race, organizers host a pep rally featuring race-day advice and pins for first time marathoners. Crowd support is heaviest during a loop around the Washington, D.C., National Mall from miles 17 to 19, but even during sparser stretches back to the finish in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial, uniformed Marines stand watch with water and shouted “OORAHs.” Watch out for a short, yet fierce, hill at mile 26. If the line of Marines can’t inspire you up, the sight of the finish around the corner will.

Where: Indianapolis
When: November 6, 2021

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On flat roads that tour through central and northern Indianapolis, race organizers have designed a course to show off the city’s most scenic buildings. Just a half-mile after the start, runners pass Lucas Oil Stadium. They’ll continue through a roundabout called Monument Circle, then head north, passing landmarks like the city’s Mass Ave district, Butler University, Broad Ripple Village, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The race finishes in front of the state’s capitol building.

Where: Orlando, Florida
When: January 2022

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Tour all of Walt Disney World as you run this flat, looped course. The race has a generous 16-minute-per-mile pace requirement, plus several opportunities to meet Mickey and friends stationed about every half-mile along the way. The race kicks off very early in the morning, which not only provides cooler temps, but should give you plenty of time postrace to celebrate your finish on Space Mountain (or any of the resort’s famed attractions).

[10 Jaw-Dropping, Breathtaking, I’m-Never- Going-Back-to-Work Running Trips]

Where: Little Rock, Arkansas
When: March 2022

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Not only is the Little Rock Marathon finisher’s medal one of the biggest in the country—one behemoth had a 8.5-inch diameter and weighed 3.3-pounds—but the race hosts one of the friendliest finish lines around for back-of-the-pack runners. The course features an eight-hour time limit, but lets runners move to the sidewalk and finish with a medal even if they can’t meet the cutoff. While the course does have some rolling hills, especially near mile 16, the March race boasts scenic views of the Arkansas River and typically, ideal, cool weather.

Where: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
When: October 2022

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It’s hard to decide which is better: the temperate weather (which usually hovers around 50 degrees on race day ) or the welcoming running culture of this Canadian island city—a 90-minute ferry ride west of Vancouver. The out-and-back course (with a loop through downtown ) traverses gentle rolling hills that never exceed 84 feet above sea level. Once you cross the finish line in front of British Columbia’s parliament building, locals recommend toasting your accomplishment with a beer: Victoria houses more than 10 microbreweries within city limits. (The race is holding a half marathon and 8K in 2021, but the marathon will return in 2022.)

Where: Big Sur to Carmel California
When: April 24, 2022

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While we wouldn’t call this race the easiest on our list (you have some big hills and can face heavy headwinds), it’s hard to argue against the Big Sur International Marathon being an phenomenal racing experience that rewards you for your effort. You get amazing views for your entire 26.2 miles as you run along Highway 1 and the chance to see one of the most gorgeous spots on earth at ground level. Once you reach the finish line, you’ll know it was worth the effort.