Unconventional Marathons to Put on Your Bucket List
If you’re going to give it your all for 26.2, you might as well get a great experience out of it.
By Matthew Huff
Running 26.2 miles can be a challenge. So if you’re going to give your full effort to complete a full marathon, you might as well get a great experience out of it. With races beginning to open up, here are 30 amazing races in the United States and across the globe that you can start longing to book if you’re ready for an unconventional marathon experience.
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Antarctica Marathon
Forget missing toenails. Running 26.2 miles on our coldest continent could lead to a few missing toes if you aren’t careful. The race, part of an extended trip to Argentina and then Antarctica can run upwards of $10K all things considered, but is a once in a lifetime experience.
Detroit Marathon
What’s better than running in two cities? Try two separate countries. This Michigan marathon sees runners cross the Ambassador Bridge from the U.S. to Windsor, Ontario, and then return via a tunnel submerged beneath the Detroit River.
Great Wall Marathon
While plenty of marathons have steep elevation changes, very few involve climbing stairs. This race, which has runners loop through a section of the Chinese landmark, forces participants to go up and down stairs FOR MILES.
Inca Trail Marathon
Perhaps more of an unofficial hike than a sanctioned race, this Peruvian classic winds runners through the Andes Mountains to the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. Not a great choice for a PR, but really solid if you want great Instagram content.
Midnight Sun Marathon
Set in Tromso, Norway, this marathon is run north of the Arctic Circle (i.e. it’s gonna be cold.) The good news is that in June, when the race is run, the sun never sets in Tromso, so no matter how long you take, you’ll have the sun warming you up.
Las Vegas Marathon
Part of the Rock ’n’ Roll series, this race begins with a concert and party befitting Sin City’s glitz and glamor. It also doesn’t start until the evening so that the Vegas Strip is lit up in its sparkly neon glory as you run by. It also starts late so you can avoid getting heat stroke from that desert sun.
Petra Desert Marathon
If you’re planning on a vacation around your marathon, this race gives you an excuse to see Petra, the ancient cave city, along with the Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea. The only downside is that you’re going to be running through the deserts of Jordan, not super hospitable to runners.
Lewa Safari Marathon
Technically speaking, you could get eaten by a lion during this race. Weaving through the Lewa Wildlife Conservatory in northern Kenya, this marathon allows you to roam through the nature preserve. Just hope that the nature decides to preserve you as well.
Jungfrau Marathon
One of the most difficult races in the world, it’s basically just a climb straight up the Alps for 26 miles. As you run (or more than likely walk) the distance through Swiss peaks you’ll conquer nearly 6K feet of elevation change. We’ve heard the views from the finish are great though.
World’s Fastest Marathon
The antithesis of Jungfrau, this Spanish marathon has runners constantly racing downhill through the Sierra Nevada Mountains for over 6K feet of elevation change. It may be great for your PR, but we can’t imagine your legs will thrilled the next day.
Fenway Park Marathon
After over 110 laps, the scenery might get dull even if the scenery is Boston’s historic baseball diamond. This marathon, which only allows 25 entrants each year, sees runners circling the diamond over and over until they hit the 26.2 miles.
Crater Lake Marathon
About 7,000 years ago, a volcano collapsed and created Crater Lake, the massive freshwater basin in Oregon. Now you can run a marathon around the lake’s rim. Fun fact: this is one of very few marathons run inside a National Park.
North Pole Marathon
Word on the street is that Santa loves this race. Because the North Pole is just a giant slab or frozen ice (and not a continent), the course changes a bit every year, but consists of 10 loops around a base camp with a finish at Santa’s workshop/the top of the globe.
Marathon des Sables
Although “marathon” is in the title, this Moroccan race across the Sahara desert is actually the equivalent of six marathons run over six days. You will get very dirty and very hot, and you need to invest in hiking poles because otherwise you’re going to be slipping on that sand.
Disney World Marathon
Not only does this marathon wind its way through all four of the Disney World theme parks in Orlando, Florida, but it also lets you meet Mickey and co. in the process. Dozens of character photo ops line the course in case you need to take a break with your favorite character.
Man vs. Horse Marathon
Who can finish the race quicker? A man running or a man on a horse? That is the question this event (not technically a marathon at only 22 miles) seeks to answer. Spoiler Alert: The winner of this Welsh race is usually a horse.
Marathon du Medoc
Ready to get DRUNK OUT OF YOUR MIND mid-marathon? If that’s your vibe, then this French winery marathon is for you. Twenty-three wine-tasting stations along the way are sure to have you staggering across that finish line. Enjoy the sore legs/hangover combo the next day.
Burro Days
It’s hard enough getting your own ass to the finish line, let alone dragging a whole other ass along with you. This race, run every year in Fairplay, Colorado, asks entrants to run alongside a burro (donkey) for the 26.2, cajoling the creature toward the finish line and praying he doesn’t wander off.
Beat the Blerch Marathon
What is a blerch you ask? For the sake of this race run in Carnation, Washington, it is a person dressed up like a giant blob running a marathon. The question for runners is can they beat the blerch to the finish line? It’s a good goal to have.
Marine Corps Marathon
The White House. The Capitol. The Lincoln Memorial. The Pentagon. The Washington Memorial. The Potomac. It is hard to find a marathon with more sites along the route then this race. Also, its organized by the Marines, and when they salute you and put a medal around your neck, you get a little teary eyed.
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 cohost of “P.S. You’re Wrong: A Pop Culture Podcast.” Originally from Michigan, he now lives and runs in New York City, where he is pursuing a career as an expert chicken tender taster.
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