Trail Marathons in January
26.2 on dirt to open the year. The work happens in fall.
A January trail marathon is a winter getaway with a bib. Most of the good ones sit in the desert Southwest, Texas Hill Country and the Gulf states, where the dirt is dry and the sun sits low. Up north, it's snowshoes and spikes, and a very different race.
Count back from race day
- Early July: start the 10-week primer
- Mid-September: start the 18-week plan
- Late December: peak week
- Mid-January: race day
Your training season. You train through the year's best weather and peak between Christmas and New Year's. Book your longest run for the 26th or 27th, when the trails are empty.
Masters Athlete Insights
A marathon is short enough to tempt you into racing the first half. Run the first 10 miles easier than feels right; at 50+, the back half is where the race is decided.
Start the 16-week 50K plan · Not 26 weeks out yet? Begin with the 10-week primer.
