Race calendar · November 2026
439 half marathons across the US in November 2026, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
Temperatures across much of the country have dropped into a range that suits sustained effort, daylight is still workable for early starts, and the autumn racing atmosphere carries through to the month's end.
Conditions split sharply by region. The South and Southwest can still deliver warm, humid mornings that demand conservative pacing, while the Northeast and Midwest may greet you with cold starts that call for throwaway layers. Mountain and Pacific Coast races add wind and altitude as variables worth researching before you book travel.
Family schedules, travel windows, and race-morning logistics all compete for attention in late November, so it pays to decide early whether you are racing before or after the holiday and to plan your training block and travel around that choice.
What the field actually runs
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Oct 16, 2026.
When in November
Half marathons are not spread evenly across November. Here is how the calendar actually falls, weekend by weekend, which is the part worth knowing before you book a trip or plan a taper around one.
By the numbers
The November half marathons that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
It is the fullest month of the year for the Half Marathon. November carries 439 of them, more than any other month, so you get the widest choice of dates, locations and course types without having to travel far for one.
Start with a moisture-wicking base layer and plan for conditions to warm as you run. In the South, a singlet or light short-sleeve is often enough. In the Northeast or Midwest, gloves and an ear covering are worth packing even if you shed them by mile three. A throwaway top at the start line solves a lot of problems.
Yes. The final weekend of November carries a strong cluster of races, and the Thanksgiving morning tradition of running before the meal is well established across the country. If you plan to race that weekend, register early, as family travel often makes last-minute entries difficult, and some events in popular cities sell out well ahead of the holiday.
A standard half marathon build runs ten to fourteen weeks, which puts your first long run in mid-to-late August. That means training through late summer heat, so your early weeks will feel harder than race day. Factor in the regional weather shift: conditions improve noticeably through September and October, and your long runs should start feeling more like November by the time you taper.
November works well for destination racing in the Sun Belt, where coastal cities and warm-weather venues are at their most comfortable for out-of-town runners. Northern destinations carry more weather risk, including the possibility of cold and wet conditions. Book refundable travel when you can, and check whether the race has a weather or cancellation policy before committing.
The busiest weekend is November 14 and November 15, with 132 of them, 114 of those on Saturday, November 14. Another 21 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
Across the 167 of these November half marathons with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 2:10:15, and the median winning time was 1:28:51. So anything under 2:10:15 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
The median one finished 50 runners, across the 167 of these November half marathons with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 3:20:00.
Texas has 50, Florida has 46, California has 39, Georgia has 22, North Carolina has 22. If you are willing to travel, those are the states where a November weekend gives you the most to choose from.
Yes, 20 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 16 are trail races, and 4 mix road and trail.
