Is October a good month for a Marathon?
October sits in the middle of the year for the Marathon, carrying 32 against 71 in April and 14 in August. Enough to choose from, and easier to get into than the races at the peak of the season.
Race calendar · October 2027
Marathons in October 2027
32 marathons across the US in October 2027, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
October is the heart of US marathon season. Temperatures across much of the country have finally dropped to the point where a 26.2 feels manageable rather than punishing, and daylight at race start is reliable enough that you will not be running the first miles in darkness.
Conditions vary sharply by region, though. The Northeast and upper Midwest are into crisp, fast-feeling mornings, the Southeast can still feel warm and humid well into the month, and mountain venues bring cold starts and the chance of early snow. Choosing a race means choosing a climate.
Because October draws so many runners, popular races here can fill fast. If you have a specific city or course style in mind, waiting until the week before registration closes is a risk. Build in time to decide and commit early.
What the field actually runs
October Marathons, By the Numbers
4:40:41Median finish time
2:57:44Median winning time
101Median field size
14October marathons with published results
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 Nov 12, 2026.
When in October
The October Race Weekends
Marathons are not spread evenly across October. 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 Biggest Field
The largest field of any October Marathon, from the most recent published results.
October Marathons by State
Marathons by City in October
The Next Marathons in October
32 total Sat, Oct 2, 2027Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Empire, MIRegistration opens Jan 1, 2027From $90Details Sat, Oct 2, 2027Colorado Springs Marathon, Half, 5K, and Kids K Colorado Springs, COFrom $70Details Sat, Oct 2, 2027Viking 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M at Stillwater, OK (40) Stillwater, OKFrom $95Details Sun, Oct 3, 2027Trinity Health Probility Ann Arbor Marathon Ann Arbor, MIFrom $87Details Sun, Oct 3, 2027Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay Portland, MEFrom $75Details Sun, Oct 3, 2027Windsor Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k & 1 Mile Run Windsor, COFrom $100Details Sun, Oct 3, 20272027 Greenbrier River Trail Marathon & Half Marathon Marlinton, WVFrom $55Details Sun, Oct 3, 2027The Blazing Marathon Des Moines, IAFrom $30Details Fri, Oct 8, 2027Antelope Island Marathon - 26.2 - 13.1 - 10K - 5K Syracuse, UTFrom $95Details Fri, Oct 8, 2027Bank of America Chicago Marathon Chicago, ILFrom $100Details Sat, Oct 9, 2027Raquette River Marathon, Half, 10k, and 5k Potsdam, NYFrom $60Details Sat, Oct 9, 2027Hayden Lake Marathon Hayden Lake, IDFrom $100Details
Common Questions About Running an October Marathon
What should I expect from the weather at an October marathon?
Expect wide variation depending on where you race. Northern and mountain venues can be cold at the gun, with temperatures that reward gloves and throwaway layers. Coastal and southern venues are often still warm enough to demand heat-management pacing. No single weather assumption holds across the whole month.
What should I wear for an October marathon?
In the Northeast or upper Midwest, plan for a cold start and a warmer mid-race, so a lightweight outer layer you can shed or tie off is worth carrying. In the South or Southwest, treat it like a warm-weather race even in October. Check the forecast for your specific city in the days before, not just the regional average.
Is it worth traveling to race a marathon in October?
October is the strongest argument for destination racing at 26.2. The calendar is wide enough to match a course style and a climate to what you actually want. A flat river-road course in the Mid-Atlantic, a mountain trail in Colorado, a coastal route in the Pacific Northwest - all are live options in the same month.
How far ahead should I start training to be ready for an October marathon?
A standard marathon build runs roughly sixteen weeks, which points to a late-June start for an early-October race. That puts the hardest long-run weeks in summer heat, so building base fitness in spring before the formal plan begins gives you real protection against those August and September training miles.
When in October are most marathons held?
The busiest weekend is October 9 and October 10, with 9 of them, 5 of those on Saturday, October 9. Another 2 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
What is a good Marathon time?
Across the 14 of these October marathons with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 4:40:41, and the median winning time was 2:57:44. So anything under 4:40:41 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.
How big is a typical October Marathon field?
The median one finished 101 runners, across the 14 of these October 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 7:22:19.
Which states have the most October marathons?
Michigan has 3, Texas has 3, Washington has 3, Colorado has 2, Illinois has 2. If you are willing to travel, those are the states where an October weekend gives you the most to choose from.
Are there trail marathons in October?
Yes, 4 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 3 are trail races, and 1 mixes road and trail.