If 2021 was the comeback of racing, then we hope 2022 ushers in a whole new era where the words ‘canceled’ don’t sneak past our lips. In fact, many of the large races are anticipating the large field sizes of before the pandemic. Boston Marathon, for example, will host 30,000 runners in its April return, up 10,000 from it’s limited October running in 2021. 

That goes for races outside of the United States as well, which is good news for those hoping to take their lofty goals abroad.

“We are very excited to be prepping for the 2022 race season,” says Cory Freedman, founder of the Toronto Women’s Run Series who expects the late season racing in particular to be back to pre-pandemic glory. “We anticipate having mass starts once again or large waves vs. very limited start size waves. We can’t wait for post-race parties and robust kit pick ups and expos to once again be the norm.” 

Are you counting 2022 as your year to race a new distance, run a PR, or just put yourself out there more often? Here’s what you should know about racing in the new year. 

COVID-19 Continues

While many races are counting on bigger and better events than we’ve seen since 2019, the fact of the matter is that the pandemic is still a factor and none of us know how the virus will spread in the coming 12 months. 

Race organizers are better equipped than in previous years, however, to create a safer running experience. In 2021, we saw creative and sometimes complicated ways to attempt to keep the virus out of races: testing, proof of vaccine, distanced start waves, masks, and even COVID-sniffing dogs. This year you can expect fewer options among some races. All New York Road Runners events and Boston Marathon, for example, are requiring full proof of vaccination to run. Exceptions can be made for medical or religious reasons, but they will not be accepting negative COVID tests as a way to get around vaccination as they did in the previous year. 

On the other hand, it’s not uncommon to see smaller events have no COVID precautions. Be sure to read the race guidelines carefully before signing up to affirm that you are comfortable with how race day will flow.

Virtual is Here to Stay

Even as in-person racing returned, the option to run virtually remained and will continue to be an option in 2022. In fact, regardless of the state of the pandemic, allowing runners to participate regardless of location when travel can be an expensive barrier seems like a no brainer for popular races. 

Other races have operated on a purely virtual model from the start as a way to raise money for charity with lower overhead and greater reach. We predict virtual races and fitness challenges will be here to stay for years to come. 

RELATED: How to Run Faster: 6 Winter Training Tips for a Speedy Spring and Summer

2022 Race Calendar

Ready to kick start your running goals? Here are just some of the exciting events worth checking out this year. From family friendly fun runs to ultramarathons, there is an event suitable for just about any kind of runner on this list. 

*Select races offer registration through AthleteReg, an affiliate of Outside. Outside+ members get $30 off the first event and $30 off all service fees toward any event listed by AthleteReg.

January

Wild Azalea Trail Challenge 50 Miler
January 8; Alexandria, Louisiana
Fee: $80

Siloam Springs Frozen Toes 5K*
January 15; Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Fee: $35

Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon
January 15; Auburn, Kansas + Virtual
Fee: $80

We Are Houston 5K
January 15; Houston, Texas
Fee: $45

Houston Half and Full Marathon
January 16; Houston, Texas

4 Hour Freeze and 5K
January 16; Indianapolis, Indiana + Virtual
Fee: $35-$60

February

National Girls and Women in Sport Day 5K and 50 Mile Challenge
February 2; Virtual
Fee: $15-$50

Sandhills Trail and Ultra Festival
February 12; Columbia, South Carolina
Fee: $35-$85

Cupid’s Crawl 5K & 10K
February 12; Greenville, North Carolina + Virtual
Fee: $18-$23

Ledyard RedZone 5K*
February 12; Hartford, Vermont
Fee: $10-$15

Freeze Your Buns Run 5K*
February 13; Medina, Minnesota
Fee: $30

Stilly Half
February 26; Stillwater, Oklahoma
Fee: $80

March

Tame the Mustang 10K and 5K*
March 5; Marble Falls, Texas

3 Bridges 5K and 10K
March 5; August, Georgia + Virtual
Fee: $25-$35

Snake River Canyon Half Marathon
March 5; Wawawai Landing, Washington
Fee: $50

Tokyo Marathon
March 6; Tokyo + Virtual
Fee: $80 for virtual

Get Lucky 5K
March 12; Newark, Delaware
Fee: $30

Los Angeles Marathon
March 20; Los Angeles, California + Virtual
Fee: $180

April

Run Emigration Half Marathon and 10 Miler*
April 2; Salt Lake City, Utah
Fee: $45-$50

Albuquerque Half Marathon
April 9; Albuquerque, New Mexico + Virtual
Fee: $70

Lake Sonoma 50 Mile and Marathon
April 9; Lake Sonoma, California
Fee: $135-$200

Horsetooth Half Marathon
April 10; Fort Collins, Colorado
Fee: $95

Boston Marathon
April 18; Boston, Massachusetts

George’s Goats for Grammas Memorial Run/Walk*
April 30; Cable, Wisconsin
Fee: $25

RELATED: Always Be Prepared: Considerations for Every Race Distance

May

Airline TrALE 5K/10K/40K*
May 1; Amherst, Maine
Fee: $25-$45

The Literacy Project’s Read, Write, Run 5K*
May 1; Northampton, Massachusetts
Fee: $30

Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon
May 1; Lincoln, Nebraska + Virtual
Fee: $110-$130

Chicagoland Spring Marathon
May 15; Schaumburg, Illinois + Virtual
Fee: $60-$100

Toronto Women’s Half Marathon/10K/5K
May 22; Toronto + Virtual
Fee: $30-$60

Willamette Valley Marathon and Half Marathon*
May 29; Salem, Oregon
Fee: $65-$95

June

Baltimore 10 Miler
June 4; Baltimore, Maryland
Fee: $70

Lighthouse 100
June 11; Peninsula, Michigan
Fee: $224

Hatfield McCoy Marathon
June 11; South Williamson, Kentucky
Fee: $100

Grandma’s Marathon
June 18; Duluth, Minnesota + Virtual
Fee: $110-$140

Independence Rhode Race Half Marathon
June 25; Bristol, Rhode Island + Virtual
Fee: $50-$60

July

Finger Lakes 50s
July 2; Hector, New York

American Mile
July 4; Longport, New Jersey + Virtual
Fee: $20

Peachtree Road Race 10K
July 4; Atlanta, Georgia + Virtual
Fee: $38-$45

Master’s 5K and 10K
July 6; Anchorage, Alaska

Sail Fest 5K*
July 10; New London, Connecticut
Fee: $25

WineShine Half Marathon
July 16; Napa Valley, California
Fee: $175

August

Leadville Trail 100 Run
August 20; Leadville, Colorado
Fee: $375

Silver Mountain Trail Run 6K, 9K, 18K
August 20; Kellogg, Idaho + Virtual

Lake Tahoe 5K and 10K
August 21; Incline Village, Nevada
Fee: $40-$45

September

Emerald Bay Trail Run 7 Miler
September 10; Lake Tahoe, California
Fee: $55

Community in Action 10K, 5K, and Fun Run*
September 17; Smithville, Missouri
Fee: $30

Orca Half
September 17; Seattle, Washington
Fee: $80

Cheyenne Marathon
September 18; Cheyenne, Wyoming + Virtual

Berlin Marathon
September 25; Berlin 

October

Windward 25K
October 2; Honolulu, Hawaii

London Marathon
October 9; London

Chicago Marathon
October 9; Chicago, Illinois

New England Half Marathon*
October 16; Concord, New Hampshire + Virtual
Fee: $40-$70

The Fall into Winter Half Marathon and 10K*
October 29; Granville, Ohio
Fee: $60

CHF Race For Hope 5k and 10K
October 29; Memphis, Tennessee + Virtual
Fee: $20-$45

Let’s Have Fun at the Pumpkin Run 5K
October 29; Montgomery, Alabama + Virtual
Fee: $10-$25

November

Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon and 5K
November 5; Grand Canyon Village, Arizona + Virtual
Fee: $40-$60

New York City Marathon
November 6; New York City, New York

The View 25K
November 6; North Bend, Pennsylvania

December

California International Marathon
December 4; Sacramento, California + Virtual
Fee: $170

Space Force T-Minus 10-Miler
December 10; Cape Canaveral, Florida + Virtual

Frosty 3 Miler and Reindeer Run
December 10; Stafford, Virginia + Virtual

RELATED: An Honest Mistake or Blatant Sexism? A Tale of One Woman’s Turkey Trot Win