Mid-March racing brought a mix of fast road marathons and rugged trail adventures, with everything from Boston qualifiers to remote island challenges and ultra-style courses testing runners in very different ways.

Tobacco Road Marathon

One of the premier spring marathons in the Southeast, Tobacco Road drew 853 finishers with an average of 4:20:39. The fast, flat rail-trail course—run on crushed gravel through pine forests—makes it a favorite for PRs and Boston qualifiers. Juris Silenieks took the win in 2:25:20, followed by Alex Ekesa and Michael Zeberkiewicz. In the women’s race, Lauren Kelly ran a strong 2:50:12 to secure victory ahead of Brigid Brennan and Brittany Perkins.

A Run Through Time

Set in the Colorado Rockies, this high-altitude race saw 226 finishers tackle a challenging course averaging 5:10:44. The route features dirt roads, elevation gain, and scenic mountain views, making it as demanding as it is beautiful. Taylor Stack won the men’s race in 2:59:13, with Josh Park and Devin Paredes close behind. Amanda Ax claimed the women’s title in 4:02:52, reflecting the course’s toughness.

Catalina Island Marathon

Known as one of the toughest marathons in California, Catalina Island hosted 379 finishers with an average time of 5:33:56. The course features relentless climbs, dirt roads, and ocean views across the island’s rugged terrain. Alex Heuchert won in 3:12:45, while Katya Meyers led the women in 3:42:07, both showcasing strong trail running ability on a course where finishing is a major achievement.

Land Between the Lakes Marathon

Set between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, this scenic trail marathon drew 141 finishers with an average of 5:55:34. The rolling, wooded course mixes dirt trails and hills, rewarding strength and pacing. David Timmsen won in 3:28:49, followed by Jason Baer and Will Lowe, while Gracie Wartinger took the women’s title in 3:51:11, leading a strong field through one of the region’s most picturesque trail settings.

Seabrook Lucky Trails

This coastal trail race brought 103 finishers to a flat but technical course with sandy sections and coastal winds, averaging 5:30:45. Carlos Vences Jr took the men’s win in 3:21:41, followed by Connor Bessell and Troy Maddox. On the women’s side, Jessica Roeschel led with 3:53:15, ahead of Julie Huyett and Suzy Seeley.

Rodeo Trail Run

A small, ultra-style event with just 10 finishers, this race averaged 6:25:55 and featured rugged trails, elevation changes, and a true endurance test. Richard Horton won the men’s race in 3:57:49, while Jamie Dobson delivered an outstanding 3:15:02 to win the women’s race and post the fastest overall time of the day.

Bound for Boston Marathon

A tiny but focused field of just 8 finishers lined up in Las Vegas for this Boston-qualifier-style event, averaging 3:52:50. The course is typically designed for speed with minimal distractions, giving runners a controlled environment to chase qualifying times. Tom Reid led the men in 3:32:52, while Camilla Hanson delivered the top performance of the day overall, winning the women’s race in 3:15:32 and posting the fastest time of the event.