Austin’s running scene thrives year-round, fueled by a massive community of runners who hit Lady Bird Lake’s hike-and-bike trail before the Texas heat takes hold. The city hosts everything from the massive Statesman Cap10K — the largest 10K in Texas with 20,000+ runners crossing Congress Avenue Bridge — to the grueling Austin Marathon through the city’s rolling hills and to trail races through the rugged cedar-and-limestone landscape of the Texas Hill Country. Early mornings from November through April offer near-perfect racing conditions, making Austin one of the South’s premier marathon and half marathon destinations.
Road Races in Austin
Aramco Houston Half Marathon
The Aramco Houston Half Marathon is one of the fastest half marathon courses in the world, run alongside the Chevron Houston Marathon on January 11, 2026, through the flat streets of downtown Houston. It consistently produces personal bests and national records.
Date: Jan 11, 2026 | Distances: Half Marathon | Location: Houston, TX | Official Site
Bayou City Classic 10K
The Bayou City Classic is Texas’ oldest 10K race, celebrating its 49th running on March 7, 2026, in downtown Houston. Organized by the Houston Area Road Runners Association, 100% of proceeds benefit the Houston Parks Department.
Date: Mar 07, 2026 | Distances: 10K, 5K | Location: Houston, TX | Official Site
Trinity River Hop 5K & 10K (Fort Worth)
The Trinity River Hop is a growing Easter-weekend race along Fort Worth’s beloved Trinity Trails — a gateway to one of Texas’ best urban trail systems. The 2026 edition expands to include a half and full marathon alongside the popular 5K and 10K.
Date: Apr 04, 2026 | Distances: 10K, 5K, Half Marathon (2026+), Full Marathon (2026+) | Location: Fort Worth, TX | Official Site
Statesman Cap10K (Capitol 10,000)
The Statesman Capitol 10,000 is Austin’s oldest annual running event and the largest 10K in Texas, drawing over 20,000 runners through the heart of downtown. Starting on Congress Avenue Bridge over Lady Bird Lake, the 49th edition returns April 12, 2026.
Date: Apr 12, 2026 | Distances: 10K | Location: Austin, TX | Official Site
Austin Distance Challenge
The Austin Distance Challenge is a nearly 30-year tradition organized by the Austin Runners Club — a five-race series spanning October through February that progressively builds runners toward the Austin Marathon. Choose Full, Half, Sprint, or Mixed Track.
Date: Oct 18, 2026 | Distances: 5K, 10K, 10 Mile, Half Marathon, Full Marathon (series) | Location: Austin, TX | Official Site
Run For The Water 10-Miler & 5K
Run For The Water is Austin’s beloved charity 10-miler that takes runners from downtown through the hills of West Austin while raising funds for clean water access in Burundi through the Gazelle Foundation. The 2026 edition marks the race’s 20th anniversary.
Date: Nov 08, 2026 | Distances: 10 Mile, 5K, Kids K | Location: Austin, TX | Official Site
San Antonio Marathon & Half Marathon
The San Antonio Marathon is the successor to the celebrated Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio, reborn in 2025 as a locally organized city event. The 2026 edition runs December 6 through the Alamo, River Walk, Brackenridge Park, and finishes at Hemisfair’s Finish Line Fiesta.
Date: Dec 06, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K | Location: San Antonio, TX | Official Site
BMW Dallas Marathon — 10K & 5K Saturday
The BMW Dallas Marathon Saturday Festival brings the 10K and 5K races to downtown Dallas on December 12, 2026, with the iconic Friday Night Lights 1-Mile race the evening before — offering a fun, accessible way to participate in Dallas’ premier running weekend.
Date: Dec 12, 2026 | Distances: 10K, 5K, Kids Races, 1-Mile Friday Night Lights | Location: Dallas, TX | Official Site
Decker Challenge Half Marathon
The Decker Challenge is one of Austin’s most challenging and beloved half marathons, returning for its 48th year on December 13, 2026. Set at Travis County Expo Center, this RRCA Texas State Championship race is famous for its relentless hills around Decker Lake.
Date: Dec 13, 2026 | Distances: Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Mile | Location: Austin, TX | Official Site
BMW Dallas Marathon
The BMW Dallas Marathon is the official marathon of the City of Dallas, held the second Sunday of December with tens of thousands of spectators lining the streets. The 2026 festival runs December 11–13 with races for every distance from 1 Mile to 50K Ultra.
Date: Dec 13, 2026 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon, 50K Ultra, 10K, 5K, 1 Mile | Location: Dallas, TX | Official Site
Spurs Austin International Half Marathon
Formerly the 3M Half Marathon, the Spurs Austin International Half is one of the fastest half marathon courses in Texas — a 13.1-mile downhill point-to-point run from North Austin to the Texas State Capitol. The 2027 edition runs January 17.
Date: Jan 17, 2027 | Distances: Half Marathon, Half Marathon Relay | Location: Austin, TX | Official Site
Run the Alamo Half Marathon & Marathon
Run the Alamo is San Antonio’s epic sunrise race — the only locally produced full marathon in the city, launching with a live cannon blast and musket volley at Hemisfair. The 15th Anniversary 2027 edition runs March 7, racing past the Alamo, River Walk, King William, and the Missions.
Date: Mar 07, 2027 | Distances: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K | Location: San Antonio, TX | Official Site
Trail Races in Austin
Possum’s Revenge Trail Race
Possum’s Revenge is a spectacular multi-distance trail race on the shores of Possum Kingdom Lake, 90 minutes west of Fort Worth. The May race tests runners with rocks, roots, sand, climbs, and breathtaking lake views across distances from 4 miles to 69 miles.
Date: May 16, 2026 | Distances: 69 Mile, 52 Mile, 56K, 17 Mile, 8 Mile, 4 Mile | Location: Graford, TX | Official Site
HOKA Bandera Endurance Trail Race
The HOKA Bandera Endurance Trail Race is one of the crown jewels of American ultrarunning — a Western States 100 qualifier set in the rugged Hill Country State Natural Area. The 2027 edition runs January 9–10 with distances from 25K to 100K across brutal, beautiful Texas Hill Country terrain.
Date: Jan 09, 2027 | Distances: 100K, 50K, 25K, Youth 1 Mile | Location: Bandera, TX | Official Site
Fun Runs in Austin
SKECHERS Hot Chocolate 15K Dallas
The SKECHERS Hot Chocolate Run is America’s sweetest race — a nationally beloved fun run series where finishers are rewarded with a chocolate fondue mug and post-race chocolate party. The Dallas edition runs February 7, 2026 at Fair Park.
Date: Feb 07, 2026 | Distances: 15K, 10K, 5K | Location: Dallas, TX | Official Site
Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot
The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is a 59-year Thanksgiving morning tradition — one of the largest and most beloved Turkey Trots in the country, drawing over 30,000 participants in costumes and running gear to the streets of downtown Dallas.
Date: Nov 26, 2026 | Distances: 8 Mile, 5K | Location: Dallas, TX | Official Site
Schlotzsky’s Bun Run 5K
The Schlotzsky’s Bun Run is a beloved Austin fun run tradition held in The Domain, benefiting JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). This family-friendly 5K welcomes runners of all paces — and even a Fastest Dog in Austin competition.
Date: Dec 31, 2027 | Distances: 5K, Kids 1K | Location: Austin, TX | Official Site
Night Races in Austin
Moonlight Margarita Run
The Moonlight Margarita Run is Austin’s favorite nighttime 5K — a 23-year tradition along Lady Bird Lake’s Butler Trail that ends with margaritas, Tex-Mex, and live music at the finish line party. The 2026 race runs Thursday, June 4 at 8:00 PM.
Date: Jun 04, 2026 | Distances: 5K | Location: Austin, TX | Official Site
San Antonio Marathon — SATX 5K Friday Night
The SATX 5K opens San Antonio Marathon weekend on Friday, December 4, 2026 — a night 5K starting and finishing at Hemisfair, right beneath the Tower of the Americas, providing a uniquely dramatic and festive start to the marathon festival.
Date: Dec 04, 2026 | Distances: 5K | Location: San Antonio, TX | Official Site
Stars at Night Half Marathon
The Stars at Night Half Marathon is San Antonio’s original nighttime half marathon — a uniquely festive holiday race through the illuminated golf cart paths of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, held December 20, 2026.
Date: Dec 20, 2026 | Distances: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K | Location: San Antonio, TX | Official Site
Austin’s race scene keeps expanding alongside the city itself, and this guide represents the most complete calendar we maintain at What Race To Run. Click any race for course highlights, registration links, and our editorial review. New races and updated 2026-2027 dates are added regularly — bookmark this page or subscribe to our newsletter to stay current on Austin running.