Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon

Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon follows the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail in King George, Virginia, on January 16, 2027, with a single distance on the card: a half marathon (13.1 miles) starting at 9 a.m. The route uses a former railbed, so the surface is trail while the profile stays flat and consistent. Every finisher receives a custom medal, food is available at the event, and a time limit is set so that entrants can complete the course within the allowed window.

A converted rail line is the friendliest kind of trail: soft underfoot, no technical footing to manage, and gradients gentle enough that you can hold a rhythm the whole way. That makes it a good first half marathon off pavement, and a fair place to see what your road fitness is worth on dirt. Ten to twelve weeks of steady running with a weekly long run will do; put a few of those runs on unpaved surfaces so your feet and ankles are not surprised. Shirt sizes are only guaranteed up to a cutoff date.