Wallis Sand Half Marathon

The Wallis Sand Half Marathon takes place in Rye, New Hampshire, in early May. The 13.1-mile course alternates between sections in a public park and long stretches along the coast, with open ocean views for much of the way. Total climbing is modest, about 292 feet, so the effort is more about wind and pacing than about hills.

Ocean air can be cool and breezy in spring, and a headwind along the shore can make even a flat course feel tougher, so run the first miles with restraint. Rye is close to Portsmouth, where you can visit the historic Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse, the Strawbery Banke Museum, Prescott Park or the USS Albacore Museum.