Waverly Winter Warrior

Waverly Winter Warrior is a trail event in Louisville, Kentucky, on December 13, 2026. Two distances share a 9 a.m. start: a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 6.5-mile race, both run off-road at Waverly. A single gun for both fields means one arrival time, one warm-up and one finish area, whichever you enter.

Trail changes the maths. Your road pace is not the right reference, and a winter surface can be soft, so judge the day by time on feet and effort rather than by splits. Trail shoes with real grip are worth the trouble, as is walking the steeper pitches instead of grinding them. If you are stepping up to the half, spend a few of your long runs on similar ground first; the 6.5-mile option is the sensible entry point for anyone whose running has all been on pavement.