Kismet Cliff Run

Kismet Cliff Run takes place in Conway, New Hampshire, on September 13, 2026. Two trail formats are offered: a half marathon (13.1 miles) starting at 8:00 a.m., and a 5-mile that follows at 8:15 a.m. The organizer's website points to Six03 Endurance. The word cliff in the name is a fair warning that the terrain is mountainous rather than gentle.

Both distances are short on paper, but a New Hampshire mountain trail is rarely fast, so think in terms of time on your feet rather than pace. The 5-mile suits runners who want to test themselves on steep ground without a huge commitment, while the half marathon is for those already comfortable with technical climbs and descents. Include weekly hill repeats and at least a few long runs with sustained climbing in your 10- to 12-week build, and practice power-hiking the steep sections, since that is often faster than running them. Poles are worth considering if the organizer allows them.