The 10 Best Road Races in Idaho

Idaho offers a host of road races every year. These events are a fun way to get exercise, enjoy the scenery, and meet wonderful people.

Maybe you’ve never considered yourself a runner, or perhaps you haven’t even worked out in years. That’s okay. You can start with a short distance on easy terrain and then work your way up. Idaho has plenty of races from which to choose.

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What makes road races so popular?

It seems like hundreds of fitness fads come and go every year. There are so many that it can be difficult to keep up with all of them.

You’ll see a million posts on social media about some new workout trend, and within months, it’ll seemingly vanish. But road races have stood the test of time.

They continue to be popular for several reasons.

– Fitness

Running is one of the easiest ways to burn calories and stay in shape. You don’t need any special equipment other than a good pair of running shoes.

As long as you dress for the occasion, you can run in all types of weather. It helps you tone muscles, burn fat, and keep your heart and cardiovascular systems in good condition.

– Fun

Road races aren’t drudgery; they’re actually a lot of fun.

For instance, many of the bigger races have bands that set up along the way and play music to keep you motivated while you run.

Sometimes you get free food and even beer at the finish line to celebrate your achievement. With hundreds or even thousands of fellow runners alongside you, the energy is palpable, even contagious.

– Distances for Everyone

People love to put the ‘26.2’ and ‘13.1’ stickers on their cars to denote they’ve run a marathon or half-marathon. So it can be easy to believe, mistakenly, that road races always cover such long distances.

But Idaho offers races as short as one mile. It’s a great place to start if you’re a beginner.

You can always build. There have been many people who have begun with a one-mile race, gotten hooked, and eventually worked their way up to a full marathon!

– Motivation

Just about everyone has struggled at some point coming up with the motivation to work out. When you lead a busy life, it can be hard to work daily exercise into your routine. Signing up for a road race provides an extra incentive.

Even if you have no delusions about winning, you know there’s going to be a crowd watching, so you still want to perform well.

You’re more likely to run on a daily basis when you’re training for a road race than when you’re doing it just for exercise.

– Community

The running community in Idaho is close-knit. It can be a fantastic outlet for making lifelong friends if you’re a new resident to the state or the area.

Running in road races lets you meet others who share your passion for fitness and the outdoors, and get to know them in a fun, high-energy setting. Many people have even met their spouses through their shared love for running.

The 10 Best Road Races in Idaho

#10 – Mesa Falls Marathon

Distance Options: Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay, 10K, 5K, Family Fun Run
Race Swag: Long-sleeved tech shirt, finisher’s medallion, huckleberry milkshake

The Mesa Falls Marathon takes you from the Targhee National Forest into the town of Ashton, Idaho. Each year, it attracts roughly 100-150 people for the marathon, 100 people for the 5K, and at least 250 people for the half-marathon.

The terrain is hilly but not treacherous, and since the race takes place in August, heat is another challenge you’ll face. But with plenty of spectators lining your path for the first 9-10 miles, you’ll have plenty of motivation to push on.

#9 – The Heart and Soul of Rigby

Distance Options: 10K, 5K, Kids’ Traverse
Race Swag: T-shirt, finisher’s medal

The Heart and Soul of Rigby takes you through gently rolling hills. It’s a great race for setting personal records (PRs) because of the relatively easy terrain.

The race draws hundreds of participants every year in April when the weather is usually cool and crisp. There is plenty of room for spectators to stretch and get comfortable as they wait for you to run by.

#8 – Teton Dam Marathon

Distance Options: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
Race Swag: Finisher’s medal

Over a thousand runners flood the streets every June for the Teton Dam Marathon. The race started in response to the Teton Dam flooding in 1976. It took 11 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Local residents run the race as a way to inspire themselves to overcome their own personal challenges. The terrain is challenging but not treacherous, and the scenery is beautiful for spectators.

#7 – Cady Tucker Run

Distance Options: 5-mile Run, 5K Run/Walk, 5-mile Relay
Race Swag: Pizza, prizes, automatic entry into raffle

The Cady Tucker Run is a fun event held every August in Idaho Falls. It isn’t an intense race, so if you’re looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon, it’s not going to happen at Cady Tucker.

But it’s a fantastic way to get some exercise and have some fun while supporting a good cause: driver safety awareness and CPR certification. Spectators also enjoy goodies and prizes.

#6 – Race to Feed the Hungry

Distance Options: 10K, 5K
Race Swag: Commemorative shirt

The Race to Feed the Hungry, a Thanksgiving race in Idaho Falls, draws over 3,500 participants each year.

This is a family event. But it’s still a great way to get exercise and push yourself. Bring your spouse and kids, too, as they’ll have plenty of activities to choose from on the sidelines.

#5 – Idaho Falls Marathon

Distance Options: Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Kids’ Run
Race Swag: T-shirt, swag bag with assorted goodies

Idaho Falls, as you can see, is home to several road races. This one, the Idaho Falls Marathon, is the city’s premier event for serious runners.

It takes place in July, so the weather is likely to be hot and dry. But the terrain is flat, so you won’t have big hills to contend with. Fields stretch out on either side of the race course, giving spectators plenty of room.

#4 – Race to Robie Creek

Distance Options: Half Marathon
Race Swag: T-shirt

The Race to Robie Creek, held each April in Boise, usually sells out within hours, so you have to register fast.

It hosts over 2,000 runners each year in a challenging half-marathon course. The scenery is beautiful, as it takes you along Boise’s Robie Creek. Spectators get to enjoy the pleasant April weather and picturesque views.

#3 – Idaho Wine Run Harvest

Distance Options: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
Race Swag: T-shirt

Also in Boise, the Idaho Wine Run Harvest, held every year in August, offers a serene, picturesque course, live music, and wine sampling.

Spectators always have a blast. It draws a smaller overall crowd than the Race to Robie Creek but still gets hundreds of participants each year. Just be ready to sweat in the August heat!

#2 – Redfish Lake Lodge Memorial Run

Distance Options: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
Race Swag: T-shirt

The Redfish Lake Lodge Memorial Run features a mix of paved, gravel, and trail surfaces. It presents a challenge, but you don’t have to be an elite runner to conquer it. The event takes place in May, so the weather is nice for participants and spectators alike.

#1 – Grand Teton Relay

Distance Options: 180 miles/12 people
Race Swag: T-shirt, poster

The Grand Teton Relay is the state’s most unique race. It covers 180 miles in 24 hours.

Before you freak out, understand you’re on a team of 12 people to cover those miles. So it’s a fantastic event to do with friends and family. It takes place each year in August in the Grand Tetons.

Tips for Traveling

If you happen to be traveling through Idaho while a road race is going on, here are some tips for getting around it.

• Blocked roads – Do your research ahead of time and know which roads are blocked for the race. It takes extra time if you make it all the way to the block point and then have to turn around.
• Detours – Plan your detours well in advance. The farther back you detour, the less likely you are to get caught up in race traffic.
• Sharing the road – If you find yourself on the road with runners, remember that they, as pedestrians, have the right of way. Share the road with them, and give them a wide berth.

Getting the Right Car Insurance

You always want to be sure you have the right car insurance while traveling in Idaho.

– Check Your Current Coverage

Before traveling, look at your current car insurance coverage, and make sure you have everything you need.

What about comprehensive and collision? Are you covered if an uninsured motorist hits you? If you don’t have these coverage types, you should weigh the benefits of picking them up before your trip.

– State Minimums

At the very least, you need to be covered by Idaho’s state minimums. That means $50,000 in property damage liability and $50,000 in bodily injury liability.

– Comparison Shopping

Review your policy thoroughly, especially if you’re coming from out of state. You may also want to compare it to three or four other policies to see if those policies feature coverage that you need but don’t currently have.

Even if you’re not an experienced runner, Idaho road races are a blast. They can get you in shape and introduce you to a fantastic community of like-minded Idahoans.

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