Half Marathon races near Shasta Lake

The Redding Breakfast Lions Turtle Bay Run, held annually in the fall, begins and ends at Redding, California's Sundial Bridge. Participants can choose from a half marathon, 10K, or a 2-mile run/walk. This event is organized by the Redding Breakfast Lions Club as a fundraiser, with proceeds supporting local running programs. The shorter run/walk allows younger and older participants to engage, and school teams can register runners at a reduced rate. The half marathon route traces the Sacramento River, crossing the Sundial Bridge, Ribbon Bridge, and Diestelhorst Bridge. Runners proceed north on paved park paths, cross the river via Ribbon Bridge, complete a 2-mile out-and-back on the Middle Creek Trail, then return along River Trail and Diestelhorst Bridge before concluding at the Sundial Bridge. The 10K also follows the river. Both the half marathon and 10K courses are certified. While runners travel from various parts of the country, the event maintains a local feel, driven by the club, focused on fundraising, and integrated with Redding’s river trail system.

Nail the Rail is part of the Miles in Martinsville race series in Martinsville, Virginia. It offers distances from a 5K and 10K up to a half marathon, alongside rail-trail races such as the 5 Miler and 9 Miler. The series funds outreach programs by the Martinsville-Henry County Virginia Family YMCA and Activate MHC. Awards and incentives are given across the entire challenge, not just for individual events. The Nail the Rail 5 Miler and 9 Miler begin at the Virginia Ave Trailhead on the Dick and Willie Passage. The 5-mile course ascends before the turnaround, then provides a downhill or flat final 2.5 miles. The 9-mile course includes an additional climb, descent, and a second climb before the same faster finish. The main objective is to complete the 9 miles in 60 minutes or less. However, older participants can achieve the Golden Railroad Spike by meeting age-adjusted goals based on USATF age grading. For instance, a 70-year-old woman finishing in 1:30 is comparable to a 25-year-old man running 60 minutes, allowing for competition across different age groups without assuming identical race conditions.