
From the Organizer
The Kanawha State Forest Half Marathon and 7K offer runners a challenging and scenic experience deep within one of West Virginia’s most iconic natural areas. Set entirely inside Kanawha State Forest, this race takes you along winding forest roads and wooded routes surrounded by dense trees, rolling terrain, and the quiet atmosphere of the hills. The race will start and finish near the Gift Shop, with a scheduled 9AM start time.
Participants can choose between the Half Marathon for a longer, more demanding effort or the 7K for a shorter but still challenging run. As part of the Cryptid Race Series, this event blends forest adventure with local legend and history. Whether you are racing hard or enjoying the atmosphere, this event delivers a memorable fall running experience.
Shirts guaranteed to everyone who registers by October 8th at Midnight. After this time all extras will be first-come, first-served until supplies run out.
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Kanawha State Forest Half Marathon/7K
Oct 18, 2026