Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack
- Date
- September 25–26, 2026
- Location
- 127B W. Main St., Shawnee, OH
- Distance
- Half Marathon · 10K · 5K Run/Walk & more
From the Organizer
The Blue Blaze Festival - Run, Hike & Backpack on the Buckeye Trail
The Blue Blaze Festival is a celebration of Ohio's Buckeye Trail in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. Whether you are a trail runner, hiker, or would like to learn more about backpacking you are welcome to be a part of our celebration of the Buckeye Trail (BT). Join us for the 2026 Blue Blaze Festival and explore the diversity and beauty of the outdoors. This year we will be joining forces with Destination Shawnee, the Tecumseh Theater and outdoor recreational organizations to bring together runners, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to the Village of Shawnee. This section of the Buckeye Trail, in the Wayne National Forest, is mostly single-track trail and provides some very challenging terrain. The Blue Blaze Festival will be highlighting the BT as an outdoor destination for running, hiking and backpacking, plus all of the excitement happening in the historic Village of Shawnee.
There is a trail experience and distance right for you: Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K, 5K run/walk, 10 Mile Hike and an overnight Backpacking trek. All events are on the Buckeye Trail in the Wayne National Forest.
Running Events - Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
9:00am Half Marathon and 10K, 9:15am 5K start.
Hiking the Buckeye Trail
The 10-Mile Hike will start at 8:00am (1 hour before the running events) in Shawnee. All hikers will be given a race bib/number with a timing chip used to monitor when hikers start and finish the hike. The hike is designed and lead by the Little Cities of the Forest Chapter of the BTA, with a number of historical points following the Blue Blazes of the Buckeye Trail. A guide with historical points of interest and the route map will be provided to participants.
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
73°
Typical Low
48°
Chance of Rain
30%
Based on US Climate Normals data from New Lexington 2 Nw, 8 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Shawnee, OH
Population
295
as of 2023
Elevation
913 ft
Nearest Airport
LCK
Rickenbacker International Airport · 41 mi
Major Hub
CMH
John Glenn Columbus International Airport · 45 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A small town race. Lodging near the start could be limited, so book early.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
109
Days to train
- Race
- Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack
- Date
- September 25–26, 2026
- Location
- 127B W. Main St., Shawnee, OH
Coming Up
More Running races near Shawnee, OH
Blue Devil Endurance Challenge
25 miles away
The Chase Haley Project 2 Mile Run and Walk
22 miles away
Myers Running Camp
24 miles away
Hocking Hills Trail Run
12 miles away
From Endurance Grid
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.
Running
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack?
- Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack is a running race held in Shawnee, Ohio on September 25, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack?
- Friday, September 25, 2026 in Shawnee, Ohio at 127B W. Main St., Shawnee, OH. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack
Sep 25, 2026