As Jeff Galloway, a 1972 Olympian and popular marathon coach so eloquently put it, “The half-marathon gives you almost all of the satisfaction and achievement of the marathon and far less than half of the aches and pains and fatigue.”

It’s the chance to complete an incredibly adrenalizing race, without having to tolerate many of the sacrifices involved with dedicating yourself to a full 26.2 miles.

According to Running USA and the organization’s annual race reports, the half marathon has consistently been the fastest growing standard race distance in the U.S. since 2006. Between 2006 and 2012, “the number of 13.1 mile finishers grew a noteworthy 10 percent or more each year,” their 2014 report notes.

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There are many reasons people should consider the challenge of completing a half marathon. It’s a totally manageable distance; you’re training for a full marathon; the choices are endless; the recovery process is faster; the injury risk is smaller; and it’s a lot of fun.

If that’s not enough, consider the fact that you’re likely going to travel to a city you have not visited before, explore what it has to offer with the new friends you made on race day.

Star Wars Half Marathon at the Disneyland Resort

There’s a run for Jedi Knights and Padawans of every age and skill level including the Star Wars Half Marathon, Star Wars 10K and Star Wars 5K, and the runDisney Kid Races, according to the event’s website. This January, more than 14,000 runners took part in the 13.1-mile race in and around the Disneyland Resort.

Bermuda Half Marathon

This 13.1-mile course will start and finish on Front Street in Hamilton. Participants will enjoy many breathtaking vistas of Bermuda’s South and North coast’s, combining views of the changing shades of the blue ocean with the bright colorful hues of pastel colored houses and buildings, according to the site. Mixed into this are areas of lush greenery and fascinating architecture.

New York City Half Marathon

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Put simply, there’s just something about running through the streets of New York City that can’t quite compare to any other atmosphere in the world. The electric energy alone is enough to keep you on pace, even for an entire 13.1 miles. People just love running through Times Square. It re-energizes them. For the second year in a row, the leaders in the NYC Half catapulted in tandem around the final turn, setting up a frantic and riveting dash toward a photo finish. This time, however, it was the women who were locked into a shoulder-to-shoulder battle down the stretch.

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