By Katie Rosenbrock
TheActiveTimes.com
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.
World's Best Half Marathons
Newcastle Half Marathon, Australia
Runners who particularly enjoy beach-y vibes and ocean views should immediately add the Newcastle Half Marathon to their list of must-run races. The entire course runs right along the water, beginning on Wharf road along Newcastle Harbour's Hunter River and eventually leading to the Shortland Esplanade which runs adjacent to the waters of the Tasman Sea.
Newcastle Half Marathon, Australia
"The whole course is by the sea," a reader shared on social media. "And it's well organized with a good size field." newrun.com.au
Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon
Runners continue to rave about this half marathon, which is the flagship event of the entire Wine Country Half Marathon Series. The breathtaking landscapes of California's Napa and Sonoma Valleys certainly help to make this race stand out among the rest, but it's the entire experience that has participants saying things like, "It's by far the most fun my friends and I have ever had at any race we’ve travelled to."
Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon
Race registration includes a wine glass and wine tasting and an epic post-race celebration, which includes more wine (of course), as well as beer from local breweries and live music. destinationraces.com
Hamptons Half Marathon, N.Y.
There's no doubt about it, runners absolutely love the Hamptons Half Marathon, at least according to our reader survey. Aside from its unbelievably scenic course, perhaps the most incredible thing about this race is the size of its staff. The entire effort was created and is led by two determined women: Diane Weinberger and Amanda Moszkowski. Weinberger said their goal each year is to create a race that they would want to run.
Hamptons Half Marathon, N.Y.
"From friendly, personal email support to quality 'schwag' to an excellent race day vibe," she said. It seems their effort has not gone unnoticed, as one survey respondent described the race saying, "Beautiful course, awesome post-race celebration and the two race directors are so personable and friendly -- they make each runner feel welcome, comfortable and excited." hamptonsmarathon.com
The North Face Whistler Half Marathon, Canada
This half marathon was crafted to highlight all the best parts of Whistler, a picturesque town situated among the Coast Mountains in Canada’s British Columbia.
The North Face Whistler Half Marathon, Canada
Immense glacier-capped mountains serve as the main setting for this rugged race, which one survey respondent said was "a well-organized run , a beautiful trail and road race with the right amount of hills." whistlerhalfmarathon.com
Great Wall Half Marathon, China
No matter how challenging (and this race is considered among the most difficult in the world), there’s still no question as to whether this remarkable race deserves a place on your running bucket list. Last year, the event, which includes a full and half marathon, as well as a 8.5km fun run, sold out to 2,500 runners from more than 60 countries.
Great Wall Half Marathon, China
If you're totally insane determined the full marathon might be more your jam, but we think 13.1 miles on this brutal course is more than enough to earn yourself a medal.
great-wall-marathon.com
Morrisons Great North Run, UK
In 2014, 57,000 runners stormed the streets of Newcastle upon Tyne to participate in this historic race that leads through the city’s center, over the iconic Tyne Bridge and then through Gateshead and South Tyneside before heading towards the finish in South Shields. According to the race website, "At the top of Prince Edward Road the view of the sea is one of the most welcoming sights along the whole course."
Morrisons Great North Run, UK
On social media, one reader said that the Great North Run’s atmosphere is "unbeatable." "[The] last mile and a half is downhill then along the seafront and the route is lined with supporters from start to finish. Needless to say I can't wait to go again." greatrun.org
NU Hartford Half Marathon, Conn.
One survey respondent mentioned the appreciation for the convenience factor of this race, which is held on a Saturday. And we don't blame them, because who wouldn't want an extra day to recover before Monday comes around? But of course that's not the only thing that makes this race stand out among the pack.
NU Hartford Half Marathon, Conn.
The course boasts a pleasantly scenic route beginning in front of Connecticut's state capitol building and then leading runners through a tour of some of the area's most attractive neighborhoods. Plus, the Hartford Half Marathon was voted as one of the top half marathons in the country by the 100 Half Marathons Club. hartfordmarathon.com
Between 2006 and 2012, "the number of 13.1 mile finishers grew a noteworthy 10 percent or more each year," their 2014 report notes.
Given the growing popularity of this energizing yet still challenging race distance, we decided it was time to figure out which can be named the best of the best.
And since there are so many to choose from (close to 5,000 according to the worldwide half marathon race calendar curated by ahotu Marathons) we asked for some help from you, the reader.
We wanted to hear from the runners of the world who have experienced these races first hand, so we asked you to vote for your favorite half marathon races.
Now the polls have been closed and the results are in.
In compiling this list of the world's best marathons, first and foremost we considered votes from our reader survey. We then created a scoring system that also consulted data from lists of the world's biggest half marathons, as well as 2014 survey results from the 100 Half Marathons Club. Of course, we also considered important factors like course scenery, crowd support, race organization and finisher swag.
In the end, our results revealed the following road races as the best half marathons in the world.
For the complete list of the World's Best Half Marathons, go to TheActiveTimes.com.
More From The Active Times:
-- The World's Best Marathons
-- The 20 Best Running Shoes of 2015
-- The Most Common Running Injuries, And How to Prevent and Treat Them
-- The Best U.S. Running Trails
