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Pennsylvania > Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via -
Half Marathon
Allentown,
PA
Date
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Event
Details
Like its springtime counterpart, the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon
& 5K, Allentown's Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via
offers runners the scenic natural beauty of the area's Lehigh Parkway,
which combines paved roads, paved bike and running paths as well as
natural-surface towpath trails for this point-to-point course that runs
along the Lehigh River and finishes at Scott Park in nearby Easton, at
the meeting of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers.
Designed by Bart Yasso, the chief running officer of Runner's
World magazine, the course for the half marathon starts at
the mid-point of the full marathon, near the intersection of Spring and
Main Streets in the town of Bethlehem, which lies about mid-way between
Allentown and Easton along the river. From there, runners follow a
winding route along the trails that parallel the river, running along
what is mostly a long, slow but steady downhill from the start to the
finish line at the park.
Mostly flat and fast thanks to its location along the riverbanks, the
course features a combination of crushed cinder, grass and dirt as well
as paved surfaces, especially in the final stretch of the race through
the streets of Easton as runners make their way through the turns
toward the finish line. Along the way, runners will be treated to the
architectural scenery of Bethlehem's historic homes along the river, as
well as the refreshing shade provided by the canopy of trees along the
river trails.
Organized by Via of Lehigh Valley, a locally-based nonprofit agency
that provides services and support for both adults and children with
cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome and autism, the race also serves as a
fundraisers for Via's Community Connections program, which helps those
with disabilities work and live in their own communities -- to which
runners are encouarged to make a donation when they register. The half
marathon is limited to 1,000 entrants, and the event also includes a
full marathon relay as well as a 5K race for walkers.
Race
Weather & Climate
Nestled among the gently rolling hills of the Lehigh River Valley in
eastern Pennsylvania, the city of Allentown typically experiences mild
to moderately warm weather conditions in the late summer season, with
usually heavier precipitation between the months of May and September.
The area's average monthly temperatures range between 74°F and
53°F in September, while rainfall totals average about 4.4
inches for the month.
Fees
$55 for the half marathon, if registered by July 15, 2009
$60 after July 15
Registration
To reserve your spot in the late summer 2009 running of Allentown's
Lehigh Valley Health Network for Via Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K or
Relay, register online at the event website.
Website
www.vianet.org
Half
Marathon Course Map - Start
View Larger Map
Half
Marathon Course Map - Finish
View Larger Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in the half marathon at Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley Health
Network Marathon for Via?
Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Lehigh Valley Health
Network Marathon for Via
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