Lake Effect Half Marathon

February 15, 2025

Minoa

Trail

Distances

Starting Time

9:30 AM

Fees

$50+

Perfect For

Ready to sign up?

100-500

Challenging

High: 35°

/ Low: 19°

Sponsored and organized by the locally-based Lake Effect Run Club — named for the weather phenomenon known as lake effect snow, which is quite common here in the winter as the wind blowing in from Lake Ontario creates its own weather across the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse areas — the race features an out-and-back course that the organizers say is very flat, and “has the potential to be a PR course” for runners looking to set personal record times.

The half marathon race starts and finishes at the Salt Museum, which is located on Lake Drive along the northern shore of Onondaga Lake and tells the story of the history of the salt industry here in New York state (and without which the city of Syracuse might never have been founded).

From there, runners head out onto the East Shore Recreational Trail, which stretches all the way around the lake, toward Willow Bay and then to the Wegman’s Dog Park. Once runners reach the turnaround point, they head back toward the museum and then continue on to the Griffin Visitors Center, completing the first of two legs for the race.

Once they reach the visitor center, they then start the second out-and-back leg of the race, running the course again all the way back to the museum for the race finish.

Lake Effect Half Marathon Results

Overview

Runners get the chance to trek along the shoreline of Onondaga Lake near Syracuse and run through the park known affectionately to those in the region as “the Central Park of central New York” at the Lake Effect Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon & Moose Mile Kids’ Fun Run, which unfolds along the trails and park roads of Onondaga Lake Park, starting and finishing in the small village of Liverpool along the lake. Sponsored and organized by the locally-based Lake Effect Run Club — named for the weather phenomenon known as lake effect snow, which is quite common here in the winter as the wind blowing in from Lake Ontario creates its own weather across the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse areas — the race features an out-and-back course that the organizers say is very flat, and “has the potential to be a PR course” for runners looking to set personal record times.

Course Description

Once they reach the visitor center, they then start the second out-and-back leg of the race, running the course again all the way back to the museum for the race finish.

Past Results

Lake Effect Half Marathon Results