The course takes runners along the Finger Lakes Trail and various state park trails, featuring some of the most gorges in Ithaca that give Ithaca its wordplay-filled slogan “Ithaca is gorges”. Runners will follow the state park trails, weaving their way through the park until reaching Enfield Falls Road, then turn around and retrace their steps to the finish line. Half marathoners are done at this point, while full marathoners retrace their steps again to complete 26.2 miles.
The race features age-based early starts for both the full and half marathon. In the half marathon, men under age 38 starting with the clock at 9:00 AM. Older men (and all women) start earlier based on their age, with early starts ranging from one minute to nearly 90 minutes as determined by the World Masters Athletics Age-Graded Tables. Such handicaps mean the win could come down to a 70-year-old grandparent and their grandchild — what a finish! Race organizers advise runners to arrive ready at least 15 minutes before their start time.
Organizers also caution that this race is only for the well-prepared and well-trained: expect to add one to two hours to your normal road marathon time. “Those running the full marathon must be trained for an ultra-marathon effort,” they add, wise words for those looking to run the half as well.
