St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay
November 10, 2024
Allentown / Bethlehem
Trail-Road
1,000-10,000
Fast & Flat
Park Run
High: 56°
/ Low: 36°
Overview
Runners looking for the chance to set personal record times will have that opportunity at St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest and the D&L Heritage Half Marathon, presented by St. Luke’s. The half marathon course starts in historic Downtown Bethlehem and passes one of the world’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and enters the D&L Trail at mile 0.6 before continuing east along the Lehigh River to the finish in Easton. It’s a net downhill course with beautiful natural views. The half marathon offers a competitive walk division. The start is just an hour from Philly and only 1.5 hours from NYC. The Boston-qualifier marathon course starts in downtown Allentown, winding its way through scenic roads and parks before hitting the D&L Trail at mile 9.5 and heading to Easton. A full race expo with vendors and presentations is Saturday, November 9 in downtown Allentown.
- Half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. in Bethlehem, Pa.
- Marathon and marathon relay start at 8 a.m. in Allentown, Pa.
Course Description
The marathon course will start in downtown Allentown near 8th and Hamilton Streets. It will turn south onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive before heading into the Little Lehigh Parkway.
You’ll run about three miles in the Parkway before heading back to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and beginning your trek eastward.
You’ll hit the D&L Trail in Canal Park at about mile 9.5, reach Bethlehem’s Sand Island at about mile 13.5, which is where the Half Marathon races head after leaving downtown Bethlehem. Both races follow the D&L Trail all the way into Easton, where you’ll finish triumphantly near Scott Park along the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers.
For the Relay Marathon, there are five exchange points.
For the Half Marathon Walk, there’s a set a walking time limit of 4.5 hours to minimize congestion on the trail with the marathoners coming from Allentown. The race includes a 4.5-hour pacer, and if you need a bit more time, the course will remain open for the marathoners.
