Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon

Entrants will bus out to a start at the Taughannock Falls State Park, running the full length of the beautiful Black Diamond Rail Trail, a hard-packed gravel path descending 700’ over 8 miles back to Ithaca with micro-gorges and waterfalls bursting along the way. After the Black Diamond Trail descent, runners will cross the Inlet and run on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail to Stewart Park at the base of Cayuga Lake. From there it will be a fast final mile through the Fall Creek Neighborhood to a finish at DeWitt Park, just shy of the Ithaca Commons.

Note: Course configuration may change influenced by factors including Pandemics, Bus Driver Shortages, and Permitting. We're hopeful we'll be able to again use the configuration above, but it's also possible the course configuration will change, even late in the game. 

2023 Course Format / Highlights:

• 2023 Interactive Course Map can be viewed here
  • https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1742181?units=miles
• Start above Taughanock Falls in Trumansburg, NY
• Finish next to DeWitt Park on Cayuga St
• Use of the Black Diamond Rail Trail and Cayuga Waterfront Trail
• Retains signature finish through Fall Creek to the finish just shy of the Ithaca Commons
• Note: this format is contingent on us getting enough buses and per a current national bus driver shortage, as well as per COVID as we near June, 2023. If the need arises per bus drivers or COVID considerations, we'll consider a downtown wave-start course as we ran in 2021.

What you'll get:

• Each runner will receive 5 aid stations on course
• Delicious post-race food in to-go format from Fittnell Farms Catering
• Event tech-tee (only guaranteed to those registering before May 1st)
• Event finisher's medal
• All else that goes into the event including your help in allowing us to donate back to multiple entities each year including high school teams, parks, and fire marshals

Staging Area / Finish Lines:

Starting Line: 2023's race will start on the Black Diamond Trail at the intersection with Gorge Rd in Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg, NY.

Finish Line: The event will end at DeWitt Park, 102 E Court St, Ithaca, NY

Packet Pickup:

• Finger Lakes Running Company (700 Cascadilla St, Suite 101 – next to Purity Ice Cream)
  • Those local’ish to Ithaca (and ANY ENTRANT NOT taking the buses to the Start) MUST choose between two days to pickup BIBS ahead of the race at the Finger Lakes Running Company. Those living outside of Ithaca are also welcome to (but NOT required to) check-in in one of these windows:
    
    • Thursday, June 15 – 12:00 to 7:00
    • Friday, June 16 – 11:00 to 6:00
• DeWitt Park (102 E Court St)
  
  • For those outside of Ithaca, you can check-in race morning at DeWitt Park. 
  • Saturday, June 17th – 05:30 – 6:30 (those taking the Bus to the Start and who have not picked up BIBS Thursday / Friday ONLY)

Raceday

Saturday, June 17, 2023

• Wave Assignments (Based on Projected Finish Time)

  Wave 1: Runners projected to 130 minutes or slower
  Wave 2: Runners projected to run 129 minutes or faster
  05:30 – 06:30 – Check-In begins for those who live outside of the Ithaca area at DeWitt
  *We strongly encourage all who need to use the PortaJohns to do so if time permits before boarding buses
  06:00 – Wave 1 buses to Start arrive and are able to be boarded
  06:15 – Wave 1 buses leave Buffalo St adjacent to DeWitt Park
  06:15 - Wave 1 Drop-Off entrants able to be dropped at Taughannock
  06:35 – Wave 1 Buses arrive at Taughannock
  07:00 - Start of Wave 1
  07:00 – Buses re-arrive at DeWitt and board Wave 2
  7:15 - Wave 2 buses leave Buffalo St adjacent to DeWitt Park
  7:15 - Wave 2 Drop-Off entrants able to be dropped at Taughannock
  7:35 - Wave 2 buses arrive at Taughannock
  08:00 - Start of Wave 2
  09:10 - First finisher anticipated to reach finish line at DeWitt Park and Catering begins
  11:00 - Last finisher anticipated to reach finish line and course closed
  12:00 – Catering closed and Park Cleared of Event Staging

Parking

• Parking Garage with entrance on Seneca Street on the north intersection corner of Tioga (closest to Finish Line)
• Parking Garage on Green Street Under Construction
• Parking Garage on Cayuga Street (closest to Start Line)