General Information
Lake Placid Marathon
Lake Placid Marathon Relay
Lake Placid Half Marathon
*Runners please note that although some portions of the course are closed to vehicle traffic, other portions are open to local vehicle traffic. Runners are advised to stay left in each direction along River Rd./Riverside Dr. section of the course.
*USA Track and Field rules prohibit the wearing of headphones or use of electronic devices during the race. Runners failing to adhere to this policy are subject to disqualification. For safety reasons, please do not wear headphones or use a personal entertainment device during the race.
*All races begin simultaneously at 8 a.m. on Main St. adjacent to the Olympic Speedskating Oval and the Mobil station. Runners are encouraged to seed themselves according to expected pace at the start. The race course will officially close at 2 p.m. and any remaining runners will be brought in off the course. Runners who cannot complete the marathon in the six hour race period should downgrade to the half marathon. There is no early bird start available for any of the races.
*Race numbers must be pinned to the front of the shirt or shorts and visible at all times. Triathlon race belts are also acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Course
Entry
General
Merchandise
Rules
Spectator Information
Timing
Travel
Is the Lake Placid Marathon a Boston Qualifier?- No. The race is USATF sanctioned, but the course is not certified.
What are the Marathon Team Relay distances?- The marathon relay follows the same course as the marathon. Relay distances are (in order): 4.5 miles, 6.6 miles, 4.0 miles and 11.1 miles with all relay exchanges taking place at the Horseshow Grounds.
How hilly is the course?- The Olympic village of Lake Placid is in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. The two loop out and back course is best described as moderate rolling, some flat, with a few steep hills. The most significant hills are near the ski jumps on Route 73 (once for the half marathon and twice for the full marathon) and leading up to the finish behind the Lake Placid High School (once for the half marathon and once for the full marathon). Each of these hills is approximately 3/10 of a mile long. Chuck Engles winning time of 2:34:39 from 2006 proves the course is reasonable and fair.
What is the course surface?- Most of the course is asphalt road. The marathon contains approximately 0.8 miles of gravel and dirt inside the Horseshow Grounds facility during the second loop. The course will be well marked. It is a very scenic course that takes you along downtowns Mirror Lake and it provides incredible views of Whiteface Mountain and the Olympic Ski Jumps. See the course maps and elevation chart HERE>> Lake Placid is a picturesque place. No spray painting on roads is allowed. Spectators, friends, and family- please make only signs of support and remove them at the end of the day.
What kind of course support is provided?- The marathon features 29 aid station opportunities in 26.2 miles. The half marathon features 15 aid station opportunities in 13.1 miles. The first four aid stations are water only. The remainder of the aid stations are stocked with water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, energy bars, energy gel, fruit, pretzels, cookies, and other energy foods. Food and drink are available at the Olympic Oval finish area.
What are the course records?- Marathon:
Male- Chuck Engle 2:34:39 (2006)
Female- Leah Pranis 3:19:30 (2008)
Marathon Relay:
Chesterites (mixed open) 2:55:02 (2007)
Marathon Hand Crank Wheelchair
Raymond Brown 2:09:00 (2008)
Half Marathon:
Male- Jason Clark 1:15:09 (2006)
Female- Annette Acuff 1:24:18 (2007)
Can I enter the race on race day?- No. Any remaining race entries will be available at the packet pick-up on Saturday.
I registered for the team relay. When and how do I submit the names of my team members?- All team members must be submitted by email to info@lakeplacidmarathon.com or in writing to Lake Placid Marathon, 1936 Saranac Ave., Suite 2-257, Lake Placid, NY 12946 by June 1. Please note that each team member must complete and sign a registration/waiver form at packet pick-up if he/she has not signed-up online.
What if I dont know all of my relay team members yet or I need to make a change to the team roster?- If you do not know all of your relay team participants yet or you need to make a change, send or email us your roster by June 1, 2008. Email to info@lakeplacidmarathon.com or send completed paper registrations for each participant to Lake Placid Marathon, 1936 Saranac Ave., Suite 2-257, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Please note that each team member must complete and sign a registration/waiver form at packet pick-up if he/she has not signed-up online. Please see special marathon team relay information HERE>>
What if I signed up for the Half Marathon and I now want to run the Full Marathon?- Simply send a written request with your registration information with a check for $20.00 US funds to: Lake Placid Marathon and Relay, 1936 Saranac Ave., Suite 2-257, Lake Placid, NY 12946. You will be sent a change of race confirmation via email.
What if I signed up for the Marathon and I want to switch to the Half Marathon?- Simply email your request to info@lakeplacidmarathon.com or send a written request to: Lake Placid Marathon and Relay, 1936 Saranac Ave., Suite2-257, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Sorry, no refunds on the difference. You will be sent a change of race confirmation via email.
When can I pick up my race packet?- Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Race packet pick-up will take place in our host hotel, the Golden Arrow Resort, located on Main St. in the village of Lake Placid. Need directions? Visit www.golden-arrow.com
Can I pick up my race packet on race day?- Yes. We will also have race day pick-up on Sunday, June 15 at the registration tent on the Olympic Speedskating Oval from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
What does my race packet contain?- Most importantly, it contains your race number and ChampionChip timing chip. Race numbers must be attached to the front of the clothing on race day so course officials can determine in which of the three races the athlete is participating. Safety pins for attachment are provided in the packet. The packet also contains an assortment of race goodies.
What is the typical weather for a race day in June?- Lake Placid is in the Adirondack Mountains. Be prepared for a wide variety of weather patterns. The 2005 event featured temperatures in the high 70s with humidity while the 2006 event featured temperatures in the low 40s with rain.
Is medical support available?- A first aid tent will be present in the finish area.
Can I leave my race bag with warm-up clothes at the start/finish area?- A courtesy tent in the Olympic Speedskating Oval will be available for bag drop-off. Do not leave valuables in your bag! The Lake Placid Marathon and Relay is not responsible for the security of any bags.
Do finishers receive medals?- Marathon finishers receive a three-color medal. Half marathon finishers receive a bronze-colored medal. All relay participants receive a medal.
What are the place prizes, what are the categories, and how deep do they go?- Categories in the marathon and half marathon are ten-year age groups, awards three deep in each category. Award winners receive an engraved wood plaque. There are six marathon relay categories (male open, male masters, female open, female masters, mixed open, mixed masters) with awards three deep in each category. Each team member receives an engraved plaque.
What about race photography?- Action Sports International will serve as the official race photographers. Visit their site for information: www.asiphoto.com.
Are shuttle buses available for athletes and spectators?- Free shuttle buses are provided from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Shuttle buses run from behind the Olympic Oval start/finish area (up on Cummins Rd. between the Olympic Arena and the Lake Placid High School) to the Lake Placid Horseshow Grounds. Buses will travel along Old Military Rd. to avoid the race course. Runners can park at the Horseshow Grounds to ride the bus into the race start in the morning. Relay runners can ride the buses back to the Olympic Speedskating Oval finish area once their relay leg is completed.
What do I need to know about my ChampionChip timing chip?- The chip must be attached to the laces on one shoe. A handout with diagram and attachment instructions will be included in the runner packet. Failure to attach the chip properly can negate a runners time. Relay teams will be provided with a neoprene ankle band that is used to pass the chip from runner to runner. The neoprene band attaches with Velcro and must be worn on the ankle by each runner. Failure to place the band on the ankle of each runner will result in team disqualification. All runners must remove the chip from the shoe directly after the finish and deposit the chip in the collection bucket. Runners who do not return their chips will be charged $25.
Where should I park?- Parking is limited in the immediate vicinity of the race start/finish. Parking is available on Cummins Rd. behind the Olympic Center at the Shipman Youth Center. Ample parking is also available at the Lake Placid Horseshow Grounds where runners can take the shuttle bus to the race start.