General Information
Lake Placid Marathon
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.
*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
Spectator Information
Travel
What is the Race Start like?- VIEW the START of the 2009 Races Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlnSsJjQkBA
Why should I choose this race?- The Lake Placid Marathon & Half was recently ranked by a Runner's World Magazine survey as the #2 "Best Destination" race in the United States!! (Runner's World Magazine, January 2010 Issue, page 71) The Lake Placid Marathon & Half Marathon is a high quality premier early season race held in the charming Olympic Village of Lake Placid, New York USA home of the 1932 & 1980 Winter Games.
Is the Lake Placid Marathon a Boston Qualifier?- NO. The race is USATF sanctioned, but the course is not certified.
Are Music Headphones allowed?- YES. USA TRACK & FIELD, the governing body of running events, amended the rule prohibiting headphones to allow them in non-championship events.
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. 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 are the course records?- Marathon:
Male- Chuck Engle, Colombus, OH, 2:34:39 (2006)
Female- Leah Pranis, Hoboken, NJ 3:19:25 (2008)
Half Marathon:
Male- Kieran O'Connor, Scoita, NY 1:14:15 (2009)
Female- Ironman World Champion Heather Fuhr, San Diego, CA 1:20:50 (2005)
Marathon Relay (discontinued in 2009):
The Administration 2:36:28 (2009)
What kind of course support is provided?- The marathon features 26 aid station opportunities in 26.2 miles. The half marathon features 13 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, sports drink , energy bars, energy gel, fruit, pretzels, cookies, and other energy foods. Free Post Race Athlete Food and drink are available at the Olympic Oval finish area (athletes only).
Do I need Photo Identification at Athlete Check-In during Race Weekend?- YES. All athletes must present Photo I.D. in order to pick up his/her Race Bib, Timing Device, and Athlete Bag. Drivers License, Student I.D. or any other type of picture identification is accepted.
What happened to the Marathon Relay race?- Beginning in 2010, the Lake Placid Marathon will consist of the Full Marathon and Half Marathon for individual runners. The Marathon Team Relay has been discontinued.
Why?
After five successful years of offering a Marathon Team Relay in addition to the Marathon and Half Marathon, race organizers have decided to focus purely on the 26.2 and 13.1 individual events.
The 2009 race grew to 2,100 registered runners; 140 of which were Marathon Relay.
By discontinuing the Relay, which served an increasingly small segment of runners, the race course can be streamlined at the Horse Show Grounds along Route # 73. This adjustment will remedy the crunch of runners that took place at the Relay Transition Zone on the first loop of the race. The Relay also required an enormous amount of logistics which we are unable to sustain.
How big is this race?- The 2010 event closed at a record 2,500 runners. In addition, the event attracts thousands of spectators. We offer a big race feel with small town charm!
Once the Race is FULL is there a waiting list?- Sorry, the Lake Placid Marathon does not have waiting lists.
Are Entry/Bib Transfers or Resale allowed?- NO. Transfer or resale are not allowed. This is because 1) to ensure that the athlete who signed up online or by mail is the same athlete who competes. Any variance of this skews the Race Results (age group, gender) for ALL participants. 2) The Lake Placid Marathon and the New York State Department of Transportation requires original signature on all required waivers and documents.
Anyone caught facilitating or receiving unauthorized entry/bib transfers and/or resale of Race Entry/Bib will be immediately reported to the New York State authorities, USA Track & Field (Lake Placid Marathon & Half event sanctioning body) and be banned from all future Inspiration Sports LLC and Lake Placid Marathon & Half events.
Can I enter the race on race day?- Sorry, there is no Race Day registration.
Are race Walkers allowed to register for the marathon or half marathon?- YES. However the Lake Placid Marathon & Half is a running race and those who intend to walk the event must register as an official runner (and simply race-walk the course). All race rules apply including the six (6) hour course limit which is strictly enforced. Walkers must yield to runners while on the race course. All walkers who finish the race within the time limit get a Finisher Medal.
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 $25.00 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.
Are Entry/Bib Transfers or Resale allowed?- NO. Transfer or resale are not allowed. This is because 1) to ensure that the athlete who signed up online or by mail is the same athlete who competes. Any variance of this skews the Race Results (age group, gender) for ALL participants. 2) The Lake Placid Marathon and the New York State Department of Transportation requires original signature on all required waivers and documents.
Anyone caught facilitating or receiving unauthorized entry/bib transfers and/or resale of Race Entry/Bib will be immediately reported to the New York State authorities, USA Track & Field (Lake Placid Marathon & Half event sanctioning body) and be banned from all future Inspiration Sports LLC and Lake Placid Marathon & Half events.
When can I pick up my race packet?- Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Race packet pick-up will take place in our host hotel, the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, located on Main St. in the village of Lake Placid. Need directions? Visit http://www.golden-arrow.com
PHOTO I.D. is required.
Can I pick up my race packet on race day?- Yes. We will also have race day pick-up on Sunday, June 13 at the Check-In Tent on the Olympic Speedskating Oval from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. PHOTO I.D. is required.
What does my race packet contain?- Most importantly, it contains your race number and ChronoTrack Systems™ D-Tag™.timing chip. VIEW THIS LINK FOR INSTRUCTIONS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDTlvzVMYc8&feature=related
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 High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Mountains. Be prepared for a wide variety of weather patterns. The 2009 race saw temperarures in the low 70s and clear skies, 2008 saw temperatures in the 70s and clear skies,the 2007 event featured temperatures in the low 40s with rain, the 2006 event experienced temperatures in the high 70s with humidity. Monitor the Weather Link on our Home Page prior to the race and plan accordingly.
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 Half is not responsible for the security of any bags.
Do finishers receive medals?- YES. All Marathon and Half Marathon finishers receive a high quality Lake Placid Marathon medal. Athletes love our quality medals!
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 are three (3) deep in each category. Award winners receive an engraved wood plaque.
What about race photography?- Action Sports International (ASI) will serve as the official race photographers. Visit their site for information (www.asiphoto.com).
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 which is along the race course just outside of town.