HalfRuns
Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon

Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon

The Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon offers a scenic journey through upstate New York's natural beauty.

Race Date

Jun 7, 2026

Location

Ithaca, NY

Standout80

Quick facts

Date
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Location
Ithaca, New York
Distance
Half marathon (13.1 mi)
Course
Point to Point
Terrain
Mixed
USATF certified
Not listed
Finishers on record
6,667

Highlights

Good For

Destination WorthyPR Friendly

Atmosphere

Local CommunityWell OrganizedGreat Medal

Course

Scenic RouteWell Marked

The Experience

The Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon is a beloved upstate New York road race, now in its 10th year, drawing approximately 1,400 finishers from over 30 states. This event has cultivated a loyal following, with about 24% of participants returning each year, a testament to its well-organized course and scenic appeal.

The race typically starts in Trumansburg and winds through the charming downtown before heading towards Ithaca. Runners will experience a unique stretch through Taughannock Falls State Park, followed by the Black Diamond Rail Trail, known for its hard-packed gravel surface and steady descent. The final mile offers a fast, flat run along Cayuga Lake, culminating in a finish at Cass Park.

Participants can expect around five aid stations on the course, a tech tee for early registrants, and a finisher's medal and bottle. The post-race celebration includes to-go food from Fittnell Farms Catering, making it a rewarding experience for both seasoned runners and newcomers alike.

Race-provided description

It's been fun to offer our returners new courses and formats which have highlighted different parts of Ithaca and its surrounding communities. And, first timers, what hopefully will be another day running one of the most beautiful and finest half marathons in the Country. 2025 will be no different. Here's what we're planning: We'll again start stage from Trumansburg High School, with a Start line on South St. From South St, runners will take a left onto Main St to start a weave through downtown Trumansburg's rolling before beginning to head for Ithaca. They'll pass through the upper tip of Taughannock Falls State Park before reaching the head of the Black Diamond Rail Trail. From there it'll be a steady descent along the hard packed gravel surface to arrive back in Ithaca. Once you emerge it'll be a, hopefully, fast final mile, running north along the Cayuga Lake for a finish in Cass Park. Note: Course configuration may change. 2026 Course Format / Highlights: 2025 (and 2026) Interactive Course Map can be viewed here https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2935977?units=miles Start on South St in Trumansburg, NYFinish along the base of Cayuga Lake in Cass Park in IthacaUse of the Black Diamond Rail Trail What you'll get: Each runner will receive 5 aid stations on courseDelicious post-race food in to-go format from Fittnell Farms CateringEvent tech-tee (only guaranteed to those registering before May 1st)Event finisher's medal and bottleAll 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: 2026's running will again start on South St near Main in Trumansburg. Finish Line: The event will end at Cass Park (701Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY) Packet Pickup: Thursday & Friday 12 - 6 @ Finger Lakes Running Co (700 Cascadilla St, Ithaca - Next to Purity) Saturday from 12 - 6 @ Garrett's Brewing in Trumansburg (1 W Main St, Trumansburg) Sunday / Raceday from 5:30 - 7:15 @ Trumansburg Central School's Complex (100 Whig St, Trumansburg) Raceday Sunday, June 7, 2026 05:30 – 07:00 – Raceday Check-In at Trumansburg High School 05:30 - 06:30 - Race morning finish area parking in targeted zones of Cass Park, Ithaca (adjacent to finish) w/ shuttle buses leaving for start when full. 07:30 - Mass Start on South St (@ Truman St Intersection) 08:40 - First finisher anticipated to reach finish line in Cass Park 09:30 - Shuttle Buses begin transporting finishers back to Trumansburg High School / Start 11:30 - Last finisher anticipated to reach finish line and course closed 12:00 – Catering closed and Park Cleared of Event Staging & Last Shuttle Bus leaves Cass Park for the Start Area Parking Please see the pre-race email (going out by Wednesday June 3) and the event website.

Logistics

Race Day

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Start Time

7:30 AM

Giveaway

T-Shirt

Start Location

701 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY, 14850

Directions

Course Info

Course Type

Point to Point

Terrain

mixed

Scenery

Lake River, Park

Surface

Dirt Trail, Paved

Difficulty

Rolling Hills

Net Drop/km

0 m (Flat)

Separation

0.0%

Quality Score

Standout80
Methodology
Heritage20/20

10 years running

Size15/15

~1,334 finishers a year

Momentum5/5

growing or steady

Loyalty20/20

24% returning runners

Course & details8/15

6 timing sources · 7 photos

National draw9/10

runners from 32 states

Front-pack speed3/5

winner 1:17:02

Weather0/10

typical high 76°F

Race Day Weather

5-year historical avg

Start (Low)

58°

Afternoon (High)

76°

Warm — hydration strategy is key, start conservatively

0.2"

Precipitation

10 mph

Wind

72%

Humidity

Historical Finish Times

How 6,667 finishers actually crossed the line across 10 years.

Most recent

2025

Total finishers

6,667

Median time

2:07:09

Latest turnout

757

States

44

10%
25%
75%
90%
1:05p50 median ≈ 2:054:15

Turnout by year

20172025

'17'18'19'21'22'23'24'25
See full results

Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.

Race Photos

Frequently asked

When is the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon?

The Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon is held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.

Where does the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon take place?

It takes place in Ithaca, New York.

What distances does the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon offer?

The half marathon (13.1 miles).

Is the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon course flat and good for a PR?

The Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon is a rolling hills, point to point course.

How many people run the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon?

HalfRuns has finish records for 6,667 runners who have completed the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon.

HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.

Explore More Journeys

Can't make it to Ithaca? Discover other experiences that match your running style.

Search All Races

Nearby States