Race The Lake
Race The Lake Marathon offers a fast, scenic tour around Otsego Lake.
Race Date
Jun 6, 2026
Location
Cooperstown, NY
Quick facts
- Date
- Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Location
- Cooperstown, New York
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 26.2M, 10K, 5K run
- Course
- Point to Point
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 1,180
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
Race The Lake Marathon, first run in 2017 and now in its 8th year, winds its way around the picturesque Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York. This USATF-certified course is designed for speed, boasting a net drop and a significant separation between start and finish points, making it a prime location for runners seeking a personal best.
The course offers a scenic, paved journey, with typical race-day temperatures in the comfortable 54–72°F range. While the median field size has been around 115 finishers, recent editions have seen growth, with approximately 204 participants. This growing event draws runners from across the region, eager to tackle its fast profile and beautiful lakeside setting.
Race-provided description
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Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Point to Point
Terrain
road
Scenery
Lake River
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
+1.42 m
Separation
44.8%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
NY17015JG · Race the Lake Half-Marathon 2017
Net downhill course — fast finishing times are common.
Quality Score
Solid Pick598 years running
~115 finishers a year
growing or steady
9% returning runners
USATF certified · 2 timing sources · 3 photos
runners from 1 state
winner 1:17:18
typical high 72°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
54°
Afternoon (High)
72°
Warm — hydration strategy is key, start conservatively
0.2"
Precipitation
11 mph
Wind
76%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 1,180 finishers actually crossed the line across 8 years.
Most recent
2024
Total finishers
1,180
Median time
2:09:50
Latest turnout
204
States
5
Turnout by year
2014–2024
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Race The Lake?
The Race The Lake is held on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Where does the Race The Lake take place?
It takes place in Cooperstown, New York.
What distances does the Race The Lake offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 26.2M, 10K, 5K run.
Is the Race The Lake course flat and good for a PR?
The Race The Lake is a ultra-flat, point to point course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Race The Lake?
HalfRuns has finish records for 1,180 runners who have completed the Race The Lake.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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