Race Day Info MARATHON with SHUTTLE BUS 7:15 start

Welcome to the 7:15 starting time Marathon at the Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival (with return shuttle bus).
Race-Day Information Sheet (please read)

**T-SHIRTS DID NOT ARRIVE IN TIME FOR US TO SHIP THEM WITH BIBS. SHIRTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR RUNNERS TO PICK UP AT THE FINISH LINE**

**YOUR GPS DEVICE WILL NOT BE ACCURATE ON THE TRAIL! The course snakes through the Lehigh Gorge. We have found that NO GPS device is accurate. It will make you think the course is long. It is not. It has been measured by hand (or foot, really) by a professional course master and certified by the USATF as a Boston Qualifier.

The starting line will open at 7:15 am. The race is chip timed, so you may start any time between 7:15 and 8:00. 

Driving Yourself: Park at the Route 940 Park and Ride in White Haven PA and take a free 4-minute shuttle to the start. The shuttle will run from 6:30 to 7:50. GPS LINK TO PARK AND RIDE 
If that lot fills up, overflow parking will be available 3/10ths of a mile back toward White Haven on Route 940 in a gravel overflow lot for Hickory Run State Park. The shuttle bus will stop there as well. This lot is on the same side of Rte. 940 as the primary lot. It is between Valley Gorge Mobile Home Park and Hickory Run State Park. See the map below! 

Getting Dropped Off: Get dropped off at the White Haven Library (121 Towanda Street, White Haven, PA) and walk to the starting line. GPS LINK TO WHITE HAVEN LIBRARY

Post-Race Shuttles: Post-race shuttles will be available back to the 940 Park and Ride. They will be located in Hazard Square (across from the train station) and will begin at 11:30 am. 

Pacers: We currently have marathon pacers for every 15 minutes from 3:30 to 6:00. Those looking to run faster times have begun to coordinate on our JTARF Facebook page HERE. Pacers will begin at 8:00 am. (Those of you NOT taking the train can start anytime between 7:15 am and 8:00 am, so you can join the pace groups at 8:00 if you'd like).

RESTROOMS WILL BE LIMITED: Because it is a remote course, restroom access is available ONLY at the start and at miles 4, 12, and 24. 

DROP-OUT AREA at mile 11.75: Your easiest opportunity to drop-out is at the Rockport Road Trailhead. Restrooms and a water stop will be located next to a parking area. There is no easy trail access between miles 11.75 and 24.

REMOTE AREA! Cell phones will not work on the trail: Bikers will be monitoring miles 12-26. Flag them down if you have an issue and need to be picked up. They will alert our ATV team or the closest stationed EMS team.

Hydration/Fuel: We will have stations (now with cups instead of bottles) at miles 2, 4, 6.5, 9, 11.75, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. Every station will have a first aid kit for basic needs and water. UCAN hydrate will be at every other station starting at mile 4. UCAN gel will be available at miles 6.5 and 16. 

Trail Surface: The trail surface is 95% hard-pack, 5% macadam. Most runners prefer road shoes. Some runners choose to wear gaiters to prevent any gravel from entering their shoes. 

DO NOT DISCARD ANYTHING ON THE TRAIL: Trash cans will be available roughly 75 yards past every water station Please ensure that your trash makes it into one of the trash cans!

Bag Drop: If you take the train, place a small bag marked with your name in the front row of the train car. It will be taken back to the finish area. If you do not take the train, place a small bag with your name near the starting line. We ask that you shed any clothing when you run past the starting line again (after the short out-and-back that starts the race). Those items will be collected and brought back to the finish area as well. These drops are a courtesy for our runners and we cannot guarantee the safety of any items. We strongly advise against leaving anything of value in your bag. 

Spectating Spots:
Mile 11.75: Rockport Road trailhead in Lehigh Township
Mile 24: Glen Onoko parking area at Lehigh Gorge State Park in Jim Thorpe (mile 24) and at the start/finish area.

Public on Trail: The marathon takes place on the public Lehigh Gorge trail. Please be respectful of any and all bikers, hikers, dog-walkers, etc.

Post-Race Whistle Stop: Three establishments in downtown JT have signed on as official post-race whistle stops! They'll be open as soon as you finish your race and two are offering specials for runners with medals or bibs!
Mugglets' Mug: (79 Broadway) 10% off all purchases. 
Broadway Grille and Pub: (24 Broadway) 20% off all regular food items
Ouros: (70 Broadway)

Other Questions? Please see our list of FAQs

OVERFLOW PARKING MAP