Race Day Info Marathon with Scenic Train Ride (8:00 am Start)

Welcome to the 8:00 starting time Marathon at the Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival (with Scenic Train Ride).

Race-Day Information Sheet (please read)

**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.

Directions for train riders: The train leaves and the race finishes in the Carbon County Municipal Parking Lot next to the Jim Thorpe Train Station at 6:30 am. If you have pre-paid for premium parking at the train station enter “Jim Thorpe Municipal Parking” or “12 Lehigh Ave, Jim Thorpe” into your GPS. If you would like to pay for premium parking, follow THIS LINK. 

Parking for train riders: Parking is very limited in Jim Thorpe and we strongly encourage carpooling. IF you purchased pre-paid parking, THE LOT WILL OPEN AT 5:30 am. If you have not pre-paid for parking, you will park in our free shuttle lot at the Jim Thorpe High School (1 Olympian Way, Jim Thorpe PA)The last shuttle leaves at 6:15 am.

Train Ride: The train leaves at 6:30 AM. 
Water and bathrooms will be available in all train cars.

IF YOU ARE NOT TAKING THE TRAIN!
You do NOT have to take the train to the start. If you do not, you must get yourself to the starting line. (If you're not taking the train, please email us so we know we have extra tickets). 

If you drive yourself (no train) 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 8:00. GPS LINK TO PARK AND RIDE 

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 JT High School lot (for train riders) and to the 940 Park and Ride (for people who drove themselves to the start). 

Start: There is a short walk from the train drop-off to the start of the marathon. Please line up anywhere behind the sign that displays your expected finishing time.

Pacers: Pacers will be available for the following times: 3:45, 4:00, 4:30, 6:30, and 7:00. All pacers are starting in the 8:00 am wave. 

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.

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.

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. 

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:  Spectators will not be allowed off the train. Those who do not take the train can drive to the Rockport Road trailhead in Lehigh Township and watch runners pass at roughly mile 12. They can also watch runners pass through the 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!
Muggles' Mug: (79 Broadway) 10% off all purchases. 
Broadway Grille and Pub: (24 Broadway) 10% off regular food items, $2 Miller Light and lager drafts
Molly Maguire's Pub: (5 Hazard Square)

(ROUGH) SUNDAY TIMELINE FOR THE FULL MARATHON and 7-MILER
*5:30 AM: The JT Municipal Parking Lot next to train station opens. Porta-potties will be available AT THE FAR END of the parking lot near the finish line (about a six minute walk from the train station). We ask that all runners and spectators board the train by 6:30.
*6:30 AM: The train leaves the Jim Thorpe Train Station and travels to White Haven. Restrooms will be available in every train car!
*7:10 AM: The train makes a brief stop in Old Penn Haven. 7-Miler participants will be given the option to get off the train at this point and start their run after our timer sets up the starting area.
*7:45 AM: The train arrives at the White Haven Library. Runners ONLY will disembark and walk a block to the starting line. Spectators will be asked to remain on the train. Portable toilets will be available in the library parking lot. 
*8:00 to 8:10 AM: Marathon runners will be asked to start in spaced waves. The fastest runners will be asked to start first. The race is chip-timed, so your time will not start until you cross the starting mat. 
*9:25-9:35 AM: 7-mile runners will disembark in Old Penn Haven and begin the 7-mile race. 
*9:40 AM: The train will take spectators to the finish line at the Jim Thorpe Municipal Parking Lot.