Lehigh Valley Via Marathon?

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I'm also interest in this marathon ... looking to use it as a BQ for next years race as its projected to be prior to Boston's registration opening.

Negativespligter, what are you looking to run?

I bq'ed there but it is kind of boring. Flat race though. I didn't find the trails to slow me down although I train on that kind of trail. Packed dirt and gravel. Nice, low key race. Doesn't have the waiting around of big races which I find to be a big positive.

[quote]USAF runner wrote:

I'm also interest in this marathon ... looking to use it as a BQ for next years race as its projected to be prior to Boston's registration opening.

Negativespligter, what are you looking to run?[/quote

I only need a 3:29 to safely qualify for Boston but have run 2:56 there. You?

I need 3:05 and have never run a marathon but have run a 1:17 half. I'd like to get 5-10 mins under the standard so I can register early. Boston 2014 is going to be a hell of a race and after spectating for this years, I'd like to actually race next years.

I'm also interested in this race. My brother already registered. Any info would be welcomed. I am aiming for sub 2:50 in case anyone here with similar goal is planning on running.

I ran the race last year as my first marathon, and I thought it was excellent. It is very spectator-friendly, as there is a marathon relay as well. My support crew was able to follow the instructions to the exchange zones to see me at all points on the course.

Some of the race is on the road, but much of it takes place on a hard-dirt packed trail. I was shooting for a BQ, but went 12 minutes faster than anticipated due to the conditions. Most of it is shaded and there are plenty of water stations where gatorade, water, and some type of gels are available.

Start and finish are different locations, so it is much better to have people with you. I believe they have a shuttle to bring you from the finish to the starting line, but it was just as easy to get dropped off at the start.

I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a fast time. I ran Boston this past year, so the intensity is obviously much different. There are large segments (2+ miles) where you will only see other runners, no spectators. I had some family members jump in at different intervals to help pace me as well.

It's a great race - I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Just ran this yesterday. Great course, though about 200m too long. About 200ft drop on course, most of it in the first two miles and then flat the rest of the way.

At least half of the course is on remote cinder canal and river paths. These vary between 8 foot cinder paths and double single track dirt paths. This makes it very scenic. I would note however that if you're in the depths of the paincave, you'll find yourself very alone during those last 11 solitary miles. That and if you bonk, you've got a few miles to crawl to an exit point. Regardless, it sure beats 26 miles on city streets any day and I certainly would race here again.

Why do you say "too long"?

I thought the dirt and especially the single track made it a bit slow, maybe 5 mins. But a great course for a last minute BQ.

Bumping this thread. Looking to run a last minute Boston qualifier am looking at both the Lehigh Valley Via Marathon and the Erie Marathon. Can anyone offer any more insight on these? From what I've read Erie sounds like it would be cooler as it is by the water. The single track that I've read about in the Lehigh marathon also concerns me - sounds like it may be slow.

Thanks!

Fairly easy to cut the course so should be able to get the time you want as they don't utilize enough Rossi mats nor does the RD have an interest in DQing any questionable results.

The obvious answer is that Lehigh is a very fast course because you can drive your car on the adjacent interstate instead of running it and the RD will not DQ your result.

I ran it last year and I don't think the cinder slows you down that much. It's all well maintained and unless there is heavy, heavy rain it holds up well. It rained in the days prior last year and the course was still in good shape. The cinders also don't put as much of a beating on your legs.

The race starts early, and the tree cover and location next to the canal/river keep the temp way down. It's also a net down hill and point to point run so fast times are doable. Negatives are the relatively small crop of sub 3:00 runners, so the race can get lonely if you are running fast. Top guys will also run into slow/walking half marathoners that start at the same time and run the second half of the course. There is also a marathon relay simultaneously so don't get caught up in that either

If you can find another race, please do so. Barb McKeever does not care about runners.

Not Barb's Race wrote:

If you can find another race, please do so. Barb McKeever does not care about runners.

She cares more about runners than she cares about wasting time to give a meaningless DQ to a preening douchebag who will never run a marathon again. She also cares about heeding her boss, Gerry Yasso, who instructed her not to waste time on Rossi.

Run it if you want to. Don't let Mike Rossi determine what race you do.

real cheaters go to Steamtown