St. Luke's Via Marathon Race Info

Date: 9/8/19

Location: Allentown to Easton, PA

Start Time: 7:10am

Avg Temps (f): 77/52

Time Limit: 6 hours (1pm)

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

New course for 2019 because of train disrupting course in previous years
Two hairpin turns around miles 3.5 and 12.75, where you’ll have to slow down to make the turn. It gets hard to change speed for those kind of turns as you get later in the race.
Course is mainly run on packed gravel rather than asphalt. Roots and other tripping hazards are spray painted, but be aware of footing
Course is mainly flat with a couple of small pop-ups, and be ready for sore quads with a net downhill course
Crowd support is minimal, so be ready to have quiet miles
With the relay going on at the same time, don’t get swept up in too fast of a pace of a runner running a shorter leg
Previous years have seen hot, humid weather
The main part of the course’s downhill is in the beginning miles, so don’t go out too fast when there’s the most downhill to help propel you faster than normal
Most race reports mention struggling with the humidity, the packed dirt terrain, the lack of crowds and runners near the last several miles, and expecting to PR since it’s a net downhill course and a popular BQ