Gorges Ithaca Half

Presented by Cayuga Health

With support from Island Health & Fitness

Gorges Ithaca Half

The Gorges Ithaca Half is one of the most scenic half marathons in the country. It offers a point to point course from the quintessential small town of Trumansburg, passing gorges and cascades with a net descent elevation course profile, finishes in one of the most rad small towns in America. It’s a great excuse to make a long weekend in Ithaca running a Half PR or first finish.

A thanks to and staging support from our friends at Island Health & Fitness

Presented By

Date

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Location

Start: Main St (N of Truman, Trumansburg)

Finish: Island Health and Fitness / Cayuga Med, Ithaca

Registration

Open on RunSignUp

No Raceday Registration

Whatchya Get?

Entrants will receive an event T (new design for 2024), Specialized Purist custom sport bottle, finisher’s medal from Ragged Cuts in CT, post-race food from Fittnell Farms, bus to the start (for those who select it with registration), race.

Start Time

Combined / Mass Start: 07:30

Cost Tiers

11.1.23 - 12.31.23: $95 (+RSU Fees)

1.1.24 - 3.31.24: $115 (+RSU Fees)

4.1.24 - 6.15.24: $125 (+RSU Fees)

No Raceday Registration

Details & Timeline

Staging Area / Finish Lines:

Starting Line: 2024's race will start on Main Street (Rt. 96) in Trumansburg, circle through the eastern neighborhoods, touch upper Taughannock Falls State Park, before merging with the Black Diamond Rail Trail descent back into Ithaca.

Finish Line: The event will finish adjacent to the Cayuga Lake Inlet in front of Island Health and Fitness / Cayuga Medical Sports Medicine.

Packet Pickup:

*It's okay for friends / family to pickup your BIB/shirt for you.

  • Thursday, June 20th - Friday, June 21st – 12:00 to 6:00

  • Saturday, June 22nd - 10:30 - 4:30

  • Sunday, June 22nd - 05:30 - 07:00

    • Trumansburg High School (outside under RNR Tent) (Permits Pending)

Raceday Timeline:

Sunday, June 23, 2024

  • 05:30 – 07:00 – Raceday Check-In at Trumansburg High School

  • 05:30 - 06:30 - Race morning finish area parking in targeted zones of Cass Park, Ithaca (adjacent to finish) w/ shuttle buses leaving for start when full.

  • 07:30 - Mass Start on Main St (North of Truman St Intersection)

  • 08:40 - First finisher anticipated to reach finish line at Island Health / CSM

  • 09:30 - Shuttle Buses begin transporting finishers back to Trumansburg High School / Start

  • 11:30 - Last finisher anticipated to reach finish line and course closed

  • 12:00 – Catering closed and Park Cleared of Event Staging

  • 12:15 - Last shuttle bus leaves for Start Parking return

Parking

  • Stay tuned for updates / maps for required / targeted parking areas for Start and Finish areas. In the meantime, see interactional map here.

Maps & Instructions

Start Area: Trumansburg

The Start line, if approved, will be on Main St / Rt. 96 in Trumansburg just north of the intersection with Truman St. Parking will be using Trumansburg HS and MS lots. Shuttles will transport runners back to start-area post-race for entrants preferring to park at the start.

Finish Area - Ithaca

We’re thankful to again and further partner with Cayuga Health Sports Medicine and Island Health Fitness in using the area around their building for the finish line staging area. The address is 310 Taughannock Boulevard. Note that NO RUNNER parking will be permitted at that address. Please see the map below, as well as interactional course map on Plotaroute for more detail on the parking areas surrounding the finish.

Taughannock Falls State Park - The Starting Area

Instructions for runners driving to / parking at the Start:

Pending permitting, we will be using Trumansburg HS and MS parking areas for Start parking. You may park here between 05:00 and 13:00 on race-day. We will have shuttle buses returning runners from the finish back to the start area parking between 09:30 and 12:30 on race day.

Please try to arrive no earlier than 1 hour before your designated wave start time.

Instructions for runners driving to / parking at the Finish:

Pending permitting, we will be using several lots surrounding Island Health / Cayuga Medical. One (possibly two) will be on “Inlet Island” next to the finish. The other three will be on the opposite side of the inlet with a short walk backwards on the course to a few lots in Cass Park. Shuttle buses will transport runners from the finish to the start for those preferring to park at the finish.

The Route

Permits Pending, we'll start stage from Trumansburg High School and start at the intersection of Main and Truman St's. Runners will set off on the opening mile descending through downtown Trumansburg before bending East and South while rolling through a few hills within Village neighborhoods to begin heading for Ithaca. They'll pass through the upper tip of Taughannock Falls State Park before reaching the head of the Black Diamond Rail Trail. From there it'll be a steady descent along the hard packed gravel surface to arrive back in Ithaca. Once you emerge it'll be just under a mile to sail through the finish in front of Island Health and Fitness / Cayuga Sports Medicine along the Cayuga Inlet.

 FAQs

  • We'll have a handful of area youth running programs and teams on course at water stops. Aid stations will be located at the following approximate mileages: 2.4, 4.2, 7.4, 9.0, 11.2. Each will have water, a sport-drink and, possibly in the later miles, fruit or something to that effect from Eddydale Farms. We encourage entrants to carry their own bottles to cut down on cup useage.

  • We'll have Portajohns at the start, finish, and alongside Aid Stations at miles 4.2, 7.4, and 9.0.

  • Walkers are welcome. We do have a 4 hour cutoff though so you gotta walk fast!

  • You are permitted to park at the start and get a shuttle back from the finish. Or park near the finish and take a shuttle to the start. You may also get dropped off and picked up.

  • We have a NO REFUND policy. If notice is provided on or before May 15th, the entry can be rolled over into 2024. No transfers to other runners. NO REFUNDS or ROLLOVERS for any reason if notified after May 15th so please don’t ask.

  • Ron Heerkens Jr and Michael Lesher capture beautiful event photography and photos. They'll focus on scenic spots on the course and capture great shots. You won't all make them in one, but if you do, chances are it'll be one worth purchasing and posting. They'll be available roughly a week after raceday and you'll be able to find them on their galleries page here.

    We'll also possibly have a third amazing photographer, Wendy Houseworth of Manifesto Design capturing your finish. We'll send a link if she's we're able to dial it in.

  • Finish times / results will be live by the afternoon of raceday at Leone Timing here.

  • We'll again look to accomodate the checking of gear / an apparel piece at the start. Please try to reserve only if weather dictates needing more layers. Those wishing to check something must bring their own clear-plastic (i.e. gallon-sized ziploc) bag with their name sharpied to the outside. We'll have bins alphabetically divided for you to use per your last-name. They'll be returned to the finish line area. Bags must be collected by 11:30 and those left behind WILL NOT be returned.

  • Yes, runners can download the RaceJoy tracking app, receiving updates on their phone, and allowing others to track and receive updates on their progress. http://www.racejoy.net/download

From Ithaca to Dryden to Lansing Cross Country, SOAR Youth Running, and a hundred others needed to pull this off….

A YUGE Thanks to all our awesome volunteers!!!