The Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

Join us in this gorgeous mountain town for one of the most beautiful runs in the Northeast! The full marathon is a point-to-point BOSTON QUALIFIER with a steady 0.5-1% downgrade nearly the entire way!! It is one of the fastest Boston Qualifiers on the East Coast!

🗓️ Race Schedule

• Saturday: Half Marathon @ 8 am
• Sunday: 7-miler (train leaves @ 6:30 am)
• Sunday: Full Marathon with two starting times @ 7:15 am & 8:00 am. (train leaves @ 6:30 am and riders start at 8:00 am)

🏅 Half Marathon Details

The 2025 half marathon will be run on the same gorgeous, out-and-back course as 2024. Participants will start in the parking lot at the Jim Thorpe Train Station and run the FLAT, FAST rail-trail into Lehigh Gorge State Park. The route runs parallel to and even crosses over the Lehigh River and into breathtaking scenery of Lehigh Gorge.

🌟 Boston Qualifying Full Marathon

The full marathon is an ABSOLUTE DREAM for runners and spectators alike, a POINT-TO-POINT BOSTON QUALIFIER with a SLIGHT, STEADY 0.5% to 1% DOWNGRADE nearly the ENTIRE WAY. 7:15 am runners can get dropped off or park near the start and take a free shuttle bus back to their cars after the race. 8 am runners can take the scenic train from Jim Thorpe to White Haven (train leaves at 6:30 am).

🚂 7-Miler Train Ride

The final 7 miles of our gorgeous marathon course! All 7-Mile runners must take the train that leaves Jim Thorpe Station at 6:30 am. 7-Mile runners will have the option to start early (when the train first stops on the way to the marathon start) or later (after training to the marathon start and back again).

🤝 Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer at JTARF!
Volunteering at JTARF is fun and easy! All volunteers receive a JTARF volunteer T-shirt and, if you're part of a charitable organization, we will happily make a donation to that charity: $25 per volunteer on Saturday and $35 per volunteer on Sunday.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

🍔 Post-Race Whistlestop Tour

After the races on both Saturday and Sunday, join us for food and drink specials on our post-race whistlestop tour! The 2025 whistlestops include:

• The Broadway Grill and Pub: 24 Broadway
• Ouros: 70 Broadway (21+)
• Mugglets Mug: 79 Broadway

🎖️ Awards

Top 3 Overall M/F in all three events
Top 3 Overall Masters (40+) in the half and full marathons
Top 3 M/F for all events in the following age groups: 19&U, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

📋 Bib Pickup

THERE IS NO DAY-OF PACKET PICKUP! Those who cannot pick up their bibs in person MUST elect to have them mailed before the race.
All runners can pick up bibs on Friday April 26th from noon to 6 pm at Muggles' Mug Coffee Shoppe (79 Broadway, Jim Thorpe). Marathon and 7-Mile runners can pick up their bibs on Saturday April 27th from 10 am to 1 pm in front of the Jim Thorpe Train Station. A friend may pick up your bib with a copy of your ID.

🏞️ Course Fuel

We are pleased to announce that UCAN will be our exclusive sponsor for on-course hydration and fuel. For more information and an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on UCAN's no-sugar, superstarch products, CLICK HERE.

📍 Parking Information

Half Marathon, 7-Mile, and Marathon with Train Runners have two options for parking:

• Premium Parking: at the Jim Thorpe Train Station Lot next to the finish line.
• Free Off-Site Parking: will be available at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.

🔔 Time Limits

Half Marathon: 3 hours, 30 minutes (finish by 11:30 am)
Marathon: 6 hours, 30 minutes (if you start at 8 am, finish by 2:30 pm)

🌳 Course Details

The Full Marathon will take you down the D&L and Lehigh Gorge rail trails. These wide, smooth trails are hard-packed earth and gravel and, because they are former railroad lines, maintain a steady downgrade of 0.5-1% nearly the entire length of the marathon.

🔗 More Information

For more information and registration, please visit the race page: The Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival.