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

1 Hazard Square, Jim Thorpe PA

Saturday, April 26th, 2025

🏞️ 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.

🏅 Full Marathon

The full marathon is an ABSOLUTE DREAM for runners a 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 With Scenic Train Rides

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).

🙌 Volunteering 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!
If you're part of an organization and would like more information on the volunteer donation, please email us at info@:runegades.com

🍔 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 10am to 2pm in front of the Jim Thorpe Train Station.

🆘 Emergency Services

Cell phones will not work on the trail. For the marathon, 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.

🚗 Parking Information

Premium Parking: in the Jim Thorpe Train Station Lot next to the finish line. MUST be pre-purchased from the Carbon County Parking Website BY CLICKING HERE.
Free Off-site Parking: available at the Jim Thorpe Area High School with shuttle service to the start/finish area.

🎁 Swag and Fun

Finishers: Unique 2025 JTARF finisher's medal (different for each event).
Photographs: FREE downloadable professional photographs with bib-tags.
Customized Bib: available if registered by 4/5.

🏞️ Running Surface

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 maintain a steady downgrade of 0.5-1% nearly the entire length of the marathon.