Edit

Saint Luke's D and L RaceFest 2023

Sports and Recreation

October 18, 2023

From: Saint Luke's D and L RaceFest

The St. Luke's D&L RaceFest will bring four signature events to the Lehigh Valley on November 12: the St. Luke's D&L Marathon, the St. Luke's D&L Marathon Relay, the D&L Heritage Half Marathon Run presented by St. Luke's, and the D&L Heritage Half Marathon Walk presented by St. Luke's.

All races will end with a post-race party in downtown Easton! The course follows the Lehigh River for a net elevation drop with fine gravel or pavement depending on the section. Participants can expect a beautiful trail, joint-friendly terrain, and crisp autumn temperatures.

Schedule Of Events:

8am: St. Luke's D&L Marathon

Starts at 8am, Downtown Allentown.

"The Lehigh Valley's Marathon!" The marathon course will start in downtown Allentown near 7th and Hamilton Streets. It will turn south onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive before heading into the Little Lehigh Parkway, which Runner's World once named one of the top 100 places to run in the country. You'll do about three miles in the Parkway before heading back to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and beginning your trek eastward. You'll hit the D&L Trail in Canal Park at about mile 9.5, reach Bethlehem's Sand Island at about mile 13.5, then follow the D&L Trail all the way into Easton, where you'll finish triumphantly near Scott Park along the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers.

The point-to-point marathon course will be USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier. The previous Via Marathon course – very similar to this one — was regarded as an excellent race for Boston Qualifying because of its flat course, cooling water and shade and lack of turns.

Must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

8am: St. Luke's D&L Marathon Relay

Starts at 8am, Downtown Allentown.

Your team of up to five runners will tackle the 26.2 marathon distance in one of 14 different categories:

Open: male, female and mixed (any age, minimum age 10, 10 -17 with parental permission)
Masters: male, female and mixed (combined age of all team members on race day must be over 200, minimum age 10, 10 -17 with parental permission)
Super Masters: male, female and mixed (combined age of all team members on race day must be over 275, minimum age 10, 10 -17 with parental permission)
Corporate: male, female and mixed (any age, minimum age 10, 10 -17 with parental permission)
College Cup: all alumni or partners of alumni or employees of a community college, college or university (minimum age 10, 10 -17 with parental permission)
First Responders Cup: full-time, part-time or volunteer first responders and their partners (minimum age 10, 10 -17 with parental permission)
Relay lengths have been designed for ease of access and to allow runners of various abilities and endurance levels to participate:

Leg 1: 7.1 miles. Martin Luther King. Jr. and 10th Street (Fountain Park), Allentown.
Leg 2: 6.4 miles. Sand Island, Bethlehem.
Leg 3: 3.6 miles. Freemansburg near the Canal Education Center.
Leg 4: 5.7 miles. Riverview Park, Palmer Township.
Leg 5: 3.4 miles. Finish line in Scott Park, Easton.
You do not need to assign legs when team members register. Detailed parking and travel instructions will be provided as race day nears.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Ages 10-17 must have parent or guardian permission.

7:30am: D&L Heritage Half Marathon Run, Presented By St. Luke's

Starts 7:30am,  Downtown Bethlehem.

The beloved D&L Heritage Half Marathon Run, for over 10 years farther north on the D&L Trail, is moving to the central Lehigh Valley!

The point-to-point half marathon course, which will be USATF-certified, will start on beautiful Main Street in historic downtown Bethlehem and head south to Sand Island. You will pick up the D&L Trail at about .6 mile and take it all the way into Easton, where you will finish at Scott Park. It's a flat, fast course with plenty of natural scenery.

Must be 14 years of age or older to participate. Ages 14-17 must have parent or guardian permission.

7:30am: D&L Heritage Half Marathon Walk, Presented By St. Luke's

Starts 7:30am,  Downtown Bethlehem.

Walkers – this event is for you! You'll complete the same half marathon course at your walking pace. Enjoy river views, historic structures, and plenty of shade along the way.

The point-to-point half marathon course, which will be USATF-certified, will start on beautiful Main Street in historic downtown Bethlehem and head south to Sand Island. You will pick up the D&L Trail at about .6 mile and take it all the way into Easton, where you will finish at Scott Park. It's a flat, fast course with plenty of natural scenery.

Must be 14 years of age or older to participate. Ages 14-17 must have parent or guardian permission.

Date: November 12, 2023

Time:

7:30am: St. Luke's D&L Marathon and Marathon Relay

8am: St. Luke's D&L Half Marathon Run and Walk

Location: Various Towns in PA

Course Map

Click here for Registration

Click here for more information