Dutchess County Classic
Poughkeepsie, NY
- Half Marathon, Wheelchair Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club Dutchess County Classic will take place on the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail which is a flat, shaded, and fast asphalt surface, and in some places it is packed sand. Course will cross the Walkway Over the Hudson (concrete surface). All races will start … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Sep 19):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 82 | 85 | 72 | 84 | 74 |
| L (°F) | 54 | 51 | 53 | 65 | 54 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Beautiful...but boring
I'll start at the beginning. Parking for the event was easy as it starts and ends at Dutchess Community College. Packet pickup was well organized. The race shirt was nice, … MORE
I’ll start at the beginning. Parking for the event was easy as it starts and ends at Dutchess Community College. Packet pickup was well organized. The race shirt was nice, fit well, and is a comfortable material, though a cotton blend.
The course itself is almost entirely flat. It is an out and back and out and back. So you go out along the rail trail (which is almost all shaded and tree lined) over the Walkway Over the Hudson (which is gorgeous), then back down the Rail Trail and back again to the finish (you go over the Walkway only once). The course makes for a PR since it’s flat, but since it’s flat and basically straight it’s rather boring.
The course support was good for a small local race, one water stop even having ice pops. This year, the weather was beautiful, but a little warm and humid for the second weekend in September. Since the race also includes a full marathon, the time limit is extremely generous making it walker friendly.
The medal was pretty nice, especially for such a small race and post race included electrolyte drink, water, fruit, bagels, and beer.
Not sure I’d run this one again since it’s a bit of a haul (about an hour away) up a highway with no street lamps. It’s worth doing at least once for the views over the Walkway, but I found the course a little too boring to make it a yearly trip.
Oh and race photos are free!
My Very First Marathon
I ran the Marathon, apparently this distance is no longer offered? NYC had just been through 9/11, so I ran this instead. Turned out to be a great race run … MORE
I ran the Marathon, apparently this distance is no longer offered? NYC had just been through 9/11, so I ran this instead. Turned out to be a great race run by a great group and plenty of helpful volunteers.