2020 EVENT CANCELED, offering virtual race option. **** The Erie Canal Half Marathon started as The National Distance Running Hall of Fame Race and was established in 1999 by the Utica Roadrunners. In 2016, the race became the Erie Canal Half and the focus has shifted to celebrating Utica’s rich …
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2020 EVENT CANCELED, offering virtual race option.
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The Erie Canal Half Marathon started as The National Distance Running Hall of Fame Race and was established in 1999 by the Utica Roadrunners. In 2016, the race became the Erie Canal Half and the focus has shifted to celebrating Utica’s rich history by showcasing its oldest and most exciting neighborhood, Bagg’s Square. The course is an out-and-back with much of the route along the scenic Erie Canal, the engineering marvel that put Utica on the map before returning to Bagg’s Square and finishing INSIDE the Adirondack Bank Center, home of the AHL’s Utica Comets, The race is followed by a post-race celebration right on the arena floor with food, drink and of course, Saranac beer for purchase! The Erie Canal Race is a weekend event, kicking off with a FREE kids’ run on Saturday. The event is organized by the Boilermaker Road Race, which also puts on the world famous Boilermaker 15K every second Sunday in July. Proceeds from the event benefits the Save of the Day Foundation.
The main event begins at 8 AM on Whitesboro Street outside of the Adirondack Bank Center. The course begins by winding through historic Bagg’s Square before turning onto the scenic Erie Canal trail and continuing to the Lock 20 State Canal Park. Runners will follow the same route back and cross the finish line inside the Adirondack Bank Center for a post race celebration. Spectators are encouraged to attend along the course and inside the Adirondack Bank Center! Time limit for the half marathon is 3 hours and 15 minutes (15 min/mile pace).
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Beautiful - but quiet
If you are a runner who needs crowd support this is not the race for you. Apart from the start and finish, the course itself is pretty quiet. It is … MORE
If you are a runner who needs crowd support this is not the race for you.
Apart from the start and finish, the course itself is pretty quiet. It is an out and back so what few supporters you saw in the first 6.5 miles you will see again (maybe).
The aid station volunteers were great, but you only had them for the span of the aid stations.
Overall it was a nice half, but I won’t be doing it again. Thanks for a long run in my training towards the MCM.
The shirt was nice enough, but the medal was particularly cheap (it fell off the neck piece while I was taking pictures after finishing…).
Registration fees were low, so the race was worth the price.
Running along the Erie Canal was nice, and you even got to run across a Lock which for a Gongoozler like me, was really cool.