Lake Effect Half Marathon
Minoa, NY
Feb 15, 2025
- Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Lake Effect Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held in the the Village of Minoa, starting near Lewis Park. Spectator-friendly, flat course. No other local distance event at this time of year. Perfect tune-up race for spring marathons such as the Boston Marathon, Buffalo Marathon and Ottawa. Great … MORE
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Practice for Antarctica
Normally I'd prefer to go somewhere warm for president's day weekend. However I wanted to get a half marathon in colder weather in to practice in some of my gear … MORE
Normally I’d prefer to go somewhere warm for president’s day weekend. However I wanted to get a half marathon in colder weather in to practice in some of my gear for Antarctica so I decided to do this winter race located outside Syracuse, NY. Pre race communication was pretty good. There was a clear athlete guide. The race has an option for a full or a quarter marathon. I did have one question I couldn’t find the answer to which was if you could drop down in the middle of the race and still get a finishing time. As I stated in my Mesa review I injured my back about 2 weeks ago slipping on ice and at the time wasn’t sure I would make the 3:15 time limit. I did email the question and got a prompt reply that you would get a medal but a DNF if you dropped down. I decided to see how Mesa went to make a decision. I decided if I finished Mesa in under 3:15 I would do the half and if I didn’t I would drop down. I finished Mesa just under 3:15 and knew I’d feel better after another week of rest so decided to do the half. I had no issues driving to Syracuse Friday evening and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express there. Race morning I arrived pretty early around 7:50 and got one of the last parking spots in the closest parking lot though there are further away lots if you want to sleep in. The race starts/finishes at a park but there is an indoor area for packet pick-up and post-race party. Packet includes an excellent hooded, long sleeve tech shirt with the yeti design. Excellent swag item for a smaller, cheaper race. The start area is very well decorated with lots of areas for selfies including a huge blow up yeti. The only issue with the start is there were not nearly enough porta-potties. I wrote about this issue when I did the quarter marathon a few years ago so it did not get fixed. The race is pretty small with a few hundred participants. The half marathon is two loops of the quarter marathon. I did the quarter marathon a few years ago and I can’t remember the course at all. Well I can tell you why it is super boring. It is just through neighborhoods and is pretty non-descript. The neighborhoods were at least pretty with the snow. It is also very flat except a bridge you cross 4 times. The bridge isn’t that bad. Total elevation about 200 feet. Very flat for the area. You could have a fast time with good weather. We actually had pretty good weather for the race. It was in the high 20’s/ low 30’s and the snow held off for the runners. Race is well produced for a smaller race. Streets are coned off. It is well marked although there were a couple areas that could be marked a bit better. There were aid stations around every 2 miles. Most had water and Gatorade. There was not any gels or other nutrition on course. Sparse spectator support but it’s fine for a small race like this. I had an excellent time the first loop and was on pace to be well under 3 hours and easily made the cutoff for the second loop. The race has a stated 3:15 time limit though they seem to be a bit lax if you are a little over it as you need to make it to the second loop by 1:40 which is a 3:20 pace and they say the course officially closes at 1:00 which is 3:30. Don’t quote me on this though. Unfortunately after the second half my back started acting up (at this point I also decided to skip my race the next day due to my back). Luckily I banked plenty of time. I had to walk the last two miles so didn’t quite make under 3 hours but was still well under 3:15. I was one of the last finishers and the RD was still out there cheering on the finishers and you get a medal and water bottle. The medal is really fun with a yeti design and again a great medal for a smaller, cheaper race. There were jersey mike’s subs including veggie and gluten free options plus some other snacks at the end. Overall this is a solid race and I’d recommend it to locals but it’s not special enough and weather is too dicey to recommend it to 50 staters. While I wouldn’t mind doing this race again, the weather did not continue to cooperate. I am currently stuck in my hotel waiting for triple A to tow my car as it got stuck in a snow bank when I was trying to leave and while waiting for the tow truck signed up for Lost Dutchman in Arizona next year as I don’t feel like dealing with lake effect snow again.
Don’t worry I eventually made it home
Only a Little Lake Effect This Year
This is a half or quarter marathon that takes place in Minoa, NY, a suburb of Syracuse. I did the quarter marathon this year since I was on call but … MORE
This is a half or quarter marathon that takes place in Minoa, NY, a suburb of Syracuse. I did the quarter marathon this year since I was on call but would have dropped down anyways with my injury. The race is located at a park and they send out an athlete guide with where to park. I arrived about an hour early and got one of the last parking spots near the start/finish line. Packet pick-up was indoors. Packet included bib and a really nice, colorful long sleeve tech shirt with a tote bag. There was also coffee and donuts inside. One critique of the start area is there was not enough porta potties. This is a mid size race with a few hundred runners so there was just a mass start with no corrals. It was fine for the size. As this race is in February in Syracuse you can expect bad weather. We lucked out this year and it was one of the warmer days with temps in the 30s. There was a bit of hail/show for about 10 to 20 minutes during the beginning of the race and some strong winds but the end was clear and I even saw a bit of sun. Overall pleasant weather for Syracuse in winter. The course is pretty boring just through neighborhoods. The half marathon is two loops of the quarter marathons. You just pass by houses but there are no unpleasant scenery and there is decent spectator support especially for a smaller race in the winter. Course really well marked and had mile markers. Mostly on coned off roads with plenty of marshalls so felt safe. There were 3 water stops (so 6 for the half). They called your name out at the finish line and you got a nice distance specific medal. In the indoor area there were lots of post race food – donuts, coffee, granola bars, monster energy drink, wraps – including vegan and gluten free, chips, etc. Overall it was not the most exciting course and the weather could potentially be terrible but it was well-organized with nice swag for a smaller, local race. I would do it again and recommend it to locals but it wouldn’t be my first choice for 50 staters unless it fit perfectly in your schedule or you really want to experience winter here
Flat, scenic, at mercy of the weather
Very flat paved course running 2 out and back loops. As advertised, "Lake Effect" weather was a factor. 30 with wind chill down to 17 and snow squall at start … MORE
Very flat paved course running 2 out and back loops. As advertised, “Lake Effect” weather was a factor. 30 with wind chill down to 17 and snow squall at start of race. Paved course clear of snow and nothing else stuck from snow during race. If weather was better (recognized this is Feb in central NY), this would be great opportunity for PR.
Nice schwag with cool long sleeve tech shirt and medal.