After years of running the Monster Marathon at Treman Park, it has returned to its traditional date on Labor Day Weekend, and also returning the race to the Kennedy State Forest between Virgil and Harford, NY, home of the Forest Frolic runs and Virgil Crest Ultras (and the trail monster…). …
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After years of running the Monster Marathon at Treman Park, it has returned to its traditional date on Labor Day Weekend, and also returning the race to the Kennedy State Forest between Virgil and Harford, NY, home of the Forest Frolic runs and Virgil Crest Ultras (and the trail monster…). This third incarnation of the Monster Marathon takes place on well-maintained trails in the western section of the Kennedy Forest, between the ‘two hollows’—Daisy Hollow and Babcock Hollow. The terrain includes long, rolling single track, a few twists and turns, and several challenging hills, including one in the last two miles of each 13.1-mile loop. Save something for the end! You’ll pass through shady hemlock groves and fern-carpeted hardwood forest with a few long views to inspire you. Even runners with years of Finger Lakes experience may have never run on these trails, so it’s a great opportunity to take in something new.
There will still be the unique ‘monster’ age- and gender-based start times that allows an earlier start for older/non-male participants, and a new nonbinary gender category. The compact footprint of the course, staggered start times, generous cutoffs, and aid stations every 3–4 miles make this a decent first trail marathon or half, for those who are prepared for some long, beautiful, and sometimes tough miles. It’s also a nice last practice run, on similar trails, for the significantly harder Virgil Crest Ultras the next weekend.
Staggered Start Info: The Monster Marathon and Half Marathon feature age- and gender-based early starts. Men under age 38 start with the race clock, but women, nonbinary runners, and men 38 and older head off earlier, with the individual head starts determined by the World Masters Athletics Age-Graded Tables. The win could come down to a kick to the finish between a 65-year-old grandmother (101-minute head start) and her 40-year-old son (4-minute head start).
Elevation: The marathon has about 4,400 feet of elevation gain, with 2,200 feet for the half marathon.
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