The Wineglass Marathon, located in the heart of the Finger Lakes, is a must do destination race! A point to point course, the full marathon starts in Bath, NY, traveling the valley to Savona, Campbell where the half marathon starts, onto Coopers Plains, Painted Post and finishing on historic Market …
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The Wineglass Marathon, located in the heart of the Finger Lakes, is a must do destination race! A point to point course, the full marathon starts in Bath, NY, traveling the valley to Savona, Campbell where the half marathon starts, onto Coopers Plains, Painted Post and finishing on historic Market Street in Corning, NY. Wine tasting, local breweries, shopping or visiting one of our world famous museums, running with us offers an array of things to do and experience.
The Wineglass course is a fast, flat, and scenic point-to-point course through the southern Finger Lakes, and a Boston Marathon qualifier race. With a start in Bath and finish on Historic Market Street in Corning, the marathon field will host close to 3,000 runners this year. The time limit for all participants is 6.5 hours.
The Wineglass Half Marathon has sold out every year. The Corelle 5K held Saturday, is a great family-friendly event which gives the full and half marathoners a chance to warm up for Sunday’s event.
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First Marathon: Highly Recommend
Once I was ready to take on my first marathon, I knew all the conditions would have to be perfect to make it as smooth an experience as possible: flatter … MORE
Once I was ready to take on my first marathon, I knew all the conditions would have to be perfect to make it as smooth an experience as possible: flatter course, cooler weather, pleasant scenery, stress-free logistics. It didn’t take long to find out Wineglass would be the best fit. After crossing the finish line, that opinion still stands – this is a solid choice for a first marathon.
I had 2.5 months of base training and then followed Higdon’s 18-week Novice 2 program to prepare for the greatest physical challenge of my life.
Packet pickup was quick and nice swag: a navy quarter zip, drawstring bag, wine glass and small bottle of bubbly. The Expo had a lot of cool products. I ended up buying one of those colorful sunset gradient-armed finisher’s jackets which I love to wear at any opportunity. I chose a hotel (Hilton Garden Inn) within a 10-minute walk to the shuttles and finish line which made pre- and post-race navigation painless. On race day morning, I was highly impressed at how the shuttle operation was run. It was much colder than I expected at the start (38 degrees) so I had to wear layers. Arriving at the start, there were warming shelters, plenty of portapotties, and a gear check option.
The race: while there were sections with plenty of crowd support and people-watching, much of the course feels like a rustic stretch of solitude. Lots of beautiful foliage, cornfields, some lakes and mountains with small towns in between. Although the course boasts itself as net-downhill, I personally felt much of it was on a steady incline. There were plenty of water stations and a few with Huma gels. Around mile 17, things had warmed up significantly, probably over 70 degrees with little reprieve from the sun. I hit the wall around mile 22: cramping in my calves and hamstrings, insatiable thirst and dizziness. Sleep deprivation from all the nerves and under-fueling had caught up to me. I kept fighting to run in short bursts, but had to walk most of the final 4 miles. Luckily the aid station support was frequent at this point. I got to fill up my hydration vest, took some Motrin, got sprayed with biofreeze and was relieved with some foam rolling by the wonderful medic volunteers. Their TLC helped me move forward with a brisk power-walk and positive attitude despite failing my sub-5 goal.
Once I turned onto the main strip of downtown Corning and saw that glorious finish line, I gunned it with all my limited remaining strength until they put that glass medal around my neck. Despite all the challenges, that unparalleled sense of accomplishment was well worth it. The food options were just what I needed: spoons of peanut butter, cheese sticks, bagels, apples, soup, and great pizza. I’ll always cherish the memories of my first 26.2 from Bath to Corning, especially the wisdom gleaned from those difficult moments that will equip my next attempt!
Unique Small Town Feel
-Some of the best swag, wine glass, bottle of wine, drawstring bag, super nice pullover, unique medal, and lots of other quality merch at packet pick up! -Beautiful scenery as … MORE
-Some of the best swag, wine glass, bottle of wine, drawstring bag, super nice pullover, unique medal, and lots of other quality merch at packet pick up!
-Beautiful scenery as you are either running in between mountain ridges or through small towns
-The race ends in the town of Corning and the town goes all out for the race. It seems like the event of the year there. All the business are catering to the runners and everyone comes out to support.
-Bring layers to the start as they bus you up to the start point and you can be waiting outside in temps in the 40s for at least 45 minutes.
-Stayed at the Radison Hotel which was perfect as it is within walking distance to packet pick up, right where the buses pick you up, and right where the race finishes.
Wineglass Won My Heart
This race was so fun! Packet pickup was super smooth and fast. They had a large variety of additional items for purchase and the premium shirt you received was great. … MORE
This race was so fun! Packet pickup was super smooth and fast. They had a large variety of additional items for purchase and the premium shirt you received was great. Plus, you received a stemless wineglass and mini champagne bottle from one of the local wineries. I was thinking there might be some more freebies from Wegmans since they are a sponsor, but they were just giving out samples of protein bars. Having it in the Corning Museum of Glass was a great excuse to view all of their beautiful items and we popped over to the town after and had a great lunch! I was a little worried about the buses on the morning of but everything went super smooth – we arrived around the middle of the recommended time and had no issue finding parking and getting on a bus – it was nice and warm and an easy ride to the start line. You could warm up inside of a school which was nice. The race itself was scenic and mostly flat, you ran through a lot of neighborhoods and it’s always nice seeing spectators. There was plenty of race support but we also lucked out with amazing cool weather so there was always plenty of everything you could need. You finish in the small town of Corning and receive a beautiful glass medal. The finish line food was sponsored by Wegmans, and they had a lot of “real” food – pizza, soup, bananas, spoons of peanut butter, cut up bagels, Gatorade, and cookies. We were able to walk to our car and easily get to our hotel outside of town. It was a great race and a great way to start a weekend of wine tasting!
Great race!
This was my first year running Wineglass and I'll be back in the future. The expo takes place in the Corning Museum of Glass in a mid-sized convention-style room. I … MORE
This was my first year running Wineglass and I’ll be back in the future. The expo takes place in the Corning Museum of Glass in a mid-sized convention-style room. I definitely recommend going on a Friday if you’re able to avoid crowds.
There is plenty of parking available on race morning. The Centerway Parking Garage is very close to the finish and buses to starts, however, the entrances/ exits are congested. Fortunately, there are plenty of other parking options for you. The race program has them listed.
Everyone must take a bus to the start of the half or full. I woke-up early to get one of the first buses to the full marathon start and avoid the lines. At the starting line, the organizers put up a tent with chairs and water coolers for us to wait in. It is heated by still felt cool with the mid-40 temps outside. Get there early to grab a seat.
Plenty of porta potties are available at the starting line and along the course. I ended up needing to use them 2x during the race and didn’t have to wait in a line.
Water and Huma hydration mix is available approximately every 2 miles and at closer intervals over 20 miles. Huma gels are available four times along the marathon course.
Yes, the race does run along a highway in the middle miles. The noise was not as disruptive as I thought it would be. Occasionally, a driver would honk encouragement to us, which I appreciated. I enjoyed seeing the countryside and small towns we ran through. Families would sit in their driveways, play the theme from Rocky, and cheer us on.
An unexpected delight was the mobile support along the marathon course. There were 10-12 cyclists that had water, biofreeze, & snacks.
I really enjoyed the snack options available after the finish. Wegmans stocks a good variety of food with bagels, cookies, fruit, pizza, soup, & more.
If you’re looking for a small to mid-sized race with easy logistics this is an excellent option. Thanks, Corning!
This Race Kicks GlAss
I’ve heard great things about this race but was never able to make it work in my schedule when I lived in Rochester as I ironically had plans in New … MORE
I’ve heard great things about this race but was never able to make it work in my schedule when I lived in Rochester as I ironically had plans in New England both weekends the race was held while I lived in Rochester. However now that I am living in New England I had no plans this weekend and decided to do this race. Overall this race had fantastic production and swag that lived up to the hype but I was a bit disappointed with the scenery though not enough to remove a sneaker from the overall rating. This race has an expensive price tag. I think I paid about $150 and registered on the earlier side but this had some of the best production and swag of any race I have done so I understand the price tag. There is excellent pre race communication with a race guide and everything you need to know is very clear. I drove in Friday night and did the Jell-Half which is about 1.5 hours away from Corning and drove to the expo Saturday after lunch. The expo is at the glass museum and is medium sized and well organized but very cramped. Packet included a really nice jacket, drawstring bag, wine glass, piece of chocolate and a bottle of champagne if over 21. Since I don’t drink I wish they offered a cheaper no alcohol option without the champagne and wine glass as I’d rather pay less and not get the champagne and wine glass. The wine glass is a nice souvenir and I will display it but not use it. I have the champagne to a friend. After the expo I went and visited the museum which is amazing! Corning is a small town and the restaurants are pretty packed so plan to have dinner early. I ate at an Italian restaurant with some friends but my favorite restaurant in Corning is the Cellar which has lots of vegan and gluten free options. If you are looking to save money (which I was since I was going to Europe next week) stay around Horseheads which is about 20 minutes away though if you want the easiest race day morning stay in downtown Corning. Everything about the race was really smooth. I drove down Sunday morning and it was very clear which shuttles were for the half and full marathon. The race is point to point with a different start for the half and full which share the last 13.1 miles. At the start you can wait in a school so even though it was cold and early in was warm inside. There were lots of porta potties outside the school but of course the lines got long closer to the race. The start was pretty well organized. It was one long corral and there were pacers. It’s a big but not huge race with a few thousand runners each distance. The course is point to point and a gradual downhill with a few small rollers but no significant hills. It is a potential fast course and a lot of people use it to BQ. Of course it is not a fast course if you pushed yourself a bit too hard at a half marathon the day before but luckily it is extremely back of the pack friendly as the half actually starts before the full and has the same cutoff time it’s very walker friendly. I started off strong but kind of fell apart in the second half and walked most of the second half. Everything was very well organized with clear course markings and mile markers. Aid stations were a bit sparse in the beginning around every 3 miles but were closer together towards the end and had water, electrolyte and a few had gels. The scenery as I said was a bit disappointing. Maybe it was just because it a foggy day so some of the background was not visible or it’s because I am spoiled by New England fall but I thought the course was so boring. A lot was along a highway and a railroad track and through some pretty generic neighborhoods. It’s not awful scenery just nothing special. There also weren’t many spectators especially in the beginning. There were more at the end be but there was much less than Clarence De Mar despite being a bigger race and you go some long stretches with spectator support. The finish is great though in downtown Corning. It’s a lovely finish and lots of spectators at the end. My finishing time was fine. It was a bit slower than I’ve been running lately but given how hard I pushed myself Saturday I was happy with it. You get a really cool glass medal at the end. The finish festival is great with tons of great food options. There was typical fruit and granola bars but also bagels with peanut butter, soup (which had the ingredients listed so no concern about the tomato soup having chicken broth – I love that the race thought of all these little details), cheese pizza and some sodas along with water. There was enough to eat for lunch so I didn’t have to stop on my way home. Overall I thought this was an excellent race with some of the best production and swag but I was a bit disappointed by the scenery and spectator support. This is definitely one of the better half marathons in NY (and I’ve done a lot in NY) but I would put it at the 4th best in NY behind NYC, Buffalo and Lake Placid. It’s still a good choice for 50 staters and Corning is a charming town and there are lots to do around it. I’m not sure I will do this race again. It’s nothing personal but it’s the same day as two excellent half marathons right by me (Smuttynose Rockfest and Maine Half) so I would lean towards doing those instead but I’m glad I got to do this race once and see what the hype was about.
Must Do NY race
This is my 3rd time running the half marathon. The course is relatively flat, with one small hill during mile 2. The temperature this year was perfect for running. The … MORE
This is my 3rd time running the half marathon. The course is relatively flat, with one small hill during mile 2. The temperature this year was perfect for running. The fall foliage is pretty in this area this time of year.
Packet pickup is at the Corning Museum of Glass. I have always gone on Saturday afternoon to pick up my race packet and it’s always crowded. The line to get your bib is fairly smooth (don’t forget your ID!) and you can have someone else pick up your race packet if you can’t make it. The SWAG includes a quarter zip long sleeve that is good quality, however it is the same every year with the exception of the color. Different colors for mens/womens/ half/ full. You get a drawstring bag, clear bag for bag drop, and small bottle of Champagne. Plenty of race gear to buy at the expo and finish line.
Race logistics: you must take a shuttle to the start line. Shuttles run from 5am-6:30 for a 7:45 start. There is a school where you can wait inside and stay warm, but the hallways are pretty crowded by the time 6:30 rolls around. In the past they have allowed you to use the bathrooms inside, but they were locked this year, forcing you to go outside to the porta-potties. Don’t wait until 7 to use them… line is very long. There are a few porta-potties by the start line if you get there early enough.
Plenty of water stops on the course. Not a ton of crowd support along the first half of the course since it’s all country roads, but the last half is decent for a small town race.
This is a great half to run if you are looking for a NY race, or a PR.
Great Race
The Wineglass was voted the 2nd best half in NY and I see why. Everything went as smooth as possible. Was in and out of packet pick up in under … MORE
The Wineglass was voted the 2nd best half in NY and I see why. Everything went as smooth as possible. Was in and out of packet pick up in under 10 minutes. The expo was decent sized and had stuff there if you happened to forget something. Got to the bus pick up at around 530 and walked right on the bus. It was pretty chilly but for the half marathoners you could wait inside the local high school (i had heard the full runners only had a tent). The race started right on time and it had a lot of great views and most mostly down hill but nothing crazy. Didn’t get to stick around for the after party since we had a 10 hour drive home. But there was a lot of food at the end for runners (pizza, soup, cookies, chips, fruit, etc). overall it would be a race I would do again if it was closer and i didn’t have 17 more to go
Great race production and more.
Over 2000 people participated. The course is mostly flat and is a net negative slope. The post race medal is glass and one of my favorite. The food for finishers … MORE
Over 2000 people participated. The course is mostly flat and is a net negative slope. The post race medal is glass and one of my favorite. The food for finishers is amazing and plentiful. Pizza, bagels, chocolate milk, string cheese, apples, bananas, water, Gatorade, tomato soup, chicken soup, cookies, peanut butter. The pre-race expo was good as well. Nice technical quarter zip race shirt. A very nice race experience!
Nice flat half
I’ve run the full before and the start is way better for half. Nice warm school to sit in instead of outdoors or the DPW building. The half runs the … MORE
I’ve run the full before and the start is way better for half. Nice warm school to sit in instead of outdoors or the DPW building. The half runs the back end of the full course and skips a bunch of the few hills that are in the race. Great course!
Wonderful Race!
While coming into this race in a less than ideal situation (tendinitis in an ankle), I tried to make the best of it. The packet pick up was easy and … MORE
While coming into this race in a less than ideal situation (tendinitis in an ankle), I tried to make the best of it.
The packet pick up was easy and there were a couple vendors. The Corning Museum of Glass gave a discount to those who wanted to see the museum that weekend, and we did take advantage of that (which I would recommend).
Race morning was very easy to navigate – there were busses to shuttle up to the half marathon start, and to the full marathon start. There were plenty of volunteers telling you which way to go. The race course was an enjoyable one; mostly on roads that were either completely closed or partially closed to traffic, and there were plenty of people/crowd support towards the end to help you push through. The finish line is the best part though. You run down the center of town and it is probably the most beautiful race finish I’ve ever seen. Once done there was so much post race food it was unbelievable!! Drinks, snacks, soup and pizza!! And they encouraged you to take as much as you wanted (even gave you a bag before going through the tent/food area – KUDOS!). The race medal is made of glass and is very nice. Along with the wine glass and a small bottle of champagne that you get.
Over all, a very well organized, well put together race! I really enjoyed this one and am thinking about going back next year!!
FUN RACE/GREATSWAG SMALL TOWN FEEL
THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT RACE. IVE DONE SO MANY HALFS, AND THIS ONE GIVES YOU THE WORLD AT THE FINISH, SODA, WATER, JUICE, FRUITS, NUTRITION BARS VARIETY, SOUP, PIZZA, … MORE
THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT RACE. IVE DONE SO MANY HALFS, AND THIS ONE GIVES YOU THE WORLD AT THE FINISH, SODA, WATER, JUICE, FRUITS, NUTRITION BARS VARIETY, SOUP, PIZZA, DESSERTS. IVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH LOVE AT THE FINISH LINE. I WAS INLOVE. IT MADE TH FINISH AND RACE A 10 OUT OF 10. GREAT SCENERY, WAS NOT OVER CROWDED BUT SO MUCH FUN. I LOVED THE RUNNERS LOVE HERE.
Highly recommended
A very well run event. For the half, you have to take a bus to the starting line but the busses were very well organized. Good swag, a nice quarter … MORE
A very well run event. For the half, you have to take a bus to the starting line but the busses were very well organized.
Good swag, a nice quarter zip and wine glass and mini bottle of campaign for the finish line.
I would do this again!
This was a great race to test out my fitness and see what I'm capable of in the marathon right now. It was very well organized and not overwhelming logistically. … MORE
This was a great race to test out my fitness and see what I’m capable of in the marathon right now. It was very well organized and not overwhelming logistically. It was easy for my family to spectate and find me at the finish. The volunteers were awesome. The course was a net downhill but did have some rolling hills.
Fast & Flat, Beautiful Autumn Race
I could not recommend this race more to anyone looking for a PR! -Expo: Expo was small but well organized and stocked! The swag was initially very appealing, but it … MORE
I could not recommend this race more to anyone looking for a PR!
-Expo: Expo was small but well organized and stocked! The swag was initially very appealing, but it was all too large. Many runners were talking about this! The medium was closer to an XL and I’ll sadly never wear the jacket they provided me because it is too big.
-Pre-Race and Start-line: You have to take a bus to the starting line and it was very well organized! Once at the starting line, they had an indoor place to stay warm, plenty of porta potties, and the smoothest bag check operation for a point-to-point race I’ve experienced! Downside of the start line was that there weren’t corrals to separate paces; of course most runners found their group paced on the pacer signs but there plenty in the wrong pace group so the first bits of the race were people catching up or getting passed, not making for the most ideal first mile. There was a DJ at the start but they only played Sweet Caroline and that is NOT a pump-up song (that’s like leaving the ballfield, not getting ready for the game lol).
-Course: Beautiful!! Fast!!!
-Post-Race: This was THE BEST POST RACE EVER. They had hot foods, variety of drinks and fruits and bars, a section for ice, a stretch tent, photo opps, etc. It was amazing!
Lastly, the staff were all so friendly and staff that met me at the Expo found me at the finish line to ask how I did. What lovely people!
Winederful
This was definitely one of my favorites. This race was so well put together from packet pick-up to post race food. Packet pick up is at Corning Museum (small expo … MORE
This was definitely one of my favorites. This race was so well put together from packet pick-up to post race food.
Packet pick up is at Corning Museum (small expo but lots of Wineglass race stuff – and great swag bag-1/4 zip pullover, small bottle of wine, and stemless wine glass. I also bought a cute glass pumpkin from the museum.
We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Elmira which was about 20 minutes from the runner drop off or from one of the many parking lots. I got there about 5:05 and was one of the first on the busses (think I could have boarded 30 minutes later and would have been fine but I’m an “over-planner)!
The busses take you to the starting point in Campbell at the high school (you can wait inside to stay warm). There are a couple of restrooms in the high school but after 6:30, the line gets long. There are plenty of port-o-potties outside by the bag drop off, and the lines are LONG, so give yourself time!
It was foggy for the first half of the race, but great weather for running. The course is fairly flat and downhill with only a couple of small hills. There was plenty of course support-locals really show up for this race. You run through some cute neighborhoods.
The amount of people cheering you on at the finish really gives you that final boost.
Post race food was good-hot soup, pizza, bagels, fruit, chocolate milk, and energy bars. Everyone we met in Corning and the surrounding areas were so friendly and nice.
I give this race an awesome thumbs-up, and if I lived closer, I would run it again😎
Awesome Race
This race runs like clockwork. Expo was in the Corning Museum, it was small but had all the vendor you needed if you forgot something. Ran the 5K on Saturday … MORE
This race runs like clockwork. Expo was in the Corning Museum, it was small but had all the vendor you needed if you forgot something. Ran the 5K on Saturday and the Half on Sunday – Both were very well run. Plenty of parking near the buses and absolutely fun, energetic volunteers. They had plenty of busses to get everyone to the start and ample porta pots at the start line. The school was open to stay warm in before the race which was nice. The course was nice and pretty easy. The finish line and after party was awesome!!! COKE at the finish line, so awesome for a non-beer drinker!
All the food you could possibly need to re-fuel with. Selfie with finish line clock with your time on it was a great touch for people who PR’d or BQ’d. Would definitely run this one again. Race swag was a 1/4 zip long sleeved shirt .
small town, perfect course
Perfect race. Advantages - Flat and scenic coarse Very organized Unbelievable local crowd support Plenty of water stations Lots of brand swag to choose from Pre-race pasta dinner was good … MORE
Perfect race.
Advantages – Flat and scenic coarse
Very organized
Unbelievable local crowd support
Plenty of water stations
Lots of brand swag to choose from
Pre-race pasta dinner was good and great speakers
Post-race food – plenty and good
Great medal
School was available to get out of the cold for pre-race
Ample parking
Disadvantages – It’s hard to get to Corning NY
Not enough hotels near start line
Expensive all around
Wonderfully organized, course just OK
This was my third official marathon, fastest time, but least favorite course. I’ll start with the positives, because there were many wonderful things about this race! I was very impressed … MORE
This was my third official marathon, fastest time, but least favorite course.
I’ll start with the positives, because there were many wonderful things about this race! I was very impressed with how well-organized it was from registration to finish. Great communication, easy transportation, excellent swag and finish line food/amenities. Kudos to all the organizers and volunteers!
Now the course… it is fast, but long stretches are adjacent to the highway with nothing to look at and no crowd support. The first half had minimal cheering sections and the water stops were pretty far apart (2.5-3 miles, I think). The second half had more crowd support and water stops but still left much to be desired for scenery. (I will say, I live in Vermont so I am very spoiled with scenic runs – maybe others would not be as bothered by this course!)
Lastly, for those wanting to run this fast, I’d suggest training on a lot of continuous downhill if you can. My quads were not prepared and I really struggled at the end due to starting so fast. I wish I had taken the downhill more seriously – it looks gradual on the elevation map but it will destroy your quads!
One of the best run halfs!
This is one of the best halfs I have done, and I have done almost 60 of them! Excellent production, fantastic support along the route (seems like the whole town … MORE
This is one of the best halfs I have done, and I have done almost 60 of them! Excellent production, fantastic support along the route (seems like the whole town gets involved!), and great swag. Oh, and the scenery is gorgeous!! Very well organized from packet pickup to finish line. Kudos to the race director!
After race food was also a plus…pizza, soup, fruit, cookies, cheese, soda, sports drinks….some of the friendliest support people you will ever find at any race!
We did the Pinot Challenge (8k, 5K, and half), and got 3 medals. Shirt, jacket, small bottle of champagne, and a glass are included in race packets.
HIGHLY recommend this event!!!
One Of My Favorite Marathons!
This race is a must do! It is one of my favorite marathons I have run to date. First, the organization is excellent, and the communication from the race director … MORE
This race is a must do! It is one of my favorite marathons I have run to date.
First, the organization is excellent, and the communication from the race director is amazing. We had some travel issues coming from Florida (hurricane had hit earlier that week), and were concerned we may not make it in time for packet pick up the day before. I emailed the race director, and they said we would be able to get it race morning if needed, and gave us a place to meet them. I thought this was wonderful! It turned out we DID make it to the expo in time, but it eased my stress knowing I had that option.
The expo was nice, it is in the Corning Glass museum, which was fun to visit. The swag is great! I nice long sleeve pullover, glass wineglass, plus other items.
Race morning was very organized, we needed to take a bus to the start, and the bus area was efficient and easy to find. The starting area had plenty of port o potties, plus a large tent with seating to stay warm.
The course is beautiful! It’s a one way route which runs through countryside in between small towns. The small towns were such a treat, as there were so many spectators cheering you on. The terrain is gentle, with a slight net downhill.
The finish line is gorgeous, you turn onto the main street of Corning, NY and it is lined with potted flowers and autumn colored trees. The announcer is calling out everyone by name, so it feels very special to finish. The medal is made out of glass, and is very special.
The finish area had so many food options! This is probably one of the best post-race areas of races I have done. We had some hot soup from Wegman’s, fruit, cookies, and other items as well.