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Ithaca · United States

Cycling & running events in Ithaca, 2026

174events this year

174 races within 80 km of Ithaca

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A few races to know in Ithaca

We all need a goal — why not think big? Pick one and start training for it. Already happened this year? Find some practice races to build toward next year's edition.
Run·Road
Ithaca

Cayuga Trails

Cayuga Trails begins and ends at Old Y Camp in Robert Treman State Park, Ithaca, New York. Two Saturday ultra distances are offered: a 50 Mile race starting at 6:00 a.m. and a 50k starting at 7:30 a.m. The races are predominantly off-road, with a course that is approximately 95% trail and 5% paved. Runners will spend most of their time on dirt, stone, roots, and park paths. The climbing is substantial: the 50 Mile route accumulates about 10,203 feet of gain, and the 50k gains about 6,882 feet over 31.6 miles. The course navigates Ithaca’s gorge country, passing numerous waterfalls and utilizing historic stone stairways that distinguish the local trails from a typical forest ultra. The 50 Mile has a soft cut-off at 25 miles, a hard cut-off at 35 miles, and a final finish cut-off at 9:00 p.m. The 50k has a hard cut-off at the 25-mile mark and a final finish cut-off at 6:30 p.m. Drop bags can be left at the Y Camp staging area or sent to the Buttermilk aid station. Aid stations provide water, E-Drink, Coke, various food items, and efforts are made to include gluten-free options. Finishers are awarded medals crafted by Ragged Cuts in Connecticut, and Fitnell Farms supplies the post-race food.

Road
Tri·Olympic
Ithaca

Finger Lakes Triathlon Cayuga

The Finger Lakes Triathlon Cayuga is a June triathlon held at Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg, located eight miles north of Ithaca in New York’s Finger Lakes region. The race utilizes Cayuga Lake for the swim and includes Intermediate, Sprint, Youth, relay, and aquabike categories, accommodating solo athletes, teams, and younger participants. The park also provides amenities for families, such as public swimming areas, a playground, shaded picnic spots, hiking paths, camping facilities, and a marina with a boat ramp. The Intermediate race consists of a 1500-meter out-and-back swim, a 24.3-mile bike course north on Route 89 towards Sheldrake, and a two-loop 10K run on Taughannock’s base trail. The Sprint distance features a 750-meter swim, a 14-mile bike ride on Route 89 turning at Hickok Road, and a single 5K loop within the park. The Youth race includes a 200-meter swim, a 9-mile bike ride to the Scenic Pull-off, and a 1.5-mile run to the NY89 Bridge and back. The run courses proceed towards the falls on park trails with minimal elevation change. This event is part of the Finger Lakes Race Series, sponsored by Truepath Racing.

Olympic
Run·Trail
Ithaca

Lucifer's Crossing

Lucifer's Crossing takes runners into Robert Treman State Park in Ithaca, New York, starting and finishing at the Old Y Camp. Three trail options are available: a 3.3-mile 5K, an approximately 6.66-mile 10K, and a 13.2-mile half marathon. The races occur in late May, beginning in the morning. The half marathon starts at 8:00, the 10K at 8:30, and the 5K at 9:00. All participants must finish by 12:30. Red Newt Racing organizes the event. Entry covers park admission, a T-shirt for early registrants, and post-race food from Fittnell Farms. Each distance begins with a rolling climb of about 1.5 to 2 miles on the wooded Rim Trail. The 5K turns left at the top of a steep historic stone staircase, then returns on Finger Lakes Trail singletrack. The 10K and half marathon continue further, descending through the Lucifer Falls gorge, climbing the steep Red Pine Trail, passing the historic Old Mill, and concluding with mostly downhill miles on fast Finger Lakes Trail singletrack. Half marathoners complete two loops of the 10K course, experiencing the gorge, climb, mill, and downhill return twice.

Trail
About cycling & running in Ithaca

Ithaca Training Notes

Running: Locals run Cass Park when they want flat rhythm, Beebe Lake when they want a campus loop, and Cornell Botanic Gardens when they want views without overthinking it. FLRC keeps the scene moving with weekend runs, Tuesday workouts, and Thursday Night Social runs that meet every Thursday at 5:30 PM outside Bike Bar. High Noon Athletic Club gives the faster crowd another name to know. Monkey Run, Cayuga Trail, and Lick Brook cover the trail side, and Lick Brook gains about 700 vertical feet in less than a mile. Ithaca Twilight 5K, Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon, Cayuga Trails, and Lucifer's Crossing anchor the calendar.

Cycling: Finger Lakes Cycling Club starts plenty of rides from East Hill Plaza, and Cornell Cycling Club uses Goldwin Smith Hall and East Hill Plaza Walgreens as regular meet points. Tuesday Night Races bring the crit brain to the hills, with an informal weekly road race that usually has A and B categories. The hill is 1 mile long, and it hosts the TNR finish locals know. 7% average gradient. The full loop covers 9 miles and 3261 feet of gain.

Season: Spring, summer, and fall are the best months because the routes vary from short to long, from asphalt to dirt, and from flat to brutal. Summer brings warm days, moderate heat and humidity, pleasant nights, and TNR starts from East Hill Plaza between 5 and 6 PM. Runners use early evenings for Ithaca Twilight 5K vibes, FLRC workouts, and steady Z2 on the waterfront trail. Winter changes the game for both sports, with cold, cloudy weeks and shorter outdoor windows. Cyclists shift toward recovery rides, indoor work, or careful clear-day miles, and runners keep more routes close to town.

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Coming soon in Ithaca

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