Lake Placid Marathon and Half returns on Sunday

Runners begin the 2019 Lake Placid Marathon and Half. (News photo — Justin A. Levine)
LAKE PLACID — About 800 athletes will converge on this village Sunday, Sept. 12 for the annual Lake Placid Marathon and Half, the first time this event has been held since 2019, as last year it was canceled due to the coronavrius pandemic.
The race will have two notable differences to the course, according to race owner/operator Greg Borzilleri. Due to construction at the Olympic Speedskating Oval — the traditional home of the finish line — the finish line will be on Station Street in front of Jewtraw Park. The start will be on Parkside Drive in front of the beach house instead of Main Street in front of the oval.
“That way we won’t tie up traffic (in front of the oval), and nobody will have to look at the dirt piles,” Borzilleri said.
Registration and packet pickup on Saturday will also be at the beach house, outside under a tent.
Both races start at 8 a.m., and the cutoff is 2 p.m.
Once half-marathon racers leave Parkside Drive, they run up Main Street to Mirror Lake Drive, go clockwise around the lake to Parkside Drive, take a left to Morningside, run down state Route 73 to River Road, runs down River Road to the turnaround, come back the same way and finish on Station Street. Those competing in the full marathon turn around near Station Street for another loop before heading to the finish line at Jewtraw Park.
Borzilleri encourages people to park at the train station, which is closer to the finish line, if they can, instead of closer to the start line.
Normally there are about 1,000 racers competing in the Lake Placid Marathon and Half.
COVID-19 precautions include the athletes providing proof of vaccination or a negative test taken within 72 hours of arrival in order to participate in the event. Aid stations will be self serve; volunteers will re-stock the nutrition and water, not hand it out.
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Road closures
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– Main Street: Closed between Parkside Drive and Mirror Lake Drive (High Peaks Resort) from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. No overnight parking Saturday from 2 a.m. to Sunday morning on the east side of Main Street. Parking will resume at 9 a.m. Sunday.
– Mirror Lake Drive between Main Street and Harbor Lane: Closed 7:45 to 8:30 a.m.
– Mirror Lake Drive/Lake Placid Club Drive: Closed from Parkside Drive to Northwood Road from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m.
– Parkside Drive: Closed from Lake Placid Club Drive to Main Street (post office) from 7 to 8:15 a.m. Local/resident traffic will be permitted. Please use caution exiting your home. Closed from Mirror Lake Drive to Morningside Drive intersection from 8:15 to 9 a.m. Local traffic, please use caution.
– Route73/Route 86 Intersection at Mill Hill: Expect delays from 8:15 to 9 a.m.
– Route 73/Sentinel Road/Cascade Road: Southbound lane closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. between Mill Pond Drive intersection and Old Military Road intersection. Northbound lane open (use caution) to local traffic with minor delays expected at Old Military Road intersection.
– Station Street: Closed outbound (Chubb River side) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Sentinel Road and Hurley Avenue. Two-way traffic in the inbound lane will use the parking lane and travel lane to allow residents of Pine Hill and Hurley Avenue access to their homes.
– River Road: Open to local traffic only.