The Monster course runs along the Finger Lakes Trail and various state park trails while serving up views of some of the most beautiful gorges and waterfalls in Ithaca. The course consists of an out-and-back of 13.1 miles, starting at the South Shelter at Robert H. Treman State Park and traversing mostly singletrack trails. Marathoners run the course twice. Don’t let the fact that the race starts in a park fool you—the route includes its fair share of roots, rocks, rugged stairs, briars, steep climbs, and quad-pounding descents.

The Monster Marathon and Half Marathon feature age- and sex-based early starts. Men under age 38 start with the race clock, but women and men 38 and older head off earlier, with the individual handicaps 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.)

The marathon has about 4,400 feet of elevation gain, with 2,200 feet for the half marathon. Both distances are part of the FLRC Trail Circuit, and results are included in the annual Pebblehead/Stonehead/Boulderhead rankings.

The start and finish are at the South Shelter at Lower Treman (across the creek from the main parking lot, near the tent and cabin sites). The park’s address is 105 Enfield Falls Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.

Be prepared to pay a $9.00 vehicle entrance fee to the park or show a State Parks Empire Pass.

FLRC encourages runners to carpool to make the race more inclusive for those without cars, help fight climate change, and save on parking fees—sign up to drive or ride.

You can rent a tent or cabin campsite that’s only a short walk from the start and finish. Reserve your campsite early, as they tend to sell out fast on summertime weekends.

Both races have age/sex-staggered head starts; please arrive at least 15 minutes before your start time. The race clock starts at 8:00 AM for the marathon and 9:00 AM for the half marathon.

You can download the age-graded start times as a PDF, or check out the tables below.

Half Marathon Start Times — Men

Half Marathon Start Times — Women

Full Marathon Start Times — Men

Full Marathon Start Times — Women

Pre-registration is required and is open online through 6 PM on August 26, the night before the race. There is no day-of-race registration.

• $35 for the marathon, $25 for the half marathon. Registration includes refreshments at the finish for all runners.
• FLRC members may deduct $5 from any of these fees.
• If financial considerations prevent you from entering this race, please contact the race director for assistance.

• Restrooms and showers are available adjacent to the start/finish.
• Coffee and breakfast items will be available at the start.
• Well-stocked aid stations are located 3 to 4 miles apart on the course.
• Digital photos taken by a professional sports photographer will be freely available to runners after the race.
• Results will be available live during the race via Webscorer. Visit the FLRC Web site for full results later.
• This race is part of the Finger Lakes Trail Circuit, for all you Pebbleheads, Stoneheads, and Boulderheads.
• For remaining questions, contact Race Director Dave Kania at monster@fingerlakesrunners.org.

The award ceremony takes place shortly after the race, with awards going to the top five runners in each distance. (Age and sex are already factored into the starting times.)

Handicap records, accounting for age and sex, on the current course at Robert Treman State Park:

Marathon: Yvette De Boer 3:06:45 (2019)

Half Marathon: Adam Pacheck 1:28:01 (2017)

Handicap records on the old course in Kennedy State Forest, Virgil, NY:

Marathon: Gary Burdick 3:27:00 (1998) and Becky Harman 3:30:51 (2003)

Half Marathon: Alan Evans 1:33:23 (2008) and Yvette de Boer 1:30:20 (2012)

• Running 26.2 miles on this course is difficult! Those running the full marathon should be trained for an ultramarathon effort.
• Look for trail markers or you could end up off course! As with all trail runs, it’s on you to pay attention.
• Unlike road races, the footing is not level. It is uneven and can be dangerous. A fall or injury is possible.
• Insect bites, ticks, mud, treacherous footing, forest monsters, and vehicles at road crossings are all possible hazards.
• Heat could be a problem this time of year. If so, carry fluids and watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion!

• Full marathoners finishing the first out-and-back after 10:30 AM will not be allowed to continue!
• No dogs, headphones, or jogging strollers. These make the race dangerous for everyone.
• The race directors reserve the right to reject any entry for any reason.
• Entry fees are non-refundable, even if the race is canceled because of an act of nature or humankind.
• If you need accommodation for a disability to participate in this event, please contact the FLRC Diversity and Inclusion Committee chair at diversity@fingerlakesrunners.org.
• This race is organized by the Finger Lakes Runners Club and insured by the Road Runners Club of America.

Interactive map — Click “Open in Cal Topo” for turn-by-turn course directions. To download a .gpx file of the Half Marathon course that can be loaded onto a GPS watch, open the map. Click “Export” at the top, then “Download GPX File.”