Get ready for one of Ithaca’s most iconic spring traditions—the 42nd Annual Skunk Cabbage Classic! Choose between the 10K and half-marathon courses that wind through the Cornell campus, along a scenic paved rail trail, and into the rolling countryside of Ellis Hollow. This is your chance to join hundreds of runners in celebrating the start of spring as the skunk cabbages emerge.

This year’s race celebrates its 42nd running with a nod to Douglas Adams’s beloved science fiction novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where 42 is “the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.” Featuring our adventurous mascot hitching a ride across the galaxy, this year’s race shirts and medals are must-haves. (T-shirts guaranteed only for those who register before February 15.)

The Skunk Cabbage Classic also features announcing at the finish, festivities in the warmth of Barton Hall, personalized bibs for those who register in time, free race photos, and post-race munchies. We’ll even help you train—join our Sunday Skunkday long runs on the Skunk course every Sunday from February through the race.

If you can’t run the race, we need your help. Skunk Cabbage is a large-scale event that we couldn’t put on without help from individuals in our generous community. Please sign up in Helper Helper to volunteer. 

If this is your debut road race, check out our First-Timers FAQs for Road Races.

The start and finish are in front of Barton Hall at Cornell University, and the courses will be the same as 2024, winding through the Cornell campus, along a scenic paved rail trail, and into the rolling countryside of Ellis Hollow. Check-in, restrooms, and post-race refreshments will be inside Barton Hall—use the Garden Avenue (east) entrance.

Free parking is available in the Crescent lot on the east side of Schoellkopf Field, the parking garage across from Teagle Hall, and adjacent lots as noted on signs. To more easily find the race check-in, enter Barton Hall on the east (Garden Avenue) side. If you enter on the west (Statler Drive) side, come up a staircase (at least three staircases are on offer) and into the center of the building to find the track and the check-in area. The accessible entrance is on the Garden Avenue side; there is no elevator between floors.

10K Course (Water stop with a porta-potty at Stevenson and Dodge accessed in both directions.)

Half Marathon Course (Water stops at Stevenson/Dodge, Ellis Hollow Creek/Genung, both accessed twice, and at the turnaround point, plus a porta-potty at Stevenson and Dodge accessed in both directions.)

Bib Pickup and In-Person Registration

Bib pickup is available the day before the race, Saturday, April 5, from 10:30 AM to 5 PM at Finger Lakes Running Company (700 Cascadilla Street, Ithaca—next to Purity Ice Cream). Shirts will also be available for those who ordered them when registering.

Bib pickup is also available at Barton Hall on race morning, from 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM. If you can’t make it to the Finger Lakes Running Company the day before, please allow plenty of time to pick up your bib (and shirt if you pre-ordered one).

Race Times

Half Marathon: 9:00 AM
10K: 9:15 AM

Please plan to arrive early enough to allow time for parking and getting ready to run! Campus Road will be closed between Hoy Road and Wing Drive starting at 8:30, so if you arrive after then, you’ll have to park in the parking garage or along Tower Road.

Online registration through RunSignup will be open until 2:00 PM on April 5. Leone Timing will make day-of-race online registration available, but a credit card is required.

Early registration is designed to help keep the race affordable. Fees go up for late registration because we need accurate numbers to order the optimal amount of food necessary for the race. Last-minute registration is the most expensive because it creates significantly more work for the race directors and timers in managing entries and assigning bibs.

FLRC members get a $5 discount. Join the club before registering to save!

10K

• Early Registration: 12/1 through 12/31: $30
• Regular Registration: 1/1 through 3/16: $35
• Late Registration: 3/17 through 4/1: $45
• Last-Minute Registration: 4/2 through 4/7: $65

Half Marathon

• Early Registration: 12/1 through 12/31: $40
• Regular Registration: 1/1 through 3/16: $45
• Late Registration: 3/17 through 4/1: $55
• Last-Minute Registration: 4/2 through 4/7: $75

If financial considerations would prevent you from entering this race, you may use coupon code FLRCRUNFREE2025 before 3/16 to waive the entry fee.

Elite Entry Information

We are offering complimentary race entry if you have met any time standard shown below in a race since April 1, 2024. Equivalent times from other race distances are acceptable. Contact race director Adam Engst with your race results if you qualify for elite entry.

• Restrooms are available at Barton Hall.
• There will be a lead biker for each race.
• The 10K has two water stops with a porta-potty accessed twice, and the half marathon has five with a porta-potty accessed twice.
• Results will be posted at the staging area during the race, and will be available on RunSignUp and on the FLRC website soon after the race. The race is timed by Leone Timing.
• For remaining questions, contact race director Adam Engst at skunk@fingerlakesrunners.org.

Be aware that both courses include roads that are open to traffic! Course marshals will assist you in crossing, but all runners need to be alert and aware of traffic.

Finishers in both races will receive an all-new custom finisher’s medal.

The award ceremony takes place soon after each race ends, with awards for men and women in the following categories for each race:

• Cash prizes to the top three overall open ($200, $100, $50), first masters (40–49, $50), and first vets (50+, $50), and first non-binary runner ($200). Per FLRC’s Award Equity Policy, all cash prize winners must meet the time standards of 45:00 for the 10K and 1:35:06 for the half marathon.
• Age-group awards for the top finisher in these age groups: 1–14, 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, and 70+.
• The top three non-binary runners in each race will receive the same award as age-group winners, regardless of age or time.

There is no duplication of awards. Age-group winners must be present to receive their awards or make other arrangements.

• If you expect to take over 2.5 hours to complete the half marathon, please contact the race director. The cut-off time is 3 hours (13:44 pace). The course will close on a rolling basis after the last runner or at times associated with that pace.
• Absolutely no refunds, deferrals, or athlete transfers will be allowed.
• No dogs or jogging strollers! These make the race dangerous for everyone.
• Headphones are discouraged for safety and social reasons. If you wear them, you must remain aware of traffic and passing runners.
• Parents must retain supervision of minor children during the event.
• The race directors reserve the right to reject any entry for any reason.
• If you need an 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 is insured by the Road Runners Club of America.

The courses changed in 2024, necessitating new course records.

10K: Paul Suflita 32:13 (2024), Jennifer Boerner 39:00 (2024)
Half Marathon: Matthew Goyden 1:15:20 (2024), Bella Burda 1:21:46 (2024)

Masters 10K: Eric Maki 40:28 (2024), Jennifer Boerner 39:00 (2024)
Masters Half Marathon: Roger Moseley 1:19:52 (2024), Erin Frahm 1:41:12 (2024)

Pre-2024 Course Records

10K: Tom Boone 30:33 (1987), Tamara Sayre 35:36 (1989)
Half Marathon: Joe Whelan 1:06:51 (2023), Ellie Pell 1:20:37 (2016)

Masters 10K: Tim Otis 33:20 (1995), Chelsea Benson 36:50 (2023)
Masters Half Marathon: Kevin Collins 1:13:17 (2014), Winnie Ngan 1:25:55 (2001)