Get ready for one of Ithaca’s most iconic spring traditions—the 43rd 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.

Since this is our 43rd running—and 43 is a prime number—we leaned into the obvious opportunity: Skunktimus Prime. Inspired by the iconic leader of the Transformers, our skunk mascot has morphed into a towering running robot for 2026, complete with bold comic styling and a rallying cry for all of us: RUNBOTS, ROLL OUT! (T-shirts guaranteed only for those who register before February 8.)

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 Skunkday long runs on the Skunk course every weekend 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 2025, 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, inbound and outbound, and at the turnaround point, plus a porta-potty at Stevenson/Dodge, inbound and outbound, and a portal-potty at Ellis Hollow Creek/Genung, inbound and outboud.)

Bib Pickup and In-Person Registration

Bib pickup is available the day before the race, Saturday, March 28, 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 before March 25.

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 8:00 AM on March 28; all in-person day-of-race registrations must be paid for with a credit card. Those registering after March 24 must pick up their bibs on race morning (not on Saturday) and will be able to buy shirts then.

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: 11/26 through 12/31: $30
• Regular Registration: 1/1 through 3/8: $35
• Late Registration: 3/9 through 3/24: $45
• Last-Minute Registration: 3/25 through 3/29: $65

Half Marathon

• Early Registration: 11/26 through 12/31: $40
• Regular Registration: 1/1 through 3/8: $45
• Late Registration: 3/9 through 3/24: $55
• Last-Minute Registration: 3/25 through 3/29: $75

If financial considerations would prevent you from entering this race, you may use coupon code FLRCRUNFREE2026 before 3/9 to waive the entry fee.

Elite Entry Information

We offer a complimentary race entry if you have met any of the time standards shown below in a race since April 1, 2025. Equivalent times from other race distances are acceptable. Contact race director Adam Engst with your race results if you qualify for elite entry.

Thanks to our 2026 sponsors!

• Bangs Ambulance
• Ithaca Bakery
• Ithaca Milk
• Wegmans

Other notes:

• 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 (once outbound and once inbound), and the half marathon has five water stops with a two porta-potties accessed four times (twice outbound, twice inbound).
• Results will be posted at the staging area during the race and will be available on RunSignUp and the FLRC website soon after the race. The race is chip-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 (likely 10:30 for the 10K and 11:00 for the half marathon), 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, 70–74, 75–79, and 80+.
• The top three non-binary runners in each race will receive the same award as the 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 2:50 to complete the half marathon, please contact the race director for a 30-minute early start for a very limited number of people. 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. That means water stops will be removed, course marshals will disappear, and traffic, particularly at the main Dryden Road intersection at 12 miles, will no longer be stopped. If you’re unsure whether you can finish in under 3 hours, please run the 10K so our volunteers don’t have to stand around in the cold longer than necessary.
• 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.
• Awards are governed by FLRC’s Award Equity Policy.
• All runners, volunteers, and spectators must abide by FLRC’s Code of Conduct.
• 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.
• To ensure participant and volunteer safety in the event of hazardous environmental conditions, the race director may modify or cancel the race in accordance with FLRC’s Event Cancellation Policy.
• 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), Emily Miller 38:21 (2025)
Half Marathon: John Salva 1:15:03 (2025), Bella Burda 1:21:46 (2024)

Masters 10K: Eric Maki 40:28 (2024), Jennifer Boerner Selig 38:53 (2025)
Masters Half Marathon: Chip O’Hara 1:15:34 (2025), Liz Hartman 1:37:43 (2025)

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)