Cooperstown, NY
Saturday, June 6, 2026
5 Stars from 1 ReviewsThe Race the Lake Marathon is a challenging, scenic road course that tests an athlete's endurance through continuous elevation changes. Winding through Central New York, the course accumulates a demanding total elevation gain of approximately 1550 feet. Both USATF-certified and sanctioned, this race serves as an official Boston Marathon Qualifier.
The race course is designed as a single, large loop that circles clockwise entirely around the perimeter of Otsego Lake. Starting and finishing inside Glimmerglass State Park in Cooperstown, New York, runners travel along scenic county roads and highways that pass through Springfield, Middlefield, and the Town of Otsego. The running surface is fully paved, and the lake is on the runner's right-hand side for nearly the entire 26.2-mile journey, offering regular waterfront views.
Notable milestones along the loop include historic and cultural landmarks such as the Glimmerglass Opera, The Farmers' Museum, the Fenimore Art Museum, the Otesaga Resort Hotel, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Because the marathon is run on country roads, runners face constant elevation changes throughout the loop, consisting of rolling hills.
A successful pacing strategy requires cautious pace management and an early acceptance of the rolling terrain, as banking time on the fluctuating hills can lead to an early bonk and difficult last few miles.
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Race Dates
2027: TBDCourse Information
Profile: Rolling HillsRace Day Weather
Mean Temp.: 66°F (18°C)PR Score & Course Score
PR Score: 93.72Race Size
2026: 106 FinishersBQ Percentages
2026: 1.9%Miscellaneous Information
Pace Groups?: No
Race Day Temperatures |
High: 71°F (22°C) |
Race Start Conditions |
61°F (16°C) |
PR Score |
94.05 |
Course Score |
96.17 |
The Race the Lake Marathon was the 374th largest marathon in the U.S. in 2025 based on the number of finishers. In 2024, it ranked as the 350th largest marathon in the U.S..
In 2026, 1.9% of Race the Lake Marathon finishers have achieved Boston Marathon qualifying times. In 2025, 5% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon.
Based on its percentage of Boston Qualifiers (BQs), the Race the Lake Marathon ranked 279th among marathons in the U.S. in 2025 and currently ranks 194th so far in 2026. In New York, it ranked 14th in 2025 and 6th so far in 2026. These rankings provide a useful benchmark for comparing the Race the Lake Marathon with other Boston Marathon qualifying races.
The Race the Lake Marathon has a Course Score of 95.96, ranking it as the 424th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 19th fastest marathon course in New York.
Typical race-time temperature and humidity levels are above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. Combined with the course profile, this gives the Race the Lake Marathon a PR Score of 93.72. The PR Score ranks the Race the Lake Marathon as the 435th best marathon in the U.S. for running a Personal Record (PR) and the 19th best marathon for a PR in New York.
Together, these rankings provide a quick snapshot of how the Race the Lake Marathon compares with other marathons in the U.S. and New York for speed, PR potential, Boston Marathon qualifying success, and overall participation.
Max Elevation: 1531 feet (466m)
Min Elevation: 1198 feet (365m)
Elevation Gain: 1553 feet (473m)
Elevation Loss: 1553 feet (473m)
Course updated 05/13/2026
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