Via Marathon (formerly the Lehigh Valley Hospital Marathon for

I've been gunning for a BQT for several years, and friends suggested this race as it's right before the Boston cutoff. Much of the race is on trail, not super technical, but loose dirt with some rocks, so I trained on that type of surface. 2018 was rainy so there were some big muddy puddles to work around. Crowd support was very upbeat, as well as nice support from other runners. It was not as chilly as I anticipated which worked for me. Came away with my BQT and a nice buffer. No real expo to speak of, and food around there is dire. As far as I'm concerned though, mission accomplished.

I chose this race as a chance to BQ before the registration process. Bib pickup was very easy and smooth. There wasn't any lines or large crowds. Race morning it was pretty quick using portapotties and lining up. The weather was perfect with a light to moderate rain at 51 degrees. I gave the course 4 stars as I wasn't a fan of the dirt trail. I didn't mind it but once we got to mile 21 I was just bored of the same scenery. Don't get me wrong it was pretty just boring for me. If you need spectators in a race this isn't for you. There are some at a few points but not many. I would run this race again.

This was my 3rd running of the Lehigh Valley Marathon, and rain did not diminish my enjoyment of the race. It is extremely well organized, from start to finish. The course is enjoyable, with many miles on trails. The race also goes out and marks large rocks and tree roots on the trail for the runners. Volunteers are amazing, especially considering the lousy weather they stood out in for hours. Plenty of water/Gatorade stops, and great post-race. While you don't have a lot of spectators on the trails, I give 5 stars to those who come out on the road portions, as they are enthusiastic and encouraging. Again, they stood out in the rain without complaint cheering us on. A great race, and it helps it's the last weekend before Boston Marathon registration opens up. Many people run it for the last chance at a BQ...and many people succeed.