Pocantico Hills Marathon

Few marathons get a venue like this one. The race loops through the century-old carriage road network of Rockefeller State Park Preserve above the Hudson River, and entry fees support the preserve and regional trail groups. Walk-friendly cutoffs and a separate marathon walk division open the day to a wider range of finishers than most trail events.

The marathon runs one big loop from Rockwood Hall through nearly the whole preserve on wide, groomed carriage roads. There are no cars and no pavement, but the route climbs and rolls past stone walls, bridges, and lakes, so it races more like a hilly trail event than a road marathon.

Early November in the lower Hudson Valley usually means a cold start in the 30s or 40s with highs near the 50s. Rain and wind are realistic, and wet leaves on the carriage roads can slow footing late in the loop.