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Marathon Details - D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon)

North America Marathons > USA > PA > Allentown > D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon)

D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon)

St. Luke's D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) & Half Marathon, Marathon Relay

Allentown, PA USA

November 10, 2024

http://race.delawareandlehigh.org

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2023 2013 2012 2011 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

The Lehigh Valley's Marathon is a point-to-point course that is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier known for its flat or gentle downhill grade, shade and lack of turns. The course starts in downtown Allentown, hits the lush, scenic and historic D&L Trail (packed gravel or paved towpath/rail trail) at mile 9.5, then Bethlehem at mile 13.5 and follows the Lehigh River into the finish in Easton. The half marathon run or walk begins in historic downtown Bethlehem, hits the D&L Trail at mile 0.6, and continues into Easton.

Contact Information

Name:	Loretta Susen
Address:	2750 Hugh Moore Park Road Easton, PA 18042
Phone Number:	6109233548
Email:	Email the organizers

More Information

These details were last updated by the race director on 3/15/24 and may be out of date.
Number of Runners:	2,200
Number of Spectators:	1,000
Fees & Deadlines:	Block pricing for marathon: $110/$120/$130/$140/ $150. Block pricing for half: $70/$80/$90/$100
Start Time:	8:00 AM
Course Highlights:	The Lehigh Valley's Marathon is a point-to-point course that is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier known for its flat or gentle downhill grade, shade and lack of turns. The course starts in downtown Allentown, hits the D&L Trail (packed gravel or paved towpath/rail trail) at mile 9.5, then Bethlehem at mile 13.5 and follows the Lehigh River into the finish in Easton. The half marathon run or walk begins in historic downtown Bethlehem, hits the D&L Trail at mile 0.6, and continues into Easton. Five relay legs (longest is 7.1 miles, shortest is 3.4 miles) comprise the marathon relay.
Course Refreshments:	Refreshments will be available at the start & finish of race for runners. Hydration stations about every two miles.
Certified? Certification:	Yes, USA-2023-314
Race Day Registration:	None
Online Registration:	https://raceroster.com/events/2024/84906/st-lukes-d-and-l-racefest
Packet Pickup Info:	Race Expo: Saturday, November 9 at Allentown Renaissance Hotel downtown, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Race day pick up at both start lines available for extra fee.
Marathon Ratings:	Course Scenery/Beauty/Interest: Good for First Timers: Crowd Support: Course Speed:

Runner Reviews (6)

Course 4.0

Organization 4.3

Spectators 2.2

Write a review

Number of comments: 6

T. F. from US, NY (11/14/2023) "Nice small town marathon" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Well-organized marathon. Volunteers were great. Participants were allowed in the P&L center to stay warm before the start. First mile was downhill. Remainder of course is relatively flat. 17 miles of scenic rail trails. Big medal. Surprised more people do not run this race. I would run this race again.
Bradford Hammer from Old Tappan, NJ (11/8/2012) "My ankles and quads thank you" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Probably the best thing about this run is the surface. Most of the route is towpath/rail trail, and the crushed limestone is a good deal easier on the legs than macadam or asphalt. (I would have added that my knees thank you as well, but I had an hour-long conversation with my right knee beginning at mile 19.) Also an NYC refugee, so it was nice to have this backup. It seemed that 1/3 of the marathoners had been displaced from the world major, so I was in good company. Race scenery comes in the form of woods and water, with a canopy of trees covering most of the trail. Interestingly, the first half of the run had trees with leaves, and the second part just had bare branches - like running from late fall into early winter. It also seemed to get a bit colder and darker as the day wore on, which might have contributed to the transition. Outside of the path and the surrounding nature, this part of Pennsylvania remains a bit hardscrabble. Covered bridges are followed by slate quarry heaps, and there are some uh, rural handyman-special houses along the way. Manufacturing and mining are part of the Commonwealth's heritage, and one clearly gets that sense in these smaller towns. A few course notes: there are zero clocks along the route (save for sneaking a peek at the finishing timer that one passes at mile 20ish), and there is zero food along the course - no gel stations, bananas, etc. Also, the water stations are a bit sporadic, so be sure to fill up when passing. And it can get a tad windy and lonely on the trail. Everyone seems to mention the odd hill late in the race (and a young woman I met at the top was complaining bitterly about it). It's really not runnable, nor is the scree scramble to get down it a few miles later. But neither part is terribly long, and they do break up the course a bit. On the other hand, the elevated area mixes a nice dirt trail with not-so-nice sections of tricky chopped stone so perhaps there's a way to simply extend the current out-and-back portion and eliminate the upper loop. I am a little puzzled why organizers do not make greater use of the large Northampton Recreation Center that is easy walking distance to the start. Both the marathon and half-marathon actually begin before NRC opens in the morning, so it seems that officials could have made some accommodations to utilize the indoor (and heated) facility as a staging area. This was one of those local races where participants get bibs and then go back and sit in warm cars for a while and it would have been much more fun for runners to have a chance to chat without freezing. And, at the end of the race, it would have been outstanding to have access to showers at NRC. The Garden Spot Marathon in Lancaster does this (in conjunction with the Garden Spot Village Assisted Living Facility) and it's a real godsend. Like Garden Spot, Delaware and Lehigh Heritage does a nice job with post-race food for runners. The warm chili was especially welcome on a brisk day, and the grilled chicken sandwiches and PB&J were wonderful to have after completing 26.2. The bus ride back to the start worked out really well, and volunteers along the route (and at the finish line) couldn't have been nicer. Plus, the race had a bag drop and one could get final results moments after crossing the finish line. I was very pleased to have a viable option in the area once NYC canceled, and I do appreciate how quickly the legs sprung back given the softer running surface.
Eliot W. Collins from Raritan Borough, NJ (11/8/2012) "Enjoyable Race - Will Return Again in 2013" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 For much of the race I could not see any other runners either ahead of me or behind me. No spectators or 'race expo' either. This is exactly what I like. The price was right as well. No complaints from me at all.
M. K. from New York, NY (11/5/2012) "Scenic race" (about: 2012) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was a fun race - very scenic, running alongside a river most of the time. The people running the race were very friendly and there was great food and beverages at the end of the race. Very welcoming after a long run. 'Heartbreak hill' is more than a hill. It is a 15% grade scramble up a mountain. Has no place as part of a marathon, especially not at mile 20! At the top of this hill, you run on large gravel that makes you worry that you will sprain your ankle. I would recommend to the race organizers to get rid of this whole section of the race - has no business being part of a marathon that for the most part is a road and trail marathon and not a hike! Overall, I very much enjoyed the race and I would suggest that you sign up!!
J. M. from Wilmington, DE (11/5/2012) "Well organized race with lots of small town charm" (about: 2012) 3 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Like many other runners at the 2012 running of this marathon I was a NYC 'refugee.' The race welcomed all of us with open arms and put a big smile on my face. Organization: Extremely well organized and efficient. Large parking lot located within steps of starting line and race morning packet pick-up. Bib pickup was quick and easy, as was bag drop. I appreciated being able to drop off my bag without a hassle about 5 minutes before the gun went off and pick it up 2-3 minutes after crossing the finish line. Good communication from the race director leading up to the race and searchable digital race results were available at the finish area immediately after finishing. Free shuttle bus from the finish back to parking lot was quick and nice and warm on a cold day. I applaud the great organization at this small race, very efficient and well thought out. Course: The course was a mix of crushed limestone, paved roads, and some random spots of rougher trail and gravel (probably 19 miles of limestone, 6 miles paved and 1 mile of the rougher stuff). Mostly everyone I saw, including myself, was using road running shoes and this was the right choice in my opinion, no need for trail shoes. There is only one noticeable short steep hill around mile 20 which while not great is over quickly and can be walked if necessary without losing much time. The rest of the course is kind of flat but there is a slight gradual uphill which never ends for most of the first half of the race. In 2012 there was a fair amount of headwind for most of the course. The roughest parts of the trails sadly come during miles 22 & 23, which was not ideal. All things considered it was a good and fair course, it is fast enough to be a BQ course but unlikely to be an all time PR course. Some of the mile markers appeared to be misplaced along the course this year, but it wasn't a big deal as the large majority were consistent and accurate. Fans/volunteers: Everyone was VERY kind and encouraging. This was a small race so there were not throngs of fans, but those who were out were very supportive. The volunteers on the course and at the water stops did a great job. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the runners, your efforts were appreciated! It should be noted that all of the runners in this race were also very friendly and supportive. A great small race feel to it. General comments: Great organization; lots of small town charm; good somewhat fast course; not many frills or distractions; will put a smile on your face. Overall I would highly recommend this race if you enjoy smaller marathons.
P. S. from New Jersey (10/24/2011) "I enjoyed it!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 A very nice marathon. Positives - 1. Nice course, 2. Very scenic, 3. Very enthusiastic volunteers, 4. Interesting venue. 5. Heritage Heartbreak Hill was challenging. 6. The 'roads' were great to run on. The trail itself is very soft on the legs (if running 26.2 miles can be soft). 7. Shuttle buses were great at the finish 8. VERY KIND PEOPLE 9. It was great to be part of history 10. Nice shirt. 11. LOVE the medal! I went in under trained, but wanting to run a fall marathon - I found this race on this site and decided to give it a shot. I am glad I did. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS RACE. Some Areas for Improvement for 2012 - 1. The race got off about 30 minutes late. It wasn't a big deal, but that isn't the best way to start. 2. There were too many out and back loops of 2-3 miles. That gets tiring as it feels like progress is slow. (One positive though was the encouragement from other runners that we passed on each of these. It's always nice to hear, 'You're doing great!' (Even if you're not!) ) 3. The out-and-back-and out-and back loops from Mile 20.5 to Mile 23 was torture. There has got to be a better way! Right when a runner is often feeling his worst, he is caught in this seemingly never ending cycle of going up and down on the same road - seemingly forever. 4. Please more water stops - and a stop to hand our GU or something like that. I carried some GU, but would have really liked a bit of something at the upper miles. Please note - The first 21.5 miles were (mostly) at a slow, gradual uphill grade. (Or at least it seemed it to me.) That's tough! Thanks for a GREAT RACE! I am glad I competed in this event. This was the smallest marathon in which I ever participated, but that added to the character of the race. Nice job!



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T. F. from US, NY (11/14/2023) "Nice small town marathon" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Well-organized marathon. Volunteers were great. Participants were allowed in the P&L center to stay warm before the start. First mile was downhill. Remainder of course is relatively flat. 17 miles of scenic rail trails. Big medal. Surprised more people do not run this race. I would run this race again.
Bradford Hammer from Old Tappan, NJ (11/8/2012) "My ankles and quads thank you" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Probably the best thing about this run is the surface. Most of the route is towpath/rail trail, and the crushed limestone is a good deal easier on the legs than macadam or asphalt. (I would have added that my knees thank you as well, but I had an hour-long conversation with my right knee beginning at mile 19.) Also an NYC refugee, so it was nice to have this backup. It seemed that 1/3 of the marathoners had been displaced from the world major, so I was in good company. Race scenery comes in the form of woods and water, with a canopy of trees covering most of the trail. Interestingly, the first half of the run had trees with leaves, and the second part just had bare branches - like running from late fall into early winter. It also seemed to get a bit colder and darker as the day wore on, which might have contributed to the transition. Outside of the path and the surrounding nature, this part of Pennsylvania remains a bit hardscrabble. Covered bridges are followed by slate quarry heaps, and there are some uh, rural handyman-special houses along the way. Manufacturing and mining are part of the Commonwealth's heritage, and one clearly gets that sense in these smaller towns. A few course notes: there are zero clocks along the route (save for sneaking a peek at the finishing timer that one passes at mile 20ish), and there is zero food along the course - no gel stations, bananas, etc. Also, the water stations are a bit sporadic, so be sure to fill up when passing. And it can get a tad windy and lonely on the trail. Everyone seems to mention the odd hill late in the race (and a young woman I met at the top was complaining bitterly about it). It's really not runnable, nor is the scree scramble to get down it a few miles later. But neither part is terribly long, and they do break up the course a bit. On the other hand, the elevated area mixes a nice dirt trail with not-so-nice sections of tricky chopped stone so perhaps there's a way to simply extend the current out-and-back portion and eliminate the upper loop. I am a little puzzled why organizers do not make greater use of the large Northampton Recreation Center that is easy walking distance to the start. Both the marathon and half-marathon actually begin before NRC opens in the morning, so it seems that officials could have made some accommodations to utilize the indoor (and heated) facility as a staging area. This was one of those local races where participants get bibs and then go back and sit in warm cars for a while and it would have been much more fun for runners to have a chance to chat without freezing. And, at the end of the race, it would have been outstanding to have access to showers at NRC. The Garden Spot Marathon in Lancaster does this (in conjunction with the Garden Spot Village Assisted Living Facility) and it's a real godsend. Like Garden Spot, Delaware and Lehigh Heritage does a nice job with post-race food for runners. The warm chili was especially welcome on a brisk day, and the grilled chicken sandwiches and PB&J were wonderful to have after completing 26.2. The bus ride back to the start worked out really well, and volunteers along the route (and at the finish line) couldn't have been nicer. Plus, the race had a bag drop and one could get final results moments after crossing the finish line. I was very pleased to have a viable option in the area once NYC canceled, and I do appreciate how quickly the legs sprung back given the softer running surface.
Eliot W. Collins from Raritan Borough, NJ (11/8/2012) "Enjoyable Race - Will Return Again in 2013" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 For much of the race I could not see any other runners either ahead of me or behind me. No spectators or 'race expo' either. This is exactly what I like. The price was right as well. No complaints from me at all.
M. K. from New York, NY (11/5/2012) "Scenic race" (about: 2012) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was a fun race - very scenic, running alongside a river most of the time. The people running the race were very friendly and there was great food and beverages at the end of the race. Very welcoming after a long run. 'Heartbreak hill' is more than a hill. It is a 15% grade scramble up a mountain. Has no place as part of a marathon, especially not at mile 20! At the top of this hill, you run on large gravel that makes you worry that you will sprain your ankle. I would recommend to the race organizers to get rid of this whole section of the race - has no business being part of a marathon that for the most part is a road and trail marathon and not a hike! Overall, I very much enjoyed the race and I would suggest that you sign up!!
J. M. from Wilmington, DE (11/5/2012) "Well organized race with lots of small town charm" (about: 2012) 3 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Like many other runners at the 2012 running of this marathon I was a NYC 'refugee.' The race welcomed all of us with open arms and put a big smile on my face. Organization: Extremely well organized and efficient. Large parking lot located within steps of starting line and race morning packet pick-up. Bib pickup was quick and easy, as was bag drop. I appreciated being able to drop off my bag without a hassle about 5 minutes before the gun went off and pick it up 2-3 minutes after crossing the finish line. Good communication from the race director leading up to the race and searchable digital race results were available at the finish area immediately after finishing. Free shuttle bus from the finish back to parking lot was quick and nice and warm on a cold day. I applaud the great organization at this small race, very efficient and well thought out. Course: The course was a mix of crushed limestone, paved roads, and some random spots of rougher trail and gravel (probably 19 miles of limestone, 6 miles paved and 1 mile of the rougher stuff). Mostly everyone I saw, including myself, was using road running shoes and this was the right choice in my opinion, no need for trail shoes. There is only one noticeable short steep hill around mile 20 which while not great is over quickly and can be walked if necessary without losing much time. The rest of the course is kind of flat but there is a slight gradual uphill which never ends for most of the first half of the race. In 2012 there was a fair amount of headwind for most of the course. The roughest parts of the trails sadly come during miles 22 & 23, which was not ideal. All things considered it was a good and fair course, it is fast enough to be a BQ course but unlikely to be an all time PR course. Some of the mile markers appeared to be misplaced along the course this year, but it wasn't a big deal as the large majority were consistent and accurate. Fans/volunteers: Everyone was VERY kind and encouraging. This was a small race so there were not throngs of fans, but those who were out were very supportive. The volunteers on the course and at the water stops did a great job. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the runners, your efforts were appreciated! It should be noted that all of the runners in this race were also very friendly and supportive. A great small race feel to it. General comments: Great organization; lots of small town charm; good somewhat fast course; not many frills or distractions; will put a smile on your face. Overall I would highly recommend this race if you enjoy smaller marathons.
P. S. from New Jersey (10/24/2011) "I enjoyed it!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 A very nice marathon. Positives - 1. Nice course, 2. Very scenic, 3. Very enthusiastic volunteers, 4. Interesting venue. 5. Heritage Heartbreak Hill was challenging. 6. The 'roads' were great to run on. The trail itself is very soft on the legs (if running 26.2 miles can be soft). 7. Shuttle buses were great at the finish 8. VERY KIND PEOPLE 9. It was great to be part of history 10. Nice shirt. 11. LOVE the medal! I went in under trained, but wanting to run a fall marathon - I found this race on this site and decided to give it a shot. I am glad I did. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS RACE. Some Areas for Improvement for 2012 - 1. The race got off about 30 minutes late. It wasn't a big deal, but that isn't the best way to start. 2. There were too many out and back loops of 2-3 miles. That gets tiring as it feels like progress is slow. (One positive though was the encouragement from other runners that we passed on each of these. It's always nice to hear, 'You're doing great!' (Even if you're not!) ) 3. The out-and-back-and out-and back loops from Mile 20.5 to Mile 23 was torture. There has got to be a better way! Right when a runner is often feeling his worst, he is caught in this seemingly never ending cycle of going up and down on the same road - seemingly forever. 4. Please more water stops - and a stop to hand our GU or something like that. I carried some GU, but would have really liked a bit of something at the upper miles. Please note - The first 21.5 miles were (mostly) at a slow, gradual uphill grade. (Or at least it seemed it to me.) That's tough! Thanks for a GREAT RACE! I am glad I competed in this event. This was the smallest marathon in which I ever participated, but that added to the character of the race. Nice job!

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Marathon Details - D&L RaceFest Marathon (formerly Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon)