We’re really excited to bring you another year, and new course configuration of the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon. For years we’ve wanted to use the Black Diamond Trail as a whole. This will be the year, with runners bused (or getting dropped off) at a start at the awe-inspiring Taughannock Falls State Park. Runners will run the full length of the beautiful Black Diamond Rail Trail, a hard-packed gravel path descending 700’ over 8 miles back to Ithaca with micro-gorges and waterfalls bursting along the way. After the Black Diamond Trail descent, runners will cross the Inlet and run on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail to Stewart Park at the base of Cayuga Lake. From there it will be a fast final mile through the Fall Creek Neighborhood to a finish at DeWitt Park.Note: Course configuration may change influenced by factors including a current nationwide shortage of bus-drivers. In the case we can’t secure enough drivers, we may shift to an out-back course such as that used in 2021, or a varied loop around Ithaca.Updates for 2021 per COVID considerations:Moving to a downtown-contained new course format so as to remove the bus-to-start format4 waves based on projected finish times to foster increased physical distancingMask-requirement at check-in, ahead of start, and after you cross the finish line unless physically distancedEncouragement of entrants to carry their own hydration to reduce aid station cross contact and interactionPost-race food in to-go style format / containers\n2022 Course Format / Highlights:2022 Interactive Course Map can be viewed hereStart above Taughanock Falls in Trumansburg, NYFinish next to DeWitt Park on Cayuga StUse of the Black Diamond Rail Trail and Cayuga Waterfront TrailRetains signature finish through Fall Creek to the finish just shy of the Ithaca CommonsWhat you’ll get:Each runner will receive 5 aid stations on courseDelicious post-race food in to-go format from Fittnell Farms CateringEvent tech-tee (only guaranteed to those registering befor