Races

Get ready for one of Ithaca’s most iconic spring traditions—the 43rd Annual Skunk Cabbage Classic! Choose between the 10K and half-marathon courses that wind through the Cornell campus, along a scenic paved rail trail, and into the rolling countryside of Ellis Hollow. This is your chance to join hundreds of runners in celebrating the start of spring as the skunk cabbages emerge. Since this is our 43rd running—and 43 is a prime number—we leaned into the obvious opportunity: Skunktimus Prime. Inspired by the iconic leader of the Transformers, our skunk mascot has morphed into a towering running robot for 2026, complete with bold comic styling and a rallying cry for all of us: RUNBOTS, ROLL OUT! Whether you’re chasing a PR or just want to enjoy a massive group run with friends, the Skunk Cabbage Classic promises a welcoming atmosphere and pre- and -post-race activities in the warmth of Cornell’s Barton Hall. Don’t panic—sign up today and be part of the fun!

It's been fun to offer our returners new courses and formats which have highlighted different parts of Ithaca and its surrounding communities. And, first timers, what hopefully will be another day running one of the most beautiful and finest half marathons in the Country. 2025 will be no different. Here's what we're planning: We'll again start stage from Trumansburg High School, with a Start line on South St. From South St, runners will take a left onto Main St to start a weave through downtown Trumansburg's rolling before beginning to head for Ithaca. They'll pass through the upper tip of Taughannock Falls State Park before reaching the head of the Black Diamond Rail Trail. From there it'll be a steady descent along the hard packed gravel surface to arrive back in Ithaca. Once you emerge it'll be a, hopefully, fast final mile, running north along the Cayuga Lake for a finish in Cass Park. Note: Course configuration may change. 2026 Course Format / Highl

The Ithaca Twilight 5K is a fun, family-friendly event on an early-summer evening. Whether you run or walk, you’ll finish in daylight because it’s held on one of the longest days of the year. With a flat course and relatively few road crossings, it’s a perfect first 5K for all ages. We start/finish at Cass Park. The race is chip-timed by Leone Timing. Race day packet pickup is from 5:30–6:45 PM. The race starts promptly at 7 PM. Online registration only.

Trot, run, walk, roll, stroll, skip, mosey or saunter in the 2026 Peter De Mott Peace Trot!   The Peter De Mott Peace Trot is an annual 5k and 1-mile run organized and hosted by the Ithaca Catholic Worker in honor of peace activist, runner and Ithaca community member, Peter De Mott. Peter worked tirelessly to bring about a more just and peaceful world. This event has become a fun filled, family Father’s Day event in its sixteen years. We also invite serious runners to its well known fast course to try and equal race records. The suggested registration fee is $35 and increases to $45 on race day.  You can pay as much as you can afford or can donate extra to help our important peace and community work. Either way, all participants will receive one of our newly designed collectable t-shirts. You will enjoy some nutritious food after the run and age group winners receive unique, practical, artistic or quirky prizes of their own choosing. Won’t you join us?   Registration opens at 7:30 am!

The Runway 5k looped the runway and taxiway. The course is flat and fast, with a limit of 515 runners to be cleared for takeoff on the round-trip. Pre registration includes T-Shirt while supplies last.    Location:  Ithaca Tompkins International Airport   Course:  Loop the Runway and Taxiway, flat and fast   Awards: First Male & Female overall will receive a $250.00 travel voucher (rebate with proof of travel) toward airfare from Ithaca Tompkins International Airport. Age groups are 1-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, &70+. All proceeds will benefit a local scholarship fund for pilots to attend flight training at East Hill Flying School.

Join us for our second annual fast-paced indoor triathlon at the Y!  This sprint-style event is great for first-timers and seasoned athletes alike. Participants will swim in our 25-yard pool, bike on a spin bike, and run on a treadmill — each for a set amount of time. Distances in each discipline will be recorded to determine your overall results. The format will be as follows 10-minute swim10-minute transition from swim to bike20-minute bike5-minute transition from bike to treadmill10-minute treadmill  Athletes as young as 8 are welcome. Anyone under 16 must have a guardian on-site (guardians are welcome to participate too). All participants under 12 must complete and pass the YMCA swim test at least one week prior to the event (by Sunday, November 1) and should be able to continuously swim for 10 minutes. Heats will be assigned and sent out as the event approaches. The event will tentatively take place on Sunday, November 8 and the first heat will start at 9am. Check in will start ea

Date & Time: Saturday, December 6 5K Check-in: 8:15–9 AM | 5K Start: 9:15 AMFamily Mile Check-in: 8:15-9:15 AM | Family Mile Start: 9:30 AMLocation: Stewart Park Pavilion (rain or shine!) Kick off the holiday season with the Jingle Jog 5K, the festive and competitive portion of our annual event! The run will be chip-timed, so you can track your performance while enjoying a fun holiday atmosphere. Or have the family join us for the family-friendly, noncompetitive Family Fun Mile—a fun way for kids and families to get moving together. Celebrate the day with cookies, cocoa, and holiday cheer, plus a chance to meet friendly characters, including Santa himself! Don’t forget your festive attire: prizes will be awarded for the best costumes, so come dressed to impress. Register by November 6 to receive a commemorative race T-shirt. All proceeds support the YMCA Membership Assistance Program, helping more individuals and families access the Y.