30th Annual Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival

About this event

The Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival celebrates its 30th year in 2026, bringing a full weekend of races to Schroon Lake, NY on September 26–27. The lineup includes a full marathon, half marathon, 4-person relay, 5K, 10K, and a Kids Fun Run, drawing runners of every level to the Adirondacks for a weekend of scenic courses and small-town hospitality.

Weekend Schedule:

Saturday, September 26

• 5K & 10K in Chestertown: 9:30 a.m.
• Kids Fun Run in Schroon Lake: 2 p.m.
• Pasta dinner at Paradox Brewery: 5 to 7 p.m.

Sunday, September 27

• Marathon: 8 a.m. (Early Bird start at 7 a.m.)
• Half Marathon: 9 a.m.
• 4-Person Relay: 8 a.m., staggered leg starts

The Marathon & Half Marathon

The marathon starts on Main Street in downtown Schroon Lake and follows a full loop around the lake, finishing at the Schroon Lake Public Beach. Runners can expect rolling hills early on, a scenic stretch along the lake's east shore, and a short gravel section around mile 3. The half marathon picks up at the 13.1-mile mark of the same course, starting in the town of Adirondack, and runs mostly flat before a series of gentle hills into the finish. Both courses are USATF certified.

Every finisher earns a medal, and top finishers in each race take home a handcrafted Adirondack bear. Runners chasing a specific finish time can also join a Pace Bear, a volunteer pacer running the course at set target times from 3:30 to 5:30.

The Relay

Teams of four can split the marathon course into four legs, each ranging from about 4 to nearly 9 miles, with the first runner starting at the marathon start line and shuttle buses carrying teammates to their transition points throughout the morning.

Saturday Races

The 5K and 10K run through the village of Chestertown, hosted by the Chestertown Rotary. Later in the day, kids ages 4 to 12 can join the Kids Fun Run, a short loop through Schroon Lake that ends at the marathon finish line, with a free t-shirt and medal for every participant.

Packet Pickup & Pasta Dinner

Packet pickup for the marathon, half marathon, and relay takes place at the pavilion near the finish line on Leland Ave, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. A pre-race pasta dinner is held Saturday evening at Paradox Brewery in North Hudson, with tickets available through registration.

Full details and registration: adirondackmarathon.org