Post Race Refreshment From:
Date
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Location
University Settlement Camp (USC) 30 Cp Lp Rd, Beacon, NY 12508
Metrics
Half: 13.1 Miles, ~ 4,400’ Gain
Full: 26.4 Miles, ~ 8,600’ Gain
Whatchya Get?
Race, Post-Race Food, Schwag +
Finishers Item (Ragged Cuts Medal)
Start Times
42k @ 06:30, 21k @ 08:00
Breakneck Point provides more vert per mile and technical pitches than all but a handful of courses in the country. It covers jeep trails, single-track, historic estate paths, and winding single-track both open and technical. It features several profile climbs and descents with significant elevation gain and loss, and ranks as the toughest trail marathon in northeast. Its signature climb, Breakneck Point, one of the top hikes in the country according to trails.com and Newsweek (as well as a guy named Carl from what I hear – that could be rumor though) is steep, gnarly, exposed, and absolutely beautiful. Entrants range from some of the fittest mountain runners in the country, to those content with a chill day of hiking and running a really beautiful and challenging day on the trails.
The course may also be one of the most difficult trail half or full marathons that you will ever complete. There are technical and steep pitches including the signature Breakneck Point that at points require climbing and tolerance of exposure, technical stretches of footing, and significant elevation gain and loss. The risk or death associated with this terrain is significant and only those seasoned and prepared for this terrain should join the entrant pool.
The Course
Metrics
Half: ~ 13.1 Miles, 4,500’ of Gain/Loss
Full: ~ 26.5 Miles, 9,000’ of Gain/Loss
Route map for BNP Trail Half Marathon 2024 by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com
Route map for BNP Trail Marathon 2024 by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com
Aid Stations
Half: BNP / 7.3 Miles
Full: BNP / 7.3, USC / 13.1, Sunnyside / ~18.2
Aid Station Provisions
Hyle Sports Nutrition, Water, co*ke, GU Energy Gel (while they last), pretzels, cookies, fruit, PB/J
Note: Athletes may receive crew support, but ONLY within official aid station locations. Any athlete receiving support outside of official aid station locations may be disqualified. Additionally, no pacing from crew.
Full Marathon runners may leave “drop bags” at University Settlement Camp, 13.1 miles. That spot will be defined as setup the staging area on Friday, but may be underneath a 10x20 Green Red Newt Racing Tent next to the Aid Station fueling tent.
Logistics
April 13, 2024 - Front Half Course Preview, 08:00 @USC (park next to staging Theater Building).
Salomon on-site with a ‘trailgate’ of demos, drinks, and a few raffles
April 20, 2024 - Back Half Course Preview, 08:00 @USC (park next to staging Theater Building).
May 4, 2024
4pm – 9pm: Pre-Race Check-In (strongly encouraged, but optional) at Settlement Camp
7pm - 8pm: Salomon Film Screening & Raffle
May 5, 2024
5:00am - 6:00am: Race-Day Check-In Marathon
06:30: Marathon Start
6:45am - 7:45am: Race-Day Check-In Half
08:00: Half Marathon Start
11:30am: Marathon Cut-Off Time AS2: USC / 13.2 Miles
1:00pm: Awards Ceremony
3:00pm: Half Marathon Course Cutoff (7 hours)
5:30pm: Marathon Course Cut-Off (11 hours)
Timeline
Cut-Off Times
We have cut-off times in place to insure that runners are moving through the course within an overall target. Breakneck Point can get overwhelmingly busy on a nice day, and we must have runners moving through fast enough in order to clear before the crowds start up. Times also insure that we can clear out aid station crews in timely fashion, and leave time for a runner search before sunset if the need should arise. Soft cuts are targets. Hard Cuts will be enforced with runners not permitted to move on.
Marathon Aid Station Cut Off Times:
Breakneck Point @ 7.2 Miles (Soft Cut): 3:00 hours / 10:00 AM
Settlement Camp @ 13.2 Miles (Hard Cut): 5:00 hours / 12:00 PM
Settlement Camp @ 26.3 Miles / Finish: 11:00 hours / 6:00 PM
Half Marathon Aid Station Cut Off Times:
Breakneck Point @ 7.2 Miles (Soft Cut): 3:30 hours / 11:30 AM
Settlement Camp @ 13.2 Miles: 7 hours / 3:00 PM
Results and Records
It’s been fun to see epic duels and incredible performances over the years. Ben Nephew and Iain Ridgway with a near photo finish in the inaugural 2015 running with Nephew taking it by only 2 seconds. Max King and David Hedges only 6 seconds in 2023. You can find each year’s results by going to the event page on UltraSignUp, and including top 10 times lists.
Half Marathon Course Records:
Eli Hemming, 1:49:39, 2023
Tabor Hemming, 2:14:26, 2023
Marathon Course Records:
Garrett Corcoran, 3:55:52, 2023
Brittany Charboneau, 4:46:43, 2020
Team USA Qualifier
In 2021 USATF selected the Breakneck Point Trail Marathon to serve as one of two qualifiers for the US Worlds Team. It was fun to witness some of the best technical and mountain runners in the Country duel for those slots. Thanks to Remi Leroux for capturing one of those moments in the film below. That being the epic duel between Max King and David Hedges for the win and automatic team selection slot. We were honored to again serve as a US Team Selection Race and the USATF Trail Marathon National Championship in 2023. We look forward to remaining in this pipeline with a potential bid for 2025.
FAQs
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The event has a no refund policy regarding cancellations. Entrants may switch distances if desired up until one week ahead of raceday. Roll-overs will be granted to future years and including other RNR events ONLY IF organizers are notified 30 days or more in advance of raceday. No rolls to friends / others.
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We don’t have any lodging partners. Check out hotels.com or AirBnB centered on Beacon, NY. You are welcome to informally camp with us at Settlement Camp Friday and Saturday nights. It's not a formal camping area, just first come first serve on level grass and portajohns. It is an add-on during registration.
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While technically you can, we don’t recommend using poles. There are a couple of pitches where you will need your hands and where they’d be a liability to you and others.
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Probably