Race Street Run - Jim Thorpe, Pa

Welcome to RaceStreetRun.org, the official website of the cross-country style foot race through the mountains of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania!

Use the navigation bar at the top of the screen to browse for more information about this race or click on the church to learn more about our beneficiary.

Sponsors help make this event possible. Special thanks to

for being a sponsor last year. Click here to find out how you can help this year!

The Race Street run is a revival of a dual-event roadrace once put on by the Switchback Roadrunners club. The run was last done by the club in the mid-1990's. St. Mark's Church took over the race in 2006 to serve as a fund raising event for the church. Proceeds from last year's record turnout went to the fund to have the church's set of bells upgraded, a $45,000 endeavour. We plan to forward proceeds from the 2016 event to the same.

The Episcopal Parish of St. Mark and St. John is a combined parish in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The building, located at 21 Race Street in Jim Thorpe, is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information on the church and parish, please visit St. Mark's Home Page.

The application will be availble for download here. Hopefully, Steve will eventually create something that allows for a form to be filled out and sent in electronically. Actually, my guess is that the application will open up in a new window for now without actually opening up a new page...

For general inquires, sponsor opportunities, or suggestions, please contact:

Angi O'Hara at racedirector@racestreetrun.org

This race starts at the center of downtown Jim Thorpe, directly in front of the County's Courthouse. Runners proceed up Broadway through the Historic District passing landmarks that Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe) is known for. Just before the first mile mark, turn right onto an access road that will connect runners with the former Switchback Gravity Railroad. Turn left to proceed up the former down track of the Railroad. After about a mile, you'll leave the woods to return to the road. The first water stop is here. Runners will cross to the other side of the road, back onto the trail to continue up towards the Mauch Chunk Lake. At the breast of the dam, runners will turn away from the lake briefly to skirt the edge of the lake, taking a small downhill back to the trail. Continue up to the offical park entrance, and into the main section of the park itself. Runners will exit the park through the main exit, and turn right on the road (Lentz Trail) to begin the trek back. Roughly a mile down the road, you'll pick up another trail (Orchard Trail) for about a mile. The second water stop is here. The trail will take you about another mile before it joins Lentz Trail once again. Lentz Trail will take you back down towards the main part of town. The road will turn from Lentz Trail to West Broadway, and just where West Broadway becomes Broadway in the Historic District, you'll turn right onto Race Street and proceed to the front of the church for the finish.

Race Start Time:

8:30 am on July 2, 2016

Race Start Location:

Intersection of 209 and Broadway

Pre-Registration:

Click Here to download the application and mail it back to us along with your payment by June 25, 2016.

Runners who have pre-registered may pick up their race packets at the Tolman House during any of the registration times listed below.

Registration:

Tolman House, across from the church on Race Street

Registration Times:

Friday from 5-7 pm (The day before the race)
Saturday from 7-8:15 am (The day of the race)

This race starts at the center of downtown Jim Thorpe, directly in front of the County's Courthouse. Runners proceed up Broadway through the Historic District passing landmarks that Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe) is known for. Just before the first mile mark, turn right onto an access road that will connect runners with the former Switchback Gravity Railroad. Turn left to proceed up the former down track of the Railroad. After about a mile, you'll leave the woods to return to the road. The water stop is here. Runners will turn around just past the water stop and head down Lentz Trail back towards town. Lentz Trail becomes West Broadway, and just where West Broadway becomes Broadway in the Historic District, you'll turn right onto Race Street. Proceed to the front of the church for the finish.

Race Start Time:

8:45 am on July 2, 2016

Race Start Location:

Intersection of 209 and Broadway

Pre-Registration:

Click Here to download the application and mail it back to us along with your payment by June 25, 2016.

Runners who have pre-registered may pick up their race packets at the Tolman House during any of the registration times listed below.

Registration:

Tolman House, across from the church on Race Street

Registration Times:

Friday from 5-7 pm (The day before the race)
Saturday from 7-8:15 am (The day of the race)

15 k

Mile 1:

Be glad you're fresh for this mile. Asphalt, and unofficially, at the mile marker, you'll have descended in elevation enough to be equal to the top of the Courthouse you started at.

Mile 2:

Trail. Shady and cool! Watch your footing.

Mile 3:

Mostly trail. Your first waterstop is just after you leave the woods to cross the street and pick up the trail again. Please remember, the course is not closed to motor traffic, headphones are discouraged.

Mile 4:

Trail, beautiful. Babbling creek, birdies, very zen. Except for the slight uphill grade.

Mile 5:

Second waterstop in this mile. Leave the woods to skirt the Mauch Chunk Lake Dam. Keep along the worn path to crest the hill, and pick up the trail again on the other side of the dam.

Mile 6:

Pass through Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Asphalt.

Mile 7:

Starts on asphalt, watch for traffic. On your right, you'll pass the waterstop from mile 5 and pick up a short right-of-way trail.

Mile 8:

Asphalt, noticeably downhill!

Mile 9:

Down, down, back into town, turn right onto Race Street at the Mauch Chunk Opera House (will be on your left) to finish in front of St. Mark's Church (where registration was)

4-Mile

Mile 1:

Be glad you're fresh for this mile. Asphalt, and unofficially, at the mile marker, you'll have descended in elevation enough to be equal to the top of the Courthouse you started at.

Mile 2:

Trail. Shady and cool! Watch your footing.

Mile 3:

Starts on trail, waterstop just after you leave the woods and start on the road. Turnaround just after the waterstop.

Mile 4:

What goes up must come down. Continue after turnaround back down asphalt road back into town. Turn right onto Race St. at the Mauch Chunk Opera House (will be on left) and finish in front of St. Mark's Church (where registration was).

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Several major routes either pass through Jim Thorpe, or take you near the area. Routes 209 and 903 will take you directly into town. Routes 248 and 93 will get you close, but will converge with 209 to take you the rest of the way. Some general directions are provided below, or you may use the map displayed to the right to create turn-by-turn directions to the starting line from your particular location.

General Directions from Route 476 (Northeast extension of PA Turnpike)

Take exit #74 at Mahoning Valley. Use the ramp on the left for Lehighton to access Route 209. At the end of the ramp bear right. At the next traffic light be in the center lane to allow you to continue across the bridge. At the other end of the bridge turn right to stay on 209. Follow 209 into Jim Thorpe. Jim Thorpe is at the bottom of a steep downhill.

General Directions from Route 80

Take Route 93S (from the Hazleton/Conyngham area) to the end where it intersects Route 209. Turn left onto Route 209 and continue into Jim Thorpe. At the first traffic light stay straight, the road will take you directly to the historic District.

General Directions from the Poconos

Use the Route 115 exit near the Pocono Speedway. Follow 115 towards the Speedway until you see the intersection of Route 903. Follow Route 903 all the way into Jim Thorpe. The road will turn 90 degrees to the left, and take you to a bridge. Turn left at the end of the bridge at the traffic light and follow the road into the historic district.

Parking on the Day of the Race:

Parking is always interesting in Jim Thorpe. There are many places along the roads with metered parking. Race Street will be closed during the race, it is not recommended that try to park there, unless you don't mind staying until the last runner finishes. Also, not far from the start finish area, there is an all-day parking lot. The entrance is just past the train station on route 209. While there may be no parking attendant when you arrive, there may be one when you leave, and they may charge you on the way out. The lot is owned by the County of Carbon. Parking there is reasonable, it's several dollars to park there as long as you want. While the local police have been reasonable in past years, the meters are marked for use from 9-5, and can be plugged for up to two hours at a stretch.

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2014 Results: (Each link will open in a new window.)

Overall Awards 4-Mile

Overall Awards 15K

Full Results 4-Mile

Full Results 15K

2015 Results: (Each link will open in a new window.)

Overall Awards 4-Mile

Overall Awards 15K

Full Results 4-Mile

Full Results 15K

2016 Results: (Each link will open in a new window.)

Overall Awards 4-Mile

Overall Awards 15K

Full Results 4-Mile

Full Results 15K

How do I sponsor the Race?
Sponsors help defray the costs associated with conducting the race events. There are three levels of sponsorship. The Red tier is a donation of $200 or more. This will garner you preferred placement on our race application (by deadline) and commemorative t-shirts. The White tier is $100, The blue tier is $50. Random drawing items donated are always appreciated, it offers you another chance to have your business noticed. Since St. Mark's Church is a registered non-profit organization, you will be provided a tax receipt after the race for your records. Please feel free to contact one of the persons listed here to talk further about sponsor opportunities, we're willing to work with you.

How do my sponsor dollars work for my business?
Sponsoring a roadrace gets your business noticed in a unique way. Your business is listed on the back of the commemorative T-shirts each runner and volunteer receives. This equates to about 175 shirts. These shirts will leave with the runners and volunteers who will wear the shirts again and again, allowing you to get your business at eye level with your potential customers.

What is the deadline for sponsors?
May 31st: Last day to guarantee a spot on the t-shirt.

Please send sponsorships with your logo, or email Angi with your business logo. Checks can be made payable to:

St. Mark's Church
Attn: Tom Lager
21 Race St., Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229