Races Half marathon · Ithaca, USA
Skunk Cabbage Classic
Skunk Cabbage Classic is a rolling half marathon in Ithaca, USA, held each March. An out-and-back route from Cornell's Barton Hall over campus roads and a paved rail trail, then into the rolling countryside of Ellis Hollow. Early spring weather can be raw. Late March in Ithaca is cold and changeable, typically -2 to 8°C, with a chance of rain or wet snow. With Skunk Cabbage Classic's constant undulation, pace by effort rather than the watch: even effort beats even splits here.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
March
every year
Course
rolling
Half marathon
Conditions
Late March in Ithaca is cold and changeable, typically -2 to 8°C, with a chance of rain or wet snow.
Racing this course well
An out-and-back route from Cornell's Barton Hall over campus roads and a paved rail trail, then into the rolling countryside of Ellis Hollow. Early spring weather can be raw.
With Skunk Cabbage Classic's constant undulation, pace by effort rather than the watch: even effort beats even splits here.
Getting a place
- How you get in
- Open entry: first come, first served
- Price
- From $40 early, rising to $75 in race week (2026 race)
Official Skunk Cabbage Classic site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Start time
- 09:00
- Time limit
- 3 hours
- Also on the day
- 10k
The course in numbers
The route leaves Cornell campus on the rail trail and turns onto Ellis Hollow Creek Road, where the rolling countryside begins. The turnaround is out in the Ellis Hollow area.
- Layout
- Out-and-back
- Surface
- Mostly paved roads and a paved rail trail
- Men's course record
- 1:10:23 (Marty Butler, 2026)
- Women's course record
- 1:18:44 (Kerry Flower, 2026)
Worth knowing
- The race is run by the Finger Lakes Runners Club and is named after the early spring plant.
- The courses changed in 2024 and the records were reset then.
Pick your goal for Ithaca
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common half marathon goals:
We don’t hold a confirmed date for this edition, so any countdown comes from the date you enter here.
Build your training around Skunk Cabbage Classic.
RunV works backwards from race day to today. Your plan adapts when life interrupts, and you approve every change. It does not adapt to this specific course — the pacing guidance above is where the course knowledge is.
Everything above stays free and complete — this is an optional next step, not a paywall.
Asked often
- When is the Skunk Cabbage Classic?
- It is held each March in Ithaca, USA. Check the official Skunk Cabbage Classic site for the exact date and entry windows.
- Is the Skunk Cabbage Classic course flat?
- An out-and-back route from Cornell's Barton Hall over campus roads and a paved rail trail, then into the rolling countryside of Ellis Hollow. Early spring weather can be raw.
- How do I enter the Skunk Cabbage Classic?
- Open entry: first come, first served. Price: From $40 early, rising to $75 in race week (2026 race).
- How should I train for the Skunk Cabbage Classic?
- Train specifically for Ithaca — terrain, conditions, goal pace — and let the plan flex around real life. With RunV Premium you can adapt your plan to fit your week.
Not sure what to target? Predict your half marathon time from a recent race →
More half marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Ithaca — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in March — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
