Just google best Boston qualifying marathons and you will find the Via Lehigh Valley Marathon! Not only is this one of the fastest marathons with a high number of Boston Qualifiers, but it is also one of the last Marathons before Boston’s registration. I got in just under the wire!

The course was a point-to-point course, which I never attempted before. Logistically, it was not as difficult as I anticipated. I stayed in Bethlehem halfway between the start and finish where the expo was located. I was there with my boyfriend so he was able to shuttle me to the start and pick me up at the finish. However, there were lines of buses to shuttle participants from the finish line to the start and visa versa.

The expo was held at the Steelstacks, a steel factory converted to music venue and art exhibit hall. While the setting of the expo was interesting this expo cannot be compared to a city race’s expo. There were about 6-10 vendors and no freebies. The race included a short-sleeved tech T-shirt and drawstring backpack.

The race itself could best be described in to words: FLAT and FAST. The majority of the course was flat or had slight downhill with a speckling of hills that would best be described as a subtle grade. Be prepared for your quads to burn the next day! I have never been sore after a marathon, but this one kicked my butt! This is not fully a road race. The majority of the race was packed gravel on a towpath. Tree roots and rocks were spray painted to keep runners safe and prevent injury, which I greatly appreciated. Crowd support was minimal. If this is something you require to propel you through a race, this may not be the marathon for you.

The race was well organized and the post race food was bountiful! I would highly recommend this race to anyone looking to qualify for Boston or looking for an ‘easy’ marathon to start with!

Also, a big shout out to whoever turned in my car keys and the race director and team for sending them to me so I didn’t have to purchase a new key!