Empire State Half Marathon & 5k

The Empire State Half Marathon & 5K is part of a Syracuse race weekend held near the New York State Fairgrounds and Onondaga Lake. The event takes place in October, with shorter races on Saturday and the half marathon and full marathon on Sunday. The full marathon covers 26.2 miles on a USATF-certified course. The weekend offers participants a choice of a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or the full marathon distance. The course begins near the fairgrounds and circles Onondaga Lake, linking the races to a primary Syracuse outdoor landmark. The event was initially named the Empire State Marathon before being acquired by Kelleigh's Cause, a 501(c)(3) charity. The charity renamed it the Great New York State Marathon, aiming to establish it as a fundraising event. This charitable focus connects the race to medical research and awareness for Arteriovenous Malformations. The same organization also organizes a summer 5K/10K event near Onondaga Lake.