Events
Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute Half Marathon
B. Braun Half Marathon Relay
Aardvark Sports Shop 3.8 Mile Trail Run
Saturday Double Play
Quadruple Play Marathon Challenge
Race Website
Additional race information can be found at http://www.runbethlehem.com.
Place
Bethlehem, PA US 18015
Description
"Bethlehem should be on every runner's bucket list!"
Join us for an unforgettable weekend of running in an historic town filled with quaint shops and delicious restaurants, all during peak fall foliage!
*REGISTER BETWEEN 10/24 and 10/31 and GET THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE!*
Five events, including a Kids' Run!
Aardvark Sports Shop 3.8 Mile Trail Run, Friday 10/17 @ 4:30 pm
This 3.8 Mile Trail Run will be an adventure for beginners and season trail runners alike!
The 2024 Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Kids Run, Time and Date TBD (Registration will open soon)
Runners 5 and under will run 1/4 mile, runners 6-8 will run 1/2 mile, and runners 9-12 will run 1 mile. All kids will receive a custom BRF Bib and unique BRF medal! The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the AAA-affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, are thrilled to sponsor the inaugural Kids Run. Iron Pigs Mascot, FeFe, will be on hand to greet and cheer on all the kids!
The Lexus 5K/10K, Saturday 10/18 @ 7:30 am (5K) & 9:00 am (10K)
The 5K and 10K will run over the Fahy Bridge and through the historic streets of Bethlehem, starting and finishing in front of the iconic Steel Stacks! Stick around after the 10K to show your support for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk that kicks off at noon. Register for both the 5K and 10K with the Double Play and save on each race!
Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute Half Marathon, Sunday 10/19 @ 8:00 am
This 13.1-mile journey weaves through the heart of historic Bethlehem, showcasing the city's charming streets, scenic parks, and vibrant community spirit.
B. Braun Half Marathon Relay and Corporate Challenge, Sunday 10/19 @ 8:00 am
Teams of 3 will run segments of 5 miles, 5 miles, and 5K. The top 3 M/F/co-ed teams will win awards AND the top team affiliated with any local corporation will get their names engraved on the 4-foot Corporate Challenge Cup!
Triple Play
Run Saturday's 5K & 10K and Sunday's Half Marathon and you'll not only get a discount on each race, but you'll also get the 14" limited-edition Bethlehem Running Festival Medal Holder to display all that serious bling!
Quadruple Play Marathon Challenge
Run all four races and you'll complete a full marathon--26.2 miles--over three days! All Quadruple Play finishers will receive the 14" limited-edition Bethlehem Running Festival Medal Holder to display all that serious bling!
Swag! Runners know--Bethlehem bling is king!
All runners will receive:
- a unique Bethlehem Running Festival long sleeve technical T-shirt
- an artist-designed finisher's medal unique to each event
- FREE Downloadable professional photographs with bib-tags
- Customized Race Bib (register by 10/1)
*2024 Deferrals
All 2024 deferrals were activated when registration opened. If you deferred from 2024, you are automatically entered in the same event for 2025. You do not need to do anything else to register for 2025.
Lexus Premier VIP Registration add-on for the half marathon, Triple Play, or Quadruple Play.
Take the stress out of the early morning routine with private restrooms, gear check, continental breakfast items and more before and after your big moment.
Offering exclusive access to perks and conveniences, this registration add-on includes:
- VIP packet pick-up area at expo
- Dedicated free VIP parking
- Dedicated indoor VIP room with refreshments right next to the start/finish line--open before, during, and after all races
- Reserved indoor VIP restrooms
- Separate VIP bag check
- VIP Bethlehem Running Festival welcome bag
- Saturday afternoon coffee and course preview with the Mayor of Running, Bart Yasso
- Pre-race continental breakfast for Sunday's half marathon
- The "With Swag" option comes with an embroidered Bethlehem Running Festival quarter-zip ($65 value) and our all-new Bethlehem Running Festival In-Training full-tech short sleeve (new for 2025)
Awards
Top 3 Overall M/F in the Trail Race, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Relay (with co-ed), Triple Play, and Quadruple Play
Top 3 Overall Masters (40+) in the half marathon
Top 3 M/F for all events in the following age groups: 19&U, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
Top 3 M/F in the 5K for the additional following age groups: 6-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-19
New for 2025: Top 3 Overall M/F for the Triple and Quadruple Plays
Course Maps
Courses are at the bottom of this page! *Courses--particularly the trail course, subject to change.
Time Limits
Our courses run directly through the streets of Bethlehem, which cannot remain closed for longer than our allotted times. If you do not finish your event in the allotted time, you may be asked to cut part of the course or be picked up by our runner transport services.
5K: 1:00
10K: 1:45
Half marathon: 3:30
3.8 mile Trail race: 1:30
An American Cancer Society DetermiNATION Event!
A portion of your registration fees and 100% of any donations you make will benefit The American Cancer Society. We encourage all of our runners and their families to join the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk following our 10K on Saturday at noon.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Refer Your Friends and Run For FREE!
News/Upcoming Events
Trail Run Preview Scheduled for August 7th @ 6:30 pm.
Get ready for the Aardvark Sports Shop Trail Run at the Bethlehem Running Festival with our exclusive Course Preview Run! This special event gives you the opportunity to experience the trail before race day, guided by none other than the trail's designer, Bart Yasso, along with the Aardvark crew.
Event Highlights:
Preview the exact 3.8 mile trail course that will be featured in the festival.
Receive expert tips and insights from legendary trail designer Bart Yasso.
Meet and mingle with fellow runners and the Aardvark Sports Shop team.
Perfect your strategy for the Aardvark Sports Shop Trail Run.
Additional Information:
The run will start promptly at 6:30 PM from Dodson Street Park.
Parking at Dodson Street Park is limited, so please carpool if possible.
This is a casual run – all paces are welcome!
Don't miss this unique opportunity to familiarize yourself with the course and get a head start on your race day preparations. Whether you're a seasoned trail runner or new to the terrain, this preview run is designed to help you feel confident and excited for the upcoming event.
Join us for an evening of fun, fitness, and fantastic company!
Kids Run and 3.8 Mile Trail Run Added for 2024!
This year, we're introducing a fun-filled Kids Run, perfect for our youngest runners to join in on the festivities. Plus, don't miss the Aardvark Sports Shop 3.8 Mile Trail Run, a thrilling new race that promises scenic trails and a great challenge. Whether you're young or young at heart, there's something for everyone at this year's festival! 🏃♂️🏞️
The BRF Store is now online! Check it out for in-training shirts, long-sleeves, zip-ups, our 2023 Festival print, and custom finisher's gear!
https://rgbcommerce.com/collections/bethlehem-run
B. Braun Half Marathon Relay and Corporate Challenge Cup
The Bethlehem Running Festival features a half marathon relay thanks to our partners at B. Braun.
The B. Braun Half Marathon Relay will have teams of 3 compete on the half marathon course, running segments of (roughly) 5 miles, 5 miles, and 5K. The top male, female, and co-ed teams will win awards, and the top team in our "corporate challenge" will get their names etched on the BRF Challenge Cup!
Course Maps
Trail Course
About the Bethlehem Running Festival
The Bethlehem Running Festival first ran in 2023 with a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Half Marathon Relay. In 2024 we were thrilled to add a trail race and a kids race to our lineup of events. Now looking toward 2025, we're working on making the festival even bigger and better--improving our expo and adding additional events to the weekend. Originated, owned, and operated by the Pennsylvania Running Company, LLC, the Bethlehem Running Festival is the first major, multi-day running festival in Bethlehem since The Runners World Half and Festival last ran in 2019.
A number of individuals and organizations have worked closely with the PA Running Company to make the festival a reality, including Bart Yasso, Mayor Reynolds and the wonderful people in Bethlehem's administrative offices, The Bethlehem Police Department, Bethlehem EMS, LVHN Event Medical, WKG Events, Sign&Print, Inc., RGB Commerce, Lehigh Valley Health Network, B. Braun, Lexus of Lehigh Valley, Team Vark of Aardvark Sports Shop, UCAN, ArtsQuest, Wind Creek Bethlehem, Second Wind Timing, The RUNegades Running Club, and The American Cancer Society.
A portion of all registration fees and 100% of all donations made go to the festival's charitable partners.
Parking Map
