GREEN LAKES STATE PARK • FAYETTEVILLE, NEW YORK
Green Lakes Endurance Races
Take on the Green Lakes Endurance Races among the wooded trails, rolling meadows and lakeside paths of central New York. Choose a shorter trail challenge, move up to a 50K or 100K ultramarathon, or test your consistency in a 12-hour timed race. Each format rewards careful pacing, smart preparation and determination.
Explore the race distances below, review helpful Race Resources and get in touch for race information.
About the Green Lakes Endurance Runs
Green Lakes Endurance Runs (GLER) takes place at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, near Syracuse. The course pairs accessible, runnable trail sections with shaded forest climbs, uneven footing and open meadows that can become demanding in warm summer weather. The start and finish for all formats are based at Tulip Hill Picnic Area.
The fixed-distance races use repeated loops of roughly eight miles, while the timed event follows a shorter lakeside circuit. Returning to a familiar course makes logistics more manageable, but it also highlights the importance of consistent effort and a realistic race-day plan.
Looking for other distance-running events? Explore the One Average Runner Race Series for more race options.
Registration typically sells out early. Secure your spot before it does.
About One Average Runner and This Race Guide
One Average Runner identifies Tim Hardy as its Founder & Owner and describes the organization as active since 2015. Its About page introduces the people and background behind the website, so visitors can see who provides the race information and where to send questions.
Learn more about Tim Hardy and the team or contact One Average Runner directly. This website profile is not a claim that Tim Hardy directs Green Lakes Endurance Runs.
Choose Your Challenge
Green Lakes Race Distances
Four formats share the Green Lakes setting. Match your distance to your trail experience, training, time-on-feet goals and the current event requirements.
100K Green Lakes Ultramarathon
Eight laps make the 100K the longest fixed-distance challenge. Runners repeatedly tackle upland forest climbs, a long descent and the sun-exposed upper meadows. The published start time is 6:00 AM, with the fixed-distance finish deadline at 9:00 PM. A conservative pace and dependable fueling plan are essential.
50K Green Lakes Ultramarathon
The 50K uses four loops of the same varied trail course. Its generally runnable surfaces invite a steady rhythm, but changes in footing, summer conditions and accumulated climbing still add difficulty. The published start time is 7:00 AM.
25K Green Lakes Trail Race
Two loops provide a challenging introduction to the event’s main course, with shaded forest, rolling open terrain and lakeside sections. The published start time is 8:00 AM. The 25K is shorter than a marathon; it is a trail race within an event that also offers ultramarathon distances.
GLER Galeforce 12-Hour Race
The timed race follows a separate clockwise circuit of approximately three miles around Green Lake and Round Lake. Athletes complete as many full laps as possible between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. It is a test of sustainable effort, efficient stops, and consistent nutrition rather than a predetermined distance.
Green Lakes Race Course and Location
The start/finish hub is at Tulip Hill Picnic Area, near the northeast side of Green Lake. The fixed-distance loop crosses a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, grass, dirt roads and a small amount of asphalt. Forest sections contain some roots, ruts and stones; upper meadows are more open and exposed to the sun.
The course includes two ascents and a longer descent, as well as a flatter, shaded section near the lakes. The meadows, sometimes called the Serengeti, account for more than three miles per fixed-distance loop. The 12-hour race instead stays on its shorter lake circuit.
For planning and gear guidance, browse Race Resources. Check the current course map before traveling; loop lengths are approximate rather than certified distances.
At a glance: Fayetteville, NY | Green Lakes State Park | Trail and mixed surfaces | Loop format | 25K, 50K, 100K and 12-hour options
What Makes the Green Lakes Race Different?
Green Lakes combines an approachable-looking trail surface with the demands of genuine endurance racing. The mostly runnable course encourages a smooth pace, but repetition can expose overly aggressive starts. Open meadow miles create a very different experience from shaded stretches near the lakes, especially on a sunny August afternoon.
The choice of fixed-distance or timed running also makes this green lake race appealing to different goals: a first longer trail finish, a 50K or 100K personal milestone, or a 12-hour distance target.
FUEL UP
Aid Stations and Race-Day Support
Published race details describe two stocked aid stations plus an unmanned water drop on the main course. The support arrangement is designed so fixed-distance runners are generally within 3.75 miles of their next aid point. Supplies can vary, so plan around your own tested nutrition and hydration needs.
Mid-Course Support
The Stadelman-Hyer Midway Aid Station is described at approximately the four-mile point on the far side of the open meadows. Use the latest instructions to confirm placement and available supplies.
Personal Supplies and Crew
The start/finish support area is at Tulip Hill. The organizer currently allows personal bags, coolers, chairs and canopies up to 10 by 10 feet in designated space on a first-come, first-served basis.
Course Marking and Safety
Organizers describe directional and reassurance markers around the course. Nevertheless, carry any required safety equipment, know the course and follow current instructions for lighting and late finishing loops.
Need preparation checklists? Visit Race Resources before race day.
See the race resources page for available guides; ask the team directly if a current official guide is unavailable.
Green Lakes Race History and Results
The Green Lakes endurance event has a multi-year history, with published results from past editions. Reviewing official results can help runners understand typical finishing ranges, but each year brings different weather, conditions and fields of participants. Past performances are useful context, not a guarantee of pace or race difficulty.
The 2026 Green Lakes Endurance Run was held on August 22, 2026. The next published event date is August 21, 2027. Review the current event materials for any updates before making travel or race-entry plans.
EDITOR NOTE: If the client has an approved results destination, add a View Race Results button here. Do not insert unverified participant stories or statistics.
How to Prepare for Green Lakes Endurance Runs
Pace for Repeated Loops
Avoid racing the first loop at an effort you cannot sustain. Practice a controlled pace and make a realistic allowance for stops, climbs and late-race fatigue.
Train for Trail Surfaces and Sun
Include running on roots, dirt, grass and moderate hills. When conditions allow, practice how you will manage heat and exposed stretches without overextending yourself.
Practice Fueling and Hydration
Test foods and drinks during longer training sessions. Bring essential products rather than assuming every preferred option will be stocked on race day.
Check Timing and Equipment
Fixed-distance runners share a published 9:00 PM finish deadline and must begin the final loop by the specified time. Review your own pace, the weather forecast, and any lighting requirements.
REGISTRATION
Green Lakes Endurance Runs Registration and Fees
The 2026 event has finished. The next Green Lakes Endurance Run date is listed as Saturday, August 21, 2027. Before choosing your event, confirm that registration is open and review the current fees, policies, start times, limits, and any changes to the course.
Published race instructions list starts of 6:00 AM for the 100K, 7:00 AM for the 50K and 12-hour race, and 8:00 AM for the 25K. All fixed-distance racers have until 9:00 PM to finish, while the timed event ends at 7:00 PM. Confirm current rules and deadlines before making any purchase.
Have a question about the event or how to find current entry details? Contact One Average Runner and review the available race information.
100 Mile
[FEE]
50 Mile
[FEE]
25 Mile
[FEE]
Galeforce 12-Hour
[FEE]
Frequently Asked Questions
At Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, New York. Tulip Hill Picnic Area serves as the main start/finish hub.
The event lists 25K, 50K, 100K and a Galeforce 12-hour timed race.
The 2026 edition took place on August 22, 2026. The next published date is August 21, 2027.
The published fixed-distance format uses four loops for the 50K and eight loops for the 100K; the 25K takes two loops.
Runners complete as many full clockwise laps of a separate, roughly three-mile lakeside circuit as possible within 12 hours.
The main course has been described with two stocked stations and one water drop. Check current details before planning what to carry.
Contact the One Average Runner Team
Planning for an endurance event can involve questions about training, travel, route conditions and race-entry logistics. The One Average Runner team provides a point of contact for visitors using this guide. Direct event-specific decisions should be confirmed in current race materials.
Email: tim.hardy@oneaveragerunner.com | Phone: (315) 286-0722 | Contact Us
These contact details are displayed on the live One Average Runner website. Confirm that they remain active before publication.
