Run the Doc Lopez
Doc Lopez Run for Health
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Half Marathon & 5K Trail Run
Cobble Hill Golf Course, Elizabethtown, NY
Join the fun and participate in the Doc Lopez Run for Health half marathon or 5K trail race. It's a great way to celebrate springtime in the Adirondacks and support the health and wellbeing of our community.
Enjoy breathtaking views along the challenging half marathon route from Keene Valley, up over Spruce Hill and into Elizabethtown, New York. Buses leave Elizabethtown at 8:30 for an 8:50 arrival in Keene Valley. (Parking is available in Keene Valley, but no pre-event registration or post-event transportation is available at that location.) Participants will cross Route 9N at Park St. to finish at the Cobble Hill Golf Course. The course is open until the last participant crosses the finish.
Or try the 5K trail loop behind the Cobble Hill Golf Course. The 5K loop trail starts on a short stretch of paved pathway along the Cobble Hill Golf Course before entering trails in the woods behind the golf course. The route is hilly and offers rewarding views. There will be signage and volunteers along the route to assist with wayfinding and water at mile 2 of the course. Like any trail, there are obstacles like mud, rocks and roots. So please be prepared to slow down and “enjoy the ride.”
An unforgettable event and good cause make this race a must-run! Sign up here.
Event sponsors help us keep the cost of participation low and direct more funds to supporting ECH patients and their families. Email us if you would like to become an event sponsor or volunteer, or to learn more about the discount for track teams and running clubs.
View the event and course map.
40 Years and Running: History of Doc Lopez Run for Health
Dr. Robert “Doc” Lopez, a veterinarian and accomplished runner, started a special tradition when he carried the torch for the 1980 Winter Olympics through Westport and Elizabethtown, New York. Running up and over Adirondack “hills” became the foundation for a beloved, local Adirondack running event, the Doc Lopez Run for Health. The race has been held for more than 40 years in Elizabethtown, New York.
Doc was an avid runner and completed the Boston and New York City marathons among others as he achieved 60 marathons by age 60. He loved the outdoors and encouraged others to get moving outside through the many races he organized, including the Westport 24-Hour Marathon, Whiteface Mountain Uphill Race, Frostbite Run five-miler around Mirror Lake, and the Sara-Placid Marathon from Paul Smith’s College to Lake Placid.
His love of running was passed on to his 14 children and, today, his daughter, Sue, carries on the Run for Health tradition as race director. Though the race route and charity have changed since it was first held in 1980, the event has always been about inspiring people to get outdoors and run for a good cause.
The Doc Lopez Run for Health is, “a race for the hardy,” requiring half marathoners to climb the challenging Spruce Hill between Keene Valley and Elizabethtown. The scenic 13.1-mile course starts in Keene Valley and takes runners via NY Route 9N into Elizabethtown. The 5 k invites athletes of all levels to get a 5K PR on a relaxed, fairly flat out and back walk or jog course.
Register early to beat the fee increase.
Email us for more information on how you can support the race as an event sponsor or volunteer.
Thank you to our sponsors.
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