The VIA Marathon was held recently with the downhill course starting at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown recently.

The course proceeded to the Lehigh Parkway, past the Fish Hatchery, across a covered bridge and headed toward the Lehigh River.

At mile seven, runners entered the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Mile 12 placed the runners in Bethlehem with a run through the 18th Century Industrial Quarter. Canal locks, a boat launch and several parks made up the run to Easton.

At mile 25, the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers was right before the runners. The finish line was one additional mile in Easton.

This race was described as scenic, shady and had a net elevation drop of 240 feet which makes it an attractive qualifying run for the Boston Marathon.