The 2025 Black Diamond Express
5K & Half Marathon Races
on the Lehigh Valley Trail
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Half Marathon starts: 8:00 AM • 5K starts: 8:20 AM
For 2025 (our 14th year!), we have will have these prizes. The first 150 registrants receive their choice of a commemorative long-sleeve T-shirt or coffee mug.
We are proud that our Half Marathon is part of Greater Rochester Track Club’s Rochester Runner of the Year (RROY) Series! We have USATF Course Certification for the Half Marathon (NY17052JG).
The Lehigh Valley Trail is the former home to one of the most celebrated American railroads of all time: The Lehigh Valley — home of the famous Black Diamond Express passenger train, which ran from New York to Buffalo.
In partnership with Monroe County Parks, this rails-to-trails project is maintained year-round by a small but passionate non-profit group called the Mendon Foundation. We at the Mendon Foundation depend on privately-collected donations and volunteer help to mow, groom and improve it so that you can continue to enjoy it year-round for walking, hiking, biking, running, and more.
If you’re a runner one of the best ways you can support the trail and the Mendon Foundation is to run the Black Diamond Express Trail Races on August 24th, 2025!
The Black Diamond Express 5K
The Black Diamond Express Half Marathon
(USATF Certified Course NY17052JG)
