I’m training for the Chicago marathon in October, and I’ll be in Ithaca for a conference this weekend. I’m planning to do an 18-mile run on the Black Diamond Trail, starting from downtown, out and back. First, is that a decent trail for running, and second, are there any water fountains along the way? I’m planning on bringing my Camelback, but it would be helpful to know if there are any spots to refill it along the route. Thanks for any tips on this!
Welcome to Ithaca, Joe! The Black Diamond Trail is lovely, though you’ll need to add a few more miles in Cass Park to hit 18, since it’s 8.4 miles one way. It’s an old rail trail with a crushed gravel surface, so it’s flat (slightly up leaving Ithaca, slightly down returning) and easy. There’s lots of shade and an FLRC-sponsored porta-potty at Kraft Road about 6 miles in. There’s no water on the BDT itself, but there are supposedly drinking fountains at the pavilions at Cass Park, where the BDT starts. I can’t guarantee they work at the moment, though.