5K Racers Start Their Black Diamond Express Trail Race. Photo by Kristen Rich
BY PAIGE JOKL
Runners ranging in age from 10 to 80 years old and from as far away as California gathered on the Lehigh Valley Trail in Mendon on Sunday, August 23rd for the fifteenth annual Black Diamond Express Half Marathon and 5K Trail Races. This year, a record number of half marathon runners signed up in addition to a strong showing of 5K participants. Also, several runners participated in the Half Marathon virtually, where they ran their own course during the week following the live races and submitted their finishing time for the records. Proceeds from the yearly fundraiser support the Mendon Foundation, a local non-profit that helps maintain the Lehigh Valley Trail as well as over 160 acres of publicly accessible green spaces in the area.
The Black Diamond Express Trail Races are run on the fast, flat, shady and scenic Lehigh Valley Trail along the former track of the Black Diamond Express passenger train that once ran from New York City to Buffalo. Racer finishers receive custom ceramic medals for the Half Marathon and ceramic pins for the 5K, created each year by Mendon artist Geoffrey Gretton. These unique medals and pins have become coveted collectors’ items and this year they featured a red, white and blue design in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday.
Rochester Running Company handled the timing and scoring for the 2026 races and results are available at: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Mendon/BlackDiamondExpress. The certified Half Marathon enables finishers to qualify for national races like the Boston and New York City Marathons, and it is part of the Greater Rochester Track Club’s “Rochester Runner of the Year” series. This year Aaron Nobles won the Half Marathon male category with a time of 1:17:30, and Trisha Byler was the top female Half Marathon competitor finishing in 1:24:11. Joe Porter was the male winner of the 5K race in 20:52, and Grace Prasad was the female 5K winner with a time of 23:46.
The top two male and female finishers received cash prizes while third, fourth and fifth place finishers received gift bags containing products and gift certificates donated by area establishments including FLX Popcorn, Tia Coffee, 20 Deep Winery, The Cottage Hotel, Pizza Ds, and Dyer Straights. Top three finishers in assorted age groups also received keepsake water bottles. Wegmans Meals2Go, Pat’s Pigs BBQ & Catering, Mendon Meadows Market Place, The Ice S’Coop and Dunkin’ (Monroe Avenue) provided food on site during the race. New sponsors this year included State Farm Team Raines, A.C.E.S. Geothermal & Solar, Shamrock Service Center and The Brenna Law Firm.
Race Director Fran Celona notes the success of the event relies heavily on registrations, sponsors and assistance from volunteers beyond the Mendon Foundation’s year-round team. This year’s additional volunteers came from CougarTech Robotics, the HFL Cross Country Team and Scout Troop 105 in Mendon. He extended special appreciation to the talented local singers Molly, Maeve and Claire Connors who performed an inspiring rendition of our national anthem before the start of the races.
The Black Diamond Express Trail Races are the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Mendon Foundation, a 100% volunteer run organization focused on enriching the lives of our community by protecting the precious green spaces in Mendon, Rush, Scottsville, Caledonia and the surrounding area. To find out more about the Mendon Foundation and how you can help support its mission visit: https://mendonfoundation.org/
