U.S. Army marathoners to run Army-Navy Game football through Lambertville, New Hope, Solebury

The Army West Point Marathon Team will pass through Lambertville, New Hope and Solebury on Friday morning as they run the game ball from West Point to Philadelphia for the 120th Army-Navy game.

Their route will take them south along Route 179 to Bridge Street in Lambertville, where they will cross the Delaware River to New Hope. Proceeding north along North Main Street (Route 32), the team will switch over to the towpath at the Rabbit Run bridge, then back towards Route 32 to Chapel Road in Solebury, then travel west along Sugan Road.

The team is expected to arrive in the New Hope area around 9 a.m. on Friday, give or take 10 minutes.

“Over the years throughout the route, various groups have offered support and encouragement to the team,” said Cadet Nicholas McDonald, marathon team public affairs. “Whether it is merely a honk as the team passes by or escorts of local fire trucks, communities have always showered the team with kindness and helping hands showcasing that the Army-Navy football competition is more than just a game.”

The Army-Navy game is an honored academy tradition since Cadet Dennis Mahan Michie accepted a “challenge” from the Naval Academy 128 years ago. Army has won the past three meetings and looks to continue the streak.

The first ball run, sponsored by the First Regiment, occurred in 1984. Since 1994, the marathon team has hand-delivered the game ball from West Point to wherever the game takes place. With the help of local police officers and dedicated Army fans, the team will run 150 miles through New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in less than 24 hours.

The team will be highlighted on social media with the hashtag #BeyondTheGame, and details on the official route and live updates will be available on Facebook.

The 129th Army-Navy game will take place on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.