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☰
Steamtown Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Steamtown Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.9 
Spectators 4.7
Number of comments: 616 [displaying comments 411 to 421]
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j. s. from Upstate NY
(10/17/2009)
"Well done, enjoyable marathon" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I just ran the '09 Steamtown Marathon. As advertised, it was downhill at the beginning and flat the rest of the way until that final single hill to the finish (oy!). Most parts were just running on local streets in small-town, rural Pennsylvania. Spectators did turn out and cheer. There were a few gorgeous stretches in parks and trails with foliage, soft ground, and nothing but nature, runners, and the glory of the event. I wish there were far more! So very well organized! Water/Gatorade stops were every two miles, and never ran out of drinks - and I should know, since I finished towards the back of the pack. I would do it again. | |
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J. B. from Washington, D.C.
(10/16/2009)
"BQ" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Once again, Steamtown delivered. The downhill didn't beat up my quads, but I was careful not to "bank" too much time. I banked five minutes (risky, I know), then lost three in the final 10K. It worked out because I BQ'd by two minutes and ran in with a huge smile on my face. The organization was top-notch and you don't have to deal with some of the hassles involved with larger marathons. I just wish Scranton were closer; it's a haul for me! | |
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B. Y. from Washington DC area
(10/15/2009)
"My favorite marathon by far" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run a number of marathons in the mid-Atlantic region (including Shamrock, Marine Corps, New York) and this is my favorite by far. The course is great (but trickier than some think because you can trash your quads on the downhill) and enabled me to qualify for Boston this year. The organization is the best I have ever seen. Nice touches included being able to warm up in the Forest City HS gym at the start; being supported by cheerleaders and high school bands at several points along the course; church bells ringing in Forest City; enthusiastic crowds in several of the towns (especially Carbondale)... and the list goes on. My only niggling suggestion is that it can get crowded after you cross the finish line and are in line for food. Standing in a crowd can be tough after 26.2. If they could get a bit more room and make the food line go faster, it would help. But this is minor - I'll probably come back again. | |
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Lori (From Rochester) from Rochester, NY
(10/14/2009)
"This has to be one of the BEST marathon courses!!!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This has got to be one of the most fun marathons to run - it was the perfect combination of everything that makes a marathon good (great trails mixed with downhill road running, great town spirit, and great weather - and one part of the marathon even had us looping around some sort of high school stadium). I know all marathons are different, but this is a definite must-do for all marathoners, and I can't even imagine how fast you could run this if you really trained for a good pace. Before we ran it, I knew that there was a net elevation drop of over 900 feet (one of the major reasons we picked this marathon), but I never imagined how much fun it would be to run a marathon that was mostly downhill. The first half of the marathon (with the exception of one hill at mile 2) was downhill. There were some brief moments of level running, but even when running a small incline you knew that just ahead there would be a decline. I must admit that I was actually was talking to those around and saying, "Can you believe this is a marathon ?!" The conversations around me at mile 18 and 19 went something like this&: I keep waiting for it to feel bad, but so far this is so much fun . Miles 1-14 were truly effortless (letting the gravity do the work and holding back), even holding back I was heading for a PR (this with no speed training). The weather was perfect - a bit cold at the start (35 degrees) but the cold weather was an added incentive to pick up the pace later in the race, and there was very little wind. Around mile 15 we entered some trails until around mile 19. Around mile 18, I remember thinking that I was on pace to possibly hit my qualifying time for Boston. I also remember thinking that I would be the most shocked person in the world if I truly did this (knowing it would be 100% due to the great marathon course and 0% due to my level of preparation - since I only prepared to finish this at a slow pace, doing no speed work and very slow, long runs). Pretty early on, I realized that the marathon course was making it easy to run a good marathon and that this was the best I have ever felt during a marathon. Prior to the marathon, I wasn't planning for a good pace. I thought that I was looking at my slowest marathon yet, so I didn't really prepare. I didn't have any GU or Gatorade for this marathon, but when I realized things were going well, I decided to take advantage of the Gatorade at the aid stations (they didn't have any GU during the race, but the Gatorade helped). Aside from the actual running, this has got to rank as one of the top small-town marathons. There were high school bands along the marathon train. We ran through many neighborhoods and small villages and you could just feel the town pride of the people as they cheered for us and came out in support. It was also an absolutely beautiful view along some of the roads that overlooked forests that were in peak Fall colors. For me the best part was the genuine, heartfelt encouragement from the people as we ran through their neighborhoods. Mile 23-26 was difficult, but at mile 24 I was smiling and laughing as I reached the top of mile 24 and saw this very loud street gathering of people who were beside themselves with excitement - dancing and cheering and yelling and singing. It was ridiculous! Post-marathon, my legs are definitely more sore than after any marathons I've run (including Boston, thanks to the downhill course), but I will definitely be back again and I am bring more runners with me! A big THANK YOU to Scranton's residents and the surrounding villages for their spirit and encouragement, and THANK YOU to the organizers and whoever designed this perfect marathon course! | |
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A. B. from Boston, MA
(10/14/2009)
"Run this marathon!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am pursuing the 50 states and chose Steamtown for my PA marathon based on the positive reviews on this website. It did not disappoint!! The organization was superb from the day I registered to the minute I left Scranton. EVERYTHING was super-smooth! What makes this marathon, though, is the people. The amount of support we got from local residents along the course was truly humbling. So many of them set up their own water and aid stations (and believe me, these came in handy at many points as I need more fluids than every two miles, which is what the race provides). The community members were just so amazing that I could write a separate review just about them. I do wonder, though, if bad weather would negatively impact this aspect of the race. The section on the trails was a welcome relief to my legs, and it was so incredibly scenic. Many of the official volunteers along the course were high school students, and they were very enthusiastic. My only suggestion for the race is to have electrolyte replacement fluids at the finish. I finished in five hours and there wasn't any there (I don't know if there was any earlier). They ran out of food right before I finished, but after waiting for fewer than 10 minutes, it was replenished. These are minor complaints; overall, this marathon is TOP-NOTCH. I am concerned that, as I pursue the 50 states, I will now be disappointed after experiencing the awesomeness of Steamtown. (Side note: I stayed in the Radisson downtown right near the finish, and they nearly tripled their room rate the night before marathon. Shameful!) | |
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A. W. from Virginia
(10/14/2009)
"Well organized... a must-run marathon!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The support and organization of this marathon are unprecedented. From the expo, to the bus ride, to the race itself, to the post-race accommodations, there are not many setbacks. If anything, I would simply suggest water stops every mile following the second (instead of having them every other mile). Train for downhills and you will be just fine. I BQ'd with ease, and if not for the final three miles being uphill, I would have clocked a sub-3:00. But, there is always a next time! Put this one on your schedule for 2010. | |
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J. F. from Bend, Oregon, USA
(10/14/2009)
"Other marathons can take notes" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Why don't all early morning marathons first assemble in the local high school gyms? Why don't all marathons have men's and women's port-a-potties? Why don't all marathons have really great valuable information emailed by a wannabe comic? I really enjoyed running through all the towns and asking people where we were. The spectators seems to really enjoy the runners. It was fun to discuss who would win the World Series. And with all of this, a very interesting mid-course break: beautiful trails by the river. I loved it. | |
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J. B. from West Chester, PA
(10/13/2009)
"Well organized race, but respect the hills" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I didn't get the time I was shooting for (3:15). The downhill for the first half of the race really beat me up. I was right on pace until mile 20 (7:18/miles) but my quads started cramping after the trails. Not good - especially knowing that there were some hills to contend with around miles 23-25. You can certainly run a PR here but be sure to train, train, train for downhill. I thought I had trained properly but the course still took me for all I had. The race was VERY well organized and the spectators along the course were terrific. It seemed like every little town had multiple water stations. Tons of people in Scranton congratulated me after the race. Very nice. | |
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J. L. from Maryland
(10/13/2009)
"Great Race All Around" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my eighth marathon and first time running Steamtown. I love everything about this race - from the pre-race communication to the transportation to the start, to the awesome course and host city. The course is definitely fast, but do keep in mind that there are some good hills from 23-25 that can slow you down if you've pushed too hard too early. I had a six-minute PR here and would come back again better prepared for the final hills. | |
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Jeff Ellis from Bear, Delaware
(10/13/2009)
"Awesome Race!!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is probably one of the best organized races you'll ever run. Fantastic point-to-point course (marathon only, which is great). I enjoyed the rails-to-trails portion as a nice mix-up from the pounding of the pavement. Tremendous fan support (there were many unofficial aid stations with bottled water and food). It was easy to access buses with no waiting. The locals were awesome and came out to clap or cheer you on. One lady gave me a smile and told me to "Relax and enjoy it." The kids of St. Joe's were awesome as well. It was very emotional to run past them. There was also many groups of people that had music blasting. The one near the final hill was amazing!! The old fire chief in the wheelchair that welcomed the runners to the town with, "Welcome to my town... now get out!!" or, "Keep running... run faster!!!" was hilarious. All in all, it was a great experience. I actually tied my second fastest marathon to the second (guess I shouldn't have stopped to talk to my family twice) - despite having a minor injury, which hindered my training. I didn't hit my goal, but did still manage to come in under 3:50, so I was happy. Great job to all of the volunteers, the race director, the runners, and the fans. This is a top-notch race, and I look forward to coming back. I recommend this race to anyone who enjoys a small-town race with a big-race feel. Beginners be warned: train on hills. Even the net down has a lot of ups. With the weather, the course, and proper training, this is absolutely a PR or BQ course!! I'm looking forward to running it again. |
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