Steamtown Marathon

For a more local marathon it had a feel for a much larger marathon. Everything you want whether you are running your first or have run many. Well organized and great fan support along the way. Very scenic course and would have been even better had it not been rainy and cold which is the exception this time of year. Normally you would expect great conditions. Certainly one of the better courses if you are trying to qualify for Boston. From the beginning when you get to your bus to the waiting area to the starting line. Everything went incredibly smooth. Plenty of water stations along the way. I would highly recommend. Btw, plenty of good hotel accommodations right near the pick up point too which made it very easy.

Thank you race director, Jim Cummings, for allowing us to run and roll in your race, it was amazing. Volunteers and everyone involved are very polite and friendly. Well organized. Course review: Everyone says not to go out to fast on the downhills. Well, in my opinion, you have to. There are 3 major hills that come after mile 23 that you simply cannot keep your same pace on, especially with already tired legs. So, you need some banked time to get up those monsters. At the start, the first mile is a very steep downhill, then a surprise mild uphill at mile 2.5. Miles 3-22 are gradual downhill to flat, great running. Scenic course, love the wooded area and fans along the way. Great course if you run and plan it right, we BQ'd, thank you so much!

I have no idea how this does not sell out. It truly is the best running experience I have ever had anywhere in the United States. From the time you register until race day, the assistant race director communicates often, with increasing frequency closer to race day. He is funny, and more importantly addresses every topic you can think of. The race committee should travel and teach classes because the event is flawless. The course is incredible, if you run it smart it has the potential to be EXTREMELY fast however it is super easy to blow up if you are not smart. The first 1/3 of it is downhill, and its incredibly easy to get sucked in and then when it flattens out you pay for it, and then the hills at the end finish you off. If you can manage to hold back until it flattens out and then send it, you're set up for a fast time. It truly has a mix of everything from rural, to several small towns, to urban, to industrial, regular neighborhoods and then finishing up in downtown Scranton. It is an incredibly scenic course, it rained the entire race this year and it was still beautiful. TRAIN for hills, the two last hills will KO you like Mike Tyson, so train on hills, for 23 miles you'll think 'why did I train hills, I didn't need it' and then you'll experience the hills at the end and see why. The medal is absolutely beautiful, its huge and extremely nice, the on course support was incredible with water/gatorade and two GU stations. In addition to official aid stations, SO many local residents have their own tables set up handing out water, etc. The on course support was amazing. The local communities along the route, and especially the high school students at the start that make you feel like a professional athlete, are worth it alone.