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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: 610 [displaying comments 301 to 311]
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J. N. from Philadelphia, PA
(10/8/2012)
"Remarkable Race and Organization" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Easily in the top handful of marathons in America. Extraordinary course, crowd support, aid stations, volunteers and vibe. You feel like you're in a Halloween parade as you run through the northeast Pennsylvania small towns, each filled with decorated porches and carved pumpkins, and with cheering families in the front yards. Thank you Scranton, Forest City and connecting towns for hosting 2,000 runners to such an amazing experience. We deeply appreciate your support. | |
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L. D. from New England, USA
(10/8/2012)
"Best/Worst Race Ever" (about: 2012)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this in 2012 as my 2nd full, hoping for a PR, what I got was not only a PW (worst) but a lesson in respecting the marathon. The course in the 1st 8 miles is mostly downhill, so I made a huge mistake of going out too fast even though there are warnings from seasoned runners everywhere, trashing my quads. The rest of the course is still a net downhill, but it doesn't seem that way, felt rolling to me. I really enjoyed the trail portion. Due to some mistakes in training (lackluster summer training, thinking 2 20-milers could carry me through) & some issues out of my control (recovery from a stress fracture & a flu the week before the race) I hobbled across the finish line after one of the most painful experiences of my life (& I've given birth twice w/o drugs.) That said, this was THE most inspirational race experience I've ever had. From the random person on their front porch offering bottles of water to the volunteers to the guy at the 25th mile water stop who walked me to the end of the road to point out the finish line, I have never felt more supported or more like a rock star. Steamtown will remain for me a great lesson, with great memories, after I heal my broken body. | |
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Joe Kanaszka from New Jersey
(10/7/2012)
"Amazing course with awesome town pride and spirit!" (about: 2012)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just ran the 2012 Steamtown Marathon and had one of my best marathon experiences! Organization was superb from the buses to the starting line at Forest City HS to the baggage check & retrieval and all the hardworking volunteers at aid stations. Race began with a canon blast from a Civil War re-enactment society and off we went. Almost as if it had been planned as we were descending down the first hill admiring the awesome mountain views and landscape the morning church bells began ringing! I took my friends advice and took it easy on the downhills the first 7 miles and realized it was the best advice ever. The last 3 miles have three pretty nasty hills - the last one at mile 26 was pretty steep but with all the people cheering and music blasting I hardly noticed. The course also has an amazing trail portion from miles 15 - 17. This was particularly enjoyable. The very nice rivers and forest we ran through took my mind off how far we'd already come. After the trails there was one small stretch where we passed under an overpass that was sort of no man's land and very barren that was a bit hard but other than that the course was absolutely amazing to run! And the crowds! Each town we passed through was so genuinely happy to cheer us on and show there town pride! Carbondale was amazing! I remember folks saying 'Welcome to Archbald ' or any of the other town names. I PR'd here by 5 minutes. As long as you do some downhill training and take it easy on the downhills the first 7 you should have a great race day! I'm coming back for sure! | |
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k. b. from syracuse, ny
(5/26/2012)
"Fun!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Steamtown is a really popular, small marathon that is known for it's fast course. I've qualified for Boston, and I've also completely run out of gas at Steamtown. So much depends on how the first 8 miles is run. Have a plan for those beginning miles, it is very fast and can really make the last half of the marathon difficult. The volunteers at the water stops are fantastic, each town puts on their own special show. Some towns are decorated, and some volunteers are in costume! Packet pick-up is easy, and there is a nice, small group of venders available if you need to buy equipment or energy products. The starting area is small, but there is a school available for runners to hang out and get ready for the race. Cheerleaders and enthusiastic volunteers help to create extra excitement. I highly reccommend this race - it's fun, challenging, and fast. | |
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Simon Bintley from Green Brook, NJ USA
(5/1/2012)
"Great Race, well ran fun event." (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My family had a fun time in Scranton, everyone in the town made it a fun event. A few hills but all in all a very nice course, with plenty of support along the way. Would recomend the Steamtown Marathon | |
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G. R. from Raleigh, NC
(11/13/2011)
"Wonderful Event" (about: 2011)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Steamtown is a fabulous event! It was my first marathon and I made the 10 hour drive the next year to go back. Although I didn't enjoy the uphill finish, the trails were great and the scenery is beautiful. I love the changing leaves and the trail portion. The communities you run through make the run! I love the older guy with the dog and flag around mile 12. If you haven't checked out Steamtown you should! | |
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Ed Robins from Philadelphia, PA
(11/9/2011)
"Excellent, well run small town race" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I really enjoyed this race. I like point to point races. Running through all the small towns was great and I was impressed with the support along the way. It seemed as though homes along the route look forward to this race every year. Towards the end when it was getting hot lot's of folks were out with hoses! Much appreciated! The expo was efficient, the buses to the start worked without a hitch and being able to warm-up in a gym was great. The High school students who volunteered at the school were so nice. Thanks! The course was as advertised. Largly downhill the first 10 miles then flat until the hills in the last 5K. Even that last hill (called Homestretch Hill) was made bearable by the spectators cheering you on. I am a 4-1/2 hour marathoner and the food was picked over by the end and that is really my only serious criticism. Altho the medal is rather pedestrian. I don't repeat too many marathons but I would consider with this one. | |
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C. M. from Bucks County, PA
(11/8/2011)
"Great Marathon - 1,000 pros, 2 cons, that's it!" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I loved, loved, loved this race. I would do it again in a heartbeat: on two conditions. 1-is there anyway that we could ask the VOLUNTEERS not to smoke cigarettes along the course? Perhaps step off the course 20 feet? Maybe 25? I felt like every three or four miles, I was smoking a butt with them. 2-is there any way that the VOLUNTEERS could refrain from digging into the runner finisher food at the exit chute? As I cross the finish line, get my medal, and try to exit through that mess of a tent where all the food was, I had volunteers scooting me out of the way so that they could fill their plates with food that was designated for finishing marathoners...just a suggestion. Other than those two tiny little annoyances, everything about this makes it a great race. Well organized, well run, great communication, great small-town participation and most of all, what a breathtaking course. Hope to see you next year! | |
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A. A. from Delaware
(11/2/2011)
"A must-do marathon" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 - Course is mostly downhill for the first half, flattens out and then throws in some nasty uphills in the final 5K. It's not a total cake walk, but if you take it easy in the first half, you'll have the energy left to get up the hills at the end. - Course is point-to-point and passes through many small townships, and many of the residents come out in support with a lot of cheering, loud music and unofficial aid stations. - Miles 14-19 are on a gorgeous rails to trail along the Lackawanna River. - Small field size makes it easy to run your own race, but I was never lonely. -Expo was small but well-run. I loved everything about the Steamtown Marathon, and I would recommend it to anyone, first-timers or veterans. | |
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L. U. from Southbury, CT
(10/28/2011)
"Very Nice, Well Organized Marathon" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Pros - Excellent communications - As stated by others, the pre-race emails were informative and hilarious. Just the right amount too. - Packet pickup very easy. - Expo small but had everything you needed. - Convenient location/parking - Efficient transportation to the start. - The wait at the staging area was in a high school. All of the kids volunteering were very nice and helpful. - Plenty of port-a-potties - Supportive communities along the marathon route - Responsible race committee. The people in charge knew the day was going to get hot by the end (it was almost 80 when I finished). The second half of the race it seemed like they had water at every mile. Very nice touch, and responsible. Cons - The finisher's medal is my least favorite...ever. For as nice as this marathon is I think they need to put a little more effort into it. - The running shirt was just basic. Small logo on the front, that's it. I'd definitely recommend this race to anyone! |
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