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Steamtown Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Steamtown Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.7 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.9 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.7 
 
 
Number of comments: 616 [displaying comments 311 to 321]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 30 31 32 33 34 .. 61 > ]

 

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

 

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!

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

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!

 

g. g. from carlisle pa (10/25/2011)
"great race in my opinion" (about: 2011)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Great bands, support was great. The towns are awesome. You will think you are a rock star.

 

H. B. from Hershey, Pa (10/25/2011)
"I would do this again." (about: 2011)

4-5 previous marathons | 2 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I love the Steamtown Marathon. I think my favorite part is the pre and post race emails from assistant race director Jim Cummings. He makes me laugh with each email. I can't wait for another one. Also the inspirational you tube links were great! Yes the uphills at the end are rough but I would definitely run this again!

 

Peter LaGoy from Hopkinton, MA (10/25/2011)
"The community makes this race great" (about: 2011)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


The rest of the comments say it all. this is a good race with great volunteers and a great small town feel. I pushed the downhills hard on lots of runs and my quads thanked me after. I probably went a bit hard early (10-20 sec/mile) but didn't pay too badly in the end, planned on 6:40s, ran 6:30s, then 7:30 for the last 6. Still got sub 3:00, so may have cost a couple minutes. Running with a good group as well was nice.

 

C. P. from Scranton (10/23/2011)
"Awesome!" (about: 2011)

3 previous marathons | 3 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Like I said - AWESOME! 'Nuff said!!

 

More Comments: [ < 1 .. 30 31 32 33 34 .. 61 > ]


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