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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 571 to 581]
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Al Storie from Bowmanville, Ontario
(10/13/2003)
"THIS EVENT...IS FRST CLASS" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Running Pals: The STEAMTOWN Marathon was AMAZING!!! When I read the comments from others I thought: "what will I think...NO ONE CAN SAY until I run it..." This event has EVERYTHING...Can you imagine MORE VOLUNTEERS THAN PARTICPANTS - 2500...The scenery was breathtaking...The BEST ROUTE...We ran through towns and they got right into it. One town had a sign: "Marathoners, Welcome to the WILD WILD WEST" The townspeople were dressed up in a western theme...I can`t say enough about my day running the Scranton Marathon... ONE COMMENT...RESPECT THOSE DOWNHILLS...I am coming back to Scranton next year and I will train on DOWNHILLS... The 7 hours drive is well worth it... There were 35 Canadians...COME ON CANADA...COME TO SCRANTON...You will have the TIME OF YOUR LIFE Many people who have run Chicago, Marine Corps, Boston, New York prefer this marathon I thought HOW??..I can see why now...I CAN`T SEE HOW THEY COULD IMPROVE ON THIS EVENT!!! I ran Marine Corps in 2001...THANK YOU SCRANTON...I shall return! 'SMILEAGE WITH MILEAGE' Running Pal AL | |
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T. E. from Dunmore, PA
(9/25/2003)
"Outstanding Event" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This event is a joy. Steamtown is the only marathon that I hated to see come to an end. | |
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G. M. from Short Hills, New Jersey
(9/8/2003)
"Great small-town warmth - fast course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you read the other runner's comments you will have heard about the downhill sections. In the early miles it can be 'foot slappingly' steep. I read the same comments myself and held back a bit too much in the early miles. Fearing destroying my quads, I held back instead of releasing. Cost me at least 5 or 6 minutes. Train on long downhill sections then finish with a series of uphills to mimic race conditions. Also remember the course uses a few miles of trails, so get used to running on looser surfaces and wood chips (argh!). The race is carefully organized and it seems like everyone wants to participate. In addition to the 13 water/Gatorade stops, there is an abundance of informal water stops, bananas, oranges... you name it. I never lacked food or drink on the course. Don't be deceived by the course map; the late miles include some nasty hills, and the road surfaces are a little tougher as you go through the industrial sections. Watch the mile markers. One seemed to be out of place and it threw off some peoples' pacing. The first few hundred yards are very steep leading into a narrow street. If you are interested in shaving time, don't get caught with the pack or you will have difficulty making ground here, and it can easily cost you a minute. Good Luck | |
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A Runner from dover de
(12/13/2002)
"Good small city marathon!!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon back in my home state of PA. I've been living outside the state for 20 years and have run marathons in 4-5 other states. It was a great homecoming. The course is very fast, and the first 1-2 miles is very steep. Consciously I held myself back and still ran a 6:45 first mile. As mentioned through out the crowds are very supportive and it's a great community participative event. The two hills, the first being the shorter and steeper of the two with the second being longer and gradual are deceptive. Ran a pr (3:10) but not as fast as I hoped. Can't blame the race, need to train on those down hills to get your quads used to the abuse. I hope to come back again | |
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A Runner from New Jersey
(11/7/2002)
"A race for fast times with a nice hometown feel." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 After four attempts at breaking 3:00 hours, I finally did at Steamtown 2002. Most definitely the fastest course I ever ran. Thanks to all the volunteers and spectators - you did a wonderful job. For anyone doing this race next year make sure you hit the hills especially down, work those quads. The toughest part of the race is controlling your speed: make sure you stick with your plan and hold to it. Remeber there are two uphills starting at mile 22.75 and 25. Race wisely and you will crush them - otherwise you will pay. Best of luck and enjoy! | |
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A Runner from Valley Forge, PA
(11/4/2002)
"Good race but pace right" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Thanks to the organizers for a well run race and great support at the start. This was my third marathon and I set a new PR, though not by nearly as much as I hoped. My advice is to really find a place to train with downhills. I did, and it still wasn't enough. Although the downhill sections didn't seem like much while running, my quads died at 18 along with my chance at Boston in April. If you run it, be conservative at the start...pace accordingly. | |
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A Runner from Watertown, NY
(10/23/2002)
"Scenic and friendly but watch your quads!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 28th marathon. The course was very scenic (country roads with some footpaths/abandoned rail beds for about 2/3 of the way) and low on traffic. The organization was outstanding; I was amazed that so many enthusiastic students were up Sunday morning in total darkness at the high school starting point and were happy to see us. The busing to the start was smooth and once there all needs were taken care of including plenty of bathroom facilities. A nice patriotic ceremony at the start. I especially appreciated the food (cookies, bananas, etc) as we got to the last 6-8 miles or so; most marathons I've been in don't have this. There was plenty of water and sports drink and plenty of volunteers at the water stops. The spectators were sparse for the most part (which is why I rated them only 3 stars) but generally supportive and in places their noise more than made up for their small numbers. People were friendly all the way. The finish had everything you needed: massages and lots of food and water. My only complaint was that my quads were killing me by mile 21 and the uphills around mile 23 did me in (not that the uphills were that major but at that point you just don't need uphills). I haven't had my quads scream like that since the last time I ran Boston and I have to assume it was from all the downhills during the first part of the marathon. Overall a good marathon. | |
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A Runner from Rochester, MN
(10/18/2002)
"Awesome organization" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Extremely impressed with the organizational skills of the race directors. The prerace infomation was accurate and reliable. The maps and directions given to find the race registration, pasta feed, parking and post race party were superb. The race itself was great with friendly fans and lots of help at the aid stations. Would warn runners entering this marathon that there is a significant portion of this race ran down hill. Pre race information notes this but I failed to appreciate it. Overall a very awesome race. By the way I loved the little town we ran through with all of the elfs and Santas. | |
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Dan from Rochester 3:11:01 from Rochester, NY
(10/16/2002)
"Memorible" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my fifth marathon and I can tell you it was my favorite. I recovered quicker than any other race due to the great support at the massage area after the race. There were two massage therapists working on me at the same time. In January I ran Disney and got charged a dollar a minute! At Steamtown I got a massage for 30 minutes with two therapists and it didn't cost me anything! It was crucial due to the fact that I had my Defensive Tactics roll plays on Monday for the Sheriffs Dept. The race was scenic, the fan support was tremendous and the race committee was outstanding! | |
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A Runner from washington, D.C.
(10/16/2002)
"Great marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a terrific little marathon--very well organized, friendly and helpful people, scenic and fast course. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon the past two falls, and I found the Steamtown experience far more enjoyable. |
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