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Marathon Details - Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > PA > Pocono Mountains > Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon

Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon

American Red Cross of the Poconos Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon & Half Marathon

Pocono Mountains, PA USA

~~May 16, 2021~~ - CANCELLED

http://www.poconomarathon.org

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Marathon Results

By Year:

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

Beautiful downhill course through the Pocono Mountains with an average of 30% of our runners qualifying for Boston over the last three years.

Contact Information

Name:
Address:	410 Park Avenue Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Phone Number:	570-476-3800
Fax Number:	570-476-3803
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (195)

Course 4.2

Organization 4.4

Spectators 3.5

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Number of comments: 195 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 20 > ]

F. H. from Mahwah, NJ (5/21/2019) "This race was great in the past, not anymore" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 People sign up for this race because of the fast course. There was a bridge out this year and they had to find an alternate course, but the course they came up with was horrendous.Hardly a BQ course. Most of the race it was 80 degrees which they can't control, but to have warm water at the finish is completely unacceptable. They used to have a nice food spread at the finish but this year was a bag with a bagel and green banana and some other garbage. They advertised plaques for age group winners on their website so when they gave me a cheap medal instead of a plaque for my efforts, I was pretty disgusted. I can not recommend this race anymore and suggest you find another spring marathon.
P. B. from Hazle Twp, PA (5/19/2019) "No traffic control" (about: 2019) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Beware this is not a closed course!! Due to PennDOT bridgework there was a change from the original course which made it very hilly the first half. Some drivers did not comprehend we were runners and didn't slow down. One point throughout the course I came to a four-way with no markings on the road or directional staff to tell us which way to go luckily a neighbor up the road yelled at us and pointed which way to go. The volunteers at the water stations did an excellent job as well as the those at the end the finish line.
A. Y. from CT (8/17/2017) "Purpose built BQ race, but respect the hills" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Review The Run for the Red is a purpose built race for BQ qualifiers. I was amazed to stand at the start and see how many people lined up in front of the 3:25 pacer. With that said, there is over 600' of uphills, with many back ended when your quads are screaming. The first half of the race is bucolic and quiet and provide ample opportunity to cut corners. The back half includes open roads with 2-way traffic, but you should always feel safe. The finish is awesome, and the logistics, while a bit complicated, are easy to handle. Race Tips Best pacing strategy - buy a pacing band that takes course profile into account. I ran an even effort strategy, and it's sometimes shocking to see 20-30 sec/mile under your overall pace but reassuring when you check in with the pace band that it's the course, not you. I never got more than +/- 30 sec from my overall target. If I had to run this race again I would probably target a more aggressive negative split - cruising through the cool first half and banking energy definitely helps the tougher back half. Three race tips: 1. There is no nutrition provided on the course, so if you need GUs, bring 'em yourself. 2. At the water stations, they hand out full bottles of water - grab one. While the aid stations are stated to be every 2 miles, sometimes they are a bit further. 3. Keep your eyes peeled for potholes - there are many, especially in the beginning third, that looked like ankle eaters. Logistical Tips This is a nice, small, well supported race. Parking is easy at Pocono Mountain West HS. The HS is open, providing a great place to keep warm and use any last minute facilities. The race organizers provide a drop bag for the finish. If you are coming from out of town and don't want to pick up your bib the night before I recommend paying the extra $20 for race day pickup. I cruised in at 6:10am, picked up my bib, used the facilities and still had plenty of time for warm ups and bag drop off before 7am start. The shuttle buses make the 20 minute drive back to the start after the race and leave frequently.
S. S. from Maryland (5/25/2017) "I loved this race!" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great small marathon! This race starts on gentle rolling hills up to mile 5, and ends with rolling hills, miles 18-25; the last mile is mostly flat. I found the elevation profile to be a bit deceiving as the course is challenging! But I made sure to conserve energy going out and did okay getting through the later miles. I think the race is well organized with water stops every two miles, cones lining the road and mile markers at every mile. I loved that actual water bottles were handed out at the later stops. Great spectator support especially for a smaller race. I plan on running this again next year!
Henry Wang from NYC (5/23/2017) "Tough course, great organizer and race Director" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 My A Goal was to run <3:00, B Goal was to PR with <3:04:25, C Goal was to BQ <3:05. I ran 3:14:55. So this review may be a bit bias, keep that in mind. This is a fantastic race and the weather was perfect however, this course is difficult and challenging. It has several rolling hills, and several very steep descends. The RD does a great job pointing out the challenging hills towards the end but the course has rolling hills immediately. With some hindsight, I should have known better - IT'S the POCONOS! The weather has been very good two years in a row, but this year (2017) if it was held 2 days earlier, it would have been 90 degrees. If you are looking for to PR, keep my previous statement in mind. PROS: The RD - He is clearly trying very hard and is listening to the runners. No plastic cups this year! Kudos! The logistics of this race was EXCELLENT: getting to the start was easy and there was TONS of parking, packet pick up was fast, the start had TONS of indoor and outdoor bathrooms, aid stations all were there approx. every 2 miles. The shuttle back was painless and lots of care and attention were made to the runner before and after the race. CONS: The lead runners were misdirected off course, this is unacceptable. Roads are not closed the traffic, every time a car would come, runners would move from one side of the road to another. Most of the roads are cambered SUGGESTIONS: I had lots of trouble getting drinks at aid stations, many of the volunteers were children. It would be nice if we could pick up our own drinks from the table and have volunteers hand out drinks I missed the station with the energy gels. Perhaps it could be more clear ahead of time where the gels would be.
A. S. from Maryland (5/22/2017) "Loved this marathon!" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I took my time to research results from past years on Strava and found that a negative split would be the best way to go. There are downhills in the first half that should be run carefully to survive the 2nd half of the race. I had plenty left to power through the hills using this strategy and BQ'd with an 18 minute cushion. Excellent pacers! Only negatives were the traffic from 14 to 23 and the quick access to food at the finish. The food was somewhat hidden and you had to search for it. A bonus was the showers that were available at the stadium. Our overall experience was exceptional. I will run this again!
Eva Czubernat from Stockton, NJ (5/22/2017) "Great race: fast 1st half! Challenging second!" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 3 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course was much better this year with a lane lined with cones for the runners on rt. 191! More police presence to control intersection crossing in favor of runners!
s. s. from Kentucky (5/22/2017) "Hilly, more downs then ups" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I came from Cincinnati Ohio. 9 hour drive to this marathon. It was a very good marathon. Pick up was great, volunteers were great. Lots of fireman and police directing traffic. Still the roads are not closed, at times cars did get in my way. That was only negative thing I can say about this race. They work hard to make a good small marathon. It's a down hill course but some up hills, it's tougher then you think.
S. M. from New Jersey (5/22/2017) "Challenging course, well organized, PR possible" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Flat and rolling hills from 0 to 5 miles, downhill up to mile 17, then rolling hills at miles 18, 20, 22, 24. PR possible course, but need to conserve energy at downhills. You run with traffic for most of the course, with no volunteer or police around after first half guiding Runners running against traffic. I did it in 2015, after 20 miles I was done, almost walked to finish. I did it again in 2017, ran with 3:25 pace group, and finished on time, with PR by 4 mins, with equal splits in two halves.
Steve Bonica from Rockaway NY (5/21/2016) "Fast first 30k, tough last 12k" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wonderfully run race. Course is super fast through the first 30k with hardly any uphills at all. The remaining 12k have three significant hills (19, 20, 22mi) to which the course profile simply doesn't do justice. It would be nice if at least one lane of traffic was closed for the whole race, but I never felt like I was in danger. Everyone was super friendly and helpful and there was tons of great spectator support considering the location. If you're looking for a fast spring marathon on the east coast, this is your answer.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 20 > ]



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F. H. from Mahwah, NJ (5/21/2019) "This race was great in the past, not anymore" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 People sign up for this race because of the fast course. There was a bridge out this year and they had to find an alternate course, but the course they came up with was horrendous.Hardly a BQ course. Most of the race it was 80 degrees which they can't control, but to have warm water at the finish is completely unacceptable. They used to have a nice food spread at the finish but this year was a bag with a bagel and green banana and some other garbage. They advertised plaques for age group winners on their website so when they gave me a cheap medal instead of a plaque for my efforts, I was pretty disgusted. I can not recommend this race anymore and suggest you find another spring marathon.
P. B. from Hazle Twp, PA (5/19/2019) "No traffic control" (about: 2019) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Beware this is not a closed course!! Due to PennDOT bridgework there was a change from the original course which made it very hilly the first half. Some drivers did not comprehend we were runners and didn't slow down. One point throughout the course I came to a four-way with no markings on the road or directional staff to tell us which way to go luckily a neighbor up the road yelled at us and pointed which way to go. The volunteers at the water stations did an excellent job as well as the those at the end the finish line.
A. Y. from CT (8/17/2017) "Purpose built BQ race, but respect the hills" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Review The Run for the Red is a purpose built race for BQ qualifiers. I was amazed to stand at the start and see how many people lined up in front of the 3:25 pacer. With that said, there is over 600' of uphills, with many back ended when your quads are screaming. The first half of the race is bucolic and quiet and provide ample opportunity to cut corners. The back half includes open roads with 2-way traffic, but you should always feel safe. The finish is awesome, and the logistics, while a bit complicated, are easy to handle. Race Tips Best pacing strategy - buy a pacing band that takes course profile into account. I ran an even effort strategy, and it's sometimes shocking to see 20-30 sec/mile under your overall pace but reassuring when you check in with the pace band that it's the course, not you. I never got more than +/- 30 sec from my overall target. If I had to run this race again I would probably target a more aggressive negative split - cruising through the cool first half and banking energy definitely helps the tougher back half. Three race tips: 1. There is no nutrition provided on the course, so if you need GUs, bring 'em yourself. 2. At the water stations, they hand out full bottles of water - grab one. While the aid stations are stated to be every 2 miles, sometimes they are a bit further. 3. Keep your eyes peeled for potholes - there are many, especially in the beginning third, that looked like ankle eaters. Logistical Tips This is a nice, small, well supported race. Parking is easy at Pocono Mountain West HS. The HS is open, providing a great place to keep warm and use any last minute facilities. The race organizers provide a drop bag for the finish. If you are coming from out of town and don't want to pick up your bib the night before I recommend paying the extra $20 for race day pickup. I cruised in at 6:10am, picked up my bib, used the facilities and still had plenty of time for warm ups and bag drop off before 7am start. The shuttle buses make the 20 minute drive back to the start after the race and leave frequently.
S. S. from Maryland (5/25/2017) "I loved this race!" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great small marathon! This race starts on gentle rolling hills up to mile 5, and ends with rolling hills, miles 18-25; the last mile is mostly flat. I found the elevation profile to be a bit deceiving as the course is challenging! But I made sure to conserve energy going out and did okay getting through the later miles. I think the race is well organized with water stops every two miles, cones lining the road and mile markers at every mile. I loved that actual water bottles were handed out at the later stops. Great spectator support especially for a smaller race. I plan on running this again next year!
Henry Wang from NYC (5/23/2017) "Tough course, great organizer and race Director" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 My A Goal was to run <3:00, B Goal was to PR with <3:04:25, C Goal was to BQ <3:05. I ran 3:14:55. So this review may be a bit bias, keep that in mind. This is a fantastic race and the weather was perfect however, this course is difficult and challenging. It has several rolling hills, and several very steep descends. The RD does a great job pointing out the challenging hills towards the end but the course has rolling hills immediately. With some hindsight, I should have known better - IT'S the POCONOS! The weather has been very good two years in a row, but this year (2017) if it was held 2 days earlier, it would have been 90 degrees. If you are looking for to PR, keep my previous statement in mind. PROS: The RD - He is clearly trying very hard and is listening to the runners. No plastic cups this year! Kudos! The logistics of this race was EXCELLENT: getting to the start was easy and there was TONS of parking, packet pick up was fast, the start had TONS of indoor and outdoor bathrooms, aid stations all were there approx. every 2 miles. The shuttle back was painless and lots of care and attention were made to the runner before and after the race. CONS: The lead runners were misdirected off course, this is unacceptable. Roads are not closed the traffic, every time a car would come, runners would move from one side of the road to another. Most of the roads are cambered SUGGESTIONS: I had lots of trouble getting drinks at aid stations, many of the volunteers were children. It would be nice if we could pick up our own drinks from the table and have volunteers hand out drinks I missed the station with the energy gels. Perhaps it could be more clear ahead of time where the gels would be.
A. S. from Maryland (5/22/2017) "Loved this marathon!" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I took my time to research results from past years on Strava and found that a negative split would be the best way to go. There are downhills in the first half that should be run carefully to survive the 2nd half of the race. I had plenty left to power through the hills using this strategy and BQ'd with an 18 minute cushion. Excellent pacers! Only negatives were the traffic from 14 to 23 and the quick access to food at the finish. The food was somewhat hidden and you had to search for it. A bonus was the showers that were available at the stadium. Our overall experience was exceptional. I will run this again!
Eva Czubernat from Stockton, NJ (5/22/2017) "Great race: fast 1st half! Challenging second!" (about: 2017) 4-5 previous marathons \| 3 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course was much better this year with a lane lined with cones for the runners on rt. 191! More police presence to control intersection crossing in favor of runners!
s. s. from Kentucky (5/22/2017) "Hilly, more downs then ups" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I came from Cincinnati Ohio. 9 hour drive to this marathon. It was a very good marathon. Pick up was great, volunteers were great. Lots of fireman and police directing traffic. Still the roads are not closed, at times cars did get in my way. That was only negative thing I can say about this race. They work hard to make a good small marathon. It's a down hill course but some up hills, it's tougher then you think.
S. M. from New Jersey (5/22/2017) "Challenging course, well organized, PR possible" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Flat and rolling hills from 0 to 5 miles, downhill up to mile 17, then rolling hills at miles 18, 20, 22, 24. PR possible course, but need to conserve energy at downhills. You run with traffic for most of the course, with no volunteer or police around after first half guiding Runners running against traffic. I did it in 2015, after 20 miles I was done, almost walked to finish. I did it again in 2017, ran with 3:25 pace group, and finished on time, with PR by 4 mins, with equal splits in two halves.
Steve Bonica from Rockaway NY (5/21/2016) "Fast first 30k, tough last 12k" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wonderfully run race. Course is super fast through the first 30k with hardly any uphills at all. The remaining 12k have three significant hills (19, 20, 22mi) to which the course profile simply doesn't do justice. It would be nice if at least one lane of traffic was closed for the whole race, but I never felt like I was in danger. Everyone was super friendly and helpful and there was tons of great spectator support considering the location. If you're looking for a fast spring marathon on the east coast, this is your answer.

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Marathon Details - Pocono Mountain Run For The Red Marathon