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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: 625 [displaying comments 261 to 271]
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T. P. from Stony Point, NY
(10/9/2012)
"What a terrific experience!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My second Steamtown Marathon, even better than the first last year. Wonderful, warm people everywhere. I can guarantee you that you won't gets quotes from St. Paul or people singing the Star Spangled Banner aloud at the NYC Marathon, for all of its glitz. I ran the fastest marathon of my 40's at age 49 despite the pain that undertraining and downhill running inevitably bring. I was overwhelmed by the love of the crowds, and found myself erupting in outbursts with arms raised at several points in the last 7 miles. Every time, the crowd went bananas! Just before the 25 mile mark, there was a woman volunteering who was beside herself cheering as every weary runner turned the corner. I raised my arms in triumph and she went apoplectic, and another volunteer yelled, 'I want to see you run like that for the last mile and a quarter!' When is the last time, in the middle of mile 25 agony, that you laughed out loud? I love Steamtown. Presuming I'm not permanently crippled by Sunday's effort, I'm sure I'll be back! | |
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Brittany Paulshock from Maryland
(10/9/2012)
"Highly recommed for first time marathoners" (about: 2012)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Steamtown marathon was my first marathon ever and the best choice for a first marathon. The race expo is in a high school, it is rather small, but it gives off a small town feeling. Many of the runners at the expo have ran Scranton numerous times and were extremely helpful to provide insight of the course. The first 13 miles of the course are downhill and flat. Do not get caught up with the elite runners and go out fast, save energy for the last 3 miles which are uphill. The course is beautiful, especially during the Fall. A few miles were on a trail which was a great changeof scenery. The fans are amazing and help push you during the final miles. Overall, I recommend Steamtown to any first time and vetern runner. Just be prepared for hills at the end and train on them during training. 5 STARS!! Will be back again! | |
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Madonna Gabert from Enola, PA
(10/9/2012)
"Great Race!!!" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is the best organized marathon I have run to date. Loved the e-mails from Jim Cummings, the race director! Pasta party was great! Thumbs down to the hotels that require a TWO night stay when you only want one. Thanks for the ease of doing a bib transfer as well for both my husband and I. We missed the deadline but found two people that could no longer run it and doing the transfer was really easy. Volunteers did fantastic, fans were great! People huddled on their front porches in blankets yelling, 'good job' or 'looking good' the entire way, thank you locals for all the encouragement, you really make a difference. Pizza and pierogies for the post-race food, I thought I was in heaven (and not because I felt like I was dying) but because that is real food! My only complaint was the race shirt, nothing special. I would be up for something humorous on next year's shirt like the post race e-mail mentioned. | |
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Catherine Wyatt from Harrisburg, PA
(10/9/2012)
"Great Course, Awesome Fans, Grocery Bags?" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is my second time running this race and it didn't fail to impress once again. In 2010, I had my first Boston Qualifying race at Steamtown, and now in 2012, I BQ'd again and with Personal Record by 2 minutes! With that said I clearly love the course and the fan support is beyond motivating helping me push myself harder than I have in any of my other Marathons! Also, the volunteers are so kind and supportive even when I'm in my post marathon 'dear god I feel like crap and am going to say what I want phase', I absolutely love their kind words and support even after seeing hunderds of runners just as dazed, confused, and sometimes rude as I could be when my filter is limited by exhaustion! My only complaint this year (2010 it was the shirts, and I feel like my voice was heard, this year they were great!) is that our goody bag was a grocery bag! I think me like most marathoners love to do the pre-race packet pickup picture. This year I had to do number pick up because I thought my friends might be confused as to why I was so excited about my grocery trip! I know the Baltimore Marathon uses underarmors clothing store bags as their race pick up bags, maybe Scranton running company could donate their bags they give people for shopping in their store?? Just a thought, not a big deal and completely overshadowed by the great volunteers, spectators, and course, but this is just a thought! Thanks again for another great year, and for providing me the tools to secure another trip to Boston! | |
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J. W. from Richmond, VA
(10/9/2012)
"Best Marathon to date!" (about: 2012)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Steamtown is hands down the best Marathon I have ever run from the organization, the volunteers, the course, the pre and post race parties - it is all 'gold star' material! First and foremost I have to give an A+ to the local community and volunteers; they treated us like we were rock stars! There were over 3,000 volunteers for the ~2,000 runners. Many of the volunteers were high school students who took the day off from Facebook and watching football to stand out in the 40ish degree temperatures to hand cold cups of water to complete strangers - this has restored my hope for mankind. Big props to the race organizers, the logistics for this marathon is run like a well oiled machine. I would like to especially give big props to Jim Cummings, the assistant race director. Jim really should take his marathon comedy routine on the road; his weekly pre-marathon emails are the stuff of legend. The course was superb, it keeps you from becoming a 'running zombie' with enough new scenery and surfaces (yes there are trails) that it is impossible to have your mind turn to gruel or even think about the dreaded 'wall' because you are anticipating the next town's cheering squad and/or scenery. I was able to shave over 18 minutes from my previous PR and I owe most of that to the course and crowd support. The pre race dinner was also fantastic. The dinner had many food choices for everyone with live music in a real dining facility with real plates, pasta, salads, and chicken - all for $10! To outdo the pre-race dinner the race organizers also held a post-race bash free of charge that included live music, great food, and my favorite thing from Pennsylvania - Yuengling Beer! Last, but not least, all the money raised for this race goes to the St. Joseph's Center which provides family and adoption services; outpatient therapy; and extensive residential and community-based programs for children and adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. Bottom line is that your $$ goes to a worthy cause. To summarize, ADD STEAMTOWN to your 'bucket marathon list' - you will not be disappointed! | |
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L. S. from NJ
(10/9/2012)
"My quads don't hurt!" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Quads OK, but calves are barking. Might be the minimalist shoes but I still love them (Kinvaras). Enjoyed everything about this race, and even though it's not the fastest marathon I've ever run I felt better/stronger/happier than I have in the four other marathons I've done. I think that's because of a combination of an interesting and diverse course and the great spectators who really kept me in the game. Thanks to all the volunteers who made this a fun race - I'd definitely like to do this one again next year. | |
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D. S. from State College, Pa
(10/9/2012)
"AMAZING...well worth hot summer training runs!!!" (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon, after Pittsburgh's and 22,000+ I was a little concerned about having enough cheering to motivate me....WRONG! I think it was better!! The start is so relaxed and organized, the students make you smile and a cannon to get you going! A must try marathon..looking forward to coming back. | |
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R. P. from Northampton, PA
(10/9/2012)
"Could not have gone better for my first marathon!" (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From the pre-race emails through the entire event, I felt like part of the Steamtown family. My fiance wondered why I didn't get emotional when I crossed the finish line. The entire spirit of the event from the directors to the volunteers to the spectators were so uplifting. The positive energy you felt the entire time carries you through to the finish line. | |
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D. S. from Charlottesville, VA
(10/9/2012)
"AVOID THE RED CARPET INN!!!!!" (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great marathon! However, under NO circumstances should you stay at the Red Carpet Inn!!! It seems like a good idea because it is right by the finish line. But, it is the dirtiest hotel I have EVER been in. If your choice is stay there or stay 20 miles outside of Scranton.... stay 20 miles outside of Scranton. | |
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P. M. from Media, PA
(10/9/2012)
"Great organization and awesome fans!" (about: 2012)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Hey, what a great race!! The busses to the start are a great idea... point to point, no time concerns once you are there. The organization at the High School was perfect... your volunteers and the cheerleader squads were fantastic! All along the course, the volunteers were great: enthusiastic, fun, cheerful. Where do you find these people? They are amazing and make your race something really special. I was disappointed there weren't more trashcans/boxes after the water stations so that I could throw my cup into a convenient one and save the volunteers some effort and show respect to the community. (I think that is my ONLY complaint.) The omnipresent shuttles and bike-borne medical personal were reassuring. The bands and fans along the way made this one of the MOST fun runs I've ever had! Love the community spirit! Came up the hill at 22mi to the band singing 'Rock and Roll High School' and the lead singer making eye contact with me and pumping his fist.... ' Hey Ho, LET'S GO!!' Amazing. Simply amazing. Oh, and starting us off with a civil war artillery piece? My new favorite start of a race. Can't wait until next year. Phil McLean and Hoa Le McLean |
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