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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 531 to 541]
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K. E. from Philadelphia, PA
(10/10/2005)
"First Time's a Charm! ST - 2005" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the 2005 Steamtown Marathon yesterday, and thought it was a spectacular race! I loved every minute of it - (yes even the killer hill in front of Coopers in the last quarter mile). This was my first full marathon, though I did run the PDR (Philly Distance Run) 1/2 Marathon in September. I think all the comments here and the course description on the website tell the story of this course very well. Study it before hand. The course is amazing, it's fast, it's fun, it's mostly scenic, and the neighborhoods get really into it, so expect to see a lot of fans, with makeshift water stops as you run in front of their houses. I was hesitant because they didn't offer a course map online, but unless you understand the topography of northeastern PA, extremely well, it really wouldn't help you to see the map before hand. I was born in Scranton and lived in Dunmore until I was 18, and didnt have the slightly clue where I was through the first 20 miles of this course. Don't let the 'Rails to Trails' section scare you, it is really a nice break on your legs, because it is much softer then pavement. The expo was a bit of a let down after the PDR, which has AMAZING organization for a half. There wasnt much there; no exotic marathons looking for participants, no freebees or give aways, no demonstrations. However you are greeted by amazing volunteers and even get to hear the race director go through a yard by yard description of the course, with an update on how current weather has affected the route. The volunteers are so excited and helpful, they make you feel like you are really welcome and they are really happy to have you running. Dont drive to the start, take the bus. Even if you are a Scranton native, it is easy to get loss, and then your ride has to get back from there! Anyway the bus ride is just part of the experience, and I enjoyed it immensely. Cheerleaders greet you the second you get off the bus, and give you a good luck ribbon to wear. Breakfast is available, tons of porta johns, and plenty of nice warm gym floor to stretch, warm up or in my case, sleep. Volunteers will give you a garbage bag which they write your number and name on so you can put your stuff in it. You can leave it on the gym floor or even take it out to the start with you and leave it on the side, and they will bring it to the finish for you. Course support is really great; there is water and Gatorade about every two miles. First aid stations offered bandages and Vaseline, but bring your own ibuprofen because it isnt available at every station. They do give snacks at some of the stops plus lots of the locals are out with water, Gatorade, donuts, candy, beer, pretzels, cookies and fruit. But, if you are like me, and train with Powergel and Powerbar, bring your own because you won't find the high tech stuff on course. Though chip time is used there are no splits given. So, BRING YOU STOP WATCH, because you will only be shown gun time on the half and on the finish. There is a second mat on the course to prevent cheaters, and they don't announce where it is before hand. There was also a clock at that mat, which was mile 18 during this years race. The finish is great, the last two blocks are lined with fans, and you are running downhill into it, so you can go really strong and enjoy your accomplishment. Frankly it was a wonderful race, and I loved every second! It is one of the most amazing experiences of my life. However, if there is one suggestion I would have to the race committee, it would be to have more runner friendly food at the finish. Maybe it's just me, but I can't eat potato chips and pizza after having run continuously for hours. The only things they had, which I was able to stomach, were oranges. Even if they do not offer Powerbar or some equivalent high tech running food, I would suggest swapping the chips for pretzels and offer bananas and maybe peanut butter and jelly as opposed to a heavier snack like pizza. Overall if you are looking for a good first marathon or your PR, it's a great course and it's a lot fun. | |
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J. M. from San Antonio, Texas
(10/10/2005)
"Fantastic Race" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Steamtown Marathon was my eighth marathon and it is now my favorite. The organizers do everything possible to make sure the runners are well taken care of. This includes having enough port-a-potties at the beginning of the race so there are no lines, plenty of water stations, shower facilities at a high school that is two blocks from the finish, and e-mail updates the week before the race covering a variety of topics. There are lots of comments in previous postings regarding the hills at the end but there are only two short ones worth mentioning. The rest are gradual and actually felt good after the downhill start. My impression of the course is that it is very scenic and very well supported by the local communities. If a runner is interested in a Mid-Size event, this is the place to be. | |
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M. W. from New Jersey
(10/10/2005)
"No Pacers Allowed???" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had asked if a 'friend' could join me at mile 20. Reply - NO pacers allowed. Ok, I wasn't too sure what a pacer was, I just thought having company towards the end would be fun. Well, running along myself for most of the way was another female runner with her own trainer. YUP! The trainer did not have a big #. She kept 4 feet in front of her girl and kept up the pep talk. She broke open her gels, etc. I'm only glad to say that I finished BEFORE this runner, who looked to be about 20 years younger than me! Other than that, it was a great marathon. | |
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P. L. from Pennsylvania
(10/10/2005)
"My new favorite marathon." (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a great experience at Steamtown 2005. They really go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more volunteers than runners. The people in the towns that you run through are incredibly supportive. My Steamtown shirt said it is the World's Best Mid-Size Marathon (or something to that effect), but I think they should change their slogan to the World's Happiest Marathon. Course is downhill for the first 8 and then flat for awhile with a few hills near the end. It can be tough on the legs, but if you survive you should post a good time. There were a few unmarked potholes and such in the roads that you need to look out for, but the trails are a nice break on the legs even if they might slow you down by a few seconds. | |
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J. K. from New Jersey
(10/10/2005)
"A great small-town race" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 8th marathon. I've done big (Boston twice, Marine Corps. and Philly twice) and small (Buffalo and Cape Cod). Based on all these experiences, I came away very impressed with the Steamtown experience. The organization and support of every volunteer I came in contact with was fantastic. It's hard to find so many nice teenagers in one place these days, but Steamtown managed to do it - not to mention every else involved. Plenty of water and aid stations and runners finish with a hero's welcome at the end with a large crowd and recovery food items. The course is beautiful, with some great scenic moments and lots of running through quaint, small towns. But the course is a little sub-optimal in that all the descents are in the first aprox. 10 miles. It's almost too much downhill! But don't prepare for this race without hill training--this course has plenty of climbs in the last 16 miles, although nothing too bad. | |
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Robert Landi from New York
(7/19/2005)
"Great race - lots of fun" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Better be ready for some tough inclines over the last 6 miles of the race! Don't get fooled by all the downhill during the first half of the race. If you run that section too fast, you're done! | |
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A. S. from Pennsylvania
(6/8/2005)
"My First Marathon" (about: 1999)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race in 1999. It was my first marathon - I've run 21 more since then. My main memory is of the great spectators in the small towns along the way. | |
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Donald George from Forest City, Pennsylvania
(6/7/2005)
"At the age of 46, this was my first ever marathon!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 January of 2004 I was at a weight of 206 lbs. I decided to get rid of about 30 unneeded pounds. I began jogging about 2 miles a day. Then I met a few people who told me I should enter a few 5K races, which I did and eventually won my first ever medal for running. It was for third place in my age group, but hey, I was excited. By June 2004 I was running about 50 miles a week and was told I should try the Steamtown Marathon. So I entered and began training even harder. By July I was running about 70 miles a week. All my training was on my own as I had nobody to run with. The week before the marathon, I sprained my ankle quite badly. But I was not going to back out. I felt good the day of the marathon and I was at a weight of 161 lbs... I was doing pretty well the first 16 miles... then it happened: my ankle gave out and twisted again. There was a marathon assistant on a bike right there when I did it and asked if I needed an ambulance. I said heck no, I am not quitting after all this. I finished in just over 4 hours, which was a half an hour over my planned finish. But the experience was very exciting even in spite of the pain. It was a well organized event as I already knew from volunteering in previous years, and the fans were unbelievable. My greatest memory will be of the kids in the wheelchairs when I came up one of those last steep hills and saw them all on the side of the street with smiles on their faces. That made all my efforts and pain worth it all, and boosted me to faster pace from there to the finish. I will see you all again at the finish line this year (2005) as I have just submitted my entry for my second ever marathon. | |
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Jake O'Donnell from Springfield, VA
(4/5/2005)
"Outstanding community involvement" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Steamtown '04 was my first marathon -- and it was great. Great encouragement from crowds, great organization. I was dead at mile 20, but crowds picked me up so I could drag myself to the finish. My second marathon (Hyannis) was a lot flatter and I did not suffer as much. Did not do the pasta dinner -- there are lots of great places to eat in Scranton. I will be at Steamtown '05 and hopefully for years to come. | |
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M. B. from Livingston, NJ
(3/27/2005)
"I couldn't have asked for a better 1st Marathon!" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and it was everything that I could have ever asked for! It was a beautiful day, the course was great (the best advice I got was to take the first half easy since it is all downhill) and I think the best of all were the spectators (especially the Marywood x-c team at mile 18!). Everyone along the course was tremendously supportive and it's those volunteers that will have me coming back for years to come. This was a very well organized marathon as well, including the constant emails and updates that I received. I can't wait to come back in 2005! |
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