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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 71 to 81]
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A. W. from Groton, NY
(10/10/2017)
"A Hot Day saved by the Spectators" (about: 2017)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was hot and muggy...I started too fast and the super people of Scranton saved me. I never saw so many fans giving off water and candy before in my life. Truly a unique event. | |
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Daniel Martin from Washington, DC
(10/9/2017)
"Excellent Race on Beautiful, Varied Course" (about: 2017)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Having family in the Scranton area, I decided to give it a shot this year. The course is beautiful in early October, and the support from the local communities is abundant and ebullient throughout the race, especially in the back half. Even in the grueling weather conditions during the 2017 race, staff and volunteers did an excellent job supporting runners with water, Gatorade, medical support, etc. I'd absolutely recommend this race to anyone from beginners to elites. | |
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M. M. from NJ
(10/9/2017)
"Wonderful course, enthusiastic volunteers" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I like smaller races and I was glad I made the trip from the New York area to run this one. It was well-organized, the volunteers and spectators were delightful and the route was interesting and often quite scenic. The course itself was exactly what were told (warned) about: Deceptively easy early, followed by challenging but manageable hills in the final few miles. I thought I managed my pace well, but the steamy weather on race day (ugh - 70s, rain at the start and muggy, muggy, muggy all day) sapped my energy by the time we hit the last few hills. The large number of walkers I passed in the late stages testified to what a tough day it was. Still, I truly enjoyed running through the hamlets of northeastern Pennsylvania, and in the quiet sections along the Lackawanna River Trail, the fall foliage was absolutely stunning. I can't say enough about the volunteers, many of them local high schoolers. They were up early in the darkness and pouring rain to set up the aid stations and greet us at the start. Organization was top-notch, from the cheeky but informative pre-race emails to the race-day shuttle buses to the generous post-race spread. Great medal, too. I think I could have PRd on this course if it were dry and 20-30 degrees cooler, and maybe I'll come back and try. | |
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A. M. from New Jersey
(10/9/2017)
"Must Do Marathon" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've done this marathon four times and counting - each time is amazing. The shuttles to the start depart from Scranton near-constantly for 90 minutes with plenty of parking. The students and other volunteers at the start are efficient and cheerful. The race then starts with cannon fire. All marathons need a cannon. The course itself is 90% fantastic (there's a dull couple miles in there, but very still overall amazing). You go though several downtown areas with student bands and tons of crowd support. The whole county appears to be on the course. There are also a few sections of wooded trail (hard packed dirt, no roots/rocks) that are stunning in the fall. No crowd there, but it's a nice mental break. You end by running through an epic neighborhood block party. The neighborhood seems like Mt. Everest but they do their best to get you through. Music is blaring, sprinklers and hoses are aimed at you, plenty of food, drink, beer is offered. You come down from there into downtown Scranton. Finish has music, food and plenty of space to rest. I've never had an issue getting my drop bag quickly. There are official water stops (no food) every two miles. Residents also supply a dozen unofficial stops with food (fruit, candy, granola bars, pretzels, icepops), drink and first aid (biofeeeze, Vaseline on sticks, ice packs, aspirin). | |
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J. S. from Maryland
(10/8/2017)
"America's friendliest marathon for real" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Tough humidity at the 2017 event, but race organizers worked to solve even that! They put out a call to residents along the 2nd half of the course for extra cold water stations and spray hoses! I think there were 12 aid stations in the last 6 miles! Plus, volunteers and community members walked alongside runners walking, just to make sure they were okay. What an amazing community! Can't wait to come back! | |
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Eliot W. Collins from Raritan Borough, NJ
(11/17/2016)
"A Very Enjoyable Race" (about: 2016)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run this race 11 times. It's one of the best. The people in the Scranton area are SO nice. I'll be back again in 2017 | |
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S. T. from Sugar Land, TX
(11/10/2016)
"Fabulous, loved it!" (about: 2016)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was an excellent marathon; very well organized, great course, friendly, helpful staff and spectators. I've run 6 marathons and this is right up there with my all time favorites. I did it to qualify for Boston and I did! | |
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E. W. from USA
(10/31/2016)
"Must-Do Race!" (about: 2016)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From the moment I registered, I was treated like an elite athlete. The emails weren't too numerous but kept us well informed about everything we needed to know before the race. Volunteers throughout the Expo and race day went above and beyond providing us with support, information, encouragment, and lots of smiles. The course has a net loss in elevation which many runners love. I hate downhills and found the first 9 miles hard, but the astonishing energy of the spectators through every town we passed through distracted me and energized me. From the Start Gun (cannon! Cool!) to every aide station, to the finish line with more food options than I've ever seen before, this was a race experience everyone should have. Perfect price, perfect place, perfect execution, wonderful memories. My race report with more info can be found here at trigirlwriting.wordpress.com | |
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gabrielle @runcooklaugh.com from NJ
(10/27/2016)
"Definitely Recommend this race!" (about: 2016)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Steamtown Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I highly recommend this race especially for first time runners. It is a well organized marathon, the crowd is energetic and the course is fast. I documented my training and recap of the race on my blog www.runcooklaugh.com | |
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Stacy Gallagher from Pennsylvania
(10/22/2016)
"Awesome experience for my first marathon" (about: 2016)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As a first-time marathon runner, I can honestly say that I could not have asked for a better experience. From the course (the downhill was great) to the aid stations to all of the spectators, everything could not have gone any better. I did pretty well I thought for the first time (4:41). Everyone was wonderful and friendly and very helpful. Great job, Steamtown! |
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