Absolutely great race!! Super fast course; they say it's flat in the middle, but it seemed downhill nearly the whole way. Nothing too extreme; just enough to keep you going strong. Gorgeous fall scenery most of way, and the trail portion was a great diversion when you needed it in the middle miles. Hills at the end were tough, but a small price to pay for 20+ miles of downhill. Nice, small town; super easy bus transportation to the start; and great support all over the course. Book a hotel early and do this race - you'll love it!!

Steamtown is a well-run marathon with great spectator support. The course is made up of rolling hills and with more inclines than I expected. I went out too fast and paid for it late, as I tired and the temperature rose. The spectator support was unreal. People came out to support the runners and it is wonderful that so many people came out to help us runners fulfill our dreams. Thanks for all of the support!

First-time marathoner and I'm in love: the size, organization, volunteers, the cheering crews of residents lining the course from town to town, the sweet little bands...

I'd definitely do Steamtown again; it was an wonderful experience and I BQ'd. Highly recommended. Just make sure you get some downhill training in beforehand and you'll be golden.

The entire race was well organized and enjoyable (my 75th). However, the wait for the start was too long. The showers at the annex were hard to find, and there was no one there to direct folks where to go. In fact, I only found the women's shower and I'm not sure that I was in the right building. Another runner, upon leaving, had the same problem. I directed him to the shower I used.

This was marathon 14 for me, and is my second favorite to date. It was an awesome marathon. The colors and volunteer support were incredible!

It is a no-frills, laid-back marathon, where all you have to do is run. The organizers took care of the rest. Four of us went, with no particular goals, and two qualified for Boston. A friend and I went just to enjoy the course. AND BOY DID WE ENJOY THIS COURSE!!!

The start was at a high school and the start gun was a Civil War cannon. Lots of downhill running, and beautiful fall colors.

For me, the ups were not as bad as I expected, but I wasn't racing either. The small towns were fun, but the trails were the best part. The organizers have their act together, because it is sized perfectly for the road, trails, and start. The expo was small, but it had what you needed to get you prepared.

Water stops were every two miles, with homeowners pitching in stops also. Port-o-let spacing was good,
but a few extras would have eased the mind better.
The course: A-1, top-notch, fun course, with twists, turns, and scenery.

If you want Boston, this is a nice course. If you want just to run and enjoy, this is a great course.

This marathon was well attended, well organized and well spectated.It was a very positive experience for me and my family. The people in Scranton are extremely helpful and friendly. Scranton was a very interesting, historical city, and I enjoyed visiting the city as well as running the marathon. The course was very beautiful, with mountain views and fall colors, which helped to take our minds off the running. Although it was a little warm this year (race-day's high temp was 74 F), I was able to PR by 12 minutes and meet my goal! The comments on the website helped me to train properly for this hilly course. The organizers did a great job. Everything seemed to run well, without a hitch. The marathon is very well supported, with 3,000 volunteers (for 2,000 runners); and in addition, the local folks came out to give out water, gummy bears, fruits, etc. My husband and I have run 6 marathons (including mega-, medium- and small-sized marathons) prior to this one, and this is my favorite marathon. We will definitely come back to run this marathon again!

My 12th marathon, and 1st Steamtown. Except for a few desolate stretches around 23 miles (check the interactive map; it's a mine), the course is beautiful, with fall colors, cooling shade. It's easy to knock off minutes from usual times in the first 20 miles. You will need them in the end; two 100' climbs will test your will, but those extra minutes from all that downhill will still keep your time down, if you saved anything.

WARNING: October is a popular wedding time. My hotel, SLEEP INN, had two weddings full of guests booked. They returned to the hotel at 11 p.m. and partied full tilt in the breakfast lobby and in a room rented to hang out and drink in, across from mine. Complaints to management were futile. I ran on 4 hours of sleep! CHECK YOUR BOOKING TO BE SURE YOU ARE NOT NEAR A LOBBY OR WEDDING GUESTS; OTHERWISE, BRING EARPLUGS AND A TENT!!!

For those who are a bit picky about race organization, being catered, great food, etc., this is definitely the race for you. From the expo to the shuttle buses, to Forest City High School, to the volunteers along the course, the entire race staff goes WAY out of their way (and even then some) to make sure you have what you need.

At the expo I had three volunteers eagerly answering my questions to make sure I was helped (it was almost like it was a try-to-stump-the-volunteer contest - and they were winning). At Forest City High School, I was asked no fewer than 20 times if I needed water. At the finish line there were several volunteers checking up on runners to be sure everyone was OK. I didn't run the course for the service, but I came away extremely impressed - by far the best I have experienced.

I ran the course to BQ (mission accomplished), and to check a PA race off of my list. And also to experience the nuances that make the race what it is. I have run Boston a few times before, so I understand the perils of a long downhill race. This race is a bit different from Boston in that (with the exception of the first half mile) the downhill portion is more gradual, so you can really fly (particularly miles 4 to 6) and not kill your quads, if you are reasonably careful. The hills at miles 23-26 were as tough as advertised, and are a great challenge, which forces the runners to strategize how to approach the end of the race.

The rail trails were a refreshing change for the leg muscles. The gravel trail was great. The wood chip trail is a bit different, but once you got used to it, it wasn't bad. I think the stretch on the trail is a good signature part of the race. Regarding the portion of the race that runs through an industrial part of the town, hey! Welcome To blue collar PA! When I run a race, I want to experience a bit of the local flare. Do you want palm trees and an oasis? This region is full of people that know hard work, including physical labor, which is why the crowds were so supportive. Running is probably not a way of life for a lot of the people in the towns we ran through, but they know the hard work and dedication the runners put into training for the race, and they let it show on race day.

Lastly, the news chopper hovering over you for the first 5 miles allows you to pretend you are the fugitive on the run! ...anything to keep your mind busy to pass the time.

I loved this race; it was my first time in '08. Small race, though I never ran alone. There are more rolling hills than I expected. The support on the course was great, both official and unofficial.

I really enjoyed the Steamtown Marathon. While it is a smaller marathon, they go out of the way to make you feel welcome, with cheerleaders greeting you at the high school before the start, and marching bands on the course. Great organization throughout. The course is all downhill, for the most part, and it has beautiful scenery, with hills for the last few miles. The hills are not big, but after 23 miles of running downhill, they take their toll. Not many spectators, but the ones who were there were great. I would definitely recommend this race to anyone looking to run a smaller marathon.