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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: 608 [displaying comments 551 to 561]
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Al Storie from Bowmanville, Ontario
(9/26/2004)
 "The BEST!" (about: 2003)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Running Pals: I had ran at Scranton in 2003. I LOVED the race. I talked and thought about this race often. I will again come to Scranton in 2005. It was a great country marathon. I ran the Marine Corp and really preferred Scranton. It is really worth a visit from afar. I will travel over 6 hours for this event. 'SMILEAGE WITH MILEAGE' Running Pal Al | |
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Paul Oldakowski from New York, NY
(4/3/2004)
 "Race organizers really go out their way!" (about: 2003)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Steamtown Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From the mutltiple 'Update Emails' by the race organizers in the weeks leading up to the race, to the many water stations throughout, this is a very well organized event. The information session on the day before the race clinches it. Anyone hoping to set a PR must consider this marathon due to the encouraging spectators and 900+ ft. net drop in elevation. This was my second marathon, and I was 10+ minutes faster than in my first (Gulf Beaches, FL 2002). I will be back! | |
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K. R. from Arlington, MA
(11/28/2003)
"Great downhill course and superb organization!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Steamtown was my seventh marathon and by far my favorite. I ran it because I thought it offered me the best chance at a PR. I run two marathons a year: something in the fall and Boston. I love love love downhills, and therefore, I was quite excited when I read about this race. The uphills at the end were, of course, not fun, and let's not forget the mile of woodchips. However, I did PR by 10 minutes. I will definitely be back! | |
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Dave Hopkins from Baltimore
(11/4/2003)
"Awesome marathon, I loved it" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and I had a great time. I don't have much to compare the hills to, except with my training around Baltimore. I didn't think the hills were bad, except maybe those grueling 2 hills at the end! The downhill at the beginning was fairly tame, but then again, I took it easy. I didn't even feel the need to shuffle my feet. I felt strong the whole race, never really feeling pain or exhaustion, until I was exhausted when I hit a hill in the last mile or two. And heading up the hill at the very end wasn't very pleasant. But overall, I loved the course, and the hills don't compare to some of the races I've done around Baltimore, such as the Oregon Ridge 20-miler. That run screwed my knee up, and I was actually still hobbling a little from it when I did Steamtown. I felt strong the whole time. Food was great, the people in each town were fantastic. I loved it. It was also great getting the emails from the director, leading up to the race. I didn't have an easy time with a couple of people at the expo, but other than that, the people running the race were fantastic. It was funny, I had never run and gotten wood chips or rocks in my shoe, but it happened 3 times during this race. I think if you take the run seriously, it's a fairly easy run. We'll see if I was just 'in my zone' when I run the Marathon in the Parks this weekend. Thank you!! | |
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O. V. from NY
(10/30/2003)
"Great marathon, train for it" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 You've read it all and it's all there: downhills fool you into fast speed, uphills come mid to end sections, and unless you're ready for them and have been conservative at the first half you'll struggle. I know I did. But hey - it's nobody's fault but mine :). Still - THE BEST organization, from emails before to expo to start/finish. Spectators are worth coming for even if not for PR. People here take such a big part in marathon it's like being hugged by your own mother. Thanks to everybody. | |
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Douglas Harpel from Arlington, Virginia
(10/27/2003)
"Great Day, Great Course, Great Organization" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Steamtown was my fifth and favorite marathon. The weather, course, support, and race organization were excellent. Would recommend that all runners read, re-read, and heed the counsel on this board about the hills. You simply cannot over-emphasize the need to 1) train on hills; and 2) hold back on the front end of the STEAMTOWN course. There were lots of 'rabbits' on the front end and lots of walkers on the back end. The downhills in the first eight miles make you think that you are faster than you are. Once you've flown down these hills, the modest uphills of the final three miles make you feel like you are climbing Everest. My second-half added 11 minutes to my front-end time.... and I was not alone! (Next time around....)! All in all, an excellent, diverse trek on a beautiful fall day through a succession of PA mountain towns. Thanks to all of the supporters, volunteers and kudos to the organizers. Bus to the start works great. Fluids and porta-potties plentiful. Mile markers visible. Traffic was never an issue. Finish chute and food were fine. Nice T-shirt and okay finisher's medal. I could have been faster at Steamtown, but not more impressed! | |
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J. G. from Asheville NC
(10/24/2003)
"Caveat emptor" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Like every race, this one has its pros and cons. The weather was great, the crowds were great, the organization was great, but beware the elevation chart because it is very deceiving. There are lots of uphills in that long downhill section in the middle of the race. Really appreciated the massage at the end because my legs were locking up after that last long uphill. I trained lots of hills but apparently it wasn't enough. Did set a PR, but I paid for it. | |
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i. w. from new jersey
(10/22/2003)
 "This is a tough hilly course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was one of the best organized marathons I have run. The volunteers were the best. I was surprised, considering there were only about 1800 runners. I don't believe this was a fast downhill course as advertised. They don't seem to mention all of the uphills and some severe hills near the end. I don't suggest this a good race if you are looking for a fast race to qualify for Boston. Go to Chicago instead. This was my sixth marathon and the slowest and most difficult. The course was scenic for the most part and there was plenty of water and gatorade on the course. | |
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g. h. from Washington, DC
(10/17/2003)
"Excellent marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Did this marathon last weekend and the organization was excellent. Thoroughly recommended. My quads were about done in by mile 18 - I guess I didn't run the downhills appropriately and the uphills in the last 3 miles are tougher than the elevation chart makes them appear. So make sure you are prepared for hills... a great experience though.. | |
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A. B. from Newark, DE
(10/16/2003)
"Great race! Watch the downhills" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I prepared for this race with a couple of months of squats and lunges to strengthen my quads as well as weekly downhill sprints. It worked pretty well, but I guess I should have worked the calves as well because they were screaming from mile 18 on while my quads held up pretty well. The first 8 miles are VERY fast, so be careful to pace yourself or it will be bad in the last 3 miles where the hills are going up instead of down. The course is not as fast as may be expected due to the pounding of the downs and then the ups near the end, but you should still run a PR here. I planned to shoot for 2:45 and was on pace at halfway, but the combination of the uphills and early abuse my legs took cost me almost 12 minutes in the second half dropping me to the high 2:50's! Be careful and conservative! The organization and fan support is second-to-none here. Every little town the race passes through is out in force to cheer and support everyone. All of the organization went smoothly, the directors could not have done a better job! The fall foliage is beautiful in the mountains in early October and there is a great train museum for the kids (and adults). I will recommend this marathon to everybody! |
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