The good: Small-town marathons are always nicer. Starting at the top of the incline and finishing at the bottom allowed runners to see some of the neater parts of Johnstown.

The volunteers were fantastic, whether directing runners or at water stops. They were friendly, and enthusiastic considering the small number of runners. I saw one couple cheering at 20, who then passed me in their car, cheered at 21, passed me again, etc. Now that's commitment.

And cheap! $40 for a race, with proceeds going to a good cause, is cheaper than most half's and 5K's I've run.

The bad: If you can't stand solitude, look elsewhere. I ran a fairly typical marathon pace, around 10-10:30/mile, and barely saw other runners from miles 4-20. A little more publicity, especially around Pittsburgh, would probably do them good financially.

For anyone who has never been to Western Pennsylvania in the fall, it is the most beautiful place to see some of the leaves turn. Most of The leaves were late to turn this year, which left the rural highways awfully boring.

The ugly: It would probably do the township good to clean up some of the roadkill the day before the race. I know it's something we get used to, but when you have little else to distract you, it's noticeable.

The Johnstown Marathon is Pennsylvania's best-kept secret. The course was challenging but breathtaking. Water stations were well-staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. I was worried that none of the roads would be closed while running, but you never really noticed the cars because the traffic was so well-managed. The open course allowed for family to cheer you on at many more points than other marathons, which was fabulous! There could have been a few more spectators, but the ones who were out were supportive and appreciated by us runners. I've run Chicago twice and MUCH prefer the Johnstown Marathon. The scenery just can't be beat. Great price for a great race. Everyone should try this 33-year-old race. Absolutely fabulous!! I also earned a PR and a BQ.

This was an enjoyable marathon. The event was well planned and executed. The start was at the top of a lovely valley that was masked by fog, which delayed us seeing the wonderful view until the finish. The small size (100+) of the race allowed the race organizers to take a photo of all the marathon participants, which is a very nice touch. The weather was rather brisk at the start (low to mid 40s, I'd guess), and the fog covered the sun for the first hour or two of the race, which was a help.

A couple of improvements I'd recommend: Put the exact address of the start point on your web page, and/or add a map of how to get to the start point for us out-of-towners. I got turned around in the fog trying to get to the start. I would also ensure that the ambulance driver stays at the back of the pack, or waits somewhere stationary. The ambulance was following the guys running 9 to 10 minutes per mile (yes, some of us old guys are that slow) for the first four miles. It was rather unpleasant to listen to and smell.

Back to the positive: The number of water/Gatorade stations was great. It seemed that they were about every two miles and after the 20th mile, they were every mile (and all well stocked). Around mile 18 to 20, they ran out of Gatorade, but as I waddled away, a race staffer pulled up with more Gatorade, which showed me they were really on top of things and had a good plan on keeping the hydration stations stocked. All of the other stations were well stocked.

The route was a nice mix of urban and rural running. We started in a lovely, old, tree-lined, upscale neighborhood. The rural areas were just starting to turn to fall colors, with the trees showing some very nice reds and yellows. It was also quite a bumper year for caterpillars, as I counted over 48 white ones and many more black ones. I think I only stepped on one. We finished in a small stadium at the foot of the valley from where we started. The food at the finish was good. The medal was nice and they had a good t-shirt. This race is a great value, as the price was $40.00. The race also featured a vertical drop of over 500 feet! It was my fastest race of '08 by 15 minutes. We ran by one group of pro-life protesters who were very supportive of the runners; what could be more fitting in an election year?! I liked this race a lot!!

Truth be told, until two weeks ago, I had never even heard of Johnstown - the town or the marathon. I needed to do a fall race and this one just so happened to fit my schedule and was within driving distance from where I currently reside. In short, I'm glad I made the trip.

Upsides:
- Absolutely BEAUTIFUL course!!!
- Incredibly challenging course
- Outstanding organization
- Spirited and dedicated volunteers
- Well-stocked aid stations
- Free trip up the incline - which was definitely cool
- Decent T-shirt
- The price ($35) - and I signed up a week prior!
- Did I mention the beautiful course?

Downsides (I can come up with only one):
- Lack of town support. To elaborate, while out and about in Johnstown the day before the race, I was greeted with many puzzled looks when I told folks that I was in town for the marathon; "There's a marathon here?" was a common response. This marathon should be a point of pride for the city of Johnstown. The organizers could (and should) do more to get the locals behind it. The possibilities are endless here. Anyway, the lack of town support is undoubtedly to blame for the utter lack of spectators.

A couple of "oh, by the ways":
- If you're looking for a challenging course, look no further than Johnstown. The sections of downhill were brutal and the uphills were even more so. Again, I consider its challenging aspects a positive. With that said, however, I personally didn't find the course conducive to a PR (I went 14 minutes in the wrong direction). If setting a PR is important to you, this may not be your race. On the other hand, if you're looking for a challenge (or a "tune up" or training run in preparation for another marathon) that treats you both to small-town America at its finest and some of the most beautiful scenery that nature has to offer, this is your race.

- Watch out for the locals. Going out for a beer or two (i.e. liquid carb loading) can quickly turn into many more. Upon finding out that I was a visitor (and a Bengals fan nevertheless!), they went out of their way to make me feel at home - which translated into a round or two of cheer.

Again, great race. I will be back!

I grew up in Johnstown, so I knew when/if I ever did a marathon, this would be it. The course was tough, but the weather was even worse! Last year, 2007, was a hot, muggy year, and the leaves were pretty much still green. I agree with the other comment(s) that it would've helped had it started sooner than 9 a.m. I finished in 6.5 hours, but they had stopped the clock around 6 hours. The important thing is that I finished. My family was all there waiting for me, and I made sure to get me a medal from the volunteers before they all left. The spectators were few but friendly. Being such a small race, my family had access along the whole course and took turns stopping at the water stops so I had someone to greet me with ice cold water every mile of the way. Two of them were even able to bike ride most of the course and keep me company, which was very much appreciated - so 5 stars for the spectators! Woo hoo! You rock! :-) I'm glad I did it, and while I've run 14 half-marathons and counting, I doubt I'll run this or any full marathon again. The half's are much more forgiving! Waddle on, friends.

I agree with some of the other runner's comments. Don't let the overall elevation drop fool you. Miles 15 to 23 hurt...it was a long slow uphill climb. I had a PR going into mile 15 that didn't last much past mile 18 (plus it was unusually hot for this time of year). I wish the race had started at 8 to avoid some of the heat.

The organization was fantastic! I love the smaller events, especially ones that are so well run (like this one). Plenty of water stations througout the race. There were two porta-john stops that I remember...could have used one or two more. Even without road blockage, I never felt unsafe...there were pleanty of volunteers at street crossings as well as the local police force...Great Job!

The crowd was small but very supportive of all the runners. I saw many people several times throughout the race.

Don't be fooled by the elevation drop - this is a tough course! With 1.5 miles steeply downhill at mile 5, you'll need all your energy to get a good time. That said, the course offers a nice mix of residential streets, woods, and a bit of downtown. The volunteers and fans of the local runners were exceptional. I was "adopted" by one local's friends at the dinner the night before and had a personal cheering squad, though I was from 800 miles away! It was hot and the water stops were well stocked (just one ran out of Gatorade, but had plenty of water when I came by). The course starts and ends in proximity and the local hotels are in walking distance, so you can do this race without a rental car if you like.

I love this course and this race. I did it in 2005 and, at the time, complained about the lack of ice available at the fluid stations. In '05 it was in the low 70's during the race. Who've thought in '07 it would be in the low 80's? Global warming can be scary, but I'll say it again: it wouldn't take much effort to offer ice at the later stations. But the volunteers were more organized this year and friendlier (thank you!). The beautiful course just speaks for itself. Amazing views! And don't forget to stop by the natural spring around mile 10, for a drink of water (you'll have to cross the road so be careful). There was a bit more traffic than I recall, but it wasn't more than just a little annoying. And the race fee is an absolute bargain at $35, even up to 3 days before the event, which includes a free pre-race meal and a free trip on the famous incline. In all, love the course and love the race. Even though I can barely walk now, I'll be back next year. Just remember the ice!

September 25, 2007

Over the years, I've run 9 marathons - 6 Pittsburgh, 1 DC, 1 Chicago, and 1 Johnstown. Which one brings the most memories? Johnstown!

I'm from the Johnstown area but moved to Pittsburgh. In 2002, I ran with my dad in the Johnstown Marathon - even with the lack of spectators, we ran into people we knew.

Dad has run all but 4 of the Johnstown Marathons. He wasn't into running when the marathon started years ago. He will miss the 2007 marathon due to brain cancer!

Johnstown is the kind of place where dad/Joe will be missed at the start. People will ask my dad's running buddies, "Where is Joe?" That's what makes this marathon special... people knowing each other from the area and from the running community.

If you are looking for lots of fans, this isn't the place. But, if you want solitude and a sense of pride in a community... this is the place!

Johnstown may not have the road closed off like the big marathons or water stops every mile or thousands or spectators.... But, who hasn't run on dangerous roads to get that Saturday or Sunday morning long run in? Who hasn't gone without water for more than you needed? Who hasn't enjoyed the peace of being alone on a long run? And, most importantly who hasn't wished that they would be missed if they don't show up on marathon day?!

Try the Johnstown Marathon. Enjoy the unique experience. Meet new people! Think about Joe not being there because he can't run.

Good luck and good running.
- Lynn Szekeresh Nixon

I ran my first marathon in San Diego in June, 2006. Over 20,000 runners; rock 'n roll bands every mile; lots of cheerleaders at the hydration stations and LOTS of crowd motivation the entire 26.2 miles; an extensive pasta buffet at a convention center pasta party; and a flat course. When I had a Boston qualifying time, I was sure that it must have been a "fluke" and decided I should try another marathon.

The Johnstown Marathon was my second marathon for the simple reason that it didn't involve much travel and the date fit into my schedule. What a different marathon!!! A dinner of over-cooked pasta at the local senior center; instead of 20,000 runners, there were 100; I could count on my fingers and toes the number of spectators along the course; water stations were every two miles (but every mile after #16); no chaos, no music - instead there was peace, solitude and beautiful scenery.

Incredibly, I ended up placing first among women's masters runners!! But, to me, what made it the most worthwhile experience was the discovery that I could run an entire marathon without anyone to cheer me on - with only self-motivation to keep me going.