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Marathon Details - Johnstown Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > PA > Johnstown > Johnstown Marathon

Johnstown Marathon

YMCA Johnstown Marathon & Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Relay

Johnstown, PA USA

October 4, 2015

http://www.johnstownpaymca.org/index.php/events/marathon-events

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2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

Some rolling hills with a net elevation drop of 550'. More descripion will be on our website at www.johnstownpaymca.org

Contact Information

Name:	Pamela Crooks
Address:	Johnstown YMCA 100 Haynes St. Johnstown, PA 15901
Phone Number:	814 535 8381
Fax Number:	814 535 8384
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (32)

Course 4.0

Organization 4.2

Spectators 3.1

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Number of comments: 32 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

B. H. from Buffalo, NY (10/8/2015) "Great smaller marathon." (about: 2015) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very organized and friendly volunteers and spectators. Tough course but very nice scenery along most of the course. Inexpensive entry fee and they give out awards in 5 year age groups for 1st 2nd & 3rd place so you have a good chance to get an award. Finish line party was really nice with chocolate milk, which is key.
B. P. from PA (9/19/2013) "Nice run, but dangerous roads and no crowd support" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Great run, great course, especially for the time of year. The aid stations were adequate and volunteers did a great job...thank you all. However...run at your own risk. Having grown up in the area and knowing the frequency of accidents on both Rt 56 and 403, I was surprised that there was not more police support along these routes for the runners safety. I also think more could be done in the terms of advertising to make this a bigger event, not only to draw more runners, but to get better community involvement as well (which in turn would lead to better crowd support). Again, it's a great run in a great town, and could be a bigger event for the city of Johnstown.
C. F. from Columbia, MD (10/9/2012) "Great low-key marathon" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Pros: -Well supported course with aid stations every 2 miles until mile 20, when they became even more frequent -Cheap! -Small & comfortable field with fewer than 60-marathoners in 2012 that started the race along with 100 half-marathoners -High probability of getting an award with the small field of runners. They go 3-deep in 5-year age groups. Cons: -Much of the marathon course runs along the road shoulder where cars are going highway speeds. Not smart for runners to wear headphones, but many did. -Only bananas and oranges available for postrace food...but at least you have enough money to buy a nice meal with the cheap entry fee! Overall: Perfect race for someone that doesn't like the fanfare or expense of the larger events.
Joe Cross from Western Maryland (10/8/2012) "Small field, moderate course, much enthusiasm" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Not your typical marathon! A bit more downhill than I anticipated. Great views and solitude while running. There were less than 100 marathoners. The folks at each aide station were very cheerful and made me feel like I had a personal support crew! Finishing at the Stadium with my name being announced 'Now entering the Stadium....' was super cool! I look forward to next years event!
J. B. from Ernest, PA (10/27/2010) "Good, small-town run" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a good, small-town run. It was lonely from miles 19-26.2, but the support was great. Water stops were spread out toward the end. Some of the aid stations had a variety of snacks including Little Debbie brownies (cut into small pieces) and other candies. There was a free professional massage at the finish. It was well worth it! p.s. Do not worry about how complicated the course may seem. There are clear arrows spray-painted on the road at every turn and people guiding major traffic turns. State and local police were there guiding traffic. It would be nearly impossible for a person to take a wrong turn.
S. N. from Harrisburg, PA (10/17/2008) "Not bad for a small town" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 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.
Jennifer Zuri from Chicago Suburbs (10/12/2008) "Top-Notch Marathon" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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.
d. k. from St. Louis (10/7/2008) "Very nice, small marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 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!!
W. G. from Norfolk, VA (10/6/2008) "Great Small-Town Marathon!" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 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!
J. B. from Las Vegas, NV (9/24/2008) "My first marathon" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 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.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]



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B. H. from Buffalo, NY (10/8/2015) "Great smaller marathon." (about: 2015) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very organized and friendly volunteers and spectators. Tough course but very nice scenery along most of the course. Inexpensive entry fee and they give out awards in 5 year age groups for 1st 2nd & 3rd place so you have a good chance to get an award. Finish line party was really nice with chocolate milk, which is key.
B. P. from PA (9/19/2013) "Nice run, but dangerous roads and no crowd support" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Great run, great course, especially for the time of year. The aid stations were adequate and volunteers did a great job...thank you all. However...run at your own risk. Having grown up in the area and knowing the frequency of accidents on both Rt 56 and 403, I was surprised that there was not more police support along these routes for the runners safety. I also think more could be done in the terms of advertising to make this a bigger event, not only to draw more runners, but to get better community involvement as well (which in turn would lead to better crowd support). Again, it's a great run in a great town, and could be a bigger event for the city of Johnstown.
C. F. from Columbia, MD (10/9/2012) "Great low-key marathon" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Pros: -Well supported course with aid stations every 2 miles until mile 20, when they became even more frequent -Cheap! -Small & comfortable field with fewer than 60-marathoners in 2012 that started the race along with 100 half-marathoners -High probability of getting an award with the small field of runners. They go 3-deep in 5-year age groups. Cons: -Much of the marathon course runs along the road shoulder where cars are going highway speeds. Not smart for runners to wear headphones, but many did. -Only bananas and oranges available for postrace food...but at least you have enough money to buy a nice meal with the cheap entry fee! Overall: Perfect race for someone that doesn't like the fanfare or expense of the larger events.
Joe Cross from Western Maryland (10/8/2012) "Small field, moderate course, much enthusiasm" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Not your typical marathon! A bit more downhill than I anticipated. Great views and solitude while running. There were less than 100 marathoners. The folks at each aide station were very cheerful and made me feel like I had a personal support crew! Finishing at the Stadium with my name being announced 'Now entering the Stadium....' was super cool! I look forward to next years event!
J. B. from Ernest, PA (10/27/2010) "Good, small-town run" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a good, small-town run. It was lonely from miles 19-26.2, but the support was great. Water stops were spread out toward the end. Some of the aid stations had a variety of snacks including Little Debbie brownies (cut into small pieces) and other candies. There was a free professional massage at the finish. It was well worth it! p.s. Do not worry about how complicated the course may seem. There are clear arrows spray-painted on the road at every turn and people guiding major traffic turns. State and local police were there guiding traffic. It would be nearly impossible for a person to take a wrong turn.
S. N. from Harrisburg, PA (10/17/2008) "Not bad for a small town" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 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.
Jennifer Zuri from Chicago Suburbs (10/12/2008) "Top-Notch Marathon" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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.
d. k. from St. Louis (10/7/2008) "Very nice, small marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 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!!
W. G. from Norfolk, VA (10/6/2008) "Great Small-Town Marathon!" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 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!
J. B. from Las Vegas, NV (9/24/2008) "My first marathon" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Johnstown Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 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.

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Marathon Details - Johnstown Marathon