Marathon Details - River Towns Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > PA > Susquehanna > River Towns Marathon

River Towns Marathon & Half Marathon

Susquehanna, PA USA

~~May 7, 2016~~ - CANCELLED

http://new.rivertownrace.com/?page_id=4972

Results:

2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact

Name:	Bob Stoudt
Address:	River Town Race Series PO Box 456 Danville, PA 17821
Phone Number:	570-271-1055
Email:	Email the organizers



Become a Verified Race, and stand out from the crowd. We feature a blue check next to verified races on our calendar, and feature your race on the Verified Races section of the website.	Get Verified Now



Getting ready for this event? Get a personalized adaptive training plan and 1:1 coach assistance.	Get Your Plan

Reviews

Course 3.8

Organization 3.7

Spectators 2.4

Write a review

Number of comments: 10

J. H. from NEPA (5/27/2013) "Nice small town type marathon" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The event is not the best organized from others I have run, but it is still well enough done and a good marathon. Out & backs give you the chance to see other runners and cheer each other along. The timing chip, fastened by a velcro strap, caused some discomfort, only timed the finish, and for a small race, is probably unnecessary. I'll bring some small zip ties next time. The small and short, rolling hills from 1 to 11 tend to get bigger and longer on the return. The two miles of trail run (run twice) and bridge were a nice break. It was nice to be joined by the half runners for the last miles even though most were running faster than we were. Parking is 1/4 mile from the start/finish, convenient, but after the marathon I decided not to make the walk back to the festival. Overall, a good race, a good course, and well enough run to be repeated.
G. S. from Moorestown, NJ (5/7/2013) "Nice, Scenic, Fun Small Marathon" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a scenic course out and back along the Susquehanna River. Miles 9-11(out) and 15-17(back) are along a packed grass trail. My legs enjoyed the break from the pavement. There is also a bridge crossing in these miles which used to have a coarse rock surface but this year was packed with fine grit. I could see that the old surface would have been challenging to run on, but the packed grit was great. Hopefully that will be maintained for future races. Also at mile 25 you run for about 3/4 mile on packed grass again along a levee. There were enough water/gatorade/bathroom stops, though they could use some water at the start/finish. You don't get much of any of a crowd cheering you as it is a very rural area, but the few residents you see are friendly and so were the other runners. The course has some rolling hills between miles 4-8 (18-22 on the way back), and a slight uphill 100yd stretch before turning onto the finish stretch. Other than a steep 15ft of downhill on the way out at mile 11 (which is a steep 15ft of uphill on the way back), the rest of the course is pretty flat. I had thought bridges over the river might be hilly like city bridges, but these are really flat bridges. Overall I had a very enjoyable time running the race. At mile 20 or so the marathoners reach where the half marathoners are turning at their halfway point, so you are running the last 10K with half marathoners passing you (well it could be other marathoners but you can't tell). Some could find that tough going. Perhaps passing all the outgoing half marathoners was a good distraction though.
Bradford Hammer from Old Tappan, NJ (5/7/2013) "Astride the Susquehanna" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I have a soft spot for small towns that host a full marathon, and the friendly folks at River Towns arrange both 26.2 and 13.1 races concomitant with the Spring Fling in Danville. It's a fine Saturday in north-central Pennsylvania. The race itself is surprisingly pretty, and there's course variation beyond the nine-mile mark. Like many other runners, I'm not a big out-and-back fan inside a larger course but, because the entire RT Marathon is run-and-return, everything after thirteen miles becomes a step closer to home. We had a perfect day in 2013. The first three hours were in the low 50s with tree cover before things warmed up toward noon. Organizers were almost giddy that they didn't have to deal with flooding and road hazards that marred previous years. The marathon course is fairly flat but does have the occasional (and gradual) rollers typical of river landscapes. Runners are smartly directed against road traffic, though mile markers (and joke signs) are mistakenly placed on the opposite side of the street. Once or twice I found myself drifting dangerously across the road just to pick up a punch line. Much more problematic is the road camber. It's almost impossible to avoid, either because of a lack of road shoulder or a concern about traffic. Thus, my left pinkie toe took an absolute beating. Water stations were very good and well-stocked, many had Clif bars and cut-up bananas and oranges - a great treat. Best part was the spacing; each time you needed a water station it would appear. There's a lot of talk about the mix of marathon and half-marathon runners as the closing six miles are shared. I thought it was great: there's certainly plenty of room on the road (since that portion is closed off to vehicular traffic) and for a race with near zero spectators on the course, the company and extra energy was welcome. And it was nice to high step to the finishing line in front of crowds attending the town fair. Save for beer, there was no post-race nutrition in the finisher's tent. This is disappointing but understandable; with the town-wide festival going on, organizers are interested in having runners visit food vendors dotting the avenue. Still, I (personally) didnt feel like scouring the downtown immediately after spending five hours in the sun. Perhaps at these prices ($85 same-day), there could be some ready fuel in the tent before asking finishers to wander the street fair. Showers would have been dynamite! Apparently they were available in previous years so perhaps that will return. Technical shirts are nice (and registered runners were polled on shirt style). All-in-all, a pleasant morning. If I lived closer, I'd consider doing it again.
e. s. from pa (5/29/2012) "small and nice" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 It was a nice course. The aid stations were well-stocked. The beer post-race was a plus. I was bummed that there were no trophies for age groups. That's why we came up. To win something. The awards were plentiful last year, so this year was a grave disappointment.
David Zajic from Priceville Alabama (5/7/2012) "Great small town race!" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I prefer the smaller races and this one was a great example of why. The folks organizing the race did a great job. The full started before the half and it being an out and back the half marathoners were a good encouragement for the last 6 miles - it was not like running thru a bunch of walkers. The aid stations were fully stocked and because it was a smaller race they could ask you what you needed before you got to them and they had it ready for you. The web site makes a big deal about the change of surface and I guess it might bother some people but I enjoyed the change. The only two negatives I could say is there is one place where you have to cross the road and there is no police (or flagman) to help and I did have a short stop by a train (very short and the race directors try to work that out ahead of time). But both negatives were minor compared to the rest of the race. Finishing back in downtown with the festival is a plus - nice hometown feeling. I would definitely recommend this race.
jerry boone from Washington Court House, Ohio (5/19/2011) "Nice, small race; well done and unique." (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Nice, small race but well done. The course was good, but not a lot of scenery and few spectators. Old bridge was unique but the gravel was hard to run on (mentally). Aid stations were good. Half marathon runners were not a problem; actually, it was nice to see more runners at that point. Parking and showers at the school were good. Need a little food at the end but the beer was great. Receiving trophies for age awards was something different for a change. Daily updates prior to the race were really nice. Not many do that either. Thanks to an energetic, dedicated race director, as well as the volunteers.
John Sweeney from Pottstown, PA (5/8/2011) "Everything you need, except spectators." (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I thought the race was extremely organized. This started with the news updates on the website, and continued to the email before the event, and on race day itself. The course was picturesque, with rolling hills along the river. There were ample water stops and friendly volunteers from beginning to end. There were shuttles from the main parking lot to the finish line, which coincided nicely with the Spring Fling. Plus, there were showers at the middle school after the race, so you could clean up and hang around. The only downside is that the locals didn't seem to embrace it much. There were no spectators on the course. That might just be the true beauty of the event though.
A. S. from Boston, MA (5/8/2011) "Small Marathon Caters to Runners" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 There were challenges! Flooding of the Susquehanna meant mud and water on the planned course. Not to worry, the race director installed several 'boardwalks' (not just boards, real boardwalks!) to keep runners dry and safe. That's the sort of touch that makes this a runner's race. The out and back course winds through Danville on quiet, roads, crosses the river, heads to a tow path (soft and grassy), crosses a gravel-bedded (large and pointy rocks) train bridge, then a covered bridge to hit the turn around in a park in Bloomsburg. The mix of footings and bridges keeps things interesting and more challenging than your 'average' road marathon. Aid stations every two or so miles were well stocked with supportive volunteers, though actual spectators were limited to the start/finish which corresponds to the day's Spring Fling (town festival). That's where I found my only real 'issues': (1) My finish of the marathon corresponded to a performance on a stage which backed the audience onto the end of the course. Volunteers and police did their best to keep an open aisle for the 80 or so full participants (plus a few hundred half marathoners), but were often overrun. Perhaps snowfencing would help? (2) Finishers did not get enough info on where to drop our chips, where to find medical, and where to pick up our bags. Further, the chute really backed up - and I didn't finish with that many other folks. Perhaps a separate chip drop station, then a medal distribution station would help? In fact, those are minor quibbles, meant mostly as suggestions for the RD. The post race party is a visit to the Spring Fling, which was very fun AND kept runners moving and walking instead of sitting down, easing recovery. Medals were very nice and trophies abundant with 5 year age groupings. (I took one home!) In all, I enjoyed my tour of the River Towns, found the local runners and visitors to the festival most friendly, and enjoyed perfect weather!
a. p. from VA (5/4/2010) "Has Potential" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Could have used an earlier start, more traffic control on the course (the road crossings and run into the finish were extremely dangerous), and a better finish arrangement for the half marathon (bless them, the half marathoners didn't seem to realize when they blocked the full marathoners at their finish, nor did the dedicated bus drivers seem to be aware that there were people continuing on). Also, go back to having food and drink available at the finish - save the festival for those who want to attend. But the race has a director who's receptive to feedback and eager to make it better. The course itself was pretty, though not really as advertised (running along the river to me means you can actually see the river next to you). There were extra water stops set out to help with the warm weather; I sure hope the volunteers were thanked! And the trailer park/campground added a certain charm that you don't always get in marathons.
A. R. from Virginia (5/2/2010) "Needs a lot of improvement" (about: 2010) First Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This is a small marathon, so if that's your thing then you'll like it. You run through the rolling hills of the Susquehanna Valley, which is visually very pretty. I ran in 2010 and was unable to finish due to record heat and humidity. The race course was changed at the last minute without proper warning to the runners, so my plans of having someone meet me with three different extra water stops were not possible. The volunteers were sparse and I'm not sure any of them had proper experience. All of them were hesitant even to offer the Clif Bars that were available. How on earth does any marathon not offer any type of energy gels? The worst aspect of this race was that it was a 9 a.m. start. Had it been at 7 a.m., the vast majority of participants would have been able to complete the event without running under the grueling sun in the mid 80s. Also there were multiple stretches without water stops; roadkill on mile four; pesky cyclists who got in the way; and running on railroad tracks and other rocks for extended periods of time. Additionally, I ran through an RV campground, and I found that unpleasant; but then again, when you run in Pennsyltucky, what do you expect?

Become an Advertiser

J. H. from NEPA (5/27/2013) "Nice small town type marathon" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The event is not the best organized from others I have run, but it is still well enough done and a good marathon. Out & backs give you the chance to see other runners and cheer each other along. The timing chip, fastened by a velcro strap, caused some discomfort, only timed the finish, and for a small race, is probably unnecessary. I'll bring some small zip ties next time. The small and short, rolling hills from 1 to 11 tend to get bigger and longer on the return. The two miles of trail run (run twice) and bridge were a nice break. It was nice to be joined by the half runners for the last miles even though most were running faster than we were. Parking is 1/4 mile from the start/finish, convenient, but after the marathon I decided not to make the walk back to the festival. Overall, a good race, a good course, and well enough run to be repeated.
G. S. from Moorestown, NJ (5/7/2013) "Nice, Scenic, Fun Small Marathon" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a scenic course out and back along the Susquehanna River. Miles 9-11(out) and 15-17(back) are along a packed grass trail. My legs enjoyed the break from the pavement. There is also a bridge crossing in these miles which used to have a coarse rock surface but this year was packed with fine grit. I could see that the old surface would have been challenging to run on, but the packed grit was great. Hopefully that will be maintained for future races. Also at mile 25 you run for about 3/4 mile on packed grass again along a levee. There were enough water/gatorade/bathroom stops, though they could use some water at the start/finish. You don't get much of any of a crowd cheering you as it is a very rural area, but the few residents you see are friendly and so were the other runners. The course has some rolling hills between miles 4-8 (18-22 on the way back), and a slight uphill 100yd stretch before turning onto the finish stretch. Other than a steep 15ft of downhill on the way out at mile 11 (which is a steep 15ft of uphill on the way back), the rest of the course is pretty flat. I had thought bridges over the river might be hilly like city bridges, but these are really flat bridges. Overall I had a very enjoyable time running the race. At mile 20 or so the marathoners reach where the half marathoners are turning at their halfway point, so you are running the last 10K with half marathoners passing you (well it could be other marathoners but you can't tell). Some could find that tough going. Perhaps passing all the outgoing half marathoners was a good distraction though.
Bradford Hammer from Old Tappan, NJ (5/7/2013) "Astride the Susquehanna" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I have a soft spot for small towns that host a full marathon, and the friendly folks at River Towns arrange both 26.2 and 13.1 races concomitant with the Spring Fling in Danville. It's a fine Saturday in north-central Pennsylvania. The race itself is surprisingly pretty, and there's course variation beyond the nine-mile mark. Like many other runners, I'm not a big out-and-back fan inside a larger course but, because the entire RT Marathon is run-and-return, everything after thirteen miles becomes a step closer to home. We had a perfect day in 2013. The first three hours were in the low 50s with tree cover before things warmed up toward noon. Organizers were almost giddy that they didn't have to deal with flooding and road hazards that marred previous years. The marathon course is fairly flat but does have the occasional (and gradual) rollers typical of river landscapes. Runners are smartly directed against road traffic, though mile markers (and joke signs) are mistakenly placed on the opposite side of the street. Once or twice I found myself drifting dangerously across the road just to pick up a punch line. Much more problematic is the road camber. It's almost impossible to avoid, either because of a lack of road shoulder or a concern about traffic. Thus, my left pinkie toe took an absolute beating. Water stations were very good and well-stocked, many had Clif bars and cut-up bananas and oranges - a great treat. Best part was the spacing; each time you needed a water station it would appear. There's a lot of talk about the mix of marathon and half-marathon runners as the closing six miles are shared. I thought it was great: there's certainly plenty of room on the road (since that portion is closed off to vehicular traffic) and for a race with near zero spectators on the course, the company and extra energy was welcome. And it was nice to high step to the finishing line in front of crowds attending the town fair. Save for beer, there was no post-race nutrition in the finisher's tent. This is disappointing but understandable; with the town-wide festival going on, organizers are interested in having runners visit food vendors dotting the avenue. Still, I (personally) didnt feel like scouring the downtown immediately after spending five hours in the sun. Perhaps at these prices ($85 same-day), there could be some ready fuel in the tent before asking finishers to wander the street fair. Showers would have been dynamite! Apparently they were available in previous years so perhaps that will return. Technical shirts are nice (and registered runners were polled on shirt style). All-in-all, a pleasant morning. If I lived closer, I'd consider doing it again.
e. s. from pa (5/29/2012) "small and nice" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 It was a nice course. The aid stations were well-stocked. The beer post-race was a plus. I was bummed that there were no trophies for age groups. That's why we came up. To win something. The awards were plentiful last year, so this year was a grave disappointment.
David Zajic from Priceville Alabama (5/7/2012) "Great small town race!" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I prefer the smaller races and this one was a great example of why. The folks organizing the race did a great job. The full started before the half and it being an out and back the half marathoners were a good encouragement for the last 6 miles - it was not like running thru a bunch of walkers. The aid stations were fully stocked and because it was a smaller race they could ask you what you needed before you got to them and they had it ready for you. The web site makes a big deal about the change of surface and I guess it might bother some people but I enjoyed the change. The only two negatives I could say is there is one place where you have to cross the road and there is no police (or flagman) to help and I did have a short stop by a train (very short and the race directors try to work that out ahead of time). But both negatives were minor compared to the rest of the race. Finishing back in downtown with the festival is a plus - nice hometown feeling. I would definitely recommend this race.
jerry boone from Washington Court House, Ohio (5/19/2011) "Nice, small race; well done and unique." (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Nice, small race but well done. The course was good, but not a lot of scenery and few spectators. Old bridge was unique but the gravel was hard to run on (mentally). Aid stations were good. Half marathon runners were not a problem; actually, it was nice to see more runners at that point. Parking and showers at the school were good. Need a little food at the end but the beer was great. Receiving trophies for age awards was something different for a change. Daily updates prior to the race were really nice. Not many do that either. Thanks to an energetic, dedicated race director, as well as the volunteers.
John Sweeney from Pottstown, PA (5/8/2011) "Everything you need, except spectators." (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I thought the race was extremely organized. This started with the news updates on the website, and continued to the email before the event, and on race day itself. The course was picturesque, with rolling hills along the river. There were ample water stops and friendly volunteers from beginning to end. There were shuttles from the main parking lot to the finish line, which coincided nicely with the Spring Fling. Plus, there were showers at the middle school after the race, so you could clean up and hang around. The only downside is that the locals didn't seem to embrace it much. There were no spectators on the course. That might just be the true beauty of the event though.
A. S. from Boston, MA (5/8/2011) "Small Marathon Caters to Runners" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 There were challenges! Flooding of the Susquehanna meant mud and water on the planned course. Not to worry, the race director installed several 'boardwalks' (not just boards, real boardwalks!) to keep runners dry and safe. That's the sort of touch that makes this a runner's race. The out and back course winds through Danville on quiet, roads, crosses the river, heads to a tow path (soft and grassy), crosses a gravel-bedded (large and pointy rocks) train bridge, then a covered bridge to hit the turn around in a park in Bloomsburg. The mix of footings and bridges keeps things interesting and more challenging than your 'average' road marathon. Aid stations every two or so miles were well stocked with supportive volunteers, though actual spectators were limited to the start/finish which corresponds to the day's Spring Fling (town festival). That's where I found my only real 'issues': (1) My finish of the marathon corresponded to a performance on a stage which backed the audience onto the end of the course. Volunteers and police did their best to keep an open aisle for the 80 or so full participants (plus a few hundred half marathoners), but were often overrun. Perhaps snowfencing would help? (2) Finishers did not get enough info on where to drop our chips, where to find medical, and where to pick up our bags. Further, the chute really backed up - and I didn't finish with that many other folks. Perhaps a separate chip drop station, then a medal distribution station would help? In fact, those are minor quibbles, meant mostly as suggestions for the RD. The post race party is a visit to the Spring Fling, which was very fun AND kept runners moving and walking instead of sitting down, easing recovery. Medals were very nice and trophies abundant with 5 year age groupings. (I took one home!) In all, I enjoyed my tour of the River Towns, found the local runners and visitors to the festival most friendly, and enjoyed perfect weather!
a. p. from VA (5/4/2010) "Has Potential" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 River Towns Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Could have used an earlier start, more traffic control on the course (the road crossings and run into the finish were extremely dangerous), and a better finish arrangement for the half marathon (bless them, the half marathoners didn't seem to realize when they blocked the full marathoners at their finish, nor did the dedicated bus drivers seem to be aware that there were people continuing on). Also, go back to having food and drink available at the finish - save the festival for those who want to attend. But the race has a director who's receptive to feedback and eager to make it better. The course itself was pretty, though not really as advertised (running along the river to me means you can actually see the river next to you). There were extra water stops set out to help with the warm weather; I sure hope the volunteers were thanked! And the trailer park/campground added a certain charm that you don't always get in marathons.
A. R. from Virginia (5/2/2010) "Needs a lot of improvement" (about: 2010) First Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This is a small marathon, so if that's your thing then you'll like it. You run through the rolling hills of the Susquehanna Valley, which is visually very pretty. I ran in 2010 and was unable to finish due to record heat and humidity. The race course was changed at the last minute without proper warning to the runners, so my plans of having someone meet me with three different extra water stops were not possible. The volunteers were sparse and I'm not sure any of them had proper experience. All of them were hesitant even to offer the Clif Bars that were available. How on earth does any marathon not offer any type of energy gels? The worst aspect of this race was that it was a 9 a.m. start. Had it been at 7 a.m., the vast majority of participants would have been able to complete the event without running under the grueling sun in the mid 80s. Also there were multiple stretches without water stops; roadkill on mile four; pesky cyclists who got in the way; and running on railroad tracks and other rocks for extended periods of time. Additionally, I ran through an RV campground, and I found that unpleasant; but then again, when you run in Pennsyltucky, what do you expect?

Become a better runner

Marathon Details - River Towns Marathon