Scranton's Steamtown Marathon

By Michele Blandino

With the fall marathon season gearing up, long distance runners will be packing up their sneakers and heading to places like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago where some of the most prestigious and popular marathons are held. And for many, they go with one goal: to qualify for the most prestigious race of all - the Boston Marathon.

To qualify for the Boston Marathon, runners must complete a USATF certified marathon within a specific period of time; qualifying times vary by age group and gender. With literally hundreds of marathons held all over the United States throughout the year, long distance runners have plenty of opportunities to turn in a qualifying performance.

One such opportunity can be found in Pennsylvania's Steamtown Marathon. Now in its 9th year, the Steamtown Marathon features a picturesque point-to-point course that begins in the mountaintop village of Forest City and ends in downtown Scranton. Along the way, runners pass through a number of the small towns that lie between the start and end points while enjoying the peaking fall foliage that lines much of the 26.2 mile course.

Small Town Atmosphere

Many runners say that one of the characteristics of the course design that they enjoy most is the fact that it passes through so many small towns. On marathon day, it's not uncommon to see local high school marching bands, cheerleaders and residents lining the streets and encouraging the runners. The atmosphere at the end of the course is equally as festive with plenty of people on hand to cheer the runners across the finish line.

Another appealing characteristic of the Steamtown Marathon is the fact that it is largely a downhill course. With a 955 foot drop elevation from the starting point to the finish line, runners regularly report that may of their personal time records have been set on this course. That's not to say, however, that the course isn't without its share of uphill segments - and unfortunately, these are near the end of the course.

Pre-Race Information

Marathon Weekend begins with the pre-race Expo. Held at Scranton High School, the Expo gives runners the opportunity to pick up their numbers and chips in advance of Sunday's 8:00 am start time. There are also nutritional and sports medicine experts on hand to provide advice to the runners. On the morning of marathon, there are trainers on hand to help stretch out the runners' legs. There is a free shuttle service to get the runners from Scranton to Forest City on the morning of the race and a small army of volunteers will make sure your belongings are waiting for you at the end of the race.

Should You Go?

If you think you might be interested in running the Steamtown Marathon, take a few minutes to read some of the testimonials found at the marathon's official site. Written by people who have participated in the race, they offer a glimpse from the runners' perspective and should be useful in helping make your decision.