Steamtown Named Nation’s Fastest Marathon Course

Running experts nationwide are finally catching up to what fans of the Steamtown Marathon have known for years - that Steamtown's fast course and quality volunteers have combined to make it one of the fastest marathons in the Northeast and in the United States.

"This year, according to several national running sources and our own research, we have determined that the Steamtown Marathon is one of the nation's fastest marathon courses, maybe even the fastest," said Asst. Race Director Jim Cummings. "Runners from around the country who have come to the Steamtown Marathon are reporting that our fast course, our organization, and our dedicated volunteers combine to make it one of the best marathon experiences they have ever had."

In May, national running magazine, Running Times, reported that runners at Steamtown have finished faster than the national average for several years in a row. In his article, "Fast Marathons-Looking for that PR," published in May 2006, Running Times Editor-In-Chief Jonathan Beverly analyzed the median times of marathons throughout the country and found that the Steamtown Marathon has consistently shown the fastest median times and has received accolades from runners for its exceptional organization. Steamtown is included in a list of 14 marathons he recommends to runners trying to set personal records.

"I named the Steamtown Marathon to the list because it has achieved the fastest median times of all USA marathons for several years in a row, as calculated and reported by Running USA," Beverly said. "It is one of only 10 marathons with more than four percent of finishers under three hours, according to MarathonGuide.com, and it has exceptional reviews for organization and quality on both online guides and among runners I know personally who have run it."

Beverly based his recommendation on statistics compiled by Running USA, based in Santa Barbara, California and MarathonGuide.com, an online resource for everything marathoning, including the web's largest directory of national and international marathons.

Running USA is a national trade organization dedicated to improving the status of distance running in the U.S. Its database compiles, analyzes and distributes road-running statistics and demographics and serves as a clearinghouse for the sport. Running USA determined that Steamtown's 2005 median time was at least 30 minutes faster than the national average and was the fastest of any 2005 U.S. marathon with at least 1,000 finishers.

"For perspective, Steamtown's 2005 median time was 3 hours, 55 minutes, 36 seconds, while the national marathon median time for 2005 was over 4 hours and 25 minutes. It also was the only U.S. marathon with at least 1,000 finishers with a median time under 4 hours," Ryan Lamppa, Running USA media director, said.

MarathonGuide.com included Steamtown runners as some of the fastest marathoners in the country in 2005. On its website, the organization reported that just 1.6 percent of all marathoners - about 6,300 - broke three hours. Due to the sheer number of runners, the largest marathons accounted for the largest number of sub three-hour finishes. Of the smaller marathons, Steamtown boasted a much higher percentage of runners finishing in less than three hours than other races around the country.

"Some races, however, had a disproportionate number of sub three-hour performances," the website reported." These marathons with more than 300 finishers had more than four percent of their finishers arrive in under three hours: Clarence Demar Marathon, Lincoln Marathon, Cape Cod Marathon, Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon, Rocket City Marathon, Glass City Marathon, California Marathon, Steamtown Marathon and Tucson Marathon."

Steamtown's own research also concluded that no other U.S. marathon with at least 1,000 finishers had a higher percentage of finishers under four hours.  At Steamtown, 55% finished in less than four hours versus the national average of 26%.

An area included on the MarathonGuide.com website gives runners an opportunity to comment on Steamtown, as well as rate it in three categories: course, organization and fans. Steamtown rated nearly perfect in all three. In fact, Steamtown was one of only four marathons with between 1,000 and 7,500 finishers to score 14 stars out of a possible 15.

With its fast course, exceptional organization, and terrific fan support, runners from across the country are coming to Steamtown to run a perfect marathon. 

"The Steamtown Marathon is my personal favorite," said John Elliott, president, MarathonGuide.com "I recommend it to everyone without hesitation. The organization is superb, the course as easy as a 26.2 mile run can be, and the fan support is excellent for a rural marathon. I can't say enough good things about this race."

For nearly 10 years, Steamtown has had the distinct designation of having one of the nation's fastest marathon courses.  In 1997, Runner's World, considered by many to be the nation's premier running publication, listed Steamtown as one of the nation's 10 fastest courses.  Since that time, Steamtown organizers removed and reduced several challenging uphills making the course even faster. 

Besides the combination of superb runner support - which includes a nearly  2-1 ratio of volunteers to runners - Steamtown's 955' net elevation drop helps runners shave time off their usual finishes, providing the runner is prepared for the downhill start at Forest City High School and the uphill finish in Scranton.

"The key to running Steamtown is managing the hills," Cummings said. "Much of the first eight miles features significant downhills while the last few miles include several short, but challenging uphills. Many runners have set personal records here by wide margins. Others however, have failed to prepare for the hills and have crashed and burned, wondering how anyone could call Steamtown fast."

Runners interested in participating in the Steamtown Marathon should review the course description very carefully, and visit the Training Tips section of the Steamtown Marathon website http://www.steamtownmarathon.com/course_info_main.php for advice from elite runners who know the Steamtown course very well.