How do I register for Steamtown Marathon?

Registration is open to all runners and is completed online via RunSignup. It stays open until the race reaches its 3,000 runner cap, so signing up early is a good idea.

Is Steamtown Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, Steamtown is a Boston qualifying race. The course is USATF certified, and the net downhill profile makes it one of the more PR-friendly qualifier options in the region.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course runs point-to-point from the Pocono foothills into Scranton, dropping nearly 950 feet of net elevation. The steepest descents come early, so pacing conservatively in the first half is important.

What kind of weather should I expect on race day?

Typical October conditions are cool and dry, with starting temperatures in the low to mid 40s Fahrenheit and low humidity. Recent years have trended slightly warmer and more humid than the historical average, so it is worth monitoring the forecast in the days before the race.

How large is the field at Steamtown?

The race caps at 3,000 runners, and recent finisher counts have been just under 900. It is a smaller, lower-key event compared to major city marathons.

Is the Steamtown Marathon course USATF certified?

Yes, the course is USATF certified, which means finish times are eligible for use as Boston qualifying times and other race entry standards.

Sun, Oct 11 · 2026Scranton, PASince 1996

Steamtown Marathon

Steamtown rolls point-to-point through the Pennsylvania hills on a course that drops nearly a thousand feet from start to finish. Cool fall air and a generous downhill make this one of the most PR-friendly courses in the northeast.

Net downhillOpen

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STEAMTOWN · US

Steamtown

SUN, OCT 11

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1996

Steamtown is the kind of race people seek out specifically to get a fast time, and the course delivers a real shot at that. It starts in the hills above Scranton and runs downhill for much of the first half, dropping close to a thousand feet by the time you cross the finish. The opening miles feel almost effortless. Don't go with it. The descent flattens out in the second half, and legs that burned through their energy on the early drop will have a rough time of it from mile 18 onward. The fall weather helps, with starting temps typically in the low 40s and low humidity. Cool, crisp, and usually clear.

This is a straightforward race to get into. Registration is open and done online, and it fills before hitting its cap, so signing up early is smart but you are not fighting a lottery. It is USATF certified and a Boston qualifier, which is the main reason most people show up. The field is on the smaller side, so it has a low-key, no-fuss feel on race day. If you want a big-city party atmosphere, this is not that. But if you want a clean, well-organized shot at a PR on a fast certified course in good fall weather, Steamtown is worth the trip.

Field size

~892

892 finishers

BQ rate

—

Boston qualifier

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:16:41

Luke Watson

2010

Women

2:39:51

Heidi Peoples

2010

The Course

Total ascent

—

Total descent

↓954 ft

Net elevation

—

Highest point

—

Lowest point

—

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

Steamtown is a point-to-point course that loses nearly 950 feet of net elevation, running from the Pocono foothills down into Scranton. The descent is not uniform. Early miles offer the steepest drops, which can tempt you into banking time you'll pay for later. The course levels out considerably in the back half, so legs that went out too hard on the downhill will feel it after mile 18. Surface is primarily paved road. The net loss makes this a genuine PR course, but only if you resist the early gradient. Run controlled in the first third and let the downhill work for you rather than against you.

Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

43°F

High

64°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

October in Scranton usually delivers a crisp fall morning, with temps in the low-to-mid 40s at the gun and a high around the mid-60s by midday. For a point-to-point course that takes most runners a couple of hours to finish, that warming trend is worth thinking about. You'll start cool enough to want a throwaway layer at the line, but the back half of the race can feel noticeably warmer than the start. It's generally a favorable window for fast running, but don't overdress.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration until the race reaches its 3,000 runner cap. Registration is completed online via RunSignup.

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Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

ABE

54 mi

from the start

≈ 85 min transferManageable drive

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into ABE, about 54 miles from the start, a manageable drive by rideshare or transit, roughly a 85-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Scranton, PA so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

Frequently Asked

7 questions

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