Steamtown Marathon
The Lowdown
A USATF-certified, net-downhill Boston Qualifier favorite through Northeast Pennsylvania. The point-to-point course starts at Forest City High School and drops 955 feet over 26.2 miles through 14 communities, including 4.2 miles on the paved Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, finishing in the heart of Downtown Scranton at Courthouse Square. On average, 28% of Steamtown finishers qualify for Boston.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Intimate field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Good crowd energy
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Forest City High School (start)
Lackawanna River Heritage Trail
Courthouse Square, Downtown Scranton (finish)
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Forest City to Scranton, Pennsylvania
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Must meet the event age requirement
Required Documents
- Photo ID for bib/packet pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration via RunSignUp
Cancellation & Refund Policy
The Steamtown Marathon does not offer race deferrals.
Net-downhill, point-to-point course with a 955-foot elevation drop from Forest City to Scranton.
On average, 28% of Steamtown finishers qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Official finish time limit is 6 hours; runners finishing between 6 and 7 hours are not included in official results and may not receive a finisher medal.
Recent finisher counts: 2025 - 892; 2024 - 898; 2023 - 867.
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Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
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