SCRANTON, Pa. — The Steamtown Marathon is a little over two months away, and runners are preparing to brave the 26-mile course. 

Organizers say that while the race has seen fewer participants in recent years, this year’s marathon has seen a 50% increase in registration. 

In the early 2010s, there were an average of about 2,000 finishers per year. 



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Over the last 4 races since returning from the pandemic, there has been an average of about 9 hundred finishers per year.

“We’re at 1007 entrants as of today. Compared to 671 on the same date last year…We’re looking forward to a much larger field,” said Jim Cummings.

Cummings is the assistant race director and has been since the first one nearly 30 years ago. He credits the surge in part to the new course and the word of mouth from it 

“We made a few key changes to the course last year, including taking out some of the worst uphills. We made the course even faster,” Cummings said.

Victoria Greene is in the middle of training for her first Steamtown Marathon.

“Because it’s been a goal of mine for the last couple years, and I feel like I’m finally trained hard enough to attempt it.”

Patty Phillips has run all 28 Steamtown Marathons. She liked the change.

“Those [hills] are tough. Especially at the end. So yeah. It definitely made a difference,” Phillips said.

Phillips says she hasn’t noticed the smaller crowds, but welcomes the increased runners because of the camaraderie.

” I met a girl last year, and she’s from the Harrisburg area. We became friends,” Phillips said.

Cummings says 80% of runners are from outside the area. He also credits the upsurge to a nationwide resurgence in marathon running. Also, a reintroduction to the race for some post-COVID.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction so that every year you’re going forward, the numbers are gonna continue to grow,” Cummings said.

Greene is getting more pumped up by the day.

“It’s exciting that more people are doing it and more people in general are running because it’s a lifelong goal to finish a marathon,” Greene said.

Race cap is 3000. Registration ends October 9th. The race is set for Sunday, October 11th. They encourage you to sign up as early as possible for the lowest fees, and so they can best prepare for awards.