2026 Steamtown Marathon - Oct 11 Countdown

Q: When is the 2026 Steamtown Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Steamtown Marathon is on Sunday, October 11, 2026 — the 29th running — with the full marathon starting at 8:00 a.m. ET at Forest City High School. The point-to-point course finishes at Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. Because it is point-to-point, buses run from the downtown Scranton finish area up to the Forest City start on race morning (first buses around 5:30 a.m., last around 6:45 a.m.).

Q: How much elevation does the Steamtown Marathon course drop?

Steamtown is a net-downhill point-to-point with an overall net drop of about 954 feet (291 m) from Forest City down the Lackawanna Valley to Scranton. The course loses roughly 1,471 ft and climbs only about 518 ft, with most of the descent in the early miles and a short climb (Cooper's Hill) near mile 25. Because the net loss is well below Boston's 1,500-foot limit, your finish time counts toward Boston qualifying with no downhill adjustment. See the drop on our elevation profile tool.

Q: What is the time limit for the Steamtown Marathon?

The organizer asks runners to be able to finish within 6 hours, and the hard cutoff is 7 hours — finishers after 7 hours are not listed in official results and may not receive a medal. Seven hours works out to about a 16:00 per mile average pace. Plan your splits with our pace calculator to stay comfortably ahead of the cutoff.

Q: Where does the Steamtown Marathon start and finish?

The marathon starts at Forest City High School at the top of the Lackawanna Valley and runs southwest through about 14 communities — including Carbondale, Mayfield, Archbald, Jessup and Dickson City — with roughly 4.2 miles of paved rail-trail along the Lackawanna River, before finishing at Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. Because it is point-to-point, plan for the race-morning shuttle buses from the Scranton finish area to the Forest City start.

Q: How do I register for the 2026 Steamtown Marathon?

Registration is handled through RunSignUp and the race has a field cap of about 3,000 runners, though recent editions have drawn closer to 1,000 entrants, so spots are usually available — registering early still gets the lowest fee. Note the organizer does not offer deferrals, and only a partial refund is available if you withdraw by late summer. English-language online registration is straightforward for international runners.

Q: Why is it called the Steamtown Marathon?

The race is named for the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, a National Park Service museum on the city's railroad heritage that preserves historic steam locomotives. Scranton grew as a rail and industrial hub, and the marathon celebrates that history — finishing downtown near the heart of the old railroad city at Courthouse Square.

Q: What is the weather like for the Steamtown Marathon?

Mid-October in Scranton is typically cool and crisp — a race-morning low near 43°F (6°C) warming to a high around 61°F (16°C), with a mean of about 52°F (11°C). It is prime fast-running weather; dress for a chilly valley start and shed layers as you warm up on the early descent. The course usually runs through peak fall foliage.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Steamtown Marathon - Oct 11
City	Scranton
Date	2026-10-11 at 08:00
Field Size	~892 runners
Time Limit	7 hours
Cutoff pace	9:57/km
Timezone	America/New_York
Official Site	Steamtown Marathon
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	11.4°C / 53°F
Humidity	79%
Wind	9.2 km/h
Rain Chance	32%
Typical Conditions	Cool, crisp mid-October northeastern Pennsylvania morning — classic fast-running and BQ weather

What to Prepare: Mid-October in Scranton typically brings a chilly race-morning low near 43°F / 6°C climbing to a high around 61°F / 16°C. The 8 a.m. point-to-point start sits up the Lackawanna Valley in Forest City and can feel cold at the gun, so a throwaway long-sleeve or gloves you can shed after the first few downhill miles is smart. Humidity runs high in the morning and a passing shower is possible, so pack a layer for bag check.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 9.2 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	6.4°C	11°C	17.1°C
Dew point	0.5°C	6.9°C	14.2°C

Wet-day chance: 32% Runnability: 77/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point
Elevation Gain	157m
Terrain	Road (valley roads and small-town streets plus about 4.2 miles of paved rail-trail, paved throughout)
Profile	A classic old-school net-downhill point-to-point and one of the fastest marathons in the Northeast. The course starts at Forest City High School at the head of the Lackawanna Valley and runs the river valley southwest through roughly 14 communities — Vandling, Carbondale, Mayfield, Archbald, Jessup, Olyphant and Dickson City among them — including about 4.2 miles of paved rails-to-trails along the Lackawanna River, before finishing at Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. The overall net drop is about 954 feet (roughly 291 m): the profile loses around 1,471 ft and climbs only about 518 ft, with the descent concentrated in the early miles and a short, sharp climb known as Cooper's Hill near mile 25 to keep you honest. Because the net loss is well under Boston's 1,500-foot threshold, the course incurs NO Boston-qualifying downhill adjustment and times count fully toward BQ. That heritage as a fast, point-to-point fall race makes Steamtown a long-running Boston-qualifier and PR destination — about 18.2% of finishers qualified for Boston in 2025 (18.6% in 2024). Named for the nearby Steamtown National Historic Site and Scranton's railroad heritage, the race runs through peak autumn foliage to a finish on Courthouse Square. USATF-certified.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Steamtown Marathon - Oct 11

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Featured In

Best Marathons for a PR 2026 Easiest Boston Qualifying Marathons 2027 Best Fall Marathons in 2026 (Sep-Nov) Most Scenic Marathon Courses in the World (2026) Best US Marathons 2026 Fastest Downhill Marathons USA

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Steamtown Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Steamtown Marathon is on Sunday, October 11, 2026 — the 29th running — with the full marathon starting at 8:00 a.m. ET at Forest City High School. The point-to-point course finishes at Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. Because it is point-to-point, buses run from the downtown Scranton finish area up to the Forest City start on race morning (first buses around 5:30 a.m., last around 6:45 a.m.).

How much elevation does the Steamtown Marathon course drop?

Steamtown is a net-downhill point-to-point with an overall net drop of about 954 feet (291 m) from Forest City down the Lackawanna Valley to Scranton. The course loses roughly 1,471 ft and climbs only about 518 ft, with most of the descent in the early miles and a short climb (Cooper's Hill) near mile 25. Because the net loss is well below Boston's 1,500-foot limit, your finish time counts toward Boston qualifying with no downhill adjustment. See the drop on our elevation profile tool.

Is the Steamtown Marathon a good Boston qualifier?

Yes — Steamtown is a long-running, classic Boston-qualifying marathon in the Northeast. It is a USATF-certified, official Boston Marathon qualifier, and its net-downhill profile plus cool October weather help runners run fast. About 18.2% of finishers qualified for Boston in 2025 (18.6% in 2024). Check your target time with our Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit for the Steamtown Marathon?

The organizer asks runners to be able to finish within 6 hours, and the hard cutoff is 7 hours — finishers after 7 hours are not listed in official results and may not receive a medal. Seven hours works out to about a 16:00 per mile average pace. Plan your splits with our pace calculator to stay comfortably ahead of the cutoff.

Where does the Steamtown Marathon start and finish?

The marathon starts at Forest City High School at the top of the Lackawanna Valley and runs southwest through about 14 communities — including Carbondale, Mayfield, Archbald, Jessup and Dickson City — with roughly 4.2 miles of paved rail-trail along the Lackawanna River, before finishing at Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. Because it is point-to-point, plan for the race-morning shuttle buses from the Scranton finish area to the Forest City start.

How do I register for the 2026 Steamtown Marathon?

Registration is handled through RunSignUp and the race has a field cap of about 3,000 runners, though recent editions have drawn closer to 1,000 entrants, so spots are usually available — registering early still gets the lowest fee. Note the organizer does not offer deferrals, and only a partial refund is available if you withdraw by late summer. English-language online registration is straightforward for international runners.

Why is it called the Steamtown Marathon?

The race is named for the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, a National Park Service museum on the city's railroad heritage that preserves historic steam locomotives. Scranton grew as a rail and industrial hub, and the marathon celebrates that history — finishing downtown near the heart of the old railroad city at Courthouse Square.

What is the weather like for the Steamtown Marathon?

Mid-October in Scranton is typically cool and crisp — a race-morning low near 43°F (6°C) warming to a high around 61°F (16°C), with a mean of about 52°F (11°C). It is prime fast-running weather; dress for a chilly valley start and shed layers as you warm up on the early descent. The course usually runs through peak fall foliage.