Steamtown Marathon 2013 Handcycle. I
didn't break the Course record but then I have owned it since 2007
when the Temperature was in the 70's. (The Hot Year) The 50 degree
temperature at the start is much nicer then some of the mid 20's of
past years. The warmer it is the faster I race. Top speed on the
Downhill out of Forest City was 39.9 the wind kept that down this
year.
After 8 years I figured out what
attracts me to this Race. No it's not chewing on the Gravel kicked up
on the rails to trails section, or plowing through Mulch. It's an
interesting course. The varied Terrain, all the turns, transition
between pavement gravel, Mulch. Racing in middle of the woods,
through small town America, into the thriving metropolis of Scranton.
Never a dull moment.
Video to follow.
Oh no it's Columbus Day and I
mistakenly opened an e-mail from Rob. He is going to talk about the
Steamtown Marathon for like the 20th time how boring.
Number one this is only my 8th Steamtown and on my Scale
of Marathons Steamtown rates 2 thumbs up or 4 ½ out of 5 stars.
Something new: with the help of some
videos I am going to take you on a Steamtown Reality Tour maybe I can
convince some runners and Handcyclists slower then I am that a
Marathon with a mile of Mulch, Killer Rabbits, a smelly Horse and a
local women named Stella Grumpheimer is
a great place to race.
Going for my 8th title would
be complicated by actual other competitors in my Class. This would be
the 4th time in 8 years that I would have competition.
Rumor around the Electric City is that local boy Tim Moran wanted to
again challenge me and my 2007 course record, and from Pittsburgh the
new kid would be making the trip to Steamtown for his first Marathon.
When the cannon went off there would be
a Sheriffs Car about 8 Bicycle Escorts, a few Harley's, and 2
Handcycles off on a 26 mile route that would follow the Lackawana
River into Scranton. Along the route we would encounter many Dangers.
Tim still dealing with some shoulder issues would not make the trip.
The course from the Handcycle
prospective.
Steamtown has the best Starting line
and warm-up area, along with the Civil War Cannon and re-en actors is
the School large enough to keep everyone warm, cheerleaders and a
helpful student body passing out water until the start.
Forrest City High School. Getting ready
with the Cheerleaders and Motorcycle Bicycle Escorts and along with
stacks of bottled water comes Potty lines.
For the Handcycles the race doesn’t
really get going until we are led down a steep hill onto the Main
Street. First few miles is a gradual uphill then a few miles of
Downhill. At this point the Bicycle Escorts can't keep pace with the
aerodynamic Handcycles. I hit 39.9 with the wind keeping the top
speed down this year.
This is the 39.9 part
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I99eI3Edg8
After a few miles of woods we enter
Carbondale with People, Buildings and stuff.
The first section of Rails to Trails
the Road Bike Escorts drop off, and the Elk Mt Ski Patrol on Mt Bikes
take over.
Yes it is rough in places but in 8
years I have never had a flat on the Rails to trails, and yes my
camera dose have image stabilization. (to a point) For the true
Steamtown experience wet your face and have someone throw dirt on it.
I race on my Recreational Handcycle
rather then the “R” Steamtown has some transitions the would
stop the limited clearance of the R.
I loose the Sheriff Escort
Why do we need to make an O turn inside
Blakely Borough Park? Number 1 when Steamtown Planners laid out the
course with a cozy warm school for a start and Spectacular Courthouse
for a Finish Line they need to now plan 26.2 miles to the inch so
they add little loops.
The second reason is to keep a not so
honest Racer from Jumping on the Mid Valley Subway and exiting at the
Cooper Seafood
Stop and completing the Race.
(Rosie Ruiz NY Marathon
style). The Steamtown Marathon Microchip we all are required
to have not only controls our thoughts but also records our times.
times us. Mello park contains an Honesty Mat to record the racers as
they cross. It is interesting that the Honesty Mat is set up in a
Park that was named after a less then honest State Senator.
The next transition is the diciest 50
yards of the 26 mile race, first bounce up over the lip for the
footbridge without poping a tire or bottoming out, over the bridge
and through the post's a very hard right turn and up a slippery hill
starting the mile of mulch. Fortunately this year mulch coverage was
thin, dry and traction was good. However I did hang up on my first
attempt at the bridge.
Mulch
The Road Bikes are back
Outskirts of the Electric City
The Hill; Electric Street. We did find
injured Tim supporting Bryan and I on the right. The Steamtown
Charity is Saint Joseph Center. Some of the kids are at the top of
the Hill and the biggest party on the Downside of the hill.
The early race downhills are replaced
by end of race uphills. One last hill is the climb to Cooper Seafood.
(You can't miss Cooper Seafood)
Downhill to the Finish Line I have
learned to slow up before the Banner.
You have now completed the Steamtown
Marathon Reality Tour. You can follow this link and download a
Finishers Certificate. You can cross out my name and Crayon in yours.
One last thing I do before I leave
Scranton is have some Perogies and make a donation to the Saint
Josephs Center. For the full reality tour experience you can
consider doing that.
Rob Leiser
