The Run for the Red invited 6-time Pocono Marathon champion Bryan Morseman to run the 2019 course. We wanted to get a runner’s take on this new route. This is his scouting report:
Start/First 5k:
Start is nice and I think will have plenty of parking. It does not take long before it became very agricultural as it goes down Possinger Drive and Mountain Rd. Pretty tough first 5k.
5k-10k:
I remember this 5k section having some ups and down and if I remember it had quite a few road crossings.
10k-15k:
Ahhhh the MASSIVE HILL. This comes around the 10k point and definitely will take and trash the legs of 99.9% of the runners. But what is a marathon if it’s all downhill???? The climb to the top is worth it as it levels off and is windy. Come on, who running a MARATHON wouldn’t like the name of this road?? Running Valley Road is a perfect name for it. Once you catch your breath at the top that is…
15k-20k:
This section I believe was one of the windiest of all, and had a decent hill once you turned right on Setzer Road, nice hill, challenging but once you reach the top it’s rolling but nothing bad.
20k-25k:
This section is pretty as you run by the winery on the left you get that agricultural feel, but it’s pretty over-looking the mountains on the right. Just after you hit the half marathon finish/half marathon point of full, pretty area before you make the left to go down and up Neola Road.
25-30k:
You start to see the agricultural side of things during this 5k as it’s beautiful as you run across the foot path bridge and the breath taking stream to your right. This is one of the most beautiful miles of the course on an old road. Quiet and just breathtaking. This will be one of the areas all the runners will love, GUARANTEED.
30k-35k:
This 5k is up at the beginning but downhill, flat the rest of it, as you pass the gas station on the left and go over the interstate. To me honestly this was the toughest and most boring part of the whole course, not sure if it was the wind, the few hills, or just getting tired (as everyone will be) at this point.
35k-40k:
Love this last true 5k section as it goes through a beautiful windy road lined with trees on both sides, pretty view as you approach the golf course on both sides and you start to see more pedestrian life.
Final 2.2k:
Almost there, and you can feel that vibe as you start to see more houses, people, etc. and this is nice because it’s either flat or downhill to the finish.
Overall:
This is a beautiful course, challenging, you get it all though, the back roads, few major roads, the farm lands, the twist and turns, ups and downs. I personally love this course as opposed to the fastest older courses, and the layout is great for what you have to deal with in this situation.
-Bryan Morseman
