The Rum Runners is your one-stop resource for running in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. We strive to bring you the best in information on run training, road races, and the active lifestyle from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to Scranton to Erie. Our goal is to become the premier running club and runner’s resource in all of the Pennsylvania area.
Races: If you are a race director and want us to list your race for area runners, please
The Philadelphia Marathon
contact us. The Rum Runners will do our best to provide education and awareness about your event and race so you can have the best turnout possible and help bring the running lifestyle to the most possible people. If you are a runner, check back often and see the thread on the “races” page to look for marathons, half marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks in your area.
Gear: Occasionally, we will carry reviews and information on gear in the area. When we do, we will make sure our members and readers are able to get high-quality gear at the best possible prices. We do our best to provide information on the running basics such as high-quality running shoes, shorts, and outerwear. We are also gear junkies, so you will see us from time to time send information about more advanced gadgets like GPS watches and apparel such as compression shorts. Whatever we find interesting is what we will pass along to you.
Training: The final prong of our existence is to marry good trainers with people who need training. If you are doing a couch-to-5K program and need a little extra motivation, a trainer might be a good call for you. Likewise, if you are focused on getting to the next level and doing a marathon in a certain time, a coach might be just what you need to get there. We will feature training plans as well in order to provide you with a well-round experience in your running hobby.
Being a runner in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states is great. We think that our area is one of the best anywhere for runners, for a few great reasons.
- Access to races. There are very few places in the US where you can have access to so many races. You can run the Great Race in Pittsburgh in the fall, the Philadelphia or Harrisburg Marathons, or any number of other local running races of various distances. The Lancaster to Pocono Ragnar Relay route is considered one of the most unique Ragnar courses in the U.S. You can watch some of the best collegiate runners in the world at the Penn Relays. Within a short drive of our area, you could be running the Army 10 miler or other fine DC races, or the New York or Boston Marathons. In so many parts of the country, doing this kind of variety of races would mean booking trips and often traveling via airplane, but here, they are just a drive away.
- Great training. The quality and variety of training in Pennsylvania is second to none. The beautiful rolling hills of Central and Western PA provide for scenic and challenging runs of any distance. The Blue Ridge and Pocono Mountain ranges provide some of the most underrated trail runs anywhere East of the Mississippi, and are enough to cause even the best runners to dig deep. We have major metro areas with some of the best trail runs such as Fairmount Park and Forbidden Drive in Philly, and our rural running routes are unsurpassed in beauty, peace, and terrain.
- Four Seasons. We are happy that our state has four distinct seasons for running. Sure, it would be nice to be in Southern California when it is 70 degrees in January, but there is nothing like taking advantage of what four seasons have to offer. Summer mornings can provide a great time for building a strong foundations, our falls provide some of the best training as well as many of our best races, and spring time in the East is underrated as the bloom begins in early April. And frankly, our winters are not that bad, compared to many places that get colder temps and much more snow.
We are passionate about promoting running in our state, and look forward to your continued visits. We will do our best to provide unique and valuable content as you check back!