A unique reward awaits participants at the end of the 12th annual Scranton Half-Marathon on Sunday.
Race officials and the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau collaborated to create a four-year medal series that, when put together, depicts the skyline of downtown Scranton with the city’s iconic landmarks.
Every runner, walker and virtual runner who completes the full 13.1-mile distance will receive the first medal, which features The Scranton Times building and radio tower, Geisinger Hospital, Cooper’s Seafood Restaurant and Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel.
Among the buildings included on the 2026 medal is the Ritz Theatre. The 2027 medal includes Ale Mary’s, The Bog, Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple and the Penn Paper building with the Dunder Mifflin logo. The final medal in 2028 has Courthouse Square, the Scranton Life Building and the Scranton Electric City sign.
“We’ve been kicking it around for a few years,” race organizer Matt Byrne said. “We’ve seen other races across the country do it and always thought it would be interesting to do. We just had to come up with a concept.
“The Visitors Bureau has always been supportive through their channels, but this year they took it to another level and helped us design the medal and create a four-year puzzle piece. We’re super grateful for their involvement. It was great to work with them, a great partnership.”
Byrne said he noticed an uptick in registration when the medal series was announced.
“Anybody who was on the fence was like, Now I’ve got to do it. I’ve got to get the first year of the puzzle,” Byrne said.
“It’s going to be a piece that stands up on your desk or somewhere. It’s not just going to hang; each one will have its own little stand. It looks cool and unique on its own but will look even better all put together.”
Sunday’s race gets the starter’s gun at 8 a.m. outside Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium on Providence Road. It makes its way through the city’s streets and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail before finishing inside Memorial Stadium.
The Half Marathon Walk begins Sunday at 6:45 a.m. Two Kids Fun Runs will be held: a ¼-mile for ages 5-8 at 8:15 a.m. and a ½-mile for ages 9-12 immediately after.
On Saturday, there is a 5K race at 3 p.m. The race expo and packet pickup is at Scranton Running Company, 3 West Olive St., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Residents and motorists are advised that some roads may be closed or traffic stopped for an extended period to allow runners to pass. There is a cutoff time for runners and walkers to reach the Elm Street trailhead of the Heritage Trail by 10:15 a.m. so that the city streets can safely reopen. Participants who don’t reach the cutoff time will be directed to turn onto the trail and not be able to complete the full course and not have a finish time recorded.
There are 1,819 runners and 162 walkers entered from 25 states as well as the United Kingdom, France, Venezuela, Kenya and Ireland. Fifty-six percent of the runners are female, 44 percent males.
Also, there are 870 first-time entrants between the runners and walkers.
“I’m excited just as much for the fast runners as I am for people trying this distance for the first time,” Byrne said. “I think that’s been the strength of the Scranton Half forever. A lot of people engaging this sport for the first time.”
Among the elite runners entered is Dylan Gearinger. The Berwick native and former Marywood University coach who now calls Philadelphia home is the defending champion, winning last year in a course-record 1:04:28.21. He also won in 2022 and finished second in the Steamtown Marathon in October.
Brandon Fleschut of Dallas, who placed third last year, is also entered. So is former North Pocono and Marywood University standout David Haines, a two-time race ...
