The Fastest Marathons in the Northeast, Ranked by the Numbers

This is part two of our series ranking the fastest marathons in every region of the U.S. If you missed part one, we started with the fastest marathons in the Midwest.

Same idea, same math. This isn't a review of the medal or the post-race party. It's the nerd perspective: we pulled the same numbers for 11 Northeast marathons, ran them through the same model, and ranked them with the PR Nerd Fast Course Score. Because the method doesn't change from region to region, you can compare these scores directly with the Midwest list.

For this series, we're using the U.S. Census Bureau's definition of the Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. (Races like Marine Corps, Baltimore, and Richmond fall in the South by that definition, so they'll be in that article.) We picked the region's biggest marathons plus several smaller races with reputations for fast times. It's a selected list, not every marathon in the Northeast.

The Rankings

The score runs from 0 to 100, where 100 would be a perfectly flat course on a cool, calm, dry morning. "Time cost" is our estimate of how much slower a 4:00 marathoner would run on that course on a typical race day compared to that perfect course.

Rankings are based on unrounded scores, so races with the same displayed score can still be ranked in order. BQ Rate is the share of Boston-eligible finishers who ran a Boston qualifying time, from Find My Marathon, for the 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying period (roughly September 2025 to September 2026). BQ Rate isn't part of our score.

**Boston's BQ rate is in a category of its own, since almost everyone in the field already qualified to get there.

***Erie's 2027-period figure wasn't available yet, so this is its most recent published rate.

The headline: the Northeast is downhill country. Four of the top five races finish lower than they start. Steamtown, the top race on this list, drops about 950 feet from start to finish, and it posts the best score we've calculated so far in any region. It edges out every race on the Midwest list, including Chicago.

The other big takeaway is the spread. In the Midwest, 11 of 12 races were within about two minutes of each other. Here, the gap between first and last is about five minutes for a 4:00 marathoner. The Northeast has some of the fastest courses in the country and some of the toughest big-city courses, too.

How the Score Works

We use the same model for every region. Here's the short version. (The Midwest article has the full explanation.)

The score estimates how much a course and its typical weather slow you down, as a percent of your finish time. Every 1% of estimated slowdown takes 20 points off a perfect 100. There are four inputs:

1. Hills. For our model, we use a simplified estimate: about 2% added to your finish time for every 1,000 feet of total climbing. Research on the energy cost of running on slopes (Minetti and colleagues, 2002) shows that climbing costs more than descending gives back, especially since most runners can't take full advantage of downhills. The 2% figure is our own simplification based on that idea, not a result from one study.

2. Net downhill. This matters a lot more in the Northeast than it did in the Midwest. When a course finishes lower than it starts, we give it a credit at half the rate of the climbing penalty: about 1% faster for every 1,000 feet of net drop. That's a deliberately conservative assumption. More on why below.

3. Heat and humidity. Research on big-city marathons (Ely and colleagues, 2007; El Helou and colleagues, 2012) shows that times slow as it gets warmer, and that the fastest performances happen in cool weather, roughly 40 to 50°F. To turn weather into a number, we use a rough coaching rule of thumb: add the temperature and the dew point. Under 100, there's no penalty. Above it, the penalty grows. We use the typical race-morning temperature, add a fixed 6°F for warming during the race, and estimate the dew point from typical race-week humidity.

4. Wind. A small penalty for typical peak wind above about 9 mph (15 km/h).

What the data is: Elevation gain, net drop, typical race-week weather (from about 20 years of historical climate data), and finisher counts come from RunDida's race pages, the same single source we used for the Midwest. For Boston and New York, which start mid-morning instead of right after sunrise, we used a typical temperature for the actual start time rather than the early-morning low.

This is a comparison tool, not a personal race-time calculator. Actual conditions vary a lot from year to year, and sunlight, wind, and your own heat acclimation all affect how you'll run.

The Downhill Question

Before we get to the races, a quick word about downhill courses, since they dominate the top of this list.

A net-downhill course really is faster. Gravity gives you free speed, and the research on running slopes shows that moderate downhills lower the energy cost of running. That's why Steamtown, Wineglass, and Mohawk Hudson have strong reputations among runners chasing a Boston qualifier, and why their BQ rates are well above most big-city races.

But downhill running has a cost that doesn't show up in an energy equation. Running downhill makes your quads work eccentrically, meaning the muscles lengthen while they're braking you. That kind of work causes more muscle damage than running on the flat. On a course with a big early descent, it's easy to feel great for 15 miles and then find your quads are shot for the last 10K.

That's why we give net drop only half credit. It's also why, if you pick a downhill race, you need to train for it. Include downhill running in your long runs in the last couple of months before the race, and hold back in the early miles even when the pace feels effortless.

Race by Race

1. Steamtown Marathon (Score: 97)

• Usually held: Early to mid-October
• Finishers: About 900 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 515 feet, with a net drop of about 950 feet
• Typical start: Low 40s°F, dew point upper 30s

Steamtown runs point to point from Forest City to downtown Scranton, mostly on roads and a rail trail. It drops about 950 feet from start to finish, much of it in the first part of the race, and October mornings in northeast Pennsylvania are usually cool and calm. Put those together, and it's the highest-scoring race we've analyzed so far.

The catch is the finish. After all that downhill, the last few miles include some real climbs, and they arrive when your quads have already taken a beating. Steamtown rewards runners who've trained on downhills and are disciplined early. Nearly one in five finishers runs a BQ time.

2. Boston Marathon (Score: 89)

• Usually held: Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April
• Finishers: 28,409 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 490 feet, with a net drop of about 460 feet
• Typical start: Around 50°F, dew point low 40s

Boston might surprise people at number two. It has a reputation as a tough course, and the Newton Hills, from about mile 16 to mile 21, ending with Heartbreak Hill, are no joke. But the course drops about 460 feet overall, from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, and a lot of that comes early. By the numbers, it's a fast course. It's also why Boston isn't eligible for world records: the net drop and point-to-point layout don't meet the rules.

Two things make Boston harder than its score. First, the hills come late, right when your legs are tired. Second, the start is mid-morning, and a warm, sunny Patriots' Day can make the second half brutal. Boston's typical weather is good, but it has had some famously hot years.

And of course, you can't just sign up. Most runners get in by running a qualifying time at another race, which is what the rest of this article is about. Some get in through charity spots.

3. Wineglass Marathon (Score: 88)

• Usually held: Early October
• Finishers: About 2,000 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 390 feet, with a net drop of about 200 feet
• Typical start: Low 40s°F, dew point mid-30s

Wineglass runs point to point from Bath to Corning, New York, through the valley roads of the Finger Lakes region. It has gentle rolling hills and a modest net drop, but its biggest strength is weather. It had the lowest temperature-plus-dew-point total of any race on this list. In early October, that's hard to beat.

It's also known for its finisher medal, which is made of glass, a nod to Corning's glassmaking history. The finish in Corning's historic downtown is a great way to end a race.

4. Mohawk Hudson River Marathon (Score: 88)

• Usually held: Mid-October
• Finishers: About 600 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 470 feet, with a net drop of about 370 feet
• Typical start: Low 40s°F, dew point upper 30s

Mohawk Hudson runs point to point from Schenectady to Albany, mostly on a paved bike path along the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. It scores almost exactly the same as Wineglass: a modest net drop, gentle climbing, and cool, calm October weather.

It's a small race, which means plenty of space but also stretches where you might be running alone. If you do well with a pace group or a friend, bring one. With nearly 15% of finishers running BQ times, it's one of the best-kept secrets for Boston qualifiers in the region.

5. Erie Marathon at Presque Isle (Score: 85)

• Usually held: Mid-September
• Finishers: 1,103 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 80 feet
• Typical start: Upper 50s°F, dew point upper 40s

If you only looked at the course, Erie would win this list easily. It's two laps on the paved roads of Presque Isle State Park, on a peninsula in Lake Erie, and it's the flattest course we've analyzed so far, including Chicago. It has about 3 feet of climbing per mile.

What holds Erie back is the calendar. A mid-September race starts in the upper 50s on a typical morning, with a higher dew point than any other race on this list. On a cool day, Erie is about as fast as a marathon gets. On a warm, humid day, it isn't. Its timing also makes it popular as a late chance to get a qualifying time before Boston registration.

6. Buffalo Marathon (Score: 73)

• Usually held: Memorial Day weekend
• Finishers: About 1,500 (2026)
• Elevation gain: About 585 feet
• Typical start: Low 50s°F, dew point mid-40s

Buffalo is a city loop that starts and finishes downtown, with a stretch along the waterfront. Its climbing is moderate, and its late-May weather is usually reasonable. It lands right in the middle of the pack, a lot like the bigger Midwest races. It's a solid, well-run spring option for runners in western New York and the Great Lakes area.

7. Hartford Marathon (Score: 68)

• Usually held: Early to mid-October
• Finishers: About 1,900 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 750 feet
• Typical start: Around 50°F, dew point low 40s

Hartford has good October weather and calm typical conditions. The drag on its score is climbing. At about 750 feet, it's in the hillier half of the list. If you're looking for a fall marathon in southern New England and your goal is a strong race rather than a perfect BQ setup, it's a good choice.

8. Philadelphia Marathon (Score: 66)

• Usually held: The Sunday before Thanksgiving
• Finishers: 12,598 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 745 feet
• Typical start: Low 40s°F, dew point upper 30s

Philly has some of the best weather on this list. A late-November start in the low 40s is close to ideal. The course is the reason it lands in the bottom half. Most of the climbing comes in the first half, through the city and Fairmount Park, before the course flattens out for a long out-and-back along the Schuylkill River on Kelly Drive.

Like Des Moines in our Midwest rankings, Philly rewards patience. Stay controlled on the early hills, and the flat second half gives you a chance to run your real race. It's also one of the biggest marathons in the country, with more than 12,000 finishers, so there's plenty of company.

9. Vermont City Marathon (Score: 64)

• Usually held: Memorial Day weekend
• Finishers: About 1,500 (2026)
• Elevation gain: About 855 feet
• Typical start: Around 50°F, dew point low 40s

Vermont City runs two loops through Burlington and along Lake Champlain, and it's one of the most scenic races on this list. It's also one of the hilliest, with its best-known climb, the Battery Street hill, in the middle of the race.

Interestingly, Vermont City's BQ rate is higher than its score would suggest. Nearly 14% of finishers qualify. Like Glass City and Bayshore in the Midwest, it has a loyal following of experienced runners, which helps its numbers.

10. Pittsburgh Marathon (Score: 55)

• Usually held: Early May
• Finishers: About 5,000 (2026)
• Elevation gain: About 930 feet
• Typical start: Low 50s°F, dew point mid-40s

Pittsburgh has the most climbing on this list. It's the City of Bridges, and the marathon crosses several of them on its way through the city's neighborhoods, with plenty of hills in between. Early-May weather adds a little heat risk too.

Like the Flying Pig in the Midwest, Pittsburgh isn't trying to be a PR course. It's a big, energetic race with great crowd support. Run it for the city.

11. New York City Marathon (Score: 55)

• Usually held: The first Sunday in November
• Finishers: 59,226 (2025)
• Elevation gain: About 810 feet
• Typical start: Low 50s°F, dew point mid-40s

New York is the biggest marathon in the world, and it's an experience every runner should have at least once. It isn't built for speed, though. The course runs through all five boroughs, and its hills are mostly bridges: it starts on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and crosses several more before a long, gradual climb up Fifth Avenue late in the race.

NYC also has the highest typical wind of any race on this list, and waves start through the morning, so later starters run in warmer conditions. Add the crowds, and it's a race for the experience, not a PR. Getting in usually means the drawing, a qualifying time, a charity spot, or New York Road Runners' membership programs, so check the official site for current entry options.

Not Ranked: Sugarloaf Marathon

We wanted to include the Sugarloaf Marathon in western Maine. It's a small, net-downhill race in mid-May with a reputation for very fast times, and its BQ rate is often among the highest in the country. But we couldn't find a consistent net elevation figure for the course, and our score depends on it. Rather than guess, we left it unranked. If you want a small, fast, scenic spring race, it's worth a look.

BQ Rate vs. Fast Course Score: The Northeast Lines Up

In the Midwest, our score and BQ rates only loosely matched (a correlation of about 0.3). In the Northeast, leaving out Boston, they line up much more closely: the correlation is about 0.8.

Why the difference? In the Midwest, the races with the highest BQ rates (Glass City, Bayshore, and Monumental) weren't always the ones our model scored highest. Their reputations as BQ races attract fast fields. In the Northeast, the races with fast reputations are the downhill races, and they really do score as fast. The reputation and the numbers agree.

Vermont City is the main exception. It has a higher BQ rate than its hills would predict, which probably tells you more about its field than its course.

What the Score Doesn't Capture

• Downhill damage. Our model gives net drop partial credit, but it can't measure what a steep early descent does to your quads.
• Bad-weather years. We use typical weather. Boston, Erie, and the May races are the most likely to have a warm year.
• Where the hills are. Late hills, like Boston's Newton Hills and Steamtown's final miles, probably cost more than our number shows.
• Crowding. New York and Boston are huge, and weaving through traffic costs time.
• Your own strengths. If you train on hills or downhills, a hilly or downhill course might cost you less.

Which Northeast Marathon Should You Pick?

• Chasing a BQ in the fall: Steamtown, Wineglass, or Mohawk Hudson. Train on downhills and hold back early.
• Want the flattest possible course: Erie, as long as you're ready for a warm-weather Plan B.
• Want a big-city race with great weather: Philadelphia. Be patient on the early hills.
• Spring race: Buffalo or Vermont City, depending on whether you want faster or more scenic.
• Once-in-a-lifetime experience: New York and Boston. Run them for the atmosphere, not the clock.

Whatever you pick, a tune-up race six to eight weeks out is the best way to set your goal pace, and it's worth practicing your fueling plan on your long runs. If you want to know how much you can realistically take off your time in one training block, I broke that down in how long it takes to improve your marathon time.

FAQ

What is the fastest marathon in the Northeast? By our PR Nerd Fast Course Score, Steamtown in Scranton, Pennsylvania ranks first. It has a net drop of about 950 feet and cool October weather. Boston, Wineglass, and Mohawk Hudson are next.

What is the flattest marathon in the Northeast? Erie Marathon at Presque Isle, with about 80 feet of total climbing on a two-lap course in a state park. Its main risk is warm September weather.

Is the Boston Marathon a fast course? By the numbers, yes. It drops about 460 feet from start to finish. But its hardest hills come late, between miles 16 and 21, and its mid-morning start can mean warm conditions. It isn't eligible for world records because of its net drop and point-to-point layout.

Is the NYC Marathon hilly? It has about 810 feet of climbing, mostly on its bridges, plus a long climb up Fifth Avenue late in the race. It's one of the hillier big-city marathons in the country.

Are downhill marathons good for a BQ? They can be. Net-downhill courses like Steamtown, Wineglass, and Mohawk Hudson have high BQ rates. But downhill running is hard on your quads, so train with downhill running in your long runs and avoid going out too fast.

What's the best Northeast marathon for a first-timer? Philadelphia and Hartford are well-organized options with good weather. If you want the full big-city experience, New York is unforgettable, but entry can be hard to get.

---

Our scores are estimates based on typical conditions and published course data. They're meant to help you compare races, not to predict your exact time. Race dates, courses, and field sizes change, so check each race's official website before you register.

Sources

• Minetti, A. E., Moia, C., Roi, G. S., Susta, D., & Ferretti, G. (2002). Energy cost of walking and running at extreme uphill and downhill slopes. Journal of Applied Physiology, 93(3), 1039–1046.
• Ely, M. R., Cheuvront, S. N., Roberts, W. O., & Montain, S. J. (2007). Impact of weather on marathon-running performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39(3), 487–493.
• El Helou, N., Tafflet, M., Berthelot, G., Tolaini, J., Marc, A., Guillaume, M., Hausswirth, C., & Toussaint, J.-F. (2012). Impact of environmental parameters on marathon running performance. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e37407.
• RunDida race pages: elevation gain, net elevation change, typical race-week weather, and finisher counts.
• Find My Marathon: Boston qualifying rates by race for the 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying period.
• Official race websites for course descriptions.