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☰
Harrisburg Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Harrisburg Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 180 [displaying comments 61 to 71]
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J. L. from Toronto, Canada
(11/16/2010)
"A Relaxing, "Stress-Free" Race" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 As my first small-city race, it was truly a pleasure. The organization was great and the race instructions were very easy to follow. The course went through some very nice, scenic areas but also through some industrial areas. I loved the hills at miles 18-20 as it broke up the flatness. I didn't mind running on sidewalks or in one lane as there was limited traffic and many police and volunteers. My 1 minor complaint about the course was that the last mile was on the sidewalk right by the water and it was a bit scary. I didn't quite understand why the course shifted there from the main road. Finishing across the bridge was great and I was easily able to find my wife afterward. The post-race food was also great and the best that I have seen to date! Spectators came out at major intersections, which was nice and what I expected. Overall, I am glad that I registered for this one and thoroughly enjoyed the race! Great job, coordinators and volunteers! | |
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K. S. from Connecticut
(11/16/2010)
"Nice small marathon" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Based on the description from the website I expected the course to be totally flat, except for the few miles in the Wildwood Lake area. However, there were quite a few small, rolling hills in the first 5 or so miles. Don't get me wrong - they are not very big or significant - but be aware that it's not all flat. After that, the course is as described. Mile 8 until the turn-off from the river appear to be slightly downhill, but don't fear it's really pretty flat and you won't notice any feeling of going up on the way back. There are two tiny sections that are a sharp downhill on a curve so be careful. You will have to hit one of those sections again on your way back up to the bridge for the finish so you will have a steep uphill, but it's very short. Overall the course is very pretty and well marked. Make sure to bring water since the water stations are only about every 3 miles. The race is very well run and has a great race director and wonderful volunteers. | |
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s. d. from Westchester County, NY
(11/16/2010)
"Excellent Race, Flat and User-Friendly." (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Harrisburg Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my second year running this race and it was just as enjoyable this year as it was last. The course was generally flat, people-friendly and the ease of pre-race packet pick-up and post-race exit cannot be topped. Nice finisher's shirt as well. | |
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M. D. from Metro DC area
(11/15/2010)
"Very pleasantly surprised - positive experience." (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I think I remember comments from last year being somewhat negative, so I didn't expect much. I only ran this race because 1. I needed PA; 2. Most other races were booked; and 3. This one was close to home (less than a 3-hour drive). I don't normally care or comment about course scenery or crowd support, but both were noteworthy in Harrisburg this year. The crowds were genuinely enthusiastic and wholly supportive - crowds normally just annoy me. The scenery was awesome: fall foliage along the Susquehanna River on a crisp, sunny, autumn morning. Couldn't beat it. The course was mostly flat and rolling in the other places. Great start location on City Island. I finished at my expected time, and had a very enjoyable time. Packet pickup and parking were hassle-free. Nice job!! | |
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M. C. from Rochester, New York
(11/15/2010)
"Disorganized Mess" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 Few if any event staff at the beginning of the race to give directions or lead you to the starting area. While waiting to start the marathon, walkers were swarming around the start trying to figure out where to go - the course was not marked well. The RFID mats were on the side of the bridge and organizers were yelling at people telling them not to walk over them. They didn't need to be so rude; they should have had staff on the bridge. A little dangerous with the traffic. Doubt I would do it again. | |
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M. W. from Upstate New York
(11/15/2010)
"Fun Little Run" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a fun little run, with about 1,100 people. The spectator support was great and the course, while very hilly, was beautiful. Great after party too. | |
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j. m. from Redding, Ct
(9/17/2010)
"Excellent Small Marathon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Harrisburg Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race in 2005 and am planning on running it again this year. After reading the 2009 comments, I was a little concerned that the course has gotten hillier since the 05 race. I e-mailed the race director, Chad, and he e-mailed back literally 3 minutes later. He told me the 2010 course will be back to the standard course. The 2009 course was a bit hillier because the course ran more through the park than usual due to construction on City Island. The construction is complete and the course returns to normal. Overall, I've run 31 marathons and this is one of my two favorites. The other isn't a secret anymore, but, this one still is. It's a very scenic, fast course and you can't find a better value in marathons. The hills at mile 17-18 didn't affect me all that much - if you do any hill training at all they are fairly insignificant (a nice change-up from the flatness of the rest of the race). Weather is always unpredictable, but typically mid-November in Harrisburg has ideal temps for running. It was 45 at the start and 55 at the finish the year I ran it. | |
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L. C. from Maryland
(5/19/2010)
"Nice race, but NOT all flat" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a nice race with about 1,000 runners. I ran this as my 2nd marathon three and a half weeks after running Baltimore. The race course is referred to as flat. It is, until mile 16 when you run up the mountain that is next to the town. You run some beautiful rolling hills through the mountain park, which were tough on the legs when not pacing for hills. We came out of the hills at mile 20 and the rest was flat. I did BQ, but it was very hard and unexpected to run those big hills! | |
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M. J. from Boston
(11/26/2009)
"Wildwood was wild" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was my first official marathon, and I was running great. I felt incredible, running an 11-minute pace and throwing in an 8-minute mile every few miles. Then Wildwood happened. I was determined not to walk any part of the marathon, but at Wildwood I should have given in. I felt a sharp pain in my left leg and kept telling myself it was just shin splints. I was in agony by the end, and it took 40 minutes to go the last 2 miles. I finally got a proper diagnosis when I got back to Boston: Compartment Syndrome, nerve damage and foot drop. Overall, IF I can ever run again, which isn't looking good, then I would run this again, but walk the up hills in Wildwood. Organization and fans were great, and my family could move around the course to cheer me on and pass out bagels. | |
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F. U. from Los Angeles, CA
(11/23/2009)
"Needlessly cruel hills tarnish this small gem" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great organization and a field that is big enough that you'll always have someone to run with or in your sights to pass. Somewhat interesting course along the river, through neighborhoods, commercial districts, an industrial park, and a community college. Even the industrial park had stuff to look at, especially since it was in operation even on Sunday. This race could be a real gem and a BQ, but...: The hills are needlessly cruel. I'm talking straight up and then so steep on the down that you are leaning back, putting on the "brakes." Even on the downhill you will be going slower than your normal pace. These hills go on forever around the 20-mile mark, which is about the last thing you want to see at that point. It's cruel. And its needless. The course could be extended along the river, or more time in the community college campus, or even in the industrial park at very little cost in terms of police manpower or resident inconvenience. If these hills were removed from the course, this race would be a Boston qualifier that runners throughout the East Coast would flock to. |
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