SUMMARY: This is a great race with superb organization and care for the runners. It is what the sport is all about and you want to put it on your short list of races to run.

I give long reviews so I can include significant aspects that may be of interest... otherwise why are you reading the reviews!!??

This was my 11th marathon and I really liked it... all of it: the people, the city, the organization, and the beautiful course. Harrisburg has a really nice balance of urban amenities yet has a small town ?Mayberry, USA? atmosphere. I?m from Dallas and the Harrisburg locals all seemed amazed that anyone would fly to their city to run their marathon. That?s an interesting humbleness you don?t often find. My thought is that they probably take their gorgeous scenery for granted... because it WAS gorgeous.

THE COURSE:
I really like courses that are varied rather than long, straight lines, and the Harrisburg course didn?t disappoint; it was certainly VERY varied and quite interesting. The route takes you from the state capitol building through some downtown streets and then across the Susquehanna River to an island in the middle. There, you do a loop of the island and then cross back over the river and proceed several miles along the shore. You even run right in front of the Governor?s Mansion on that segment, and for added effect, there were several flocks of wild geese ?parked? right alongside the running path. How often have you ever run by a flock of wild geese sitting alongside the path?! The route then takes you through some light commercial/suburban areas, through a short stretch of industrial park, through a community college campus and then into a really stunning nature preserve. I think there were several miles of the nature preserve. It was really just beautiful and the MANY up and down roller-coaster hills in the preserve (think this was about mile 19 or so). From there, you retrace the course back to the river and then over a pedestrian bridge to the finish. I do agree with some of the other comments that the finish line was a bit deceptive. I?m totally zoned out at that point and I didn?t really realize that I had another 0.75 miles to run after I crossed the bridge. Need some sort of sign... but that is very minor point.

SUPPORT:
The support staff of this race takes considerable time to be sure every runner is OK. I?ve never before seen such a degree of care and concern for the runners. It is really exceptional. The aid stations were quite sufficient and what you?d expect in a well-organized marathon. The temps were cool so I just stayed with water, but they did have Cytomax sports drink as well. I?m not familiar with it so I stayed with H2O.

I had a really personally scary experience. The weather was quite cool (high 20?s) at the start so I hedged my bet and wore shorts but I also wore a pair of thrift store throw-away sweats. At mile 3 when I was all warmed up, I started to pull off the sweats and reinjured a previously-strained hip flexor (the Iliacus for the technically-minded). When I tried to resume running, it was agony. I shocked by the reality that I might have to throw in the towel. Doing nothing wasn?t an option so I tried walking to see if the strained might work itself out a bit. I didn?t want to throw in the towel after traveling so far to run the race and, psychologically, I didn?t want to add a DNF to my list of firsts. As I passed aid stations, the volunteers paid extreme attention to the fact that I was in pain and an EMT even examined the strain to be sure it was just a strain rather than a tear. I kept walking another mile and then tried running again and, amazingly, I was able to resume. I think the EMT must have done something, because it seemed that quite a few aid stations for the rest of the race kind of knew I had a significantly strained muscle... and, the same EMT was there at the finish to see that I was OK.

The support was superb. The aid stations had Cytomax, but I am not accustomed to that so I stayed with water. The temperatures were cool, so you do not need the electrolyte replacements as much as you would in a warmer climate where you would sweat considerably more.

SPECTATORS:
There really weren?t any, but the locals who stopped what they were doing to cheer you on, made up for the lack in numbers. So that?s a 5.

OTHER:
Go to the pasta dinner, it isn?t one of those over-priced things like most races have. It was well-stocked and they had interesting speakers.

MEDAL AND SHIRT:
The shirt runs a bit big, but it is really one of the best-looking ones I?ve received. It is a technical fabric, long sleeve black with deep purple insets for the back and front with multi-color race graphics imprinted on the front and a pleasantly discreet sponsor ad on the back. I like it so much, I?ve been wearing it around Dallas.

The finisher?s medal is a neatly crafted casting with bronze finish that evokes the shape of the capitol dome with superimposed runner images. The full name of the race, the date and the sponsor are clearly and neatly incorporated into the base relief design. The name of the local race club is embossed on the obverse of the medal. It is nicely sized and something you can wear for a few days to announce your achievement. I always wear mine after the race and for the return flights because it guarantees I?ll have runner-related Q&A sessions at every restaurant and in every airport!

-Kamikaze (Dallas, TX)

I thought this was a really well organized marathon. They fixed the problem with the mile markers and signs for the toilets. The race route was relatively flat, but at around miles 18 and 19 (in the Nature Preserve) it was pretty hilly. The spectators/volunteers were absolutely wonderful. Very nice, and so motivating!

This is really my only suggestion for next year... Please, please try to block off the right-most lane of the Hoffman St. and 6th St. (which is a four-lane road). I finished later than most, and I was very nervous about running on such a busy road with nothing keeping me apart from the cars on the road. Blocking it off would also help keep late runners on the course.

It was really cold this year at the start, so make sure to bring some gloves.

I really liked the Cytomax gels. They were AMAZING! I used them at the 16/19/23 water stations and BOY did they make a difference! I could feel the gels work after a few minutes, and it made all the difference.

Overall, it was a really great experience. If you are a beginning marathoner and can do a 13-minute pace or better, this marathon is for you. If you anticipate going slower than the 13-minute pace, you may want to start at 6:00AM with the walkers.

I love the Harrisburg runs - half marathon and marathons, both right along the Susquehanna. The group of runners is wonderful, you can show up on race day for packet pickup, and there's no huge hullabaloo over the run. No long lines for the port-a-potties, or anywhere for that matter. I think they got 600 registrants for the race this year, so it's still growing. The temp was a windy 30 at the start, and we seemed to have a headwind for much of the race, so that part was tough, but things warmed up quickly. There was also a nice area at the capitol to stay warm in before the start, if you arrived early enough to take advantage of it.

My only issue was that I had to run/walk about 1.5 mile before I got to the start, but that may have been my fault. The free parking is at the end, 1/2 mile from the start. I ran to the start for packet pickup, but found out that race day packet pickup was still at the hotel, 1/2 mile away. So I rushed down there for an easy pickup, and back to the start. Rushed, but still made it with 15 mins to spare.

The course was very pretty as usual. The lake area in the latter part of the course was awesome as well, though, it would've been better if they didn't include those steep rollercoaster hills. :-) But, I'll take it with that scenery.

The water stops seemed stingy on the Cytomax drink. That was odd. They came in really small cups.

The spectators were nice... enough to keep you going, but not overwhelming like at larger marathons.

The finish line was great. As soon as I crossed the line, I had a doctor follow me out, making sure I was ok, without me even asking for it. She seemed willing to stay with me until I showed signs of being better (I was having breathing issues). First class. And, there was pretty much no line for the massages, and you get massaged by 3 people at once!! The chicken broth was fantastic. I could've stayed there forever. The food was pretty basic for a 5k, much less a marathon. But I didn't want much. The Harrisburg Half Marathon actually has an awesome spread at the end. Maybe they can get some of those sponsors involved. :-)

The race shirt is awesome. A nice, long-sleeve, wicking Reebok shirt. It's a great shirt.

The volunteers were great, and very supportive. Thank you!!

Overall, a really nice race, worthy of visiting.

This course was the most interesting marathon course I have run. Especially enjoyable was the Capital Greenbelt trail between Miles 4 and 6. The industrial park did not bother me. Having the course run through an industrial park was definitely unique, but the variety of the course made the industrial park just one of many boxes that was checked: river, trail, rolling hill section between miles 16-18, residential, community college campus, and city. Very, very cool to have this variety as most marathons are either city only or rural or a mix of only these two. Marathon started in front of the most beautiful capitol building in the country and 1/3 of the race was run right next to the river, which was gorgeous.

I too was confused at mile 25.5 when coming off the pedestrian bridge onto City Island. There should be a HUGE sign that says: 'YOU ARE NOT FINISHED YET. Go around the loop for 3/4 mile and then you will see the finish line.' When coming onto City Island at Mile 25.5, I was half-delirious and there is a group of spectators greeting runners at this point. Because of the throng of spectators and lack of signage or marshal, I thought we were closer to the finish than we were. It was too much of a tease to bring us that close to the finish and our families and then loop us around the island with no spectators whatsoever! Also, spectators were all, understandably, at the finish, instead of packing along that last 1/2 mile, but maybe the last mile can be re-routed so that the spectators can cheer for the runners along that last mile as well as being able to have a good finish line spectator spot! I know I needed more from the spectators during the last mile and the spectators were all 'hidden' behind the big pavilion building.

Anyway, I do not like the shirt. For women, especially, the shirt was way too big. The medium I ordered, thinking women's medium, is a men's medium according to the tag, but it is the size of a men's large at least!!! Completely unwearable.

Ample aid stations, but the Cyto sports drink was not very good. I liked the marshals stationed on turns/curves. Always felt like I was on the right course, except at the very end on City Island!

For somebody who avoids hills usually, I enjoyed the Wildwood Nature area (roller-coaster hilly, but only for 2 miles or less).

I ran a 5K last May and thought, well at least I finished it. I noticed that my employer was sponsoring the Harrisburg Marathon and decided I would train and run the entire marathon. I would turn 50 that year so decided to train for it. As I was walking over the bridge to the Capitol building the morning of the race I saw people wearing plastic bags and thought; what did I get myself into. I saw the porta-johns lined up and headed for the line. Some people didn't make it in before the start of the race. Guys wre running off of the road to go as well as plastic bags being ripped off and tossed to the ground.

The spectators were great; playing loud music and cheering you on, calling your number, etc. The scenery was beautiful. I had only ever seen it from the car. What an emotional rush as I would approach some spectators and find my wife, children, and grandchildren cheering me on. My wife had goodies for me, like Gatorade, bananas, and Snickers. The maps for the race were great because my family was able to read the map and surprise me about 4 times during the 26 miles.

I couldn't find the bathroom out around HACC. Now I know it wasn't only me as I read the same from others comments. Boy did I have to go at the end. A friend from work that had run the relay saw me coming down the stretch and ran with me for a few tenths. He pumped me up with positive words and sent me on my way. 4 hours and 21 minutes is a long time to be running; but it's a memory I will never forget.

Sincerely, Mark K. Tate Sr. (Select Medical Corporation)

By the way, the massage after the race was an excellent touch. The body needed it.

This was my 5th time running Harrisburg and my 54th marathon overall (plus 23 ultras).

I felt like walking the entire race this year. When I contacted the race director about the possibility of an early start, I was told that several other walkers were starting at 6:00, and would have their official times adjusted accordingly.

Since I did not want to spend the night in Harrisburg, I left my home at 3:30 in order to arrive at the starting line in Harrisburg by 5:45. I picked up my race packet, and a few minutes after 6:00, seven of us started the race.

The temperature at the start was in the 20's, but fortunately there was no wind. It did, however, take several hours for my hands to completely warm up. Since the volunteers were not going to be set up until after 8:00, I carried a water bottle and a course map. The course has changed several times over the years, but this year it was the same as in 2002.

It turned out that I enjoyed the race very much this year. After a few hours, the leaders passed me, and many of them even gave me a thumbs-up. The aid stations only had water, Ultima, and some candy, but the volunteers were all very nice and helpful.

The only problem that I had was finding a toilet on Industrial Rd and the HACC campus. I did not realize that there was one at the entrance to Wildwood Lake Park when I passed it the first time, and I then had to 'hold it' (and not very well) until I came to the entrance the second time. It was too cold for a bowel movement behind a tree. I should have studied the map a little harder before I started.

One week ago I ran the NYC Marathon, where there were over 30,000 finishers, and thousands of spectators. At Harrisburg, on the other hand, there were less than 400 finishers, and I do not recall seeing any spectators. Quite a difference!

I look forward to returning to Harrisburg for the 6th time in 2004.

At least 1/3 of the race is along the Susquehanna River, one of the most beautiful runs possible. Mostly flat, with a few hills for a mile or so around mile 19. Great volunteers and fans.

This is a great race. It is flat, with changes in scenery as well as running surfaces. There is no way to get bored. There was plenty of aid on the course. The best part is running along the Susquehanna River through the linear park. This is a good race to choose for a PR-type of effort. The only small negative is having to cross that bridge onto the island twice. I will definitely be back next year. I have run 50 marathons and this one is in the top ten.

There were alot of positives to this race but I had a BIG problem at the end. The course crosses a walking bridge onto an island for the finish. When I came off the bridge there were people milling around everywhere, the course was poorly marked and the volunteer gave me a vague hand signal for which way to run. There were 2 ramps leading in opposite directions and, naturally, I took the wrong one. The volunteer yelled to get me back on course but after 25 miles of running I would have appreciated much more organization at that point. I emailed the race director afterward to tell him I enjoyed the race but had this one problem. He never responded so I will not return to this race. There are too many other well-organized races to take a chance on a similar problem.

Harrisburg has some beautiful scenery and the city is very historic. The course was by far the most varied I have ever run---parks, trails, city, suburbs....I was never bored. I would have rated it a 5, but for the horrible hills around the 18-21 mile point---just where you DON'T want them.
The organization could use a little polish, as the second water stop was waterless and I was there pretty early on....and there weren't quite enough stops to begin with. Also, the post race refreshments left something to be desired.
The spectators along the way were great, but there were long stretches with none.
I enjoyed the race overall and would do it again.