The race is small enough to make you feel special. Two examples. As the race start time approached, the race director looked at a line of about a dozen people at the porta-johns and announced he would wait until everyone was done before starting the race. The temperature at the start was below 40 degrees so I started the race with a long sleeve shirt. I ditched it at an aid stop and they asked my number. Two weeks after the race, the shirt arrived (washed and pressed) in the mail with a note inviting me to come again in 2002. Course is fast (qualified for Boston which was a shock), but can be windy along the river. Pretty course except from miles 12-16 which are through light industrial area. Highest point in the course is exactly mile 18. Hotels are only a few blocks from the course. Water stops/split locations well manned. Registration/packet pick-up takes minutes. Relay runners are well marked so you know who you are competing against.

I've done this marathon twice in 2000 and 2001. The course is pretty fast and the volunteers to a nice job. Unfortunately the race staff lacks the integrity required for me to return again. I'm a 45 yr. old male and finished 3rd overall in the race in 2001. It was announced at the awards ceremony that the two persons who had finished in the top three and were also masters would receive both the overall award and the top masters award. The third place overall female was also a master and received her two awards the day of the event. Unfortunately a mix-up took place and I was awarded the 1st place overall award instead of the 1st place master. Once I realized what had occurred I immediately returned the plaque I'd been mistakingly given and was told it would be sorted out and they'd get me the one I'd earned. In fairness to the marathon staff I did receive the 3rd overall finisher plaque. But, after contacting them three times concerning the masters award, I finally received an email informing me they don't duplicate awards, which is a mis-truth. The master female received the two awards she earned by the parameters THEY had established. I never have, and will not return to do the Harrisburg Marathon again.
I realize it's unusual for an event to duplicate awards and this may seem greedy on my part. But, the event established the parameters and should have followed through with what they had announced. Anyone who has trained and participated in a marathon are aware of the effort required, thus wanting what they've earned.

Very satisfying experience. Pre-race info on web could use added details (no mention of Gatorade or Power Gel). Excellent start and finish sites & organization. Convenient hotels w/ late checkout. Appreciated the course variety (rail path, residential, park, river concourse) though the large, loose gravel in the HCC area required careful foot placement. Spectators were sparse but the ones that were there were energetic, encouraging and helpful.

I ran this race in '98 and felt that it was well organized and friendly. The course was relatively easy (not too many hills, but not flat either). Did not like the long-ish course leg through an industrial area, but the parts through the neighborhoods and along the river were nice. The post race fare was good. All in all, a nice well organized small marathon, good for runners who don't want the big city carnival.

I have run this marathon eleven (11) times and have never run the exact same course twice. (True statement) It changes every year. The first few times the turn around at the college would be different (usually further away). Then, they moved the finish line to City Island. Then, they lost the Walnut Street Bridge. Then, they cut out Wildwood Park. Then, they moved the starting line to behind the Capital. And so on...
Otherwise, they try to do a good job of organization.
Not the fastest course around (due to numerous turns, the usual winds along the riverfront, and rolling hills in Wildwood Park from 17 to 19 miles), but not too difficult.