5th straight year I have done this event and always a tough mental/physical barrier seeing the Riverwalk path at mile 23. Love the different sections of Harrisburg we go through and the band that stayed out there for most of the event!

Great organization as usual...which is why I keep coming back. They know what to do and do a great job at it every year.

Excellent race, very family friendly. I chose this marathon because it was a November race I could drive to and they did not have any other races besides a marathon.
The packet pick up was easy, and the volunteers were extremely friendly. The goodie bag was loaded with chocolate (what else would you expect with Hershey 20 minutes away?), and the tee was great. The course and water breaks were well outlined on a sheet that came with the race packet.
The race course was very good; the organizers clearly thought out the best marathon course for the area. There were some hairpin turns and some short, steep hills later in the race. I probably lost a small amount of time running on rock and gravel, but still managed a 3:42. One of the areas where you crossed the street was poorly marked, and the traffic was not directed efficiently. Because of this there was a short delay crossing the street. However, that was clearly beyond the domain of the race directors.
The crowds were small, but enthusiastic. It was very easy for my wife and 2 daughters to meet me at the finish line because it was a small race. The logistics were extremely easy, and the entire area had a friendly, small town feel.
We spent the next 2 days in Hershey and visited the world of chocolate and The Whitaker Center in Harrisburg. My entire family had a great time during their visit.
I highly recommend this marathon for anyone, especially if you like smaller races.

The race has been held yearly for forty years or so. It has evolved into an integral part of the Harrisburg community. The people supporting the race know the nature of their city, their marathon course and the marathon distance. The event felt athletically appropriate and as natural as the city.

I saw this course more as a long training run course for visitors of the city not as a proper marathon course. There were two 400-800 meter dirt/small gravel nature trails to run plus two concrete sidewalks to cross the Walnut Street Bridge going out and back. There was an unusual downhill and later uphill access road from this bridge to the lower river pathway. The pathway is also concrete lasting .75 mile each way. The transition requires a 135 degree turn both going out and coming back. This sequence seemed funny to me as I ran so I just managed them as a good, guest runner.

The Wildwood Park hills (miles 18.25 to 20) are effectively the same as Boston's Newtwon hills only compressed into one third of the distance. After completing these, I imagined an accordian with the Newton hills being the middle extension and the Wildwood Park hills being the squeezed extension. This means steeper hills in the park having a more eccentric effect on the quads and hamstrings. Thankfully, there were no significant downhills proceeding this. Mile 20.5 to just before mile 23 was slightly downhill as well. The final hard turn at mile 25.75 and average incline to the bridge was also similar. All of this may be a subliminal connection on my part or may be the same for a previous race director. My quads and feet felt the similarity.

What a fun and thoughtful marathon this was. Harrisburg was terrific. I recommend this event to any marathoner ready for such a course and city. Many more runners in the field would enhance the race and all would benefit from running this course and visiting the city.

I did this race in 2011, as well as 2010. for a smaller marathon, it was a smooth experience. The volunteers were friendly and helpful. Logistics were easy which to me is important as my travel time to the race is about 4 hours.

The course is interesting and very fair, though parts of it are not closed to traffic, but well manned when it is. Like last year the section in Wildwood park, between 18-20 is a true challenge. I would not hesistate to do this race again, should the chance come up.

I did this race in 2010,and one of the best points of this race is that there is race day packet pick-up as I found this IDEAL. It takes the pressure of getting to a place before the expo closes. Also my race questions were answered promptly by the race director

The course was fair, though the area in the park at around 19 miles had some hills. Overall a very well run race for a field of about 1000 when I did. I ran my third fastest marathon of the 16 I have completed here.

As mentioned, the logistics were easy as I stayed in a nearby Hotel where you could walk to the start. Baggage claim was easy. I am planning to do this race in 2011.

This was my 50th State and I couldn't have picked a better marathon. My experience started with the race director giving me bib #50 and it kept getting better from there. The course had just enough hills to keep it interesting; water stops were well manned; volunteers were friendly; shirts were great tech shirts; medal was okay. The weather was perfect! All in all I highly recommend this marathon.

I have run the Harrisburg marathon 3 times. The organization was better this year - signage was good and there were plenty of volunteers to direct you along the course (the latter was a problem in previous years). The course was pretty boring compared to other marathons that I have run around the world. There were no aid stations for the last 6 miles of the course, which was, to say the least, disconcerting. The post-race goodies were good, especially the chicken noodle soup.

This was my 12th time running Harrisburg (I obviously like the race very much). It was my 108th marathon overall (plus 42 ultras), for a total of 150. They even gave me bib #150 for this special occasion.

I was one of about 50 runners and walkers who took advantage of the 6:30 a.m. early start. This race is definitely "walker friendly."

Although I am extremely fussy, I found everything to be perfect. Everyone that was involved with the race was very helpful and professional and for $55, I felt that I truly got my money's worth. Some of the scenery is quite beautiful, especially the bridges along the Susquehanna River early in the morning.

The course often changes from year to year and in 2010 it included a few less hills than in 2009. This is all part of the experience of running Harrisburg multiple times.

As always, I look forward to returning to Harrisburg for the 13th time in 2011, and I will continue to strongly recommend this great race to others.

If you live even reasonably close to Harrisburg you must run this race. I flew from New Orleans and I'll do it again! Why? Well...
1. SWAG. Long-sleeved T, candy, food, samples, magazines. Cool!
2. Organization and volunteers: the race went off without a hitch and everyone was amazing.
3. Course: Though hilly in sections, the variety and beauty prevented boredom.
4. Spectators: Many came out to cheer and were so nice!
5. Weather: If it were always 60 and sunny I'd be here every year.
6. Post race: Dunkin' Donuts and coffee, sandwiches, fruit, soup, snacks... yummy.
7. BQ-friendly

Course: A great layout with a few quirky features. The fact that you loop past the start area a couple of times makes it great for supporters to cheer you on. Within a 100-yard area you can be at 5 spots - mile 0.5, 2, 6.5, 7.5, and 26. A good variety of roads - gravel area at 4 miles a bit too "traily." Absolutely beautiful along the river. Timing pad at 13 instead of halfway was up on the sidewalk and I didn't know if I was suppose to stay there or return to road. Nice, flat, industrial park section lead to my fastest splits, but the rolling Wildwood Park section took it back (a series of short steep up and downs that are too steep going down to make up for what you lose going up). Oddly enough, upon leaving Wildwood Park as I rounded the corner, I heard the police officer say, "I don't care about them; get the cars moving" as he waved traffic forward. He definitely saw us and was giving the cars the right of way. Fortunately, you could tell the drivers had more sense and they still waited as we crossed the road. Great finish across the bridge. Miles 1- 18 flat, 18 - 21 challenging/rolling, last 5 miles flat except the ramp down to the water and then back up at 25.5 Overall, perhaps 60 - 90 seconds lost to hills.

Organization: all seemed good to me. Everyone I spoke to was friendly and genuine, including the usual water stop volunteers who mean well but are busy catering to the early-start walkers instead of getting water ready for runners. An "extra" table at the end of the station where you can pick up your own would solve this problem.

Spectators: as mentioned before, the one location provided numerous vantage points. Even some set up with lawn chairs through the industrial park/community college. Definitely more spectators than I expected.

Additional: plenty of hotels located within walking distance of start/finish. AND FINALLY, ONLY 20 MINUTES FROM THE HERSHEY FACTORY! A great family conclusion to a great weekend. I recommend it.