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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: 177 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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D. B. from Stamford, CT
(11/19/2009)
 "Great, all but the hills" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Harrisburg Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my second Harrisburg. I love the race organization and am going to make it a regular. However, beware the hills from miles 17-20. The first one is a steep gradient (guessing 8-10%) and about 200 feet. The next three aren't much better. It's a great race; it's just going to be hard to run a PR at this one. | |
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Eliot W. Collins from Raritan Borough, NJ
(11/18/2009)
 "Highly Recommended - Will Return Again in 2010" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Harrisburg Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my 11th time running Harrisburg (I obviously like the race very much). It was my 99th marathon overall (plus 36 ultras). I was one of about 30 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. The refreshments, windbreaker jacket and medal were great, and 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 2009 it included a few more hills. This is all part of the experience of running Harrisburg multiple times. As always, I look forward to returning to Harrisburg for the 12th time in 2010, and I will continue to strongly recommend this great race to others. | |
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E. K. from NY, NY
(11/16/2009)
 "Great Small Marathon - Huge BQ Potential" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Perfect day, great course, well-managed race. It looked like disaster was brewing at the starting line, but the good folks managing the race pulled it together like champs. Registered for Harrisburg at the last minute looking for a stress-free, late autumn race (having run my heart out at Bizz Johnson Marathon at altitude four weeks earlier), and what do you know? A six-minute PR with a BQ to match. After a dozen BQ near misses at marathons all over the country, THANK YOU, HARRISBURG! I'd heard about those hills between 17 and 20 and decided not to fight them. Slowed my pace considerably going up and stole those precious seconds back on the downhills. We all know that marathon running is a mental sport, but come game day we usually forget that "mental" means being tactical, not simply determined. Great race. Strong recommend. | |
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J. S. from Binghamton, New York
(11/12/2009)
"good marathon - many highs, few lows" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Many highs: drop dead beautiful start/finish on an island in middle of the river in front of Harrisburg. The first and last few miles run in park space along the river, which is also beautiful. Very well organized. Last-minute registration and/or packet pickup is also a real plus (in my opinion). Few lows: lousy scenery during miles 10-18 (approximately); it could have been so much better. I wish the Harrisburg Marathon ran much more through Harrisburg downtown itself. The hills at miles 18-20 were too steep to be comfortable or even challenging; they simply hurt, and were even a bit dangerous due to steepness. They would have been seriously bad on a wet or frosty November morning. Challenging hills on a course are fine, but how 'bout earlier? And I hate Cytomax sports drink; it was all sugar and no salt, with no saltier alternatives like Gatorade. Overall: A great small marathon, and I would do it again. | |
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K. W. from Palmyra, NJ
(11/11/2009)
"Very nice, mid-sized marathon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I found the organization and support to be excellent. The sections along the river were terrific. I too was dismayed at the lack of water stops in the park from mile 17-20. And the runners in this race were great; I had more lengthy conversations here than at any other marathon. | |
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D. P. from Brookfield, WI
(11/10/2009)
"Nice mid-sized marathon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There was a lot of nice scenery running through several parks and around one of the best capitals in the US. The final stretch along the river was pleasant because the weather was nice (I enjoyed watching a kayaker while I was running). There were some steep hills (miles 17-19), but at least they were just as steep going down for some gravity-spurred compensation. Main suggestion is that the packet pickup should close later than 5 p.m. the night before, like at other marathons - I was lucky to still get mine, but it added stress to my life. I also didn't like the final bridge to the finish, because it kept giving way, making it a little awkward for running. Even so, it was my best marathon time for the year. Maybe it was the Cytomax they had at the water stops, but I found I was able to run the next day when usually it takes me a few days. | |
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D. O. from NJ
(11/10/2009)
"Not as flat as advertised." (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I was a bit taken aback by the description of "a good PR" marathon. There are some nasty hills around mile 17-20. I don't mind hills, but these were sharp inclines and declines - quad-killers. Plus, there were no water stations from 17-20, when they were most needed. Other than that section, the course was enjoyable, but at times somewhat dull. I would've liked to run more in the city than the HACC parking lot. The spectators and volunteers were fantastic! Weather was too. | |
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S. D. from New York
(11/9/2009)
"Excellent race; flat and user-friendly." (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my fifth marathon. I have run two large and three small. Overall, the course was nice and flat. Very nice mix of roads, trails, sidewalk/paths. Some small hills toward the end but not bad. The crowds for a small marathon were surprisingly abundant, in part, probably because the weather was so perfect (mid 60's and sunny). Registration, starting area and ending area were easy and user-friendly. Aid stations were great, with water, Cytomax and gels. Great windbreaker in the runners' package. The only complaint was the "marathon hotel" Radisson was below par. Not so clean and not much to eat. | |
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Patti Beauchesne from Newark, Delaware
(11/9/2009)
"Well Run Marathon" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Harrisburg Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 You could not have asked for a better day for a marathon! Due to construction on City Island, the marathon was re-routed. Unfortunately, the re-routing included a climb into a development around mile 17. Aside from that brutal detour, the marathon was enjoyable - especially the hilly section on the path through the park. Another great job on putting the marathon together by Harrisburg. Plenty of cheery volunteers - who I'm sure appreciated the warmer temperature this year. | |
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J. N. from Bellefonte, PA
(3/27/2009)
"Too flat for me, but a good first marathon" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Harrisburg Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I live in central PA where a flat run is hard to come by, and it showed on this course. The trail section toward the beginning and the Natural Area toward the end were the best parts. The section along the river was scenic but the headwind heading upstream was diabolical! My least favorite part was around the halfway point. Flat, straight, boring road with nothing but trucking depots and warehouses to look at. Organization-wise, it was great. Never had to second-guess if I was on course or not, water stations were well stocked so they still had plenty of gels for slower runners like me, and the medical service at the finish was top-notch! There weren't a ton of spectators, but for me, that's a plus. I might do this again to try to get a better time, but I'm switching over to mostly trail runs now. But it was nice to have a marathon close enough that I could drive to it that morning and head home afterward... well, after some food and beer at the nearby Appalacian Brewing Company! |
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