What a wonderful small/midsize race! Held the same day as the NYC Marathon, it's a really nice, low-key alternative. A beautiful run through the picturesque neighborhoods of this pretty New England town in late Autumn. Outstanding organization, a nice expo, outstanding volunteers and local law enforcement where they were needed.
And there's no leaving your room 4 hours before the race and waiting in a refugee camp until the start. You can hang out in the hotel lobby until a few minutes before the start, then at the finish there's hot chili and soup, and you're back in your hotel room in a few minutes. You won't get that in NY City!
The expo hotel (Radisson) was right by the start/finish line and offered airport shuttle so no rental car was necessary. It is quite hilly so not the best BQ course if you're looking for that.
My only complaint is that they could have had more portajohns along the course, I gave up waiting a couple of times when there was only one portajohn and there were spectators using it.

The hills were severe, much worse than 'heartbreak hill' in Boston. I know many full marathoners who stayed away specifically for this reason which is why the back half of the event was nearly empty. I realize that some people like a challenge but one of the reasons that many runners cough up the big bucks for en event like this is to achieve a personal record or a time that is better than their brother-in-law in Seattle. Pls find a flatter course and the event will become huge.

This was my 48th marathon and I chose it because I wanted to run in New Hampshire and also I wanted a race that looked like it was logistically not too difficult to get to. Manchester fits that description. It is a hilly course, but no one hill knocks you out; they were all reasonable. The course is quite varied and interesting all the way. Traffic control was generally good although there was one stretch in the full marathon where I was way too close to oncoming cars. It was due to construction and I am sure it won't be that way in 2011.

Packet pickup is a snap; free street parking is available. The host hotel has event parking, but you don't have to use it. We stayed at a local B&B (Ash Street Inn) and the owner was kind enough to give us a ride to the start line - can't beat that! An hour earlier, he also gave some walkers a ride to their start, too. We flew into Boston, which is only 45 miles south of Manchester. If you are staying an extra day, Maine is only 45 minutes northeast of Manchester. Post-race chow is great and the medal is really nice.

This is a tough race. A lot of hills as described on the website (no surprise there). But I'm so glad I did it and you will be also for sure.

The first part was great with a lot a runners. The second one was much more quiet and problematic: the traffic control needs to be improved (especially if the events grow).

The chilli at the end was absolutely wonderful. The volunteers were very helpful. For instance, a kid with his father gave gummy bears near the end of the race. Very nice. We feel very welcome there.

The medal size is not proportional to the effort but it is beautiful.

I recommend it: For the challenge. For the New Hampshire population. For the after-race food.

This was my 48th marathon and I chose it because it was in NH and the logistics of getting there were simple enough. We flew into Boston, and Manchester is only a 50-minute drive from Logan International. I am glad I ran this because it really was a nice race - exceptionally well-organized and support was flawless. The course is fun but it is challenging because it is a roller coaster. We stayed at the Ash Street Inn, which is an upscale B&B. I'm giving them a plug because the owner was even kind enough to drive guests to the start line. He made one trip for the walkers who had an earlier start, and then an hour later drove us to the marathon start line. It was only a half-mile, but it was chilly and the ride was a nice touch. Finisher's medal is quite nice, as is the technical shirt.

Do the tourist thing. The city has a lot of history worth exploring and Maine is only an hour north of Manchester. Gorgeous ride - kind of the East Coast equivalent of the Pacific Coast Highway in California, except the NH and Maine portions of US 1A go right along the beach.

I ran the half marathon and I absolutely loved this event. It has it all: a challenging course, great organization, good expo, and some of the friendliest volunteers to date. The website states that the course is hilly, challenging and scenic, which is accurate in every way. The weather was great with cool temperatures, clear skies and lots of sunshine all morning long. Also, this race is very easy from a logistical standpoint, with the expo, start and finish being in the same area downtown - a definite plus for an out-of-towner like myself. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, which is less than a half-mile from everything and provides free shuttle service to the airport and just about any shopping and dining activities you seek. The baggage claim was easy and convenient, and the late registration area was heated so there was a place to stay warm prior to the start. One of the best touches to this race was the fantastic chili served at the finish! Absolutely delicious. The medal is very nice and colorful and the quick posting of finish times is very appreciated. There really is nothing about this race I would change. Hats off to the race director and all of the friendly volunteers. This is one race I'll look forward to repeating in the future.

This is an honest course and for those training on New England roads. The hills are nothing out of the ordinary. The course is open to traffic in most places, but race organizers had police or volunteers at every possible intersection where cars had to pass through the route. Water stops with plentiful volunteers, clocks and other support were exactly as most would wish for. A varied course, with trails, bridges, downtown and neighborhoods to keep it interesting.

This marathon could be quite good if they re-route the second half. I don't mind the hills but I do mind the traffic and having to run on sidewalk - broken-up ones no less. I would have rather run two loops of the hilly first half than dodge the traffic. Great food at the end and the rest of the organization seemed quite good. Nice, interesting city as well and very convenient host hotel, with expo and start/finish line out front.

This was only my second marathon. I ran the Hartford in CT a month prior, which is primarily flat and a larger event. I read the reviews of this course and was scared that the hills would kill me in the later miles. I incorporated hills into my training runs in preparation for this and I have to say it wasn't nearly as bad as I would have expected. I came into this hoping to complete it just under 4 hours and was able to get a 3:52 time with a negative split on the second half.

I thought this was a very well run event and I had an enjoyable experience doing it. There was some traffic along the course but the police and volunteers did a great job in managing it, giving the runner the right of way every time. I never even had to break a stride.

The food and free massage afterward were great, and the spectators along the course were very enthusiastic, making the experience that much better. Although this course may not be one at which to get a PR, it's certainly one I would do again.

First, this is my 5th marathon. When they say it's hilly, they are not lying. The 3rd 10K are a killer, and the back half is very tough in general. There are a ton of water stops and the volunteers could not be nicer. I was surprised at the number of people in the neighborhoods who watched and cheered - always nice. There's a small section that is on trail. A few too many twists and turns for my liking, but that adds to the charm and the challenge! You might not get your best time, but you will earn your time!