Manchester City Marathon - Race Reviews

This is not a PR course. The first half is fairly hilly. The bigger hills are definitely downhill, but that can also be hard on your legs. There is nothing super steep, but the hills are pretty constant the first half. You also run on a dirt/gravel trail from mile 17-23. This was hard for me to keep my speed on the uneven surface. The spectators were great and the organization was top notch. This race is the obvious choice for a 50 stater for New Hampshire.

This marathon course has most of the hills during the first half of the course. The second half of the course is mostly an out and back on a bicycle trail. The highlight was running around inside of a baseball field that had the giant TV on so you couuld see your self running around the field . It was a cold rainy day, so spectators were few. However, the volunteers at the water stations were excellent! It should be noted that for food at the rest stops, they gave out small packets of maple syrup , not Gu shots. This race is really for runners, no bands on the course or expo. You can get your bib race day morning with ease. Results were provided quickly. Food at the end was suppose to be soup, but they ran out before 3 hours into the race! Both medal and long sleeve tech shirt were very nice! Very nice race to do to get New Hampshire off your 50 state list.

I ran this race for my 30th marathon and I really enjoyed the course. It's a tougher marathon due to the hills and some of the descents are a bit steep to go really fast. I did not realize a portion was run on actual trails. I loved the trails but they did mess up my timing and I rolled my ankle on a large rock due to not paying attention to the trail. It's a great smaller race but not too small that you feel isolated. Organization was top notch and great after party. I loved running around the city as it's historic and has some interesting architectural to looks at. I'd definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a more challenging race.

Ok, so the course is moderately hilly but not soul-sucking. My tracker read ~1250ft of elevation gain. If you are targeting a goal time, definitely get some longer hills work in and practice running downhill. I would also recommend running some tempos and long runs on a route with rolling hills. If you are going out to have fun, as long as you are well-trained you should be able to manage just fine. The course overall provided some good scenery and variety. It starts downtown then loops through the neighborhoods of Manchester, past a pond and large park, then out over the Merrimack River to a rail trail for miles 16-24. Nice views re-crossing the river and entering the city for miles 24-25. Yes, you do run right past the finish line only to do an out and back over a 2-lane road bridge to wrap up miles 25 and 26, but as long as you mentally steel yourself for this, you should be able to finish strong. Crowds were relatively scarce but energetic; course marshals were excellent and friendly; aid stations were fine. I too noticed a lack of obvious port-a-potties, but did not need one during the race so I wasn't really looking for them. The website says they were at every aid station, though. My only gripe about the course is that sometimes you are forced to run essentially single file on the inside of cones to allow traffic to pass, which can disrupt your rhythm. Also, on the rail trail it is two-way traffic, so sometimes you have to semi-scramble to uneven footing on one side of the path to let runners coming the other way pass. I read some complaints about post-race food; there seemed to be a whole row of food and drink trucks near the park where the race ended, but I am not sure if these were free. I will say I did not see the usual spread of bagels and bananas near the finish line.

This was my 20th marathon overall. I would call it a small mid-sized marathon. It was hillier than I thought it would be. Most of the climbs were not too bad and it was relatively flat along the trail section from mile 17 to 23. The first half of the race is run through the streets of Manchester. The second half takes you out across the river to the other side of town where there were few spectators. The course marshals were very good and all were friendly. The marathon start is with the half marathon folks as well as the relay teams. I was surprised at the lack of porta-potties on the course. There were only a few that I saw at two or three of the aid/water stations. I saw some people using the ones that were set out for contractors on construction projects. At the aid station at Mile 4, I saw six people standing in line to use the one that was there. There is a good hill at mile 24.5 that wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't already made you run it at mile 5. They set the course up so that you have to pass the finish line just before mile 25 before turning around and running back to it. Other than the nice guy announcing the finishers, I was not impressed with the finish. They give you a water or energy drink and a heat sheet and that's it. If there was food there, nobody was pointing people in the direction of where to get it. The medal was nice and the weather was perfect. There are also a ton of turns on the course so my Garmin showed that I actually ran 26.65 miles after all was said and done. It's almost impossible to hit the tangents on this course. This race was incredibly average as marathons go.

First lets get this out of the way...there are hills. But hey, we're marathoners and we thrive on challenge! Don't let the hills scare you off, they are quite manageable. This is a really fun race. I ran it as #9 in my 50-state quest and it was a great experience. Manchester is a big town with a small town feel. You will be amazed at how friendly everyone is. They take the runners into their hearts and really turn out to support the event. And they stay on the line shouting encouragement until the last runners cross the finish. The organizers have arranged the course so you run through the city, through the burbs, over bridges and through wooded trails. This race has something for everyone. NH in the fall -- you can't beat this race. I hope they don't change a thing -- I'll be back. PS: Ok, one change...if we could get the Governor to remove that one hill at mile 24, my quads would be eternally grateful. <grin>

If you're looking to check New Hampshire off your 50 States list, this is most likely the race to sign up for. Otherwise, you're likely a local. Great start/finish with lots of spectators and post-race snacks/drinks. We stayed in the hotel suggested, which was perfectly located for the race. It was 25 degrees race day, so being able to stretch and stay warm in the lobby up until the start of the race was ideal. Runners beware: this course has a lot of hills! Between the temps and the hills, my legs were weak by mile 16. Also, some of the trails in the back half of the race were sand/dirt which made for difficult footing. Make sure you practice your hills prior to this course!

As someone who typically doesn't like the hills I can say I really liked this course. From 16 through 25 you're on 5 plus miles of trails then onto a bike path with amazing scenery. Lots of local support at the start and finish but what was a nice surprise was the on course support from people throughout. If you're looking for a late fall race or checking off New Hampshire for your fifty states I highly recommend. Keep an eye on the temps, it was 24 at the start in 2017.

Trails to rails course was very good.

The course is a little difficult for a flatlander but overall what to be expected for this part of the country. The very best host hotel I've encountered. Super accommodating and courteous.

Past comments indicated that the Manchester City Marathon was not organized well, had a poor course design, and was very tough! I live within 2 miles of the course and had not run this marathon in the previous 8 years, partially due to past comments. Finally I decided to run this marathon and see first hand, what all of the chatter was about. To make a long story short, the course layout was awesome. What a tour of the city & I didn't know that parts of the city even existed. As far as toughness & it was a fair course. Lots of hills, but lots of downhills and long, flat stretches too. Traffic was never a problem. The police were awesome and actually offered words of encouragement and gave high fives throughout the course. Not a lot of spectators, but they were sprinkled throughout the course and were very, very loud and happy. Plenty of aid, lots of traffic control, the course was well marked, great finisher's medallion, and an o.k. long sleeve shirt. Plenty of food and beverages at the finish. I would say that everyone was well taken care of, and all of the volunteers really cared about all of us from first to last finisher. Can you set a PR on this course? Probably not. Are you looking for a very good race on a fair course or do you just want the fastest, downhill course without good management and caring volunteers? You make the choice. I am very happy that I finally chose to run the Manchester City Marathon after all of these years.

The marathon is great overall. You are sorrounded by beautiful landscapes during the entire race except when you are inside of the city (which is not much at all). The police are very helpful in directing the cars away from runners and giving encouragement. Runners should not take the warning that this marathon is a challenging course because it is just that. The last mile alone is enough to call it a hilly course. For about two segments of a mile each you run through trails. I thought this was really cool and the surroundings are amazing.

I am a 50 stater like many of the people I met on the course. I was properly warned of the hills but when you don't have hills to train on, it does not help. Hill wise I was fine until the last 4 miles and then my legs and hips just said, 'enough'. So if you don't mind the hills, there are many positive things about this race. The expo was fine, the volunteers there very nice. Parking was easy on race morning and the staff at the Radison was super kind to everyone using their lobby and bathrooms even though most of us werent staying there! Most of the course is nice but I agree with the person who said that the last few miles were bad and the last uphill mile was just 'WRONG'. I walked it, and I never do that. The spectators on the course were great as were the volunteers! The police department throughout the course was the kindest I have seen in 21 states! Not just directing traffice but pushing you, thanking you, and cheering you, seriously! The chicken soup and volunteer staff at the end were great as well. I stayed a couple of miles away at the Sheraton 4 Points as I had my labrador with me. They were very nice and it was a quick 5-10 minute drive on race morning. Also, its next door to a Starbucks!! They offered a shuttle to the race but I declined because of the dog. Overall a very nice race but very tough. I thought it was much tougher than Boston, Little Rock and Provo.

I ran the Manchester City Marathon in 2013, my 22nd marathon overall, and here is my summary: Positive *Medium-sized, but great Expo that featured Kathrine Switzer. She was very gracious and spent time with every person who had a chance to speak with her. Meeting and talking with her was inspiring. The prices of the marathon swag were more than fair: $10 for hats; $35 for vests - unlike most expos that are way to steep. *The Manchester City Police presence was fantastic! They were everywhere on the race course. *Water stops were organized. *Mile markers were huge signs. *The first six miles were great. I liked running through the Mill Yards and was impressed with the buildings that housed the textile industry. *The medal was neat with a design of the textile mills. *The post-race spread at a city park next to the finish line was so-so. I liked the homemade soup, but other than some water, bananas, oranges and apples, it was low key. *It was nice that we were able to go to the Manchester YMCA to use the shower facilities and it was just a few blocks from the finish line. *I didn't notice it right away, but I was glad that there were no pacer people holding their finish time signs during the race. I find them to be annoying. A marathon is supposed to simply unfold: there are no guarantees and you take what you get. The pacers have an elitist feel to me. Negative *After the six mile marker, the course became bizarre. We went from a neighborhood to streets with traffic, to a short trail, to a pond, to a second short trail, alongside an industrial park, back to the city, across the river to a neighborhood that included absolutely no spectators. AT mile 20, when I could barely move, a motorist looked at me very annoyed because I didn't move to the side. I'm pretty sure he thought I was just out for a Sunday run because there was no indication at this juncture that a marathon was taking place. We crossed the river again, back downtown with two miles to go and nobody around between that marker and the finish line. Wow! No flow or pattern at all to the course design. Sorry, I just didn't get it. I would rather have repeated the first six miles four times. *This has nothing to do with the race course itself, but I may have reached my limit during this race with the ongoing presence of participants who wear ear buds the entire race while listening to their music. Gone it seems, are the days, when we were able to converse with people during the brutal stages of the race beyond Mile 21 (where are you from? how are you feeling?). Instead, I tried to strike up conversations, but people cannot even hear me. I love my music, but there's a time and place for everything. Call me a traditionalist, but I have never once ran while listening to music since 1983. Others should try listening to the birds chirp as well.

The course is hilly, including some spots after mile 20 that are tougher than the elevation chart makes them seem, and not a good one if you're trying to BQ and you know it's gonna be close. I missed by under 2 minutes. The problem, imo, is the last couple of miles, which are just depressing: looping through empty mill parking lots, hopping on and off curbs and then having to run up a truly crappy little hill on Spring Street before you hit the final flat 0.2 stretch. I had an outside shot at a BQ time at mile 24 but with that final bit, I couldn't pull it out. It was the antithesis of what you want those last two miles to be. Other stuff: shirt sized too small, nice medal, poor expo, you can't pick up your bib on race morning despite the late 9 am start (so lame), decent free parking in the area but the downtown garages will tag you for $10, even on a Sunday. I like Manchester, the city, but I humbly suggest the race director rethink the marathon's final two miles.

The organizers weren't kidding when they said 'hilly and challenging'. It was. BUT, it was totally enjoyable. No, this isn't NYC so don't expect 1 million people but you can expect about 1,000 that seemed like a million. What made this marathon more special was the outstanding support of the Manchester Police Department. They seemed to be having more fun than everyone else. Perfect weather, challenging course, great volunteer support. What more do you want? OK, maybe a better t-shirt design, but I'm grasping at straws here. I normally don't repeat races but this may be an exception. Thanks, Manchester!!

Unlike the folks who were scheduled to run in New York, I had been planning on running in Manchester all along. New Hampshire became my 24th state on my way to completing all 50. It was a small and simple race, but quite enjoyable. I agree with a lot of what other runners have said: The course was hilly, so it's probably not the best place to attempt a PR. For the most part, the race was scenic, although as an earlier post stated, parts of the course (especially near the end) were through industrial parking lots that were not terribly well marked. Parking was plentiful very close to the start/finsish, which was nice. I was afraid that November in New Hampshire would be really cold, and in some years maybe it is. But the weather was terrific in 2012. Overall, I give the race a big thumb's up. If you're not doing NYC, Manchester is a good alternative on that weekend...

This marathon is low-key and low stress. You can park for free in a city lot 1/4 mile from the start, wait in the host hotel lobby until 5 minutes before the start, and be right back at your car at the finish. Area hotels are plentiful and inexpensive. Many newer ones are at the Manchester NH Airport just a quick 5 miles away, and the marathon itself is one of the less expensive ones. The course is a bit hilly for a PR but you can certainly run a good time here if you have trained properly. Some nicer areas of the course include a packed dirt trail portion past lakes and forest and a stretch of the bike path. Spectators were friendly and enthusiastic and I can't stay enough about the police support on the course. The police were very friendly and super helpful at all road crossings. A great marathon or half marathon to put on your schedule.

Another NYC-er kicked out. The city of Manchester was nice and cute, the weather was unbeatable (besides a little wind), the course was mostly very pretty. I enjoyed the trail sections, both paved and unpaved. The rolling hills throughout were challenging, as was the total lack of crowd support after the half. In New York miles 16-19 up 1st Avenue are full of cheering people 10 deep on either side, and the last few miles in the park are also insane. When I needed them most (after all those hills), no one was there. A stress-free start was amazing, though. I was well-rested, warm, and ready to go. I probably would not do this marathon again, but I had a positive experience and am so glad I did it.

I was one of many runners who registered for the Manchester City Marathon very last minute after the NYC Marathon was cancelled. It was a great alternative and I'm very happy that I had an opportunity to add this race to my list. The course is very challenging with rolling hills from beginning to end. I had trained for a flatter course so I struggled a bit but if you are properly trained its certainly manageable. There are areas that go off pavement and on trails for a bit. I liked the change of terrain and scenery. The last few miles were very difficult and there are a few curbs you are forced to get up and down on - these are tough on tired legs. The wind was nasty at the end too. The last stretch of the race down Elm Street is awesome. There is also a half marathon and relay so the field is larger in the beginning and you do run through the relay transitions. I enjoyed this especially since the crowd was huge at these areas. The crowd support was very impressive considering it's a relatively small race. It seemed all of Manchester was out with their family and dog ringing a cow bell and cheering the runners. It was great to see so much support from the town when I'm sure the traffic and road closures are an inconvenience to them. I thought the organization of the race was incredible considering they had unexpectedly doubled the field 48 hours before the race. Adjustments had to be made including giving some full marathoners half marathon bibs and giving the late registrants last years t-shirt but none of that mattered in the end. I did hear that they ran out of finisher's medals but had ordered more to send to anyone who did not receive theirs. There was plenty of water, Gatorade and gu on the course. A great benefit to doing a smaller race like Manchester is the relaxed start. Prior to the race I was in the warm host hotel lobby stretching and using a clean bathroom with no line. This is not a luxury I would have experienced in NY! I threw my race bag on a truck just a couple of minutes before the gun went off and had plenty of time to line up. They used NuVision Action Image for race photos, which allow you to download pictures for free. I'm a huge fan of this since most race photography companies charge huge fees for race photos. If you are up for a challenging course and well organized race, I definitely recommend the Manchester City Marathon.

I entered this race at the last minute due to the cancellation of the NYC marathon. The organization was excellent and was able to extend the registration time to accommodate the many others who were doing the same thing. The expo was small (probably about 20 vendors), but it had lots of free goodies from the vendors and packet pickup was well organized. The aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were very helpful. I liked that they gave out cowbells so the runners' support group had something to use to cheer us on. The course was very scenic. It ran past a lake and river. We ran along some packed gravel trails (for maybe 5 miles total). There were trees that were mostly still colorful. And the residential neighborhoods were nice as well. There were definitely some rolling hills, but nothing unmanageable. The finish line had free massages, a band, soup, hot chocolate and coffee, and fruit. The fans were great at the start, finish, and relay areas, but were sparse throughout the rest of the course. Some areas to improve: -The start line was crowded and it was hard to gage pace of the runners without some pace signage. With the narrow road at the start, it took some weaving to get into the right pace. -There was only one porta potty at each porta potty stop along the course, and often times there were lines. -The end of the course was a little confusing. There was one point where I didn't know where I was supposed to go. More signs or volunteers directing you would be helpful toward the end. -Water stops were every other mile. It would have been better if after mile 20, they were every mile. At that point, you're living water stop to water stop. Overall excellent race! I would highly recommend this to anyone who needs to check New Hampshire off their list.

I decided to try it out because I heard that changes were made after all the comments about the 2011 marathon. Next November, I will definitely be running a different marathon. PROS: - volunteers and (minimal) spectators were very good - awesome gels (Gu! The good flavors!) and gatorade along the course - expo the day before was small but had a nice variety - new course incorporated some trails, which was cool variety - hot chocolate at the finish - frequent port-a-potties along the course CONS: - the majority of the course was through random sections of the city, which included behind industries or through parking lots at certain points. Course went through lots of dingy neighborhoods that weren't very scenic - there weren't as many hills as what I imagine in the past, but the finish was at the top of one (small, but still, what sadist planned that?) - I'm a slow finisher (5 hrs) and almost all the food was gone by then. I got a small cup of watery stuff a volunteer claimed was chicken soup and a cold roll. - pick up was advertised to be only the day before from 10-4 so I had to rearrange my day to get there (I'm pretty sure I spotted a table with bibs before the start that morning - sneaky devils) - very very few spectators. The majority of the support was actually from random citizens roaming through the city but who weren't actually there to cheer you on - a lot of people from the area used it as an opportunity to hold political signs instead of encouraging or entertaining ones. One read along the line of 'It's hard to run... from Obama's problems, vote for Romney blah blah blah' SUMMARY: I'm sure it could have been worse, I'm glad I didn't run it back in the day. Would not do it again.

The mob mentality pressured Mayor Bloomberg to cancel NYC on Friday at 5:30pm. What a huge disappointment 36 hours before the race, unreal. Enter Manchester,N.H. They kept marathon registration open until late Saturday afternoon. I drove down from Portand,Me. and registered at 3pm. Awesome, Thank you! Went to Boston for a great evening and drove back in the morning, less than an hour. The course is a bear with relentless hills, but it forces you to take it easy early, which is good and there are places to pick up speed. If you are a good hill runner you will kick butt here. 1st rate organization, great job, well done. I had a great time. The stretch running in the woods was super cool, as was the crowd coming out of it & with an announcer on a loud speaker no less. Neat stretch on a dirt road a few miles later with gorgeous lake views. Great support at mile 19 coming down a big hill into the city where the half marathoners went left to finish & the marathoners went right. I was running solo down the middle of the downtown street, fans yelling & an announcer calls out my name on the loud speaker. What a cool thing, it gave me such a boost late in the race when the quads were starting to rebel. The bike path was awesome at 23 & 24. The single lane wooden bridge over the river added mega 'trippy' charm. Running on smooth red bricks with a ROUGH river just to your left at mile 25+ was surreal. Sunny day, gorgeous fall foliage in a classic New England setting. Great neighborhoods to run through. I wouldn't come here looking for a PR but if you want to run an awesome marathon and have a great experience, come run this. And you get an extra hours sleep the night before, what a bonus!

I was one of the 500+ last-minute runners who signed up for the Manchester City Marathon after the NYC Marathon was cancelled. The organizers of this usually small race (approx. 500 marathoners in 2011) deserve thanks and admiration for their generosity and flexibility, allowing late registration through Saturday evening and scrambling to supply the suddenly larger group. The Manchester City Marathon offers a grueling course of rolling hills and at least this year a tough head wind. The hills weren't terribly steep, but they just kept coming! Yet as challenging as the course is, it offers a back-to-basics reminder of what the marathon is really about: pushing yourself to the limit in the company of fellow runners who are doing exactly the same thing. I met some first-time marathoners and international runners from at least 5 countries who had planned to run NY, and we were all working hard. Much of the course is beautiful but totally quiet; in places I ran alone for 10 minutes or more. Manchester offers none of the party scene distraction of a big city race (though the spectators in town and at transitions were great). As someone who thrives on external distraction and motivation during the marathon, I really had to dig to find my own internal drive. I recommend this marathon to runners who want a challenge in the company of a friendly comomunity. The scenery is varied with some especially lovely park trails and rail-trail sections along the river. Kudos to the organizers for running a well-organized event despite unexpected surge in numbers.

I ran this as part of my quest to run a marathon in all 50 states. This was state #9. This is the ideal time to run a marathon in the Northeast, with cool but too-cold temperatures. The expo was small but fine for a small marathon. The course was hilly as expected, but only a couple were on the long side. Most were short but took their toll on my legs and endurance, expecially in the second half. Hydration stops were adequate, about every 2 miles, with GU at miles 9 and 17. Volunteers were plentiful and encouraging. I liked the 3 parts of the course that were on trails or bike paths. We did run with traffic for a lot of the race, but I never felt at risk of being injured. The post-race food was running out by the time I finished, but it was adequate. The t-shirt and medal were just so-so, nothing special.

Whoa. I was primed to run a 3:07-3:10. I ran a 3:24. This race was a killer. They changed the course to apparently make it easier and I am frightened to know what it used to be. Hill at every mile today INTO a head wind for pretty much the entire race. Holy schnkies! If you are into difficult challenges and levels of torture, run it! The organization was great and the people were soooo nice and accomodating. I came up after NYC was canceled and apparently 400 others did also. Nice event but be ready. Hill training dot com and then some. At mile 20 I felt like the hill was a 90 degree perpendicular hill...into the wind. Awesome.

Sarah, the RD?, is the best-letting all us NYC 'refugees' enter past the deadline. Loved the variety of the course-residential, wooded trail, running by water. Volunteers were so nice; spectators were encouraging for everyone. Yes, hills made it a tough race, but I still ran my normal time. The chili and soup at the end was the best, as were all the massage therapists. Everyone was just so nice! Weather was perfect. Glad we got the 'foil' at the end. Just have absolutely no complaints and only kudos for a well-run, friendly, well-organized race.

Like a lot of people said, the course was overly hilly (no best times will be made here) and much of it was blase/ugly. You would think that in scenic NH the course would be beautiful but wasn't even close. Lots of people complained about the hills.

Overall this is a decent race and after running Chicago last month it was nice to run a small town (less crowded) marathon again. Me and my wife both thought it was a very friendly city. Weather was awesome, sunny and decent running temps. Organization: Expo was pretty small as expected. As many have already commented, it's so nice to not have to fight traffic/crowds to get to the start line. We stayed at a hotel about 10 minutes away and drove right in and parked about 1 ½ hours prior with no problems, but could have come much later had we wanted to. I do think the 8:45 start time is too late. Course: I didn't think the hills were as bad as some have commented, it's rolling but nothing that is terribly long or steep in my opinion (of course after running Wineglass I don't much expect to PR anymore anyhow). It did get pretty lonely (runners or spectators) after the ½ split off, but that's OK, it is what it is. Port-a-potties did seem a bit lacking. Plenty of volunteer's to guide us at turns that might have been confusing. I loved the trail portion through the park. Swag/Extras: Love the arrangement with the YMCA to use showers as I had to fly out that evening and finished long after my hotel checkout time. I like the shirt (better then the one I got in Chicago, go figure). The medal is OK, I have better and worse, I don't think the sponsor's logo being large is an issue as some have mentioned; after all sponsors help keep the cost down, so let's not complain. I can't comment on post-race food as I didn't take the time to look for food afterward as I wanted to shower and to eat a real meal anyhow. As a 50 state runner NH doesn't have very many other choices for marathons, but I think this one was a decent choice.

Absolutely loved everything about this marathon. Super friendly race officials and spectators, proximity of hotel to start/finish line, beautiful course with rolling hills...just awesome!

This is an old fashioned race where you go out and measure yourself against the course. You probably won't get a time to boast about but if you are true to yourself you will get something more enduring. People who quibble about traffic or broken sidewalks don't understand what running is all about. This is a great race.

My 50th marathon and it was a beautiful day for a run. The course was hilly as promised and I trashed my quads by mile 16 but I still enjoyed the run. The medal was small but the tech shirt was a light blue, it fit well, and it was nice. I finished in 5 hrs and there was no band playing, there was only chicken soup left (it was good) and no muscle milk either. The host hotel, the Radisson was great. Running next to the traffic on the white line with no shoulder was not for the faint hearted.

The first 15 miles of the course are hilly, but like the other comments have indicated, no one hill is particularly fierce, except, perhaps, for a brief but memorable climb around mile 14. Overall, the loop course is well-planned. There are a lot of turns though neighborhoods, but there were volunteers and aid stations at key locations and we didn't get lost, even though we took the early start and there were only a few runners on the course early on. The straightaway finish on Elm Street in downtown was exciting. Parts of mile 5-6 were on a gentle wooded trail, and the final 5K featured some fast downhills, a footbridge over the Merrimack River back into the city, and enthusiastic crowd support. I appreciated the varying terrain. I can only think of one minus: Icy roads in a few of the hillier spots, and that could've been dangerous. Post-race in the park there was delicious chili, Muscle Milk, and massages. I recommend this small city marathon.

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 day started on a cold side, but it turned out to be a great running day. I think they should start the event earlier, at least an hour earlier, especially given the end of daylight saving time. The water stations were as frequent as promised, along with GU at mile 9 and 17. Personally, I think they should have vanilla flavor, but that's a matter of preference. The shirt is ugly, no doubt about it. The medal is nothing special either. The sponsor's name is the most prominantly displayed item on both - come on! Chilli, chicken noodle or tomato basil hot dishes at the finish line were an awesome idea. The band was great, but... there was no beer tent. It is a nice small event. No problems finding parking. You will not find a lot of spectators, but a few patches here and there are nice. Course - hilly, as promised. I did not find it all that scenic. Don't know Manchester well, but I think they could pick a better course - you run mostly thru residential areas. Also, if you have a fear of running with and against the traffic, the event is probably not for you. Hardly any road is actually shut down. The main intersections had someone directing the traffic, but there were some lonely ones as well. I realize the event is probably too small to shut down the city, but...

I was not at all happy with this marathon. Do NOT run it!! I repeat, DO NOT RUN IT!!! The only reason I could see why one would want to do this is if you have a 50-state goal or some other checklist goal or abstract mission that you are working on. The course was not very scenic, it ran through some back roads, shabby residential areas, standard city streets. There were some parts over and along the river and through a city park that were nice, but overall, the course could have been a lot better. There is no reason why runners should be routed though construction areas or have to dodge cars. There were not nearly enough orange pylons to protect runners from traffic. At times it was unknown which side of the road we were supposed to be on. Too frequently we were running diagonally across roads that weren't even blocked off!!! So dangerous! I lost my cadence at least 4 times due to having to stop short for a car at a cross road. Some cross streets had people directing traffic, but not all. The race course was not clearly marked in all places and for as many turns and street crossings as there were, they really should have had more noticeable markings. Sometimes we were running on sidewalks and they were all broken up. Other times on road shoulders that were cluttered with construction and road debris (easy to trip). I only noticed a medic once along the course and in the beginning. I started looking out for medics as early as the 14th mile because my Achilles was acting up, I wanted to get a wrap. But, didn't find any medical assistance until the finish line! The finish area was confusing. No signs to direct runners where to go. The post-race food was a total disappointment. Only a few bananas, oranges, apples, and cereal bars with no bag to put the goodies in. The chili stand was out of vegetarian chili before I got there and I was a middle of the pack finisher. There were no post-race festivities as advertised. The band wasn't playing, nothing was going on except a small tent for massages (with a 30 minute wait for their 3 or 4 masseuses) and the disappointing food tent. The medal for the full is almost exactly like the medal for the half. The difference between the two should be distinct. And, it is a cheap medal that devotes more space to advertising for Anthem than for displaying the race name or distance. On the plus side, the volunteers were friendly and encouraging at the aid stations. Even though there were just a few spectators, they were enthusiastic and cheered for everyone. The pre-race line up was easy to get to and figure out. I picked up my bib same day and that was simple and hassle-free. The race tee is a long-sleeved tech-shirt (I like it). There were clocks at every even mile marker (except mile 24) and aid stations at every odd mile marker (except mile 1). So it was easy to feel like the miles passed quickly. It was a disappointing race overall! Don't expect much if you do it and be ready to dodge traffic and road obstacles along the way.

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.