Info-Marathon | Harrisburg Area YMCA Race Series

Sunday, November 8th, 2020

Ready for the race of a lifetime?

The 2020 Marathon is ON! we have a revised course and some new guidelines to help you finish the year strong. Please expect an email if you are registered for the race on October 25, 2020 to learn more about how to move forward. If you have not registered and would like to, new runners will be permitted to sign up starting October 1, 2020 until November 2, 2020. Registration is currently closed while we address some final details, and we can’t wait to see you on the course!

ALL INFO BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE AS OF 9/17/20. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING AND WILL SHARE REVISED DETAILS OCTOBER 1, 2020.

The 49th Annual Harrisburg Marathon will take you on a thrilling journey through beautiful Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Our fast, flat course is a Boston qualifier that’s sure to give plenty of runners a great PR!

We reimagined the Harrisburg Marathon event in 2015 and were met with rave reviews from new runners and seasoned marathoners alike. Dubbed as a “mini-Boston” this energetic race filled Second Street with people cheering, music playing, the energy of what has been called “Restaurant Row” as runners of our completely redesigned course round their way onto Second Street towards the new finish line at Locust.

Not running? Come to the Downtown Marathon Red Block Party!

Don’t miss the third annual Marathon Red Block Party sponsored by the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District! We redesigned the Harrisburg Marathon course to integrate the event with the community that hosts it. Celebrate our “mini-Boston” and cheer on finishers in a huge downtown celebration!

RACE COSTS

Runners and walkers

February – $75
March – $80
April – $85
May – $90
June – $95
July – $100
August – $105
September – $110
October – $115
November 1st to Tuesday, November 3rd (close of online registration at 11:59pm) – $120
Registration will also be available during packet pick-up, cost is $125 (hoodies not guaranteed)

Relay Teams (teams of 4)

February – $210
March/April – $230
May/June – $250
July/August – $270
September/October – $290
November 1st to Tuesday, November 3rd (close of online registration at 11:59pm) – $310
Registration will also be available during packet pick-up, cost is $320/team (hoodies not guaranteed)
Master’s Teams must have a combined age of 160

Paper registration forms:

Signed up, but can’t make it?

There are NO refunds
Deferral option
- If you are unable to participate in the 2020 Harrisburg Marathon you may defer your entry to the 2021 event.
- The fee to defer is $20.
- The last day to defer is Tuesday, November 3rd at 11:59PM. Click here for information about how to defer your entry.
Bib transfer option
- Click here for how to transfer your race bib.
- Race bib transfers must be completed by Monday, November 2nd at 11:59pm

PACKET PICK UP

Runners and Relay Teams may pick up their packets at any of the following times. Walkers must pick up their packets prior to Race Day. You may also pick up a packet for a friend!

Packet pick-up times:

Friday, November 6th – 5-7:30pm, TBA
Saturday, November 9th – 11am to 4pm TBA
Sunday, November 10th – Carousel Pavilion on City Island, 6am to 7:30am

START

6:30AM – Walkers start on City Island
8:00AM – Marathon & Relay Team Runners start on City Island
All participants should be at City Island or their relay exchange point at least 30 minutes before their start time.

TIMING

The race will be timed by FalconRaceTiming.com. Official results will be available on the FalconRaceTiming.com website following the race. Official time for Boston Marathon Qualification will be Chip Time. Split times will be called at multiple locations along the course. Time clocks are also placed at various locations on the course.

RELAY EXCHANGE

Relay teams of 4 will be eligible for awards. Categories include All Male, All Female, Mixed, Male Masters, Female Masters, Mixed Masters, and All 50+. The top team in each category will receive awards.

Master’s Teams must have a combined age of 160

Teams of 2 and 3 are welcome but will not be eligible for awards.

Click here for a course map with relay stations included

The first relay exchange will be on the upper level Greenbelt Path about 300 yards south of the Market St Bridge, under the railroad bridge, across Front Street from the Harrisburg Hospital.

The second and third relay exchanges will be at the PA Dental Association, which is located at 3501 N Front St, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

Distances:

Leg 1 – 8.1 miles
Leg 2 – 5.3 miles
Leg 3 – 7.9 miles
Leg 4 – 4.9 miles

Relay teams also receive relay-specific finisher medals.

2020 Relay Instructions (PDF)

Relay Substitution Form (PDF)

WALKERS

There is a walker division of this race that begins at 6:30am. It is permitted to do a run/walk with the walker division. Any marathon runner that may need more time to finish the course (course is open until 2pm) has the option of signing up as a walker. Anyone in the walker division will receive an official gun time. Walker division also receives a medal, shirt, post-race food, etc. There are no awards for the walker division.

If you are signing up in the walker division, please read the document below very thoroughly prior to race day. This document outlines turn-by-turn instructions for the first 11 miles of the race. Volunteers and police will not be on the course until closer to the 8am start time. It is the responsibility of every participant in the walker division to read the document below and be familiar with the first 11 miles of the course prior to race day. The course will be marked, but you will need to also be familiar with the route to avoid the possibility of going off-course.

Walker Instructions (PDF)

PACE TEAM

MarathonPacing.com will be at the Harrisburg Marathon as the pace team!

HOTELS

TBD

SHUTTLE SERVICE

No shuttle services are provided. The walk to City Island is approximately 1/2 mile from the Hilton Hotel, the host hotel for the 2018 race. All lanes from the East Shore (Downtown Harrisburg) to City Island on the Market Street Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic for the start of the race, approximately 7:30AM to 8:20AM.

PARKING

The most convenient place to park is on City Island. This is where the race begins. The finish is at the intersection of 2nd St/Locust St, which is about a 1/2 mile walk back to City Island across the Walnut St walking bridge.

RACE ROUTE AND AID STATIONS

Click here to see the Marathon course! (MapMyRun version)

Click here for the RaceJoy course (water stations included)

Click here for a Printable Marathon Overview Course Map

Click here for the USATF Certification Map

Restrooms will be located at the start and finish areas, and along the course adjacent to aid stations (see below).

Water stations are located approximately every 2 1/2 miles. Each aid station after the first one at mile 3 will have water, sports drink, and gel. The Gatorade flavor will be Frost Glacier Freeze and the Honey Stinger gels will be Fruit Smoothie, Vanilla, and Acai Pomengranate.

Elevation (for an elevation chart, the MapMyRun link above and select the “elevation” box in the Distance box)

Start: 97.5
Finish: 106.6
Highest: 106.7
Lowest: 91.4

PINNACLE MEDICAL TENT

The UPMC Pinnacle Health Medical Assistance Team will be on hand at the finish line and throughout the course. If you need any medical assistance, Pinnacle Health has you covered!

OTHER INFORMATION

A Clothing Drop-Off Area is provided inside of the Carousel Pavilion on City Island. Please label your drop-off bag with your race number. An aluminum space blanket will also be provided to each runner at the finish line. The Harrisburg East Shore YMCA at Front & North Streets will be open to runners to shower and change from 10:30AM to 4:00PM, please bring your own towel.

COURSE CLOSURE

Volunteers will be released from their stations based on a 13 minute pace and the finish line will close at 2:00PM. If you do not think you can complete the course by 2:00, please ask a water station volunteer to arrange for an assistance vehicle.

SPECTATORS

2020 Spectators Information (PDF)

FINISH LINE

Food and refreshments from will be provided at the finish line.

Heat sheets will be given out to each participant crossing the finish line. Heat sheets are sponsored by Cynthia Forry

AWARDS AND MEDALS

All individual race participants will receive a finisher’s medal at the finish line.

Awards are distributed based on “Overall Open” and “Masters” (40+) male and female categories. This includes awards for male and female top 3 overall as well as top 3 male and female masters (40+).

Age group awards span from 19 and under through 65-69 and over in 5-year increments. There will also be a 70-74 and a 75+ category. The top 3 finishers in each age group will receive an award. Top relay teams in each category will be given awards as well. No duplication of awards.

Overall awards will be scored by gun time. Age group award will be score by chip time. No exceptions.The awards ceremony will be adjacent to the finish line in downtown Harrisburg starting at approximately 12:00PM.

Separate finisher medals will be given to both relay teams and runners.

Q and A

Is there a minimum age limit?

The minimum age for a participant in the Harrisburg Marathon is 15 years old for full marathon participants and 13 for relay participants.

2016 Overall Relay Results (PDF)

CONTACT

Please submit questions to Tom at tom.gifford@ymcaharrisburg.org