Harrisburg Marathon

Registration is open through RunSignup with no lottery or qualifying standard required. Spots are available until capacity is reached, so it is worth signing up early to secure your place.

Yes, it is a USATF-certified Boston qualifier. A solid portion of finishers hit the BQ standard each year, and the flat course gives you a genuine opportunity to run a qualifying time.

The course is very flat, with just over 300 feet of total elevation gain across the full marathon. It runs a multi-loop layout along the Susquehanna River, staying within a narrow elevation band the whole way.

The time limit is 7 hours, which is generous and accommodates a wide range of paces.

The Harrisburg Marathon is a smaller community race with recent finisher counts in the low hundreds. That means less congestion and a more personal race-day experience than larger city marathons.

Expect a chilly start in the low 40s with temperatures climbing to the low 50s by midday. Dress in throwaway layers for the corral and be ready for some wind off the river.

The start and finish are on City Island in central Harrisburg, with abundant nearby parking and most downtown hotels within easy reach. Harrisburg International Airport is about 30 minutes away.