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Marathon Details - York Marathon and Half Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > PA > YORK > York Marathon and Half Marathon

York Marathon and Half Marathon

York Marathon and Half Marathon & Half Marathon

location icon YORK, PA USA

calendar icon May 5, 2024

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Marathon Results

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Race Details

This fast flat course begins on closed city streets and transitions to the Heritage Rail Trail for the remainder of the race. The trail surface is compacted crushed stone.

Contact Information

Name: Cori Strathmeyer
Address: 90 N Newberry Street
York, PA 17401
Phone Number:  717-843-7884 x269
Email: Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (9)

Course Rating Course 4.8 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.8 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.7 
 
 
Number of comments: 9


 

S. V. from United States (5/27/2023)
"Fast scenic race" (about: 2023)

3 previous marathons | 1 York Marathon and Half Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This was my third marathon and even though it does not have the feel of a big time race, it was still a very nice well organized event. It was nice the marathoners started an hour before the half. 6 AM is an early start but you are done sooner and you can enjoy the beautiful sounds of nature as you run on the trail early in the morning. Not many spectators but when there was they were very supportive. Aid stations always had gels, Gatorade and water.Volunteers were great at directing traffic. Like I said, it's not a big time race, no expo or much crowd support. It's a flat and fast course. The course is over marked. My watch said 26.5 miles. So beware if you are trying to PR. I still was able to get my sub 4 hour goal. Great finish line and after party. I would run this race again.

 

C. S. from North Port, Florida. USA (5/18/2021)
"A really nice experience - RD did a great job!!" (about: 2021)

50+ previous marathons | 1 York Marathon and Half Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


The beginning was completely different, and very cool. Staggered start times, but you could start at any time in your 10 minute period. So, runners just sort of walked up near the line, looked around and started when they felt like it. The water stops were well managed. Every crossing had traffic guys controlling them. No close calls anywhere. The trail actually is almost in people's yards, so they came out to watch. Fans also drove to see us. Lots of enthusiasm. No awards ceremony due to the rolling start. We knew that ahead of time. The City of York has a downtown area with restaurants and bars. We got to town two days before the race, so we got to experience the area. Highly recommend this race

 

Lee Rubin from Maple Glen, PA (10/15/2020)
"Well Run Race - Great for 1st timers and BQ Times" (about: 2020)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 York Marathon and Half Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my 5th Marathon and I cannot say enough about the Race Director, Staff and Volunteers. I would give 10 Stars if I could. The communication was excellent and I felt very informed on COVID Related changes and Updates. Parking and walking to the Start Line was a breeze. They had a rolling start (50 runners every 10 minutes) and I felt very safe and stress free which was very important to me running an organized race in the middle of a pandemic. The course was flat and slightly uphill for the first half and downhill for the back half. The race was run on rail trail with a crushed stone feel under foot. I had been fighting an injury for the last 6 weeks so I was grateful to have a chance to run and had to hobble/walk the last 4 miles but I finished. Water/Gatorade/Gels, Port-o-Pots and Aid stations were ever 1.5 to 2 miles so you never felt too far away from support if needed. Medal and Shirt were nice and Post Race Food was nice as well. I am glad this was moved to October instead of May (Due to Covid) because it was a beautiful race with lots of trees and nice scenery.

 

A. S. from PA - Pennsylvania (10/14/2020)
"Awesome home-town kind of marathon/half marathon" (about: 2020)

6-10 previous marathons | 4-5 York Marathon and Half Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Typically this race hosts between 500-750 runners. It was a bit smaller this year due to Covid. The race is well organized and very safe. Traffic safety and medical professionals are on the course. The route is a flat rail trail and makes for a fast race.

 

c. w. from pottstown, pa (7/27/2019)
"Great race and great support" (about: 2019)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 York Marathon and Half Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I have been eyeing this race since the inception and I was able to fit it in my schedule. The vast majority of the course is an out and back on a rail to trail path that is flat. The support is fantastic. There was very little at packet pick-up but it is a fairly small race. There is a water stop every 1-2 miles and every water stop has multiple flavors of GU so you don't need to carry any gels. The scenery was very nice and there were people at the few intersections on the course to protect you from cars. The race is inexpensive and located in a part of the state that won't cost a fortune for a room. If you need a race in PA, I would highly recommend this race. And head over to the Y after the race. They don't mention at the finish but there is more food at the Y along with free showers.

 

K. K. from State College, PA (5/19/2019)
"Lovely course with great support" (about: 2019)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 York Marathon and Half Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This is a lovely course. I was registered for the full but downgraded to the half which follows the same course as the full. It's very flat which not everyone likes, but the scenery is great. Easy logistics, great support from the aid stations and traffic volunteers. Fans are spread out and sparse but when you do see them they are great. The early start is great (although you may not think it when it's time to get up) because by the time you're done you still have most of your day left. The weather today was beautiful. I'll be back for this one. Great job, race director(s)!

 

Julie Fitzpatrick from Carney, MD (5/22/2018)
"Low key, nice homey feeling, well done race!" (about: 2018)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 York Marathon and Half Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This was my tenth marathon and probably the smallest race I've run. It was very well organized, course well marked, water, Gatorade, potties every couple of miles. No huge crowds or fanfare, but still a lot of support where it counted. I loved the medal and the friendly volunteers! Course flat, crushed stone, easy on the legs helped with a quick recovery. Weather got pretty humid and hot so my time was not great, but I really enjoyed the beautiful course and had a great time! Would highly recommend! Well done!

 

D. A. from Jonesboro, Georgia (5/20/2018)
"Beautiful, Flat, Well-Organized Small Race" (about: 2018)

50+ previous marathons | 1 York Marathon and Half Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


This was a great course with great organization. Most of the running was on a crushed-stone rail trail, going through some very scenic countryside and even an old train tunnel! Aid stations were well stocked with water, sports beverages and gel; the only down side was there was not any Vaseline or lube at ANY of the aid stations. The out-and-back course was nice; knowing that the trip back would be very slightly downhill with the wind at your back was a positive motivator. Flowers are blooming in Pennsylvania this time of year, which added to the beauty of the course: thousands of wildflowers, gardens and fields ready for planting, beauty everywhere! The 6 a.m. start was great on a relatively warm day, and same-day packet pickup is great for someone coming from out of state. And the post-race shower at the YMCA was AWESOME: especially with a 3-hour drive after the race.

 

J. F. from Pennsylvania (2/27/2018)
"Last chance for a spring BQ" (about: 2016)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 York Marathon and Half Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


Nice job York Marathon - You've made it to the big time! I have been looking for you on this site for 3 years now.

I have run this event twice, plus virtually the same course an additional four times at what used to be called the Bob Potts Marathon. Race is run on the Heritage Rail Trail, which is a nice track that starts in York city but quickly gets very rural, peaceful, and quiet.

Pluses include -
- Price is right - $60 for early entrants.
- Small field of usually a few hundred entrants
- You can run your own pace, because the small field stretches out quickly.
- Rail trail course is super flat and fast with very few street crossings so no cars to worry about.
- Logistics are very easy
- Packet pickup either the day before or on race day
- 6:00am start time is good for beating the heat of the day in late May, when temperatures can get reach the 80s.
- Good chance to run a PR, BQ, or both if that's your thing.

Negatives -
- If you want a lot of crowd support, choose a big city race.
- You won't get the best race SWAG ever, but you will get a medal. And quite frankly, all marathon medals are something to hang on the wall and admire because you know you are (or at least were) awesome for one day!


 
 
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