This was a very well run race weekend. The Expo was a lot smaller than I thought it would be for the amount of runners. Not a lot of Vendors … MORE
This was a very well run race weekend. The Expo was a lot smaller than I thought it would be for the amount of runners. Not a lot of Vendors but it was easy to get to, park and was able to buy a few extra items.
Plenty of places to park near the start/finish and pretty cheap as well. We were fortunate that the rain that was forecasted held off until later in the afternoon. The temps were perfect for the run.
The course itself is a bit hillier than I expected especially for the first half of the Marathon. There was a decent amount of crowd support throughout the race. The volunteers were terrific and there never seemed to be a shortage of Water or Gatorade at the stops. Lot’s of people lined up for the last quarter mile or so to the finish which felt good to have nearing the end.
After Party was decent, though surprised it ended at 2. For anyone finishing over 5 hours, they are not getting a chance to relax, celebrate and have their well deserved beer. It seemed to cater more to the Half Marathoners. This was State number 9, and it is a race I would consider running again.
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A Good Race in Connecticut
This was a very well run race weekend. The Expo was a lot smaller than I thought it would be for the amount of runners. Not a lot of Vendors … MORE
This was a very well run race weekend. The Expo was a lot smaller than I thought it would be for the amount of runners. Not a lot of Vendors but it was easy to get to, park and was able to buy a few extra items.
Plenty of places to park near the start/finish and pretty cheap as well. We were fortunate that the rain that was forecasted held off until later in the afternoon. The temps were perfect for the run.
The course itself is a bit hillier than I expected especially for the first half of the Marathon. There was a decent amount of crowd support throughout the race. The volunteers were terrific and there never seemed to be a shortage of Water or Gatorade at the stops. Lot’s of people lined up for the last quarter mile or so to the finish which felt good to have nearing the end.
After Party was decent, though surprised it ended at 2. For anyone finishing over 5 hours, they are not getting a chance to relax, celebrate and have their well deserved beer. It seemed to cater more to the Half Marathoners. This was State number 9, and it is a race I would consider running again.
Excellent Race
At the announcement before the start, it was stated " we know what we are doing". Well, they certainly do! Everything from the expo, course, support and swag were top … MORE
At the announcement before the start, it was stated ” we know what we are doing”. Well, they certainly do! Everything from the expo, course, support and swag were top shelf . They even had volunteers controlling port-a-pot lines. A feature I like was the bicyclists on the course would ride by offering Gu shots if you needed one. Another nice touch was along the last 100 yards of the race, the course was outlined in mums, pumpkins and corn stalks . Very festive!
There were plenty of water stops and several Gu pick up areas. They even had a candy table at mile 21!
The finish area had plenty to do with numerous tents for charities .
The course was good, although some of the roads had pot holes. There are several hills, but nothing long or steep. The weather was perfect.
The only area that could be improved was the expo, not very many providers.
Finally , logistics were easy. The Capital Hotel is an easy walk to the start/finish line and they were very race day supportive moving up the breakfast time so folks could eat before the race.
I would do this race again!
Hartford Marathon marathon
the 2023 race was under perfect cloudy weather as the rain expected was delayed to the afternoon. The course had more up and down hills then what I expected but … MORE
the 2023 race was under perfect cloudy weather as the rain expected was delayed to the afternoon. The course had more up and down hills then what I expected but it just made for a more challenged finish. Scenery along the course was ever changing from the coast to downtown. the race was very well organized and the volunteer’s were excellent
Perfect Race, Perfect Conditions
This was a great race. The volunteers and staff (and everyone we met in Hartford for that matter) was kind and helpful. The rolling hills in the first half were … MORE
This was a great race. The volunteers and staff (and everyone we met in Hartford for that matter) was kind and helpful. The rolling hills in the first half were easy to run, nothing too crazy. I will say the section of the race that is a flat out and back, you maybe want to poke your eyes out with boring sticks as it feels like it will never end, but there are pretty houses and sheep to look at!
Great, Very Well-Organized Race
Great course. Rolling hills in the first half, then mostly flat on the second half. Lots of water/electrolyte stations. Awesome volunteers. Run mostly through downtown Hartford and residential neighborhoods of … MORE
Great course. Rolling hills in the first half, then mostly flat on the second half.
Lots of water/electrolyte stations. Awesome volunteers. Run mostly through downtown Hartford and residential neighborhoods of West and East Harford. Great crowd support as well from the locals.
Got my PR for a non-downhill race by finally getting a sub-4, so really happy about that. The cloudy, cool weather helped with that significantly.
Great race! Lived up to it's reputation.
This was the 30th anniversary of the race, and it showed! Very well-organized race with lots of pre-race communications. I opted to have my race packet mailed to me and … MORE
This was the 30th anniversary of the race, and it showed! Very well-organized race with lots of pre-race communications. I opted to have my race packet mailed to me and it arrived at least 2 weeks before the race. Loved the course. There were some hills but it was a nice mix of the city, local neighborhoods, and parks. Lots of crowd support as well (at least for the half). Great post-race festival and I love that they had soup that was vegan-friendly! They do something special for runners completing their 50th state as well. Highly recommend this race!
Pleasantly surprised
I loved this race! It was so smooth from start to finish. I had a work commitment and wasn't able to make it to the Friday night expo before 7pm … MORE
I loved this race! It was so smooth from start to finish. I had a work commitment and wasn’t able to make it to the Friday night expo before 7pm when it closed, but they had tons of information about how a proxy can do the whole bib pickup and that all went so smoothly. We got spoiled with really nice weather on race day (started overcast in the 40s, held in the 50s with sunshine toward the end). I was worried the route might get a bit boring with several out and back portions, but I always enjoyed the scenery, and it was especially nice to interact with runners coming from the other way as the crowd thinned out when the marathon split off from the half. Also, such a nice touch to have several live bands stationed on the course. At the end of the race, you get a free small meal of tortilla soup, bread, banana, chocolate milk, etc. and it really hit the spot. Washed all of that down with a free beer in a well-organized reunion area with even more live music. I would recommend this race to anyone!! It felt like all the warmth of a small-town race with the perks of a well-oiled machine (i.e. plenty of volunteers, clear course markings, great and consistent crowd support, etc).
An unexpected gem
This is a VERY well put-on race. The course goes through some beautiful parks and residential areas, and the people of Hartford show up to cheer runners on, even back-of-the-pack … MORE
This is a VERY well put-on race. The course goes through some beautiful parks and residential areas, and the people of Hartford show up to cheer runners on, even back-of-the-pack runners like myself. Hydration stations were plentiful and well stocked, and the after-race party was great.
Excellent production, nice city
Logistics: Airport is about 20 minutes from host hotels. I stayed at the Hilton and it was right across the street from the expo and about 10 minutes from the … MORE
Logistics: Airport is about 20 minutes from host hotels. I stayed at the Hilton and it was right across the street from the expo and about 10 minutes from the race start and finish.
Expo and Production: Good expo with lots of swag. This is 2 races in a row where the swag was really good so I had to buy a few things. Production was flawless in my eyes. Good communication, great start line and excellent finish area to hang out in. Well done!
Weather and Course: The weather was perfect for running on this day. Started out in the high 40s with cloud cover. So just cool enough but not cold. It remained in the 50s throughout the race and perfect. I enjoyed the first 6 miles of the course that went through neighborhoods and a park, and consisted of gently rolling hills. Nice scenery and variation to make it interesting. The course takes you toward the river and you go over a bridge to the other side. This is not a huge or super steep bridge but it is enough to work for when you go back over it in the last couple of miles. Most of the course takes place on the East side into residential areas. The course is mostly flat with an occasional incline and decline. If I am to be honest, this part of the course, from a scenery perspective, is just okay. Not the most scenic. But by the second half I was really concentrating on my speed and it was perfect.
Great volunteers and everything was perfect for a marathon!
Great course/Worse Communication Ever
Excellent course, but Imagine running a BQ race time, and then never being able to use that due to the negligence of communication, because you’re listed as an unknown runner, … MORE
Excellent course, but Imagine running a BQ race time, and then never being able to use that due to the negligence of communication, because you’re listed as an unknown runner, bib #630. You reach out to the race for months, over a dozen times and get ignored in emails and then finally have luck in Facebook messenger where they assure you if you contact the timers via their website, it would be corrected immediately. You submit proof by pictures, gps, Garmin splits, and still no response. You submit several times, reach out multiple times by messenger to which they say it will be fixed and here we are 10 months later, it’s still not fixed. I was unable to make the expo when my flight was delayed and reached out to members of the 50 state club, to which a member graciously was able to pick up my bib with my consent and proof of my ID, to which I later retrieved at the hotel lobby. I never imagined being shown in the results as unknown, but I reached out immediately and the fact that they cannot make this right in 10 months time is unsettling. I paid a lot of money coming from the west…entry, flight, rental car, but most importantly I earned that time and understand mistakes happen, but for them to ignore or promise it will be fixed and yet it isn’t…just unacceptable. Many runners work hard for BQ times and pay lots of money to travel to your race, a simple courtesy to make a mistake right shows care, compassion, support of runners and goes a long way. I would love to give this race 5 stars, as it was awesome, but the 2 star rave is due to their negligence in fixing their mistake after wasting my time and promising it would be quickly fixed. (attaching my finisher pic of me as runner #630)
Nice Connecticut race
Every thing was done well. Had a gorgeous day for a race. Except for some port-o-lets that were locked with no one in them so they couldn't be used, everything … MORE
Every thing was done well. Had a gorgeous day for a race. Except for some port-o-lets that were locked with no one in them so they couldn’t be used, everything was great. Fortunately a volunteer was able to pry them open so the folks after myself had access to them.
100% recommend
Excellent course, excellent race production, shirt and medal are awesome. I didn’t go to the expo but heard it was very large. Can’t think of anything to be critical of, … MORE
Excellent course, excellent race production, shirt and medal are awesome.
I didn’t go to the expo but heard it was very large.
Can’t think of anything to be critical of, just excellent across the board.
Under the Arches Finish line is EPIC!
Best aspect is the ease of parking, getting to the race start, the staging area, volunteers and the finish line with party at Bushnell Park! It's a great half marathon … MORE
Best aspect is the ease of parking, getting to the race start, the staging area, volunteers and the finish line with party at Bushnell Park! It’s a great half marathon course with some small hills, definitely NOT boring – with all the fall foliage around it makes for a terrific run. This is a good PR course with a down hill finish under the arches. I love that they have been a “green” marathon with less use of paper cups! They give a Finisher water bottle at the end instead of all that plastic. Love it and will do it again!
5th in my division (55-59) and 444 overall
Fun and Entertaining Marathon
I have to admit, I did not have expectations one way or another when I registered for this race, but WOW. I had an absolute blast running this marathon! Packet … MORE
I have to admit, I did not have expectations one way or another when I registered for this race, but WOW. I had an absolute blast running this marathon!
Packet Pickup/Swag: Packet pickup was held in the convention center in downtown Hartford. The only negative thing is that it looked like you had to pay for parking. I was with family, so they drove around the block while I hopped in and out. Therefore, I didn’t spend a lot of time at the expo. It was small but well organized. Participants received their bib, race shirt and a drop bag. The race medal was neat, and finishers also received a sports water bottle that was filled with cold water at the end of the race.
Start Area/Organization: We stayed in a hotel across the street from the start/finish for an easy morning walk to the start corrals, but I believe the city offered free parking, and there were plenty of lots. The marathon and half marathon started together, and the pace signs were clearly marked. The entire experience ran smoothly.
Course: The marathoners and half marathoners only shared the course for about the first mile. The marathon course stayed in/around/through downtown for approximately 3-ish miles before heading into a beautiful local park. There were some gentle rolling hills. Nothing crazy. Around mile 9 or 10, the course became more residential. There was a long, flat out and back section of the course before runners headed back into downtown to the finish. There was one hill at mile 25, then it was smooth sailing to the end. Now that the technical description is out of the way, let me tell you about the city of Hartford and its residents: these people CAME TO PARTY! Although there were not as many spectators as there would be in some larger city races this time of year (think Twin Cities or Chicago) they more than made up for it with enthusiasm and contagious joy. There was entertainment throughout the course every 1.5-2 miles: everything and anything you can think of, bands, DJ’s, bagpipers, Irish dancers, acoustic solo artists, and on and on. I was a little worried about the out and back section getting boring (as they tend to do in the middle miles of a marathon) but holy cow! I don’t know if I looked at my watch at all, LOL.
Finish Experience: Runners ran under the arch and were greeted by lines and rows of cheering spectators. We were given our medal, mylar sheet and water. Then we had easy access to meet our friends and family. The finish food tent had a variety of options (they provided a bag): various snack foods, fruit, a cider doughnut, bread and soup. There was a beer garden with a band. They had vendor tents and entertainment set up as well. My mom and sister even rode a carousel while I ran!
Overall: I thoroughly enjoyed my entire experience at the Hartford Marathon. It was a small enough race so that you never had to wait in a long line or stress about getting somewhere on time, and you were never crowded on the course. But it was also large enough to provide constant companionship throughout the course, and I cannot say enough about the city, its residents, spectators and race organizers. I would strongly recommend a trip to Connecticut for anyone looking for a fantastic marathon experience. Thank you, Hartford!
Personal comeback, beautiful race
Expo was easy with simple swag. Made it to early pickup and participated in the Pratt St before party…. Free beer! Met and talked with other area runners. The course … MORE
Expo was easy with simple swag. Made it to early pickup and participated in the Pratt St before party…. Free beer! Met and talked with other area runners.
The course was well marked with plenty of friendly volunteers and traffic control. Very safe course. A few climbs in the beginning and couple rollers at the end. There was a long out and back from 10 miles til turn around at 17 but lots of people out cheering! Music could be heard around much of the course for motivation.
The finish line and after party was beautifully decorated and nice music to ride out the high of a great marathon. Clam chowder soup with bread, fruit and other packaged snacks. They even provided a bag to hold all the stuff.
Thank you Hartford for a sub five hour marathon. Haven’t had one of those since Nov 2019; this race means a lot to me just for that! Third marathon in 14 days! Felt so good! Nice, solid medal!
Fun and fairly flat
This is a nice race, pretty, partly along the Connecticut River. Mostly flat. Good race support, swag and after race festivities. Parking is a bit tricky but we were able … MORE
This is a nice race, pretty, partly along the Connecticut River. Mostly flat. Good race support, swag and after race festivities. Parking is a bit tricky but we were able to utilize a parking garage close to the start/finish line.
Nice mix of riverwalk and city streets.
The half and full run the first 11 miles together...over 7000 runners. Probably wouldn't have been my first choice for a CT race if I wasn't visiting local family. (I … MORE
The half and full run the first 11 miles together…over 7000 runners. Probably wouldn’t have been my first choice for a CT race if I wasn’t visiting local family. (I would have preferred one on the shoreline.) For a city race though, I appreciated the riverwalk section, the city streets and the finish through the arch at Bushnell Park. Great volunteer course support. Nice medal and shirt too!
Awesome run through Hartford!
Awesome, well organized run for the number of participants. This half was the largest I ran this year and one of the most well organized. The start and finish are … MORE
Awesome, well organized run for the number of participants. This half was the largest I ran this year and one of the most well organized. The start and finish are extremely close to each other and the course winds you through the city and past some great old time architecture, over some highways and along a river for a bit. Aide stations are frequent, the crowd support was awesome. The finish line is at the famous arch and is lined with mums and has a ton of post race stuff to do. The medal was great too. This years was of the arch w/ mums and is a great memento to hang on your wall.
New Course This Year
HMF Events always puts on a solid race event. Plenty of port-o-potties, great race support throughout, and I never felt like I was lost (back of the pack runner here). … MORE
HMF Events always puts on a solid race event. Plenty of port-o-potties, great race support throughout, and I never felt like I was lost (back of the pack runner here). Nice medals and long sleeve shirts. Awesome post-race party with beer garden and live band. They changed the course since I last ran in 2018, and it’s much more scenic along the river.
Beautiful, Fun marathon
The thing that stands out most for me about this marathon is the volunteers! They were plenty and awesome! From the water stations to the volunteers on bikes, they were … MORE
The thing that stands out most for me about this marathon is the volunteers! They were plenty and awesome! From the water stations to the volunteers on bikes, they were the best! The course was beautiful, I thought, with some water, some green, and some lovely homes to look at while we were running. I’m glad I chose this race for my Connecticut marathon!