The Akron Marathon was a great tour of the city of my college stomping grounds in which I spent many a night either partying hard or studying hard. There was a new course this year but the race was on the same date on the last Saturday of September and same experience was had in the Rubber City. I ran the half this year and was pleased with the top notch organization and course of the race that offers the full, half, and 5 person relay distances. Registration is easy with plenty of valuable communication via email in the month prior to the race. Parking is free for the first hour at most of the parking decks adjacent to the John Knight Center for the expo. Make sure you remember your bib number to save yourself time looking it up at packet pick up. Along with your bib with the timing chip attached, you'll get a long sleeve technical tee. Be ready to spend an extra few minutes at the expo as runners are forced to snake their way through the entire expo to pick up your shirt after you receive your bib. I've been to my fair share of expos, and with no short cut through the vendors, it ends up being a needless, slow herding of thousands causing frustration for people like me that just want to get through. If you drive to the race, definitely come from the south on Broadway and you can park within a couple hundred yards from the start in the Polsky parking deck (where bag drop is also) or in the deck further north at Bowery. Get there at 6 AM for the 7 AM before street closures and to use a port a potty if needed. As far as the course, be patient and don't expect it to open up until well after the Y Bridge as you head north toward the Falls. Make sure you review or drive the course so you're aware of the turns, rolling hills, and course deviations for the different race distances. The highlight of the course for me was turning west onto Exchange St. from Spicer St. in the eighth mile. You'll have a great view of Infocision Stadium and many new and old landmarks of campus finishing the section with a nice view of downtown. You'll have a welcoming finish in Canal Park where you can pick up a beer and your food pack. The conditions were ideal with temps in the mid 50s and overcast. The date of the race makes the half a great stepping stone for full marathoners looking to race later in the fall. Since I don't party or study as hard as I used to, I'll definitely be back to run through the city instead. read more

Akron Marathon - Prior to the start - Races & Competitions Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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This was my first marathon so I don't have much to compare it to; however, I have run many 5, 8, and 10 Ks, half-marathons, triathlons, and many other races. I LOVED the experience! The race was very well organized. There were plenty of water and gel stations; The water stations were just about every mile and staying hydrated was never a problem. The gel stations were perfectly spaces at what seemed like every 4-5 miles especially toward the second half of the race. The course was so easy to follow. Besides having volunteers all along the course there was a very conspicuous blue line that ran the entire course and was impossible to miss unless you run with your eyes closed. The scenery was beautiful during the second half of the race. Most of the first half was through the city (crossing the All American Bridge was so amazing!) but then we got onto the Towpath Trail and followed the Cuyahoga river for several miles. This was a beautiful portion of the race and it was nice to get off the hard road for a while. There were pacers starting at the fastest Boston qualifying time (3:05:00) and a pacer every ten minutes after that, I think. Overall, this was a wonderful experience. The medals were great and the whole race environment was spectacular. I would definitely run it again! read more

Akron Marathon - The finish area. - Races & Competitions Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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The Goodyear half marathon's parking was terrible in 2015. My friends and I planned to arrive an hour early and we were caught in grid locked traffic on the city streets and the highway. Car pool and plan to get there early to beat the traffic. The Akron Marathon, half marathon, and relay never have parking issues. Plan to arrive an hour early and you are fine. The races are excellent. Friendly volunteers are everywhere, refreshments spaced out on the course. Just be prepared for hills. Akron is in Summit County and it lives up to its name. read more

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I ran the 2017 Akron Half Marathon and boy was it fun. The 2017 course went past a lot of iconic Akron staples; Swensons, Y Bridge, Firestone Park, Historic Goodyear Building, Ido Bar, and good old Main Street Salon. Love was pouring into the streets from Akron neighborhoods. Music, high school bands, beer stations, love from Akron Children's Hospital, people handing out marshmallows, starburst, Akron Police on every corner, old people waving from their driveways, screams from people hanging out their windows, so much love and support. Parking isn't an issue if your a local and know the area. If you want to park near the heart of the race you better get there early. A lot of medical and race volunteers....along with hundreds of port a potties. Score. My only suggestion is that there's bananas and orange juice where family and friends reunite after the race. I was so tired and felt a little woozy so I walked to find my family. Leaving the medical and food area I didn't know I wouldn't have access to a little pick me up. My husband came to the rescue with a pretzel covered in salt and a Power aid. We also couldn't find any medical staff once we left the finish area. Can't wait for 2018! read more

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I live in Cleveland and actually ended up driving down the Friday prior to the race and staying at one of the race hotels. Worth it to me to be able to wake up an hour later and shower before heading back on the road! Expo: At the John Knight Center. Only on Friday since it's a Saturday race, but it goes from 11-9 pm. Parking garages were free by the time I got there around 545. When you go in, you get your bib and bag and then have to weave your way through the vendors in order to get your shirt. If you ran the full, you got a jacket and they do exchanges, but only after the race and starting in October. I was cranky because I got stuck behind slow people walking around. Typical Expo. They do have merchendise there for sale, I may have gotten some sweats. Race Day Parking: If you stayed at one of the race hotels, they offered a free shuttle (at least at the Holiday Inn Express). I signed up for it, but then decided to drive myself since the shuttle left at 515 and I wanted an extra hour of sleep. I drove and was parked within 15 minutes and parking was free in the garages/lots (public at least). I got within 1/4 mile of the start. Start time: 7 AM Bathrooms: porta potties, and if you were thinking and went to the student union first, indoor bathrooms The Course: Akron has Hills. I hate hills. There were parts that were flat and/or down hill which were fine, but you do go over bridges which have some incline of their own. You see some good parts of akron and then some other parts that are meh. They had a good amount of entertainment on course, a plus. There were parts with spectators and other parts where it was you and your music if you had any. Since there was a Half and Full marathon and a Full Marathon Relay, the course was marked well and had color coded letters (H, F, R) to let you know where to go. When the relay runners split for there hand offs, there was more than enough staff at each exchange during the first 2 to keep things in line. Also more than enough people and notice just after mile 12 to let the Full and Relay Marathon runners to go one way and the Half Marathon Runners to go another. If you missed it, it was your own fault. The Finish: In Canal Park Stadium- at least you didn't have to go around it! Post Race Party: you walked after the Chute and got water and your medal. You kept walking and there was a food tent that took your food tab off your bib and handed you a bag and afterwards, you got a banana, another water and chocolate milk. You were then directed to the beer tent and then there were the porta potties right there if you needed it. They also had a Pizza tent. Took no more than 5 minutes if you weren't waddling! Organization: A+! Just wish there were 1-2 more aid stations at the beginning read more

I could go on and on, but I won't because I can sum this review up with a few brief statements. Akron Marathon and its affiliate races (Rubber City Racing Series) are the standard by which other races are judged. They represent quality from beginning to end (pun slightly intended) in all facets of the race experience. I've run enough other races throughout Ohio to be confident in my assessment - big, small, and everything in between. If you run, you must do Akron. read more