FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Change is in the Wind for New Marathon Course
CLEVELAND (May 4, 2009) – Responding to a survey of runners following last
year's race, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K has
announced a new official course for the 2009 race on Sunday, May 17.
The new course dutifully guides runners past downtown Cleveland landmarks
and through historic neighborhoods, however its key feature is a
runner-friendly 9-mile stretch along and near the Lake Erie shoreline with
prevailing winds at runners' backs.
After the 2008 race, officials surveyed runners on all aspects of the
event, focusing especially on the course. Running with the wind along Lake
Erie was the most frequent runners' request. The race hired a professional
course planner in June 2008 and has been working to fulfill survey
recommendations for the new course since.
The new course starts in front of the Galleria Mall downtown, and sends all
three races immediately towards Lake Erie and past the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame & Museum. The half marathon and full marathon pass all three
professional sports stadiums before heading west to run through Ohio City.
From about mile 7 to mile 12 for the half marathon, and mile 7 to mile 16
for the full marathon, participants run west to east, with prevailing winds
at their backs near the Lake Erie shoreline.
Marathoners also spend almost four miles on the east side, running through
Rockefeller Park and passing other Cleveland landmarks before returning to
the downtown finish via St. Clair and the newly revitalized Euclid
Corridor.
The 10K will start and finish with the full and half marathons, but take a
flat, fast 6.2 mile trip out North Marginal along the lake and back South
Marginal to the finish line.
All three races also feature a new finish line area – another runner
request – at Lakeside and East 6th street between Malls B and C with a
close view of the lake and the Cleveland Browns stadium.
"With more than 100 percent increase in runners over the past six years, we
outgrew our old start and finish line areas. The new start and finish lines
provide us with much more open space for runner services, the finish line
rock party, and the uniting of runners and their families and friends,"
said Ralph Staph, race director of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.
"We started out with a dream course and coordinated and negotiated with the
City of Cleveland and other interested parties to produce the best courses
for our runners with the least amount of interruptions within the city,"
said Staph. "So far, we've been receiving very good feedback from runners
familiar with the Cleveland area. There are still a few key parts of the
city that we hope to run through next year, but I believe that runners will
be very pleased with the new courses in terms of meeting their survey
requests."
The new race courses can be viewed at www.clevelandmarathon.com/Course_Maps.
Runners can register for the race through the marathon website at
www.clevelandmarathon.com or get information by calling 800-467-3826.
The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon offers the following opportunities for
people to participate in the event: full marathon, half marathon, 10K, full
marathon walking division, half marathon walking division, 10K walking
division, a new 5K (run or walk), Kids' Run and Corporate teams.
About the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K is in its 32nd year of
providing a running experience for all individuals who want to participate
regardless of their abilities. More than 260,000 runners have
participated, generating more than $12 million annually to benefit the
Cleveland community.
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Mission Statement:
-To provide a running experience for all individuals who want to
participate regardless of their abilities.
-To produce an event that highlights the Cleveland community and provides a
positive economic impact for the community.
-To give charities an opportunity to benefit financially from the Rite Aid
Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K, along with the new 5K.
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