May 13, 2024
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☰
Akron Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Akron Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 4.5
Number of comments: 309 [displaying comments 251 to 261]
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R. R. from West Virginia
(10/3/2005)
 "Challenging course; very well run race" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Easy to get a hotel room at the start with a breakfast open early. Organization rates up there with the best. For me it is an ideal size at ~4000 total runners (with the relay teams) and the support and logistics of a much larger race. | |
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G. W. from State College, PA
(10/3/2005)
 "Outstanding marathon" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the best organized marathon I have run. There were a few hills but not nearly as bad as some of the comments make it sound. Very good weather, great support from crowds, and outstanding number of water stations/portajohns. I plan on running again next year. | |
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J. H. from Indianapolis, IN
(10/3/2005)
"no glitches here" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A very well organized race. The course is tough, but not frightening. Lots of rolling hills, a couple of long descents, and the long 2 mile uphill starting at mile 17 will test you. I've run harder courses, but this is very fair. About 800 full marathoners, with lots of 2 and 5 person relay teams around. I didn't mind that part of it at all, and gave the feeling of a bigger race. This is the first marathon I've done that had pacers, and I would highly recommend using them. Spectators were there for most of the course, and volunteers were all very helpful and encouraging. Race exceeded all expectations I had before I made the trip to Akron. I would recommend it. | |
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Fritz Newman from New Hampshire
(10/3/2005)
"A Truly First Class Event" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From start to finish, this was an unusually well-managed affair. The course is always interesting, whether through the city center and university, or in the parks and on the towpath. The volunteers were only exceeded in their number by their sheer enthusiasm. I can't remember another race with as much musical entertainment throughout. The spectacular finish in the stadium, and the post-race party topped off a perfect event. | |
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A. G. from Shaker Heights, OH
(10/1/2005)
 "Very Difficult Course" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Beautiful day but this course is very difficult. The hills are endless, and worsen in the second half. I would not describe this as rolling. Not really a PR course. I must say I also didn't like running with all the relay runners. Only 1 in 5 runners this year was running the full marathon. | |
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J. D. from Cleveland
(10/1/2005)
"great course" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This course was great. It had some small rolling hills but none that were too rigorous. The fans were excellent; it is to be expected from a small town like Akron. They had several live bands cheering us on. I have run over 10 marathons and I will argue that this was the best one. | |
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J. M. from Pittsburgh
(10/1/2005)
"a difficult course but a race I am happy I ran" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The good: - closed streets, - Gu offered at 4 locations on the course, - a 4-mile crushed-limestone Towpath Trail, - a 3-mile densely-wooded Sand Run Park, - a good elite field running for the $12,000 that the first-place male and female receive, - a moderate field size with 800 in the marathon and 3,000 entered in the 5-person relay that runs along with the marathon runners. - a downtown start and finish. The course has a cloverleaf design, returning to the start area at mile 3, mile 10, and at the finish. - a large amount of free Parking in downtown and at the nearby University of Akron. The bad: - The course has a lot of rolling hills. The only flat spots are the Towpath Trail, the first 2 miles, and the last 2 miles of the course. The last two miles are mostly a long descent. - The hills make a PR very difficult. | |
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E. R. from Boston, MA
(9/9/2005)
 "Great race, needs more spectators" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The course was beautiful. There were many rolling hills toward the end. There were lots of spectators downtown, but since only a mile or two of the course is downtown, there's a lonely 24.2 or so miles. | |
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C. R. from Canton, OH
(6/19/2005)
"good course for first-time marathoners" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a good course for the runner who wants to complete a marathon without worrying about fast finishing times. If you want an easy, fast course then there are other options such as Chicago and Columbus that would suit your needs in that area. If you are not certain you have what is necessary to complete a marathon then Akron is a good course to attempt the 26 mile distance. The race has 4 exchange zones for the relay that is run along with the marathon. These exchange points have vans to transport runners back to the start/finish line. So the runner has the option of stopping at the 6.2, 9.3, 15.5, and 18.6 mile mark and being transported back to the start. I had to use the van option last year at the 18.6 mile relay exchange zone. I was exhausted due to lack of serious training and could have walked the rest of the way but I wanted to run the whole way. This year I am entering again and hope to complete the course. Akron has everything that big-league marathons have: super medals, shirts, food at the finish line area, enough Powerade/water stations, closed city streets (although some roads are closed in one direction only), a closed crushed-limestone jogging trail, and excellent course markings (a blue line marking the course, clocks at every mile, large mile marker signs). Also, at the 2004 Akron Marathon there was the most portable toilets at a race start than I have seen at any race. This should be the case with every race but Akron is the only marathon I have been at with enough of these necessary items. Columbus and Chicago could learn things by observing the way it is done at Akron. | |
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K. C. from Pittsburgh, PA
(5/30/2005)
"Refreshing, not Flat" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I will run Akron again. The course was extremely challenging, but it's refreshing for organizers to have the confidence to be different, not worry about advertising their race as 'flat' or a good place to qualify for Boston. Honestly, I really liked this one. |
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