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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 281 to 291]
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M. S. from PA
(7/28/2004)
 "Great course but after party needs some work" (about: 2003)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 The course was great - up and down, great scenery, even singing groups. I'd run this race again for the course, however, I was less than impressed with the after party. The finish is at a stadium which sounds great, but wasn't that exciting. The worst part about it was that fans and family couldn't meet the athlete at the finish or even where all the food was. Also, each runner was given a bottle of water at the finish but it was confiscated later because open containers were not allowed in the stadium. I was also disappointed that this race was the same weekend of the Tow to Toe Marathon. It got great press in the Akron Beacon Journal while the Tow to Toe did not. I wonder about the intentions of the Akron Marathon. Is it trying to do away with another popular and well-established nearby race? I thought that was a little cheeky and underhanded. | |
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F. F. from Akron
(6/26/2004)
 "Great Value, Great Race!" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran in 2003 and was simply overwhelmed with everything about this race. Before I even ran, I received a free subscription to a Running Magazine. The quality of the shirt was excellent and they threw in a technical hat. I couldn't have purchased all that I receieved for the modest entry fee. After I finished the race, I was treated to a wonderful medal, free food and beer! Yes, that's right...free beer! This race has its act together...no comparison to anything in northeastern Ohio. | |
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G. F. from Summit County, Ohio
(6/6/2004)
 "Nice alternative Midwest race" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you decide not to travel to New York or Chicago and want a high-class marathon race, then Akron seems to be a good alternative. The numbers for the full marathon were under 1000, big enough to have a big-league feel and not enough to scare off those who don't like bottlenecks on the race course. The one negative in 2003 was the point-to-point course design. This required a lot of waiting around after being bussed to the start. The new 2004 course will change to a loop or cloverleaf design, starting and ending near Canal Park in downtown Akron. The new course will go past the starting location at mile 3, mile 10, and again at the end. This will make the race more convenient for the participants because of the large amount of parking available near the downtown area and at the University of Akron nearby. My wife and I participated because we live in Summit County. From my experiences at other marathons, race participants who have to travel from out of town will most likely come away thinking that it was worth it. The race course itself is a mix of city streets, park streets, and a hard-packed, dirt trail along a stream that flows into the Cuyahoga River. We will attend this race again in 2004. | |
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D. R. from Solon, Ohio
(6/1/2004)
 "Great course, very organized!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My first marathon - what a great way to start! The race organizers did just about everything right, from the huge number of water stops and pit stops to the excellent volunteer turnout. The course was challenging, but some good scenery. One piece went along a main street and the traffic was rather too close for comfort, but otherwise a gorgeous course. Lots of onlookers, except for two pieces that were largely inaccessible by car with the roads blocked off for the race. Fabulous experience - I will run again in 2004! | |
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R. G. from Canton,Ohio
(5/11/2004)
"Will run again." (about: 2003)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Excellent marathon, especially considering it was Akron's first. | |
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J. U. from Pennsylvania
(3/30/2004)
"Akron is a small race that should grow quickly." (about: 2003)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was an excellent mid-sized marathon. A bit under 900 marathon runners and around 2000 5-person relay runners. Spectators were a bit sparse but this not being a mega-marathon, the numbers of spectators were okay. The course was mildly hilly but there were no severe hills that exhaust your legs for the rest of the run. I counted 3 rather long hills and the others were over in no time. The hills make this a course where running a Personal Best time is probably too difficult to achieve. Running through the three park sections was interesting because it was very isolated. This provided the much needed change of scenery that helps make the miles go faster. There was plenty of aid stations and plenty of portable toilets at the start. The course finished in a baseball stadium where the spectators could sit in the stands and not get so tired waiting for their family member to finish. There was a lot of food at the end. Even an 8 ounce can of Michelob Light. The course was closed to cars in both directions for part of the course and closed in one direction for part of the course. There is about a 4 mile section on a crushed limestone bike path that was possibly the best part of the course. That path was hard packed and like running on the road but only softer. I will run this one again in 2004. On their website it indicates that the first 6 miles will be different in 2004. This will make the course a loop course that starts and ends in downtown Akron. The 2003 course was a point-to-point course. The 2004 course will no longer pass by Firestone Country Club. This was one of the park sections of the course. | |
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Steven Sisco from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
(1/29/2004)
"1 down, 49 to go!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Let's see, am I talking about the fact that I ran my first marathon, and I want to run one in every state? Or could it be that I ran the first Akron Marathon and wish to run it for the next 49 years? Or am I talking about both? I enjoyed the marathon, and I have to give a shout out to the fans that lined up just outside of Garfield High School... you guys rock! The worst part of the race was that long hill that never seemed to end on "Sand Run Parkway" (as I call back-break hill), as my lower back was killing me this section of the race and I overheard others talking about Heartbreak Hill at Boston. I can't wait 'til next year! Oh yeah, and hopefully in 49 years I will have 50 finisher awards! | |
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C. R. from Northwest Pennsylvania
(11/21/2003)
"No complaints" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The course: It is definitely challenging without being overly difficult. Miles 0-10 consist of rolling hills. There is a long hill within 400 meters of the start that lasts for about 1/2 mile. Miles 10-17 are relatively flat. During miles 17-22, the course becomes hilly again. Miles 22-24 are relatively flat. Miles 24-26 are mostly downhill with a flat section for the last 1/2 mile on Main Street before finishing in the AA baseball stadium, Canal Park. This course is one that challenged me. There was no way to run a personal best time because of the hills. This is not a course that is overly difficult if you take it easy through the first 10 miles and have consistently trained over the summer months. The roads were completely blocked to automobile traffic in both directions for parts of the course and blocked in one direction in other parts of the course. Where the roads were blocked in one direction, the traffic was very light, such as on the roads near Firestone Country Club and on Brown Street. The 4 mile Towpath Trail section was super. It was peaceful and a beautiful trail to run on. The 3 mile Sandy Run Park Road was one of the most beautiful sections I have ever seen on a marathon course. The dense tree cover surrounding the winding road through the park completely blocked the sunshine. Overhead, you could see blue sky filtered through the green leaves on the trees. This 7 mile section from the Towpath through Sandy Run Park Road is one of the most pleasant sections of a marathon that I have run. I have no complaints about the organization. There was plenty of water and Powerade. There were even plenty of portable toilets at the start and scattered along the course. There might have been enough because the marathon committee thought there would be more runners that would sign up. Whatever the reason, it was a pleasant surprise. The medals at the finish featured the Road Runner cartoon character. There was beer, oranges, and sandwiches, along with drinks at the finish. I would recommend this marathon unless you want a course that has the potential to yield a personal best time. The 2004 Akron Marathon will be in early October so there is the potential for the temperature to be high. There is a lot of shade throughout the course so even if it is warm on race day the sun shouldn't cause that much of a problem. | |
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J. H. from New Jersey
(11/13/2003)
"It's going to be hard to top the first running." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I was thoroughly impressed by the entire organization of the first Akron Marathon. What a well run start, even without my family being able to see it!!! I really appreciated the tents with refreshments that only a runner would know was important. Having completed marathons in over twenty different states, this was the smoothest run and most runner friendly I've experienced. A big thank you for the early morning coffee and muffins, and the foam mats to lay down on was so great an idea. Best of luck trying to top this experience next year. | |
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J. R. from Cincinnati, Ohio
(11/9/2003)
"Wow! Great job, I really enjoyed the event" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The organization of this inaugural event was really good. I was very impressed. I will run again next year!! |
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