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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 51 to 61]
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R. D. from Valley Forge, PA
(10/12/2010)
 "Great Experience" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I love small marathons and this was one was exceptionally well done. There were some hills but no more than advertised. Loved having the blue line available the day before to get familiar with parts of the course. Great finish, running into the stadium with Jim's handshake. Friendly town, and an unexpected plus was the constant crowd support everywhere except the towpath. Love the jacket more than the one I paid $90 for in Boston. Names on the bibs were a nice touch, too. Also the Saturday run was a big plus for those of us who had a bit of a drive home. And to the guy who pressed a chocolate GU into my hand around mile 9 that I used for runner who went down with low blood sugar at about mile 15: Thank you. Thanks for a great experience. | |
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Doug Rose from Crestwood, KY
(10/7/2010)
"Great marathon - awesome organization and support!" (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Akron Marathon is fantastic and I definitely recommend adding this one to your "must race" marathon list. The course is challenging; however it is very scenic and well designed. There are a series of rolling hills between Miles 14 to 18 and a pretty significant climb at Mile 21. The rest of the course is relatively flat and and the final two miles are mostly on a downhill grade. Running through the University of Akron campus and along the towpaths was awesome! The volunteer support is amazing - all of the folks were very cheerful and supportive. Running into the baseball stadium at the end was an incredible experience, especially with the stands packed with cheering fans! The race gifts are among the best around - a Brooks running jacket and winter headband for all finishers. The only slight disappointment was with the hotel bus system - the post-race process was not well organized and it took a couple of hours to get back to the hotel. I recommend driving to the race start to avoid this issue. All in all, an outstanding race experience!! | |
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John Reed from Parma, Michigan
(10/1/2010)
 "Akron's Fantastic!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Akron's marathon is the greatest! The expo is just right. The pasta dinner is the best that I have ever tasted. The Brooks technical jacket is better than a shirt any day. The course is varied and interesting going through downtown, nice neighborhoods, towpath along the river, a wooded park road and the finish in Canal Park Stadium with lots of cheers from spectators in stands. The fluid stations are well stocked and staffed. There a 4 GU stations. Plenty of porta-potties on course. The finish line has race director Jim Barnett waiting to shake each and every marathoners hand. There are pre bagged snacks for quickness with plenty of water, PowerAde and chocolate milk. Free massages are a nice treat. There are 2 free Michelob Ultras available for each participant. This course has mild to moderate hills all the way and the real challenge is that the first half is downhill overall and the second half is uphill overall. The final 2 miles are mostly downhill. Train for hills and you will do well. I have had my PR for the year 3 years in a row here out of 12 marathons per year. I look forward to this event every year and you will too! | |
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Zvonko Kutle from Cary, NC
(9/30/2010)
"One of the marathons you MUST run!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My wife and I have run this course 3 times and we must say that it is one of our favorite marathons. For a small town, the organization, volunteers and spectator support are all excellent. Jim (RD) is a real guy and you will meet him. Thanks, Jim; we'll be back. Great marathon again (the weather cooperated this time too). :) | |
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D. R. from Cincinnati, OH
(9/30/2010)
"This is a MUST-DO marathon!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Akron has it all... a beautiful course, great organization and enthusiastic spectators! Plus, the swag is awesome! Marathoners get a race jacket and special gift (race cap last year, headband this year) at the end of the marathon. Half marathoners get a long-sleeve tech shirt. Everyone gets a year subscription to Runner Times. Also, the medal has the roadrunner on it (my favorite cartoon character). The start and finish are both very inspiring. The race director speaks at the start and shakes the hand of all finishers! What a great touch! | |
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N. H. from Michigan
(9/28/2010)
"Outstanding!" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first time running a marathon and I had heard so many wonderful things about Akron that I had high expectations - they were exceeded! Starting with the Expo, people were helpful, encouraging, and friendly. I ordered a medium jacket, but it was too small. No problem they said! Just turn it in and they will mail me a large in two weeks. I come from a flat part of Michigan and didn't have the opportunity really to train on hills, so I was concerned. I agree that the course was probably a little tough for me because of that, but not impossible. I also joined a pace group and ran with an amazing woman, Dana, who cheered and encouraged us the entire way. I finished in just under four hours and was thrilled! The crowd support was amazing! I loved the bands, and the kids who all wanted high-5s! Finishing in the stadium was perfect and shaking the race director's hand was pretty cool too. The medal sweet and yes, I got mine engraved at the end too. I will definitely be back next year! I had never run a marathon before but this completely blew away the halves that I had done. Akron is a class-act! | |
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G. K. from North Carolina
(9/28/2010)
"Perfect in all respects" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was probably the most enjoyable of all the marathons that I have run. I was confused when I had heard previous comments that the course was difficult due to the hills. Yes, there were hills, but none of them too difficult in fact I thought it was far better than the running on a flat courses that I have done in the past. The fan support was beyond anything that one could expect. The second half took you on a towpath and through the college campus. Nothing also could campare to the finish entering into the stadium. Top-notch all round. Way to go, Akron. | |
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M. M. from Royal Oak, MI
(9/28/2010)
"A perfectly organized race!" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a very well organized race. Every touch point was well thought out, from the email updates to the path through the expo, the volunteers, the course and then the finish line. I can't complain about anything... well, except for the hills in Ohio! This is a magical experience you simply must experience! The Akron City Center Hotel is a bit tired, but the staff was very accommodating and its location relative to the start line was fantastic. | |
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R. F. from Georgetown, Indiana
(9/28/2010)
"Awesome Everything" (about: 2010)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run 5 marathons before Akron. Akron blew them to dust. The course, the fans, the volunteer, the swag... everything was great. The attention to detail when planning and executing this marathon shows. There are no cons to this race. Everything was great. You can definitely tell that the people of Akron really get behind the marathon and are proud of it. I am telling all of my friends about it. It is definitely going on my race calendar for next year. | |
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M. M. from East Lansing, MI
(9/28/2010)
 "I did not realize there were hills in OH" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 For my first marathon, I can say that I finished. I was not prepared for all of the hills, I enjoyed the run on the trail for the middle miles. However, the number of hills really slowed down my time. The tech jacket is nice, but I am going to do a flatter course for my next marathon. |
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