You can usually rely on cool weather for the Cleveland Marathon. This year felt like a recent Chicago marathon. Last year's wind and rain was just a fond memory. I was fine until the concrete stretch on Euclid Ave. Give the water station staff a lot of credit. They worked hard to keep pace. As usual, the streets are very rough and you need to watch you footing. Starting at the stadium is great.

My 37th Marathon! My third in five weeks. I have some issues with the race but I liked:
1. The shirt: Coolness of shirts is the reason I don't do races in Canada anymore. This shirt was awesome and the medal...
2. Coolness of Medal: A spinning guitar. Amazing! My neice and nephew in TO are looking at it now.
3. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - great place to start and end race.

Areas for improvement:
Water Stations - they ran out at many stations in the beginning. It was a hot day and I had a camelback but unacceptable since they called for hot weather for a week.
Ipods - I know, but hear me out. I saw too many collapsed runners asking for help and runners with earbuds running on by. I think they should be banned. I don'T wear them and there were atleast three times I stopped and waited for volunteers/ambulances to help the runners. More volunteers the last five miles would be good as well.
3. Showers - my hotel didn't extend the check out time and there were no gyms in the downtown core with shower facilities. Driving back 10 hours sweaty is not cool. I stopped at a truck stop an hour out of town and showered there. Maybe the organizors should cut a deal with Cleaveland state University to use showers like the TO marathon does with U of T?

Sanjay

Well, lets make this simple...this race was HOT...no weather warnings along the course. I felt this race should have been Red flagged for sure..I ran the full. The course was good...if someone tells you this is a flat course, they are lying. This course is hilly for sure. The start was not organized very well at all. Bottle necked and 200 yards into the race I had to walk cause of the crowding. Expo was way out by airport and had to pay $8.00 to park..this was annoying!! This many runners, they need seeded corrals. I encountered walkers and I was in the 8:00 min mile pace range. people have suggested seeded corrals for this marathon for several years and the organizers refuse to listen...disheartening. Was a really cute girl holding up a 'I am single and supportive' sign....I wanted her number....if you know her..let me know! haha

Pros- Cleveland was a pretty cool city
Fans were good
scenic course.

Cons: No ice sponges-was hot!!!
No seeded start for faster runners
roads were really bad
expo location and parking

Probably would run this again as there are a limited number of good spring marathons...

For a huge race, there were way too few water stations, potty stations, and medical aid stations (only one for the entire 26.2) to say nothing about very few spectators and little entertainment. This could be a great race but the organizers do not seem focused on supporting the runners. Too bad! Glad I only did the half.

Despite the heat and a slower than usual time, this wasn't a bad marathon. They definitely could use more water stops. I always wear a belt, so for me was not an issue, others had problems. VERY hot and Very little shade. Did not like running with a TON of 1/2 marathon folks for the first 13.1, Nothing against them, just VERY crowded! My biggest complaint, hotel!!! Don't stay at the Hyatt...they claim to be 'runner' friendly,not so much. No frig, no microwave, no coffee maker in the room. Glad I was not paying full price. Would not recommend them to anyone! Front desk staff not very friendly either. Did not allow for any late check outs, so I had to ride 8+ hours without a shower. Not a fun time!!! Shame on them, I don't consider that 'runner' friendly

BEST part - the medal! way cool! and if you run this...definitely go to rock and roll hall of fame! You will need a couple days to really see it all. But thanks to them, they gave marathoners great discounts. Course really not bad, only one big hill at mile 12. No shade was a killer though. Saw one too many people getting put into an ambulance. Had to run on sidewalks to get any shade from the buildings. If it wasn't so hot...would have been a much better run.

Definitely worth doing! Would do again if I did not live 8 hours away.

This is my fifth Cleveland marathon and I always have a great time. This year's weather was really HOT! I was impressed that almost all aid stations had hoses to cool off the runners! Also, the first half of the course had a lot of shade which was a plus given the very warm temperatures. The volunteers were WONDERFUL! Plenty of water, powerade, and GU.

As always, the medals were really cool with a spinning guitar! Technical shirts were specific to the 1/2 or full (even had 13.1 vs. 26.2 depending on the race you were in)!

I always stay at the Hyatt and did so again this year...they are very accomodating with the shuttles to the expo right outside the door and the pasta dinner right at the hotel!

For the size of the race, it was slightly below average at best. The start line is ok...large enough but not enough signage and volunteers getting first timers to the proper area. Also, for a race of 20,000, spectators should not be permitted in the start area. It just creates too much crowding and unneeded chaos. The fact that parking was $8 for the expo is absolutely ridiculous. It is not optional to pick up the bibs, and totally crazy that it costs $8 to park in order to get them.

The course was average, not great or terrible. The roads are pretty bad, but it can be expected for Cleveland, I suppose.

My biggest complaint is the water stops being completely unorganized and unable to handle the needs of the runners. 2012 was HOT, and several water stations completely ran out of water and Poweraid. Ran out. Had nothing to give. Not to mention the stops were too far apart. Races of this size should offer water every mile, and on both sides of the road.

Lastly, if you are considering the full, know that you will be alone. I was signed up for the full, and because of temperatures I ultimately decided against it today. I just wasn't having a good time, and then once I saw literally a handful of full marathon bibs, it was a little de-motivating.

Nice view of the city until the last 13 where things get lonely. Great change was that they let us change and stay warm in Browns Stadium before race (which really helped broom situation). Also nice down hill finish.

My one big complaint was that on a rainy cold day, they ran out of the silver thermal blankets after the race because they had handed them out to the 10K PEOPLE AND SPECTATORS!!! R U KIdding me...unforgiveable. Within 2 minutes of finishing me and numerous others were trembling with hypothermia.

I liked the expo, I liked the medal, I liked the aid stations, I liked the shirt. Course was FLAT by my standards.

I did not like the pot holes(Cleveland winter to blame for that). I did not like not getting a blanket. I nearly froze walking back to the hotel. The start was crowded due to the narrow street. Bad day for bands :(

This is a great PR course although I didn't get one.

From mile 17 is relatively downhill and along the lake shore line. Perfect to kick it up for a fine finish. The weather was cool at the start with light drizzle soon after we began. The start at the Brown's Stadium was nice so as to have bathrooms & warm place to stretch out but the congestion to get to the start was overcrowded with non runners/spectators.

Nice to have mylar ballons for the pacers but come on...at least BE on pace. The 4:00 hours pacers (there were 2) were horrible. One would speed up while the other drop back to make sure everyone was with them. It was like a wild car chase. Eventually dumped them after mile 8. And oh did I mention there were several groups of walkers at the STARTLINE? What a mess to run around them while they were walking 3 a breast.

Once the half marathoners left the course it was smooth sailing. Having wasted too much energy dodging walkers & following erratic pacers I pulled back on pace and coasted for the next 5-8 miles. Actually had a great time just enjoying the scenery. Not many specatators but then it was raining. Finished the last 10k as one of my fastest in any marathon I have run. Too bad they ran out of mylar blankets for us 4:20 marathoners. Cold rain & wind but no mylar blankets? Someone's head should roll for that miscalculation.Post race goodies were fair to say the least. Water, chips, banana, think maybe a plain bagel wrapped in cellophane.

Medal was cool as heck. Swinging guitar & psychedelic strap (yep, it really did have 2010 on it for the 2011 race) but truely one of my favorite race medals ever.

With improvements i.e. proper corraling & elimination of walkers start and adding healthy post race food with mylar blankets for all runners at the finish, this could be a GREAT marathon.