I really enjoyed running Cleveland; it is a very flat course and I did get a PR, but between miles 14 and 17 there was a nasty headwind, which was pretty difficult to get through. The crowds were great, especially miles 4-8 - they had high school bands and everything! The medals are amazing! I doubt if I will ever find a cooler one.

I got sun burnt, hit the wall at 18 miles, and experienced cramped muscles that I didn't know I had, BUT I still enjoyed the 2010 Cleveland Marathon.

Positives:
1) I showed up 1 hour before the start and had no problem parking two blocks from the start for $5. Parking was my biggest fear and it became a non-event.
2) Course was interesting except for the 7 miles along the lake out in the sun with a headwind. Just a really long, boring area.
3) Many well stocked aid stations.
4) The homestretch to the finish line was exciting.
5) Results were posted very quickly.

Things to work on:
1) The starting area is too congested to start full marathoners and half marathoners together. We had to make several turns in the first mile, which compounded the problem.
2) Other have discussed the layout of the aid stations. It would be nice for them to spread out over 50 yards and not hide around the turns.
3) There weren't any signs for finishers to know where the food, ice, and beer were - just a bunch of scattered white tents and I didn't feel like wandering all around while I was cramping.
4) Split marker for mile 11 was about 100 yards long; 12 was the same amount short.
5) The road surface is nasty for the first 10 miles or so. I was worried I would twist an ankle on the uneven road surface. At least it was shady in Tremont.

Overall, this is a good event that is on the cusp of returning to its former glory.

This was our 9th marathon, and while I always love running marathons, this was probably my least favorite. The organization and spectators were fine. The Hyatt Hotel was a great place to stay. (I thought the $22 for the pasta party was outrageous, though). I guess I didn't care for the course. We enjoyed the neighborhoods in the first half, but the second half was mostly concrete into a strong wind. I understand that the wind is usually at your back, so that's out of the organizers' control. The end was also just straight down the street, with no interesting sights. We're glad we did it, and our times were decent, but we'll probably look for something different for next year. I would recommend it as one to put on your list, though. Just don't expect great scenery... run for the joy of running!

The headwind for many of the middle miles made the course quite difficult. Scenery was extremely poor, as was crowd support. Water stops had water and PowerAde mixed and it was quite difficult to figure out which one you were grabbing. Runners were not extremely friendly either. Someone spit directly in my face, which has never happened at any other of the many races I've run. In addition, downtown Cleveland leaves a lot to be desired. I expected a lot more.

It was my first time running the Cleveland Marathon and I had an overall good experience. The expo was well organized and packet pick up was easy. Race start and finish locations are easy to get to from downtown hotels. Race start seemed a little disorganized with no real corrals - just one big mass of people. Too many walkers started up front. The course itself was average, with good parts and bad. I liked the downtown area, the strip along the lake, and the long, straight stretch to the finish line. I didn't like going through the neighborhood with boarded up houses, or the stench when we passed the waste water treatment plant. The marathon course gets a little lonely after the half marathon split. The spectators who came out were great, but there are many long stretches without any at all. Be prepared for the wind from about mile 9 to 17. It seemed like there were too many cross streets where police had their hands full with traffic control. I loved the chocolate milk at the finish line, but was not thrilled with the other food choices. If you are looking for a smaller marathon, this one fits. I was, and I got what I was looking for - plus I set a PR! Overall, a good experience.

Cleveland was a nice marathon. We stayed at The Renaissance Hotel, which was fantastic. It's only blocks from the convention center and the start/finish line. Checkout is 12:00, which gives you time after the race to shower and catch your plane. They gave all of the runners a lunchbox with goodies inside. THAT'S NICE!! The scenery during the marathon was nice. The bridge on the way back into the city (around 10-11 miles) was a good incline. I saw a lot of pissed off drivers trying to get through intersections. The police were great and held them off. Next year PLEASE separate water and PowerAde, putting one on one side of the street and one on the other. Some of the water stops did, and what a difference it made. Cleveland ROCKS. Keep up the good job.

This year's course and organization were better than last year's. Last year's was better than 2008's. And so on. Every year the race directors make significant improvements. They listen to the focus groups and all of the feedback from runners, and take good advice. They have created a culture of continous improvement. Every alteration, no matter how small, has made the course flatter, faster, and more enjoyable.

I especially liked the 8.5 scenic, mid-race miles they put together along Lake Erie (headed east). Four out of five days the wind comes from the west and should be at the runners' backs. Bad luck, though, and we hit an odds-against-you headwind. Just wait until 2011.

Having run this race in half of the years since 1982, I can say that this race is better than ever - from the new downhill start to the finish line party, band and beer garden overlooking the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

It's no wonder it's growing bigger each year and selling out!

It's a great race, thanks to the volunteers and the race organizers. The course and weather were wonderful. The only negative is that I received the same red tech shirt two years in a row.

This is a smaller race but well run. The field thins after the half turns off. The minor course changes this year added a new neighborhood, but you still run by the rock hall, sports venues, and lakefront. The weather was perfect, and this year the wind was reasonable and helped to cool us off. The only issue I see is that the last 5 miles tie up cross-traffic and there are a lot of frustrated drivers. I have done several large races, and sometimes it is refreshing to park close to the race and not spend hours on logistics.

Extremely disappointed with the whole "Cleveland" experience, from the expo, to the hotel, and the race. Expo was small and workers very unfriendly and rude. The shirt is UGLY and you cannot tell if it was for the marathon. My husband ran the 10K and received a better shirt and goody bag. The hotel booked wedding parties on our floor. We didn't get any sleep! The pasta buffet was very bland, and they kept running out of food.

The course has little fan support, especially for the 5 smelly, windy miles along the lake. Cars are allowed on the course; I saw a person almost get hit by a car coming out of a porta-potty by the airport. Police were escorting cars along the road in front of the airport and I had to stop to allow them through a fluid station. I have never experienced that before! You didn't know when fluids stations were coming up and the majority of them were on one side of the road. Very difficult at the beginning due to the halfers in the race. The path was not clearly marked, and it was hard to see mile markers. Two marathoners didn't know when the runners separated, and ran an additional mile to get back on the marathon course after merging with the halfers to their finish. It felt like the City of Cleveland was just happy to get your entry fee, and then was done with you. If you are looking for a race to run in OH, I highly recommend Cincinnati, Columbus, or Dayton. For those who have only run this marathon, you need to broaden your horizons. The only good thing was the medal. That was pretty cool, but I won't be running this one again.