Akron Marathon - Race Reviews

This race can be challenging. Scheduled for the end of September, it is likely to have higher temperatures and humidity. In 2019, we were lucky it was mostly overcast because the temps and humidity were pretty uncomfortable for a long run. Add to that the hills, and you have a recipe for cramps. I experienced them myself, and witnessed a lot of runners who appeared to be in good shape struggling to finish as well. That said, the race is well organized, with excellent support/volunteers. The cause is also superb ... benefiting the Children's Hospital, there are kid heroes at many of the support stations, and you run though the hospital campus just before the finish line. All in all, a really nice race ... which I imagine is pretty great when the weather cooperates!

This was great run. The course had some hills but given the terrain, I think they did well. Most of the hills were on the first half. Very scenic run through downtown and along the river. Route was not marked very well in a few areas along the river. I had thought I ran off course for a minute. Spectators were awesome, people along the entire course. Hydration stops were plentiful. Gu packs along the course were good as well. Expo was smaller than expected but still had everything you would see at a larger one Starting area was well organized. Volunteers were great. Shuttle to the start line was easy to follow. Post run party was great, could have gotten more food though. This ended in a baseball stadium. It was cool to be on the field.

I have run hundreds of running races and triathlons over the years. This was my favorite of all. Having never been to Akron, I didn't expect much. However, I was blown away. This was the most organized, high-energy, smooth-sailing race ever. Even though it's a smaller city, it has a big city vibe and the people go nuts for it. Everyone was extremely nice and welcoming, and the spectators were plentiful. The start had all the fanfare of Boston in the form of loud music, lights and crowds. The course was perfect- just enough hills to keep it from being boring. The blue line runs throughout the course, so it is impossible to miss a turn (not that you would with 9000 runners and about the same number of volunteers, haha!) The best part was seeing the hero zones- kids from the hospital decked out as superheroes and high-fiving the runners! For those of you looking to PR, this course certainly has potential. I missed my 1:31 PR for the half by one minute, even though I was six days earlier in the med tent at a half Ironman. Anyway, Akron is a beautiful city (tons of parks, water and green space) and this commitment-phobe already has it on the calendar for next year.Highly recommend! A++++ race!

I've run Akron many times, either in the full or in the relay. For reasons I don't understand, the organizers transitioned from operating one of the very best marathon/relay events in the country, to a race 'series' format that includes multiple smaller races throughout the summer. They've greatly diluted the 'brand', and I've never understood why. The Akron marathon itself doesn't get the full attention of the organizers anymore, and this year the energy leading up to the full was lacking. It's still well managed and organized, but it has lost its mojo. It also doesn't help that race organizers refuse to move Fall marathons back a few weeks. In the midwest, it has become the norm for late September-to-mid-October to feel like extended summer. Standing at the start, before dawn, wearing shorts and a tank and feeling comfortable, that's a bad feeling. If I run a full next Fall I'll probably look for an event the last week of October, even into the first week of November.

I ran this marathon for it to count for Ohio on my 50 state marathon quest. The course is challenging and I really appreciated the Facebook videos that the race director put together to give advice on how to run tough sections of the course. This proved VERY helpful. I also LOVED how there were signs put up throughout the course indicating the aid stations that were coming up. They were placed in enough time for me to consume a energy gel pack if needed and then to follow up with water. There was course support all throughout the course from residents to hero zones which I loved! The event is very well put together. I would highly recommend this race for my fellow 50 staters for Ohio!

Akron is my hometown - so I am biased. But, despite the 80 degree + heat by the end of the race, and the unexpected hills (I grew up on these roads and never noticed so many hills!), it was a great course to run. The course gives you several different views of Akron, coming across the y-bridge for example, that you can only get by running a race like this. I would like to run it again, and I would hope for better (cooler) weather. The gear was top notch (this was my first marathon, but not my first race, and I know good gear from bad). Full marathoners got Asics brand half-zips that are very nice. Very nice medals and hats too. The expo the day before was fun too. note: there are many more half marathoners and relay runners than full marathoners. I think it was about 4000 half, 5000 relay, and 1000 full give or take. aid stations: Powerade and water about 17 places throughout the race. Every mile or so by the end. finish: Awesome finish line in Canal Park (home of the Akron Rubber Ducks) with 'olympic style' finish line. Fun party there too. Also, I agree that my pacer too went out way too fast, which may have contributed to the tough time I had fighting the hills in the second half.

As always, the organization was superb. I'm not fond of the new course; bring back Sand Run! Very hot day, but many homeowners assisted with hoses and sprinklers. Thanks! Great medal and post-race party. Love the free hat! One negative- my pace team leader was WAY fast. I thought the idea of pace teams was to prevent runners from going out too fast, not lead them into that mistake. As Trump would say, 'Total Disaster'.

Akron has a big-league marathon. Runners from other states may attempt to dismiss Akron because it is not a big-league town and not want to run it. This would be a mistake for those 50 state runners who need a marathon in Ohio. Columbus is another good Ohio marathon worth traveling to from out of state. Columbus has a flatter course and will yield a faster finishing time but Akron offers everything that big town marathons do. I will sign up for Akron again in 2017.

I recommend this race. The course is a rolling course with very little flat ground, but there's really only one long hill (mile 13-14) and neither that nor the handful of steeper, shorter ones will hurt you much. Most of the hills are of the sort that make the run more interesting, changing the stride and muscle use a bit. I normally prefer flat courses and my PR is from Chicago, but I didn't mind the elevation here. It's a curvy one, too, with lots of scenery changes for a city race far from any mountains or coastlines. Run your tangents - not the blue line that goes from start to finish. The race is extremely well organized. Seemed like there were more volunteers than runners out there, and it appears that they had the leadership and materials necessary to put on a great race. The start was right on time, to the second. Water stops were often on the wrong side of the course if you were aiming for the perfect line through the turns, but they were the right size and kept clean of dropped cups. The race has a large number of relay competitors, something I've never tried myself but I like seeing out there for company's sake. The relay zones were set up appropriately, no interference with those running half or full races. Crowd support was varied throughout the race. There weren't ever any cheering throngs until the stadium finish, but it was never a solitary experience. Lots of small groups of friendly Midwestern people. The Children's Hospital patients out to cheer certainly added some perspective. The Expo had Meb and plenty of vendors, and the packet pickup was silky smooth. I stayed at the new downtown Courtyard Marriott, which was an easy walk to the start and put out a nice breakfast spread for the racers. Give the race a try.

My first time for this marathon and I was impressed. Organization was amazing. An army of knowledgeable volunteers. The course is not hilly at all, pretty easy in fact. My only gripes were too many repetitive loops through the city until mid race when then send you out to the Burbs. Also, nobody was holding Vaseline on sticks at the aids stations. They had it but it was packed away and not easily available unless you were willing to wait. Other than these two things, it was a solid 4 of 5. Cheap and easy to get to. Not much pre-race traffic congestion either.

WOW ! Better than what I expected. I heard and read that this is a great event, so I had to find out for myself. This was my 35th marathon with a 4:33:08 finish time, for frame of reference. The Akron marathon was very well run, and a must do. Most marathons have a boring un-eventful section, but this marathon was pretty throughout. Packet pickup: The expo was a nice size, and easy to navigate Starting area: Corrals well done with plenty of port-o-lets in a parking garage right at the start, in case of bad weather. Weather was very nice BTW. The Course: Absolutely no way to get lost, because there was a blue line to follow for the entire race. There was (1) one mile long uphill grinder, but not steep around, mile 14? the remainder of hills are of the whoopdy-do style. So your legs never got fatigued like a flat course can do? Plenty of bands along the way too! Aid Stations: Perfect! Well trained, outstanding volunteers with 5 port-o-lets at each stop. Plenty of un-official aid stations hosted by the residence. I saw (2) beer stops, but I'm thinking there were more? There was even a misting station that someone set up! Post race: Well stocked with food and beer even after the 5 hour mark from what I saw. The only thing that seemed odd to me? I think there were more relay teams than marathoners? I was being passed by relay teams all the way to the end ! Not by one or two every once in a while? Constant flow of them. I actually didn't mind that, because they drug me along. If you are looking for a fun event to do, this one is for you!!!! I'd do it again in a heartbeat, and probably will? But there are other places to see first! Wonderful Akron! You really put on world class event in my eyes !

I ran this because I hadn't run an Ohio marathon, it was close (5 hours away), and timing was perfect for my other fall marathons. My expectations were low of both the marathon and city. Wow, was I pleasantly surprised. First, the Akron City Centre Hotel was nice...little dated but perfect location, kind staff, and cheap. Don't believe any of the tripadvisor reviews. It was the only hotel within walking distance to the start finish. Parking was right there and I would recommend to everyone. It was in close proximity to the expo (1 block away) and tons of places to dine. We ate and drank margaritas (prerace) at Neuvo, Mexican joint. Great food and no repercussions the morning of the race. The expo was organized and perfect. You could get nice apparel and last minute necessities. The race was hilly and challenging but the organization, weather, fans, goody bag, finish in the stadium, beer, food, medal all made up for it. The course took you thru very nice parts of the cute suburban city of Akron. It was green and residential. I couldn't believe how genuine the fans were in their support. The course was well aided with water and powerade every 2 miles and 3 gel stations that I counted. The volunteers were plenty in number and so supportive. I have never been at a race this organized from expo to finish. Congrats to the race directors, volunteers and residents of Akron for making it possible. The stadium finish was awesome. I have finished many races in a stadium but nothing this festive and organized. The running jacket and socks were really nice. The ladies jackets run big. I am in between a small and medium in women's and the medium was huge, so order a size smaller. I can't say enough about this race. It would be the perfect race for someone wanting to do only one marathon in their lives. You get all the thrill of a huge race, for less money and hassle. This is one of my top 5 favorite marathons of all times.

I signed up for this race after doing a few other Ohio marathons (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati) in order to compare and contrast. I will break them down below: Pre-race - Packet-pickup: I booked a room at the Akron City Hotel (I think it used to be a Ramada or is turning into a Ramada) which was a few blocks away from the packet pickup, starting line, bag drop, and finish. My girlfriend and I walked to the packet pickup expo (she did the half). They had a neat car outside of the expo with the names of all the marathon runners on the car. Inside the expo they had the 'blue line' theme set for individuals to follow for their bibs, shirts, and to visit the swag kiosks. The pick-up was easy. There were a limited number of swag vendors (in comparison to Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus) but it met what I was looking for. There was a vendor who sold throw away shirts for $3 which was nice because I forgot mine. I also picked up a pair of shorts that I used for the race that had pockets that I used for gu packets. For dinner we went north on Route 8 to an Olive Garden  the wait wasnt too long. Traffic wasn't a problem anywhere for me. I did not know this at the time since I had a reservation at the hotel and they have a parking garage but apparently parking was free in Akron the day of the marathon so that was nice for those who were driving in. Race: The race (follow the blue line) starts you off in the middle of downtown Akron - a couple blocks away from the expo, University of Akron, and the Aeroes Stadium (where the finish line is). They have corrals (I think it was A,B and C) to split up the runners by expected finish times. The start includes all of the half marathoners, relay marathoners and full marathoners so it is a bit crowded. To begin you run north across the All American Bridge into northern Akron then loop back to run south across the southbound lanes of the bridge. By about mile 2 it started to clear up enough for me to feel comfortable. From that point you run south through downtown Akron again. At about the 4.5 mile mark the first relay group splits out but they have it set up very nicely there so it does not interfere with the other runners. Miles 4-6 run through an industrial/commercial section of Akron which isnt too aesthetically pleasing but its not terrible. Once you get to mile 6 you turn into a residential area which is nice where there is a little bit of an uphill but nothing too crazy. Miles 7-9 run north on Brown St (the second relay group splits off around 8.5 IIRC). Towards the end of this portion of the run you go through the campus of the University of Akron which I thought was pretty neat. I was expecting more student groups and kids to be out than there were but it was all good. After running through the campus you are directed back to the starting point where there is a lot of fan support. Mile 10 occurs shortly thereafter. You then run north across the All American Bridge again and after mile 11 the half and full marathoners split  the halfers turn back around and go south on the bridge again to the finish while the fulls go down a VERY steep hill that leads them onto the towpath section of the race. Be sure to pace yourself going down this hill, you could lose your footing if youre not careful. The towpath section of the race  miles 12-16 were great IMO. Not many fans but all shade covered and a cool place to run, especially when you are completing it with so many other runners that you can use to push you. From miles 16-24 however, the race starts to get a bit tricky. Mile 15.5-16 is uphill with the next group of relayers join in shortly after 16. This group is set in a location that does not interfere with the race. The Sand Run Parkway section starts slowly uphill then progresses much moreso as that section continues, culminating at a very challenging hill leading into mile 19 which can really drain you if you are trying to hit a specific time. This section is also all shade covered so at least there is that. Miles 19-22 arent so bad, all residential (the last group of relayers join in around mile 21) but there is another tough uphill at a real draining point of the race around mile 22. You then run by the Stan Hywet Hall which is neat. Once you get back on the main road you are essentially into the last 5k. There is another little uphill from like 24.5-25 but its not too bad and 25-25.75 is finally downhill. To close out you then run back into the downtown area and finish in the baseball stadium which is really neat. Pros & Cons: The course is very challenging, especially the second half  lots of uphill!!! Someone else mentioned that the relayers were a negative because they ran by you late in the race when you were pooped but I saw them as a challenge that I wanted to either stay with or beat. Bag drop was right by the finish which made pick-ups easy. I had a few family members come down to cheer me on and they didnt have much of a problem moving to and from different locations during the race. Good crowd support throughout the race (outside of the towpath and sand run pkwy sections). Good locations set up for water and powerade (both available at every stop). Getting out was easy enough for me but some roads were blocked so it may have been harder for others.

The Akron marathon was my first full marathon. I must say, I greatly appreciated all the information provided by the race organizers. The website is great, including mile by mile course videos. The organizers send out a giant race-information packet about a week or so out from the event with all the answers to any questions you may have. This was great for someone running their first marathon. I really appreciated being able to see and study the course, especially since I'm not local to Akron. Parking was also free and very easy thanks to their good preparation, including lots designated for relay/half/full marathon racers. I sat in only about 10 minutes of traffic. The course is not flat and fast, as most people know when they sign up for Akron. However, everyone seems to love this race which is why I chose it for my first full. While some complained about the section on the towpath lacking spectators/ not being exciting, I actually really enjoyed this section of the course. It was completely shaded and the trail was a nice break from the pavement for my shins. Post towpath trail is when the course really starts to get tough with the hills (up until then, the first half of the course flies by). The residents of 'The Wood' around mile 19 were an excellent pick me up. Everyone was out in their lawns and drive ways having parties and cheering for the runners. The crowd support was much needed at this point in the race. The crowds for the first half of the race were amazing downtown and I was greatly expecting the numbers to fall off for the second half of the route, however they proved me wrong. You can't beat the free asics jacket. It was great. Also, the for spectators, the course is easy to navigate- my family was able to see me at the start, miles 3,9,11,16,19, right before turning into the stadium and crossing the finish line. Besides the hills, the most difficult thing about running this race is the marathon relay participants. It can be a bit demoralizing having someone fly by you on mile 20. But relay participants have bibs on their back distinguishing them which helps a lot. Just be mentally prepared for them and do not sprint the start of the race with them. Overall, great experience. Glad I chose Akron for my first full marathon.

This was my 13th marathon. I had run the relay in previous years but was worried about the hilly full course. I shouldn't have worried. The hills add challenge, but they also keep the course fresh and keep muscle groups changing. It's a great, great course and the weather was great this year as well. As always, the organization and race logistics were superb, including well-spaced water stations, 3 gel stations, gear check, etc. There were many fans cheering throughout the course. To put things in perspective: I've run fulls, halfs and other distances all over the US, including Boston, Chicago, LA, and DC, and the Akron Marathon provide the best overall race day I've had. I'll be back.

As a marathoner I think you should try to do a race in Ohio every year. I did races in Xenia, Dayton, Cleveland and Toledo and now Akron. They are well organized, have great volunteers and it is close enough from Toronto it is worth the drive. Akron is a very hilly, tough course. The weather was hot but the organizers spent the time letting the runners know when the temps were too high with notices on humidity levels. Nice touch! The first half of the course went through the city and the last half was mostly through a park. I loved the fact that the parking was free on race day and that I only spent 85 cents on parking all weekend. The only problem I h ad was the way to late hotel shuttle buses after the race. The free showers at the Y rocked. You get a free running jacket and socks at this race so do this race!

11 years ago I ran my second marathon which was the first Akron Marathon now I've run 66 including all 11 Akron Marathons. If I only ran 1 a year it would be Akron. Lots of hills in the second half, man up don't whine about it. I had a PR on this course in 2011.

Even though it was a lot hillier than I expected, this was a great marathon experience. I especially loved that at the water stops the volunteers wore signs that indicated whether they were a water or powerade person. That really impressed me and made it easy to navigate the stops! Also, I must not have read the fine print because I was totally surprised to get the awesome Brooks running jacket! I wasn't expecting that! For the first time, I tripped and fell down while running a marathon (on the towpath) - runners immediately rallied around me and helped me up and every first aid station I passed was quick to offer me help. With skinned knees and elbows, I was still able to finish - a really nice bonus was that several weeks after the race I received a packet in the mail with a great wall placque - it turns out I was in the top 5 of my age group, had won an award, and didn't know it! Another great surprise! I also think the second half of the marathon course was prettier than the first half - often this isn't the case. The only really annoying thing about my experience was that I stayed at the host hotel (Akron City Center) - they only had one person on duty to check people in the night before the marathon. I had to wait in line about 45 minutes. Very annoying . . . I'd suggest the race organizers make sure they educate the host hotel next year as to what to expect.

Last Saturday was my 11th running of the Akron Marathon and of course, the organization was A-1, spectators very vocal and ammenities top notch. But this year was a little different for me - coming into this race with an injury made me start having to use the Aid Stations at mile 5 for the rest of the race. Usually, I fly by the aid stations, but not this year. I mention this because the medical staff was excellent - caring, supportive, helpful and doing all they could to help me continue with the race. Though my time was my slowest to date, I finished under tough circumstances and owe a lot of that to the great volunteers stationed at the numerous first aid stations. Part of my finisher's medal should be given to each of these folks - thanks so much and see you next September!

I give this event 5 stars across the board! The premiums were amazing, Brooks running jacket, finishers Towel, Nice medal, running times for a year, and a great goodie bag. The event was very well organized, the course was well marked, and the spectators throughout were amazing. The finshers festival was also very nice and easy to navigate. I would without a doubt recommend this event to anyone looking for a great midsize marathon with all the extras of a big city event!

This is a very tough course. It has rolling hills throughout, and they're not kidding about Sandrun. Yet, it is more than a worthy challenge, it is extremely well organized, with plenty of fluid aid stations, and friendly volunteers and supporters. It is easy to get to, the start was prompt and smooth, the Expo made it quick and easy to get the bib number. I did better on this hilly course, than I have flatter, less challenging marathons. You know you want that cool Brooks Running Jacket, so just sign up already. :)

It was great! I highly recommend it. I PRed by about 44 minutes. It was my second marathon. The Good - The course is as varied as you can get including Akron landmarks like Stan Hywet hall and the Firestone campus, very urban areas, the University of Akron campus, four miles of the scenic Towpath Trail (on crushed limestone), Sand Run Park and residential neighborhoods. You have to go through downtown and cross on the All-America bridge three times, making it easier for family and friends to see you several times from a central location. There's an extreme downhill on Howard, a very extreme uphill on Sand Run Road that slowed my pace by more than 30 seconds a mile, a short, steep uphill (looks worse than it is) on Garman Road, a gradual uphill on Portage Path, downhill on Market Avenue and then a short uphill in the middle of Mile 26 to get onto Main Street. The course used to be hillier, but the organizers for the 2012 race eliminated the hilly Revere Road from the course. The Akron Marathon is the only event I know that marks the course with a blue line before the race (except for the Towpath Trail and Sand Run park portions probably because of park rules). - The jacket - I got an awesome Brooks running jacket that I used the entire winter. - Pre-race festivities - awesome fireworks and the Goodyear blimp. - Pacer - The 4:10 pacer was this hilarious Australian guy (I think his name was Steve Smith) who told a bunch of 'they're so bad, it's funny' blonde jokes. He gave valuable advice about cutting corners (tangents) and hydration. Without his help, I would have gone out too fast and not gotten as good of a time. - Probably the biggest finish area - You get to finish in Canal Park Stadium, home of the Akron Aeros, minor league baseball team. Your family can more easily watch you from the stands, and there's this huge grassy area for you to relax on while someone plays music. - Free beer - it was ok. I don't remember what the food was, but I remember it being more than adequate. I think it was chips and maybe a Subway sandwich? - Finisher's Medal was a 10th anniversary commemorative. - You get a free subscription to Running Times magazine. - I didn't use it but you can shower at the YMCA. - Crowd support is great downtown. There's not much of it in Sand Run Park. People play music throughout the course. - Weather was perfect. Started in the 40s and ended in the 50s. Even with the hills in the second half, you can PR on this course. They even give you one of those emergency blankets to wrap yourselves in at the finish. The Bad - Pre-race congestion  I was stuck in traffic (while needing to use the restroom badly) for about half an hour. I was able to snag one of the last few spots in a parking garage near the starting line. Get there early! I didn't get to the starting line until 6:50 a.m., 10 minutes before the 7 a.m. start. - Wish there had been more Port-o-potties at the starting line. - Early race congestion: It got very crowded on the All-America bridge on Mile 1. I was lucky I wasn't trampled. - Photography - Very pricey. I wasn't thrilled with the photos. MarathonFoto is a better value. Note: The race is on the last Saturday morning of September and the expo runs until 10 p.m. on Friday night. This didn't present any problems for me because I live a half hour away. But this might be a problem for those from out of town. There's also a half marathon and Team Relay with the event. Because of the Team Relay, it's not quite so desolate the second half as is normal with marathon/half marathon events. There's also a pre-race pasta dinner buffet, which was OK, but it's professionally catered with silverware.

This is a great race that offers quite a challenge, especially the second half. The expo the day before was very well organized. I had my packet about 5 minutes after entering the building. Great vendors on hand. The jacket the full marathon runners was awesome, best thing I've gotten from any race. The first half of the course was great, especially if you went to school at the University of Akron. Running through Sand Run was tough, and there were a lot of hills after that. The best part was turning down Main St. and then running in through Canal Park. It was really cool to see that many people there cheering. It was a very well organized race and I'd love to do it again.

Do you like a marathon course with continuous ups and downs that make it extremely difficult to get that coveted BQ? You do?! Well, then Akron is the marathon you want to enter. Many hills throughout this one. A couple of nasty, steep inclines between miles 19 and 22 make this a course that yields slow finishing times. There is an abundance of food at the end to appeal to those who want their marathon race to serve them dinner. Beer also.

This was well organized from beginning to end. Free parking downtown, expo was first class, hydration and GU stations were plentiful, the towpath was scenic and post race was well staged. Would have enjoyed more bands along the course but overall I would highly recommend this marathon.

This marathon was great! As my 17th marathon and after doing many of the 'big' ones I was absolutely blown away by Akron. Organization was great, nice sized expo, and very nice Brooks jacket (nice alternative from the 100s of race T's). Fans and crowd support were great and I thought the motivational signs along the course were a nice touch and kept my attention throughout the race. (until the end when EVERYTHING seemed annoying, lol, but that is expected in the final miles of a marathon.) The firework show at the start was amazing as well- what a nice touch. The course was interesting, I liked the variety but I definetly wouldn't describe it as a 'flat' course. I went in thinking it would be perfectly flat (which is my own fault for not looking at the elevation profile before hand) so it was a bit discouraging to feel constantly like you were running on an incline or decline. Still eeked out a 2.5 minute PR so can't complain too much. :) Just want to warn those who love perfectly flat courses like me that this isn't one of them. Totally worth a few hills though for one of the most well-run and fun race experiences out there! Cheers to the race director and volunteers who make it happen!

As others mentioned, good race for the price. Jackets were a nice touch, however, there was an issue with some female jackets, so mine just says Brooks - marathon is not even mentioned. I run enough races not to care too much, but it would be really disappointing if this was my one and only... I guess there is also a hat. I think I would have one other negative - finish line area - have some liquids sooner. I had to ask several people where I can get some water. Food bag - not impressive, but I like the two beers idea. So... minor complains aside - absolutely perfectly organized race. Great stops, well marked water v. powerade cups; plenty of GU on the course - first time ever I've seen volunteers open them for you. Nice touch! Clear mile marks with clock. Hilly, but that was advertised. Varying surface, which is awesome. Nice medal. Lots of parking spots - FREE! All in all, I'm glad Akron was my Ohio pick on the quest for 50 states. Great job!

I've run marathons from the mega-marathons like Disney to the smaller ones like Hatfield-McCoy; this race was about mid-size for a city race and had a decent number of runners from full, half to relay, around 13,000 runners total. I really had worries about logistics, but from start to finish this was a class-act race that was amazingly well-organized. Swag? You get a VERY high quality running jacket as well as a medal and finisher's hat. Parking problems? Not even an issue, even with lots of road closures. Porta-jons? Plenty for all at the start. Water and Powerade stops? Check, and more than enough where I had to pass a few. Gu stations? FOUR. That's far more than most races offer. Crowds? Check. They were enthusiastic, and because your name was on the bib you would hear your name called out over and over by strangers cheering you on to run strong. The course itself was really never dull; the start alone had fireworks with the Goodyear blimp hovering overhead, and you ran past the Firestone plant, through the lovely Akron University campus, a crushed gravel towpath on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the refreshing Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (one of my favorite parts) and a triumphant finish in Canal Stadium. The residential neighborhoods also had plenty of enthusiastic spectators, especially children wanting a high-five. The course was modified so it was not as hilly as past races, but it is still a little hiller than most courses I have run. Some of these hills sort of sneak up on you as you run them, you realize you're a little winded and see 'Oh, I'm on an incline!' Also, there is a wicked downhill in the final miles that I found were a little brutal on the knees, so be careful going down! You do have to sometimes apply the brakes a little when running this course. The only drawback was the finish, it's very crowded and can be confusing to navigate. It took me a very long time to find the family reunion area, and I had to find an information desk to inquire where to go. The last thing you want to do is shuffle around for 20 more minutes when all you want to do is relax! But that one snag is nothing compared to a highly recommended race. I loved the Akron marathon! It was challenging, had great crowds and support and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an Ohio race.

This is one of those marathons that you have to run. Jim (race director) does an amazing job. From great volunteers to small things like, volunteer's tags on their necks indicating whether they are holding water or powerade to real fireworks at the start. Even the weather seems to be perfect every year. The course is well balanced with moderate hills and a few miles of trail/sand path. Volunteer and crowd support is awesome.

I love this marathon. I ran the full in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Extremely well organized wonderful support great medal really nice marathon jacket and hat The fireworks at this year's start was awesome....very exciting Weather this year was perfect All and all, my favorite Ohio marathon and one of my favorite marathons, overall!

I ran my 10th Akron Marathon on Saturday morning and this race has not lost a bit of energy, enthusiasm, or A-1 organization since 2003. Great Brooks jacket, baseball cap, drawstring bag, and finisher's medal to all marathon finishers at a very reasonable entry fee is your reward for running in their race. The knock on Akron over the years has been the # of hills; there have been course adjustments to help limit these and though the hills still rear their ugly face, the course is definitely faster. Notwithstanding, as I say every year, Akron has a top notch priority to make their race appeal to every runner and treat them like an elite athlete; Congrats for another banner race. See ya' next September!!

The Akron Marathon went all out for the 10th Running. Fireworks at the start, the Goodyear Blimp flying overhead, perfect weather, 20 aid stations, finisher hats and by far their best looking medal to date. If I could only run one marathon a year this would be it. My only complaint was the changes to the course, they added more cement and I didn't care for the Howard St decent. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Just when you think it can't get better, they add an 8-minute (or longer) firework show at the start, the Goodyear Blimp makes an appearance, crowd support seems to grow, and they summon up perfect marathon weather. And this may also be the best marathon bargain going. Runners get a jacket, a cap, an excellent medal, and, oh yeah, free beer. Kudos to Jim Barnett and staff.

This was my Ohio marathon and it was well worth the trip. A friend and I arrived Thursday night. We went to the expo which we thoroughly enjoyed, then visited the Akron Art Museum nearby and then had a lovely lunch. All in downtown Akron. The next day I found my pace leaders (two for the five hour pack) and off we went. The pacesetters were good; unfortunately my training was inadequate to keep up but they kept me steady for 14 miles. The course was lovely and the water stops were well managed. The size of the race was comfortable; not too big and not so small as to be lonely. If I was not trying for all 50 states, I would come back.

outstanding event for enabling the family to work together and train up for health!

I have run this race 9 times. It is a class race headed up by a class race director. It remains well organized with no fall off of entusiasm even after 9 years,

I ran this race as a relay member for 8 years and decided after turning 50 its time to get a full race in the books. I had great anticipation and fear at the same time....but when race day came the stars lined up for one of the best experiences of my life.Outstanding support on the course!! I was well aware of the terrain and trained accordingly. Great organization and support. I said I would be one and done, but now may actually jump in again next year....great job to Akron and all involved with putting this event on!!!