Cleveland Marathon - Race Reviews

Having run Cleveland in 2016, I signed up at the last minute for this year's race hoping to lower my BQ. The course is completely different. It is far more scenic than the last time I ran Cleveland and hits all of the landmarks of the city. There is a beautiful, long stretch along Lake Erie that is as pretty as anything that I have seen on a marathon course. The new course is also much hillier and has more turns than the old course. This is not bad, but anyone interested in a PR or BQ should know this before entering. I'm sure that the course was accurately measured, but my Garmin showed 2.5 miles at the 2 mile mark and a total of 26.64 at the finish. I strongly recommend this race for anyone who is looking for an Ohio race or is not trying for a time goal. The logistics were great, the packet pick up was smooth and on race day I was able to park 3 blocks from the finish and was on the interstate within 15 minutes. On a warm day, the organizers added water stations and the crowd support was excellent with many kind neighbors hosing the runners down (thanks to the folks carrying Super-Soakers as well). Chocolate milk at the finish, which is all I want after a race. A very nice shirt and maybe my favorite medal in 100 plus races. I plan on running the marathon again as it is close to home, but I will keep my time expectation muted. No trip to Cleveland is complete without a visit to Great Lakes Brewing. It is worth the 2 hour drive from Pittsburgh by itself.

I did not run this Marathon but flew out to Cleveland to support my son in his 1st Marathon. I have run 8 marathons in the past and 30+ half marathons. I thought the race was very well organized and festive. The runners expo was decent. The start/finish area was well set up and there is a festive meeting area & beer tent after finishing the race. I read a few articles about folks complaining about the new course with so many turns in it (course change for 23 due to construction). I asked my son afterwards and he didn't feel the large number of turns on the course were a big deal at all. He thought the course was quite interesting as it passed through the City/Stadiums/The Flats, etc. I assume that once road construction is completed that Cleveland 26.2 will return to the former course (with less turns). I thought there was good fan support during the race. Witnessed my son at mile 5 and again at mile 12 and then at the Finish. From what I witnessed and after speaking with my son in detail about his experience (he ran under 3:05) my opinion is the Cleveland Marathon is a quality event.

This year the route returned to the Shoreway, which they had switched away from in 2017 to avoid the hills. That long climb at mile 12 (and 25 on the second lap) wasn't welcome, but everything else about how the day was run was excellent. Plenty of time for early packet pickup, lots of parking and accommodations right near the start, great energy at the finish.

Pros: Packet pick up easy; hotels close to start/finish; fast course with a few short hills; some pretty neighborhoods; volunteers very helpful and enthusiastic; lots of pace groups--like at least 10 minute intervals; you run past Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Cons: 10k, half and full start same time so it is crowded through downtown. Lots of potholes and uneven pavement so watch your footing for first 10 miles or so. Suggestions: Start half and 10k hour earlier or later than the full; add a few more timing clocks along the route. All in all I'd do this one again.

This is a great race and manageable in size. The course is flat and showcases some of the more beautiful parts of Cleveland. I live about 7 hours away and decided to run this one on a whim after coming off a mediocre run at Boston. I drove up on Saturday morning was delighted at the well organized packet pickup and light traffic in downtown Cleveland. I stayed downtown at a Hilton which made everything walkable; including the Start / Finish. The weather can be tricky in Cleveland but the 2017 race was fine. The rain started around 3 hours into the race and was light at first. I finished under 3:30 and it was a steady at the finish. As I pulled out of town to head home around 4:30 hours in, I imagine those runners were getting drenched. All in all a great race and if I wasn't trying to hit different States, I would run this one again.

Overall, great race! Would absolutely do again. Pros: Fast course. Lots of downhill. Only one hill worth mentioning - around mile 4 or 5. Hill into the finish line (over a bridge), but it wasn't a substantial one. I was sort of nervous about the hills based on the elevation map they provided online. But that elevation map is wrong! Only one real hill. Beautiful tour of Cleveland. Lot of cool neighborhoods. Good pacers and plenty of room in early corrals. I had so much fun during this race. Cons: (1) For me, the weather. I wanted cool and dry. It was warm and humid. Not Cleveland's fault, obviously, but you should know this is a possibility. Average low in May may be in the 40s or 50s, but it was close to 70 on this occasion. Not my fav. (2) No timers anywhere on the course until the finish line. I don't need one every mile, but it'd be nice to know at a few landmarks (every 10k and at half maybe?). I purposefully (because it was warm and humid) didn't run w/ a watch. I didn't care about my mile splits but it would have been nice to know what general ballpark I was in before I saw the finish line. (3) Last part of course combined 10K, half and full finishers. They should have separate lanes. Truly not trying to be a jerk, but at mile 25, I didn't appreciate bobbing and weaving around half marathon walkers. I just wanted to be done. (4) Blue Powerade. Wth? Ick. I hate sports drinks anyway, but on a hot day, I had to get some sodium and electrolytes into me (I'm what you would call an 'aggressive sweater' =D). Why people don't stick to red, orange or yellow is beyond me. If you are gonna use blue or purple or something else random, let people know on the website so they can practice choking that stuff down on their training runs. Other than these complaints, this was an awesome, awesome race.

I really enjoyed this marathon. The marathon was very well organized, up to date information was a always available, the pick up hall and show and finally the course itself was all first class. I especially enjoyed the fact you could stay downtown Cleveland at a hotel without spending a fortune at a great hotel. Also the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a bonus.

I will not blame the Cleveland Marathon for the weather. Course: Very tight and several sharp turns early. However, other than this, a fine course featuring downtown Cleveland, although once the course moved away from downtown, a fairly boring course. Organization: 2 complaints here, one relatively minor. It would have been nice to have gear check close to the start line (perhaps using shipping trucks) rather than requiring athletes to walk from the finish area to the start area after checking their gear. The other complaint that I have is that the first/last water station on the out-and-back segment tore down early, ignoring the walkers/slower runners going out when I passed the first time (~mile 13.5) and being completely gone when I passed the second time (~mile 21.7). I finished the race in 6:08, well under the 7 hour time limit, so there is no reason the volunteers should have abandoned post. Spectators: A bit subdued due to the weather, however great support where they were available. Other: It was great to have a walking division (however, it would be nice if we could get a walking division free from runners)

Weather was pretty bad, as others have said. Course was pretty easy. Volunteers were awesome. I was well prepared for this race (I trained for the 'hill' at the end, but I used socks for gloves). I still managed to PR this thing by 6 minutes. Expo was nothing special, but the weekend was generally a good experience

I have run many marathon and part of the excitement is that you never know what you are going to get. We got it all in Cleveland. The weather was unbelievable; rain, hail, high winds, frigid temps, everything. The course was not that scenic and very few spectators on the course, (Can't blame them, I didn't want to be out there). The roads were quite uneven but because of the hail, I was always looking down. I did not appreciate the hills at the end of the race. Mentally, this race was really tough, even for a fellow mid-westerner who runs in cold and snow every winter. Cleveland wasn't the best but I was surprised that I did not see more fans and more excitement in the city. There were not a lot of people who ran the full marathon so the second half was pretty lonely. Can't blame them for the weather, but I guess I expected more for a long running race.

I liked the Cleveland Marathon. The weather was the most harsh I have ever encountered during a marathon, which now makes a cool story to tell. Course was very scenic, and never had a bad stretch. I can imagine it would have been even more scenic on a sunny day. The streets were pretty beat up for the first half so you do have to watch where you step. Got a lot better in the second half. Unlike many marathons, the second half was nicer than the first (I liked the first half just fine). Volunteers and spectators that showed up deserve a round of applause. To endure that weather and still be encouraging was amazing. Nice medal and shirt. Tons of snacks at the finish line.

The most memorable part of this race was the weather. We endured rain, snow, hail, and wind which made for an interesting, and at times comical, experience. My thanks to the dedicated volunteers and spectators who braved the weather. The course was scenic with changing scenery and some very nice views. My only complaints are that the first few water stations should have incorporated both sides of the street, and that a few holes in the road could have been better marked. Otherwise well organized. On a good weather day, a fast time could be had in Cleveland. Very nice medal and high quality shirt. A good race overall.

This was my 48th marathon. Best and most faithful volunteers by far. Rain, snow, sleet, hail and high winds...and there they stood serving us runners. All in...I bow before each one of you.

Boy, what a bunch of whiners. Apparently, Cleveland needs to be re-graded so that there are no 'hills' at the end. Plus, you need to get more musicians to play during the hail storms. These people need to either toughen up or stick to 5K's. All in all, nice job on a very tough day.

This had to of been the most mentally challenging marathon I have ever run due to the crazy weather. At the start of the race it was slightly windy and nice. That was short lived as the weather turned for the worse on and off the entire marathon. We had rain, snow, sleet, and hail, then add gusts of wind up to 30mph. I can't tell you how many times I had enough and wanted to quit. I was freezing, wet, and my face hurt from being pelted with wind and hail. The thing that kept me going was the fact that I knew I had to get to the finish to get dry clothes. It will be my most memorable marathon for that reason. CONS: 1st half of the course was boring and the roads were in terrible conditions, no email updates, convention center at finish line was not open for athletes to unfreeze or change, too expensive for what you got, expo was small PROS: 2nd half of the course was beautiful and scenic, volunteers were amazing for helping in such horrible conditions, start was easy to get to and organized, finish line area was nice.

Winter training in Buffalo prepares you for running in frigid conditions, so my biggest fear was that it would be 77 and sunny on race day. Lucky for me it was a winter wonderland (some sarcasm there). You'll hear a lot about the brutal conditions, and to be fair, the headwind from around 12-18 sucked. The hail was a particularly painful touch. the wind gusts blew my visor off twice, which I needed to keep hail from flying into my eyeballs. But the turnaround at mile 18 offered great relief and with the wind at our backs it was a nice payoff for the struggles. The volunteers and spectators were AMAZING. They must have been absolutely freezing, but they were still out there and in good spirits. Well-manned water and aid stations, no confusion. There was truly a sense of 'we're all in this together' that the weather brought on. Pace leaders were great - I hung with the 3:40's for the most part and enjoyed the camaraderie. We all just sort of laughed at the ridiculousness of the weather and used each other as protection from the elements. Start and finish were well organized. As I was walking (and shivering) back to my hotel a staffer stopped me to tell me that they opened the Convention Center up as a warming station (nice touch!) The expo was unremarkable, but I'm not an expo person - I like to get my packet and get out. The location was easy and right near the start/finish area (nice visual to help give you an idea of where you need to go in the morning if you're not familiar with the area). The course, I felt, was fair. I was worried about running on the overpass the last few miles. It was rough with the inclines and being that high up there was absolutely no hiding from the gusts coming off the lake. The first incline was short but steep, the second was more of a slowish climb. Knowing that the end was very near kept me going. Unfortunately, I saw a lot of runners walking this stretch. I ran Cleveland twice before when the course was very different (the direction was reversed). I'll take an incline at 24 over a headwind for the last 7-8 miles any day. My opinion may be a bit biased because I had a good race with a possible BQ (beating the PR that was set in Cleveland marathon 2006) but I'm surprised to say that I actually liked the new course. On a warmer day there's no doubt that running on the shadeless blacktop of the thruway would have gotten the better of me. All in all, I really like running Cleveland. It's small enough that you're not cramped but big enough that you're not alone. The people are great, the changing scenery kept it interesting (when I was able to see).

Pros -the course was flat, scenic, diverse -very well organized -hotels within a block or so of the start and finish line -cool medal -great expo, lots to see -great crowd support Cons -hard to enjoy the views as some of the roads were not in great shape. many cracks, holes that could ruin an ankle -although both sides of the roads were closed throughout, the water stops were only on one side of the road in many places. Became congested in those places. maybe have fluids on both sides? My only other comment is courtesy based and is no reflection on this particular race. Starting in corral E based on expected finish time, I had to pass MANY people walking within the first 3-4 miles. If you know you're going to be walking early, please start in the waaaay back.

1 - Top shelf EXPO. Free health screening included glucose, cholesterol, BP, etc. Just Super! 2 - Rough pavement as expected. No surprises there. 3 - Fans. What fans? I don't need them but many runners do. 4 - Course needs more porta potties especially with more women runners participating in all races. No sexism here, just practical observation. 5 - I have my Boston Marathon medal from 2010 but I rank my Cleveland medal as 2nd favorite behind my 2009 Disney for the 'bling' factor. 6 - Your definition of flat? My Garmin shows mile 18 on is all uphill, especially so the last couple of miles. As they said in the Princess Bride, 'I'm not sure that word means what you think it means'. 7 - Bottom Line: You Guys Rock!!!

I ran the 2014 Cleveland Marathon and was not impressed. Compared to previous years I have ran it, it was the worst. I would categorize the race as unorganized. The expo was very good and the best part of the experience. Unfortunately, it went downhill (except for the course) from there. The t-shirts were Nike but we're short sleeved. I paid $100+ to enter the marathon and received only a short sleeved shirt. Pretty cheap if you ask me. Next, the race started five minutes late. How can a big event like that be delayed by five minutes? I was also worried about the number of port-o-potty's at the start, knowing they were starting the full marathoners with the half marathoners and the 10kers but it didn't seem to be too much of a problem. Along the course the hydration stations seemed very unorganized. Usually PowerAid is located on one side and water is on the other but this wasn't the case. I just had to rely on the volunteers to tell me if I was getting one versus the other. The course also didn't have any clocks! Big let down for me. Couldn't they gather up enough oversized clocks for at least each 5k or so? I was disappointed with the entertainment too. Unless you knew someone along the course, you didn't get much encouragement. What happened to the bands and the cheer sections I thought we were supposed to get? Pretty lonely along Lake Road except for my family. The worst part of the course were the hills on the highway along miles 25-26. Who in their right mind would create a marathon course that included a hill of that magnitude during that point of the race? I don't know about you but I rarely have anything left at that point in the race let alone enough for a huge, drawn out hill. Overall, Cleveland was a disappointing experience and I'd be hesitant to race it again. P.S. The pace leaders for the 3:25 group were very encouraging and I appreciate their help.

This is my 3rd time running Cleveland and the first on this new course. Some folks didn't like the portion that was out and back but I thought it was great because I had the opportunity to see the leaders go FLYING by. * very flat but the finish was a big elevation gain on the highway - great view - tough ascent * great crowd support * the first 10 miles was a loop around the city and some cool neighborhoods. The next 12 was an out and back through flat, residential areas. The final 4 or so then covered new ground including that highway run uphill. * the expo was typical. Lots of good vendors. Some nice speakers. Free parking at IX Center. * half, full and 10K all started together but had 3 different courses. 10K peeled off quickly and half peeled off at about mile 9 or 10. * easy access for your family and friends, especially around the out and back portion * volunteers were plentiful and there were lots of water stops. I only needed 1 porta potty and it was there for me... not sure how many more there were. * weather is always a question mark in Cleveland. in '12 it was in the 80s, in '13 it was in 60s and 70s by the finish. This year? upper 40s to mid 50s and clear skies. PERFECT this year. Perfect!

Love this race...this year is my 7th time running the marathon and it is the best year in the 7 years (2008-2014) that I have participated. 1) Organized race...every aspect - packet pickup, gear drop off, water stops. 2) Nice medal and shirt. I always love the spinning guitar and they change the colors every year...love the colors this year. 3) LOVE the new marathon course - more shade and the out and back allowed us slower runners to see the winners heading back. Also, lots of community involvement and encouragement. 4) I always stay at the Hyatt at the Arcade and everyone there makes the runners feel very welcome. They are in the midst of remodel and the remodeled rooms are awesome! 5) Race finish was great...had my favorites - chocolate milk and chips! 6) Race start and finish very convenient to hotel...best start and finish in the 7 years I have run in the marathon.

I have run CLE three times. Previous had some issues but not a big deal. This year was by far the worst. They combined 10K with half and full runners. The corrals were not monitored. Start line excitement was nonexistent. No music, no band, just an announcer and a mic. I have run in club races that had better atmosphere. The course itself was modified for construction, but I felt like the amount of turns and short side streets were very excessive. Moreover, due to the amount of short streets, fans were basically nonexistent in that part of the course. The Goo stations were way undermanned, so bad that the first station open boxes were on left on the water station table. Water stations was a mix of 30 plus to an s little as 5ish. Finally, no clocks on the course. No spilt clock no mile clocks nothing. This is always marketed as a top 50 event in the country but the atmosphere and presentation did not live up to it.

Cleveland Marathon is advertised as a big event with 20,000 people-it's not. The 10k, half marathon and marathon all run together and totals a little less than 11,000. Its advertised as being flat, and its not. The course entertainment was severely lacking, but the crowd made up for it. Best expo I've ever been to. Lots of water stops. Running on Lake Avenue for about 12 miles isn't a whole lot of fun, but is probably better than running on the east side of Cleveland. Lots of potholes and uneven running surfaces. I wish the course ran through downtown Cleveland more, instead of just the two miles at the start and then the tiny bit at the finish. Great medal and great shirt. Mile markers were off by about 0.11, which threw everyone off. Start wasn't exciting at all- you would think for the Rock and Roll City it'd be killer- but no. Great pace teams who were spot on. Wish there was more support from local organizations and professional sports teams. I probably would not run this race again, but I think people liked the new course and I think it has a lot of potential (even though its been run 37 years). Perfect running weather. Oh, almost got hit by a car toward the end of the race because an old lady needed to leave her high-rise condo- this did not make the Police very happy.

This morning was my first marathon and I had a wonderful experience coming from MD. The organization, spectators, signage and water stations were all really good. The course is pretty flat except for the last 2 miles at the end but then ends going downhill. Great weather made for a great run. Only con: had to miss a few of the sights because I had to look down for the first part of the marathon to avoid uneven road pavement. Last part of the marathon, the roads were a lot better and amazing neighborhoods along the Lake. Overall- a great experience with an awesome medal and Nike Tech shirt.

It's difficult to map a scenic course in Cleveland. There are a lot of brownfields and abandoned lots sprinkled throughout the city. But this race did well enough to pick out the best roads to showcase Cleveland's positive attributes. Spectators lined the course, especially in the first half, and all were super excited to have a race there. Some parts were crowded on the sidelines; it looked like people were there for a parade. Several bands on the course were rather entertaining. Volunteers at the water stations were very helpful and encouraging. The tee-shirt and medal are great! The start and finish lines were difficult to get to and parking was a pain. It was quite the walk from where I parked, not a problem before, but tough after the race. Post race food was lame, just simple bagels and bananas, but there was an ice pop and I hadn't had one in years so that sort of made up for what food they lacked. It was a really hot day and the organizers did so well in compensating for the heat with extra water. It did take me down though. I walked the majority of miles 18-22, fortunately that part took us through community gardens and city parks, so it was a highlight. Overall, this was a nice race, well organized, and fun. Read my detailed take on the race on my blog: http://empoweredbyrunning.com/?p=29

You can't control the weather, but you can control how many water stops you have. There should be one every mile during the second half. This was my 6th Cleveland Marathon(The Medal has not changed) and the roads keep getting worse. I tripped over a pot hole at mile 21 and got scraped up pretty bad. Many runners stopped to help me up and see if I was OK. When I finished I went to the first aid tent, they told me I needed to exit and go around the back, when I got to the back they told me they were not allowed to let me enter in that way. Therefore I got no medical attention, and no one seemed to care. The gear drop off was in the most inconvenient spot possible. After running a marathon they make you walk another 1/2 mile to pick up your gear. These guys have been organizing this marathon for a long time, and keep on making rookie mistakes. It's time for someone else to take over.

This was my first marathon. The weather was cool at the start and wamed up for us slower runners but Im used to running in 85-90 degree weather so it didnt effect me. Other runners struggled because of the heat. I really enjoyed the crowd support-especially at the very end when I really needed it. After the 1/2 split from us the crowds cleared out but thats pretty normal. There were a lot of potholes and you have to be very careful throughout the course-thats the main reason I didnt give 5 stars. The marathon HQ hotel Hyatt left much to be desired. They did have a shuttle to the expo but there was nothing going on for the runners to make it feel like you were at the HQ. wont stay there again. I agree that there should have been more to choose from to eat at the finish. I had to wait to get to the hotel. All in all, I truly enjoyed the volunteers, entertainment, people hosing us down and the crowds that came out to cheer for people they dont even know. I will do Cleveland again.

Pros: -one of the best and definitely the biggest expo I've attended. Tons of vendors to shop and free samples. -plenty of indoor bathrooms are available pre-race inside the Browns stadium. I was able to use the restroom multiple times without much of a wait and didn't have to hold my breath in a port-o-pot. Major plus. -I've heard the water stops in 2012 were not supported well enough, didn't have enough water, etc. Not the case this year. The volunteers were awesome about calling out what they were holding and having plenty of cups ready. They also started spraying runners with a hose after mile 15 or so when the temperature rose close to 80. -the course is a lot of fun and takes you through so many areas and landmarks of Cleveland. Miles 19-21 are run through the cultural gardens on MLK drive, probably my favorite part of the race. Shaded by trees and beautiful scenery. -more than enough refreshments at the finish line. I've never seen so many bananas! The cold popsicles were great and runners get one free drink in the beer tent. -finisher's medal is fun and great quality Cons- -course is not what I would describe as 'flat and fast'- the first mile is almost completely uphill and there are many other long, gradual inclines. Nothing unbearable, but don't expect flat. -this has been mentioned already, but beware of potholes!! Completely out of the race organizer's control, just be ready if you plan on running this race. Less than a mile in I twisted my ankle in a hole- thankfully was not injured but had to pay close attention to the ground the rest of the way. -crowd support on the second half is pretty non-existant. There is a long stretch down Chester Ave (miles 14-19) that was completely dead minus 1-2 people every 1/4 mile or so. In general the second half is very open- I was surprised how few people ran the full compared to the half. If you plan on running the full, bring music because you'll need it. -not nearly enough water stops. I know this has been mentioned many times before and I really hope the race organizers will do something about it. Every 2 miles for a full marathon simply does not cut it, especially since the last two years have been exceptionally warm temperatures. The space between stops at mile 17 and 19 was brutal. I eventually started walking the stations and taking a full cup of both water and power aid to stay hydrated. I would highly recommend bringing a fuel belt or hand bottle. Overall I did enjoy this race and I'll most likely return in 2014- prepared for the potholes and wearing a fuel belt. It's a fun race and you get to tour a pretty cool city.

These comments are in addition to the review posted above. If you don't factor in the potholes. The course holds its own. It's not excessively hilly but nor is it outright flat. Like many courses, the first half is more scenic than the second. It's hard to get much inspiration running on St. Clair the last few miles. The course can't compete with views of Miami Beach for the Miami Marathon or the Towpath Trail segment in the Akron Marathon. The course goes by many Cleveland landmarks including West Side Market, Tremont, Progressive Stadium (where the Cleveland Indians play), Tower City, the city center, Playhouse Square, Cleveland State University, a tiny bit of Cleveland's de facto 'Chinatown' area, the Cleveland Clinic and University Circle. While I'm not a big fan of expressway segments of courses, when you're on the Shoreway, you run over the Cuyahoga River and you get a good view of Lake Erie and even a lake breeze. It's nice going through the center of Tremont. It's also awesome to run up the Lorain/Carnegie bridge and then you have this fast descent with a view of Progressive Field before going through the heart of downtown. After departing downtown for the second half of the course, you don't get much scenery except MLK Drive and University Circle. On Chester Avenue and St. Clair Avenue, there's no shade and we caught the full brunt of the sun. MLK Drive has plenty of trees and shade and it descends toward Lake Erie. There used to be a bike trail segment here around MIle 22 in the 2012 course, but it got washed out due to Hurricane Sandy, so the organizers had to improvise. You can't see much of the Lake here for the short stretch at Marginal. You have to run uphill Mile 22/23 at East 72nd Street to return to St. Clair, which I would argue is the worst part, maybe the 'armpit' of the course as you're hitting the wall. You get to run under a bunch of I-90 bridges. St. Clair is nothing to write home about. You feel like you're running through a rundown industrial/commercial area. But then you get to finish going downhill on East 9th back to the stadium. As for the first 10 miles, the course starts in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Goes uphill toward the city center, then goes west on the Shoreway expressway until past Mile 3, loops around the scenic Edgewater residential neighborhood, goes northeast through the residential and somewhat commercial Franklin Boulevard area before going through Ohio City and West Side Market and Tremont and returning to downtown via the Lorain/Carnegie bridge. The organizers for 2013 did remove a steep hill in Tremont from the 2012 course because Abbey Avenue was closed for construction. At the start, you climb West Third and then a ramp on Lakeside to get to the Shoreway, which has uphills and downhills. Streets that appear to climb in elevation: Edgewater Drive, W. 85th, W. 44th St, Chester Avenue, E 72nd Street, St. Clair Avenue (very slightly) Streets that appear to descend in elevation: Lake Avenue, Franklin Boulevard, MLK Boulevard, East 9th Street Streets going down then up: West 25th Street Streets going up and then down: Lorain/Carnegie bridge

I entered Cleveland because I had two friends pacing 3:35. I was able to keep up with them for exactly half the race. Temps started rising, and the second half of the course consists of three very long stretches without turns. Not a lot of fans, but those who were out there were very supportive. Water stops weren't very long - not a problem in second half, but it is in the first half when the Half Marathoners share the course. Fairly flat and fast, but unpredictable weather for this time in May isn't necessarily conducive to a PR. Organization was fine, could use more post-race refreshments as there was only bananas, water, Powerade (not good after drinking it on course), chocolate milk and popsicles. But it's a good marathon if you want to run one in the spring and you live in the midwest. Cleveland is a nice city.

The Good: - You get to use the numerous restrooms in Cleveland Browns stadium at the start and finish. While people were waiting an half an hour or so to use port-o-potties outside, I never had to wait for urinals once I walked far enough into the stadium where there was only a wait for men's room stalls. (I can't say how long the wait was for women). As I'm someone who's suffered through bathroom bladder emergencies before marathons, this is super-awesome. Any other marathon and you have to wait 10-20 minutes for a dirty, disgusting port-o-potty. - All the water stations, spaced one to two miles apart, were sufficiently staffed with volunteers with plenty of cups of water and Power Aid, at least those running 3:40. As the heat rose to the mid-70s, volunteers were hosing runners off after the half marathon mark. You could argue that given the heat, there should have been more stations but there are only so many volunteers. A runner who ran 2012 Cleveland under three hours told me that in 2012 due to a mishap transferring volunteers from early water stations to late water stations, there was no water for him from Mile 14 to Mile 23. The organizers fixed this issue for 2013. - For those who started with the 8:30 a mile runners, crowding at the start wasn't that bad. While reviewers have complained about Cleveland's system where runners, except those faster than 3:10, choose their own corrals, I didn't see this being a problem. I had no issue getting into the 8:30-a-mile section at 6:55 a.m.! Once in a while, there'd be a walker ahead of me, but I needed to avoid going out too fast, and the crowd, which dispersed by Mile 2 wasn't an issue. - Cute finisher's medal honoring the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame with a swiveling guitar and in sponsor Rite Aid's colors. Lovely addition to your collection. - Free parking at I-X Center near the airport where the expo is held. The year before it was $8. Good work negotiating this, organizers! (They provide shuttle service for the 13 mile ride from downtown for those from out of town). - It wasn't too tough to find parking downtown, and I spent minimal time stuck in traffic around 6 a.m. I found $5 parking at East 9th and St. Clair. Much more pleasant experience than pre-race chaos of Akron and Columbus marathons last year. - The course is somewhat flat but not completely. It starts uphill and finishes downhill. - Gear check - the area is on an upper level of the stadium and you get a gorgeous view of Lake Erie. Probably best backdrop of any gear check area of any marathon in the world. - Medical Assistance - Everyone I saw hurting or collapsed was getting prompt medical help. - The 3:40 pacer was very engaged and did what he could to motivate people to stick with the group. I could not after Mile 16 due to the heat. (The first half was overcast in the 60s but the second half was into the sun in the mid-70s with red alert flags) The OK: - You get a banana, popsicle, bottle of water and chocolate milk at the finish and a free beer if you want from a sponsor. No bagels or chips. I understand funds are limited but more types of carbs would have been nice. - There were neighborhoods with good crowd support such as Edgewater, Ohio City, Tremont, downtown and the last half mile. But it was quiet much of the rest of the time. There's not much going on St. Clair Avenue except for some peppy music before East 13th Street as you're struggling to finish. The Bad - Out of control of marathon organizers - but potholes, potholes and potholes. You'll see the winter and years of Cleveland's lack of funds for capital improvements have taken their toll on its roads. Some roads are better than others. I nearly twisted my ankle on West 44th Street on Mile 8. The 16-year-old running prodigy Alana Hadley injured her hamstring on a pothole downtown around the half marathon mark. After you leave the Shoreway at Mile 4, you have to concentrate on the road ahead of you the rest of the course to avoid getting your foot ensnared in uneven pavement. This can't be remedied without tens to hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the city, and the organizers can't do anything short of moving the course out of Cleveland. - The weather - For the second year in a row, it got too hot, reaching the 80s by noon. People were struggling after the clouds parted at the two-hour mark. Prepare to adjust your pace and let go of that goal if this happens again in 2014. I carried 32 ounces of water and that still wasn't enough.

This is my sixth time running the Cleveland full marathon. Many good benefits of the race: 1) nice medal 2) nice shirt 3) many aid stations of very thoughtful volunteers 4) GU at two locations handed to the runners with announcement of the flavor...very helpful 5) It was very hot this year (as was last year) and there were folks with hoses from about mile 15 on (very, very helpful) 6) packet pickup was easy and well organized 7) lots of good vendors, so, while I usually don't stay at an expo long, I always look around and shop at Cleveland expo 8) First half of marathon is very shady which is nice. 9) Second half of marathon not quite as nice but it does have about three miles down Martin Luther King Boulevard, which is nice. 10) Course patrol was excellent. 11) Lots of police and medical on course which is reassuring. 12) Ice cold chocolate mile at finish...awesome Another nice job, Cleveland!

While I didn't run in 2012, my comments seem to echo there's no seeding in corrals lead to a cluster as many halfers and fulls for that matter were way in front of where they should have been. Course is unscenic although starting and ending at browns stadium was nice. The roads were pothole central. Any med director who is ok with water stops at 2 to 2.5 intervals after mile 15 is an idiot. It was very hot and while that's beyond their control, water stops every mile is not. I myself saw 2 people passed out on side of the road. I heard there were many others. The spectators...wait were there any? Just being funny and realizing it's beyond their control but the spectators were downright deplorable. The volunteers were great however. I'm surprised Cleveland couldn't put something better together. It's not awful but realizing this was their 36th year how long does it take to get it right. The pig and Columbus are much better in every single way.

It pains me to post this because I am from Ohio, but I have run this marathon 2 years in a row, and both times have been disappointed. On the positive, the spectators are very supportive (although sparse in the second half, but that is the case in pretty much every marathon not named New York or Boston) and the volunteers are amazing. On the negative side: 1. Both times I've run this marathon, I've had to weave through traffic in a section of the marathon. This year, there was a driver trying to make a green light racing through the runners. (Last year, I saw a wheelchair racer weaving in the traffic and I was doing the same) 2. This year, there were a couple of us runners that took a wrong turn because some spectators were standing in front of the sign, and the course official wasn't paying attention. After I ran by 20 meters or so, a fan yelled at me to turn around. Unfortunately, there was a runner way in front of me and I don't know if he got the message. 3. The heat was an issue both years. This is obviously out of the control of the race director, but it is another reason I'm going to avoid this race. The people are amazing that put on this marathon. Everyone I came into contact with was nice and very helpful. I just feel there are a few logistical issues that need to be adjusted.

It was a VERY hot day - not the organizer's fault - but the water stations were hit or miss. Some volunteers had set water out in cups and it was hot by the time they handed it to you. Very lazy, poorly run. All I could think about after mile 20 was drinking an ice cold chocolate milk at the finish line. But to my surprise they were all out of chocolate milk, ice cream, popcicles...there was NOTHING cold left after 3:45 in. Afterwards I heard that other runners that finished VERY fast (sub 3:30) were able to take several cold items. The volunteers were also passing refreshments out to KIDS THAT WERE SPECTATING! I paid $80 to run this race, didn't get any sort of goodies in the 'goodie' bag, and then after I finished all they offered me to cool down was a luke warm water and a bag of cheetos!!! A disgrace to the city, and to marathons in general! Do not waste your time on this race!

Although the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and Half Marathon have walker divisions, I do not recommend this event for walkers. The Race Directors do nothing to discourage participants with walker bibs from running. In fact, the top 5 or 6 finishers in the half walker division ran across the finish line. For several years, walkers have made suggestions to the RD to stop this situation but we are ignored. I have been a pacer for walkers (and slower runners) and a participant for many years but never again.

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon was Number 50 in my quest to run a marathon in all 50 states (plus DC). Planned as such years ago as 'when I complete this quest I belong in the hall of fame - the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame'. I was not disappointed! Race Organization was GREAT! Plenty of room in the start area to get to your correct position. Interesting course provided good views of the city, harbor and lake front. One uphill of significance was in the first half. Plenty of well manned water stations. Even a priest blessing us with Holy Water. Gradual downhill from 17 to 20. Excellent finish area. I'd vote for some REAL BEER, though. GREAT ROCK BAND at the after party. 26.2 and Standing TALL - Thank You Cleveland, I'll HIGHLY recommend your race to everyone looking to marathon Ohio!!