Glass City Marathon - Race Reviews

This is a great race for first time marathoners! Not too big, not too small. The course is flat, and the organizers and spectators helped make it a special experience. You get a brightly colored bib so people know to cheer you on as a first timer and a nice 'My First Marathon' swag bag (a cotton t-shirt, keychain, and sticker) included with the race jacket. The long straightaways sucked a little, but overall it's a nice course with lots of greenery. You run through a few well-manicured neighborhoods and a metropark. There are several quiet stretches without a lot of spectators, but I was glad not to have an audience the entire time. And the people who were out cheering were awesome - creative signs, cheers, and refreshments (mimosas, beer, donuts, popsicles, orange slices, etc.) As a back-of-the-packer, I was a little disappointed to cross the finish line and only find chocolate chip cookies left to grab - all of the pizza and other free food had already been eaten or taken away. But that is a minor complaint in an otherwise great race. 10/10 would run again!

I had high hopes for my hometown race (I now live elsewhere in Ohio and have run other big marathons). This race was ok, but the crowd support was meh especially that last part on the bike path (granted, it was raining, but by the time I came through it had cleared up) and the last 4 miles blew my PR - so boring and a steady incline it seemed. Volunteers didn't even know where bag check was located, the morning was a panic because of lack of signage as far as where to go from the parking area. Added unnecessary stress. And putting food outside the stadium was a long walk especially because I needed to get back to finish line to see a friend. I finished in 445, not the absolute back of the pack, and they didn't even have a banana left, just a cold piece of pizza. Wouldn't have bothered walking all the way over there had I known there was almost nothing there. The glass mug is unique. Expo ok. Overall maybe I'm spoiled by another Ohio race but my expectations were not met and I wouldn't run this again.

This was my first marathon, and Glass City didn't disappoint. Organization and volunteers were great, I really enjoyed the course and the crowd support from the community was excellent. Toledo as a city isn't at the top of my list to visit but I would run this marathon again, the race experience was awesome.

I've run the Glass City Half Marathon twice. Packet pickup is always well organized, parking and start corrals easy to find, course is well marked, water stops and course Marshall's so encouraging. Even the residents in the neighborhoods the course rolls through are encouraging and friendly. I seed myself in the slower pace groups and the water stops have always been in good supply for the things you would need. The only thing I don't care for the length of time you spend on University Park's Trail. Straight as an arrow and you're on it for a few miles. Really makes it tough when your in those final miles, but at the same time it could be the mental challenge you were looking to overcome. Overall it's a great race and one that I'll keep in my rotation when I think I'd like to run a long race again.

I've been lucky enough to have ran this marathon 9 times and the organization and support during the race are fantastic. The expo is well run and easy to access with excellent volunteers. Along the course all the water, Gatorade, and energy gel is is as good as I've ever experienced (26 marathons/6 continents/3 majors). The volunteers all weekend are the best! My only quibble is the overall course. I feel like there could be a way to have it go through actual Toledo. The Downtown/Old West End/ Uptown/West Toledo would lead to more crowd support. I feel like the more concentrated population and businesses would add more fun! Running through Ottawa Hills and Sylvania the houses are few and far between with less people.The new bike/running trails (Chessie Circle Trail) could be included. Downtown is much nicer then it was 15 years ago, include it! The last 4 miles on the University Parks Trail is draining, it's a no man's land with little to no crowd support, and this is when you need it most! Getting the Toledo community involved would be great and ending the marathon by running with some crowd support would be much better. I know the logistics might be more difficult but a race through Toledo and an ending downtown might be just what this race needs to take it to the next level and attract more participants. Make it happen Clint!

I love this race. The communication, information, organization and volunteers are top notch, some of the best around. The course is awesome, very flat and with a great variation of trails, streets and neighborhoods. The spectators are incredible, supportive, fun and line the course at nearly every mile.

I did the half this year (2024) and it was great! Only thing is there were more hills than I expected so make sure to train for hills! The course was beautiful! I loved how you got some city and some nature! This event was very well organized and have zero complaints!

Even in pouring rain and humid temperatures this course had great crowd support, lots of water stops, well organized, and flat course to run on. What else could you want?

They ran out of gels on the course. I was not prepared for that. It really de-railed my plan. I found out later that early runners were being allowed to grab handfuls of gels instead of 1-2. I was not offered one of those heat blankets after the race like others were. And there weren't enough bathrooms on the course because every one I saw had a long line and that also hurt my time. I held it for an hour before I caved. Over all it was a good course and I felt like it was run pretty well. Just a few things I'd fix!

Fun, scenic and very fast. A few inclines on the course, but no actual hills. Plenty of water stations on the course with enthusiastic volunteers. Course was clearly marked with course marshals at intersections for extra guidance. Plentiful free parking very close to start and finish lines. Fantastic pacers, great photographers, and helpful staff. Great jacket for those who sign up early, and a fun glass mug at the finish line along with your medal. Porta potty lines pre-race were long, just allow 15 minutes or use the ones near the finish line instead. Most water stops were on the left side of the road; I would have preferred them on the right since people tend to pass on the left, but that's the only thing I'd change. Great race!

I would love this marathon if I wasn't a wheelie, but for a wheelie like me, it was not so great. Winding up & down roads through the mansion district was pretty but for wheelies, turning every 250 yards on hilly terrain wrecks you. The trail route was scenic also but I got stuck behind ambi's where the trail was split for laps. The saving grace was that they gave me a guide on a bike who was clearing the way for me, without him it would've been a nightmare. Runners were missing turns, I would've been lost. If you want to be an inclusive event...have the race coordinator wheelie his chosen course before making a decision. If you don't want to change the course...push the wheelies out 30 min before the elites and that would eliminate 75% of the issues.

So for a first time marathoner the experience was amazing. I say this because I didn't know what to expect 100% on race day. Pryor to the race I had many questions about different things. So I reached out to different people associated with the committee to get them answered. My questions were responded to promptly and professionally. That being said, I didn't have one problem that day (besides the heat). Speaking of heat. The medical staff was on point that day with the temps being 30° warmer than what everyone had been training in. I would say with the so many people having heat issues that day, I didn't hear of one complaint about being not being attended to. Med staff =A+ For the course and the people. Very cool turnout from people cheering, sprinklers going, hoses shot at the hot runners if they wanted, fuel and water stops supplied by homeowners, they were everywhere they could be. And the course was just enough of elevation change and make it interesting... the scenery through the park and the neighborhoods made it peaceful and beautiful. So for my first experience running such a race, I would give it a big thumbs up.

Toledo and the GCM was perfect for a flat and fast spring marathon. The course was fun starting and ending on UT's campus, and the marathon was scenic around beautiful Toledo neighborhoods and Wildwood Metropark. Everything was well planned out, there were lots of spectators and entertainment around the course, and amazing support staff and volunteers made the weekend and race run very smoothly! 10/10 recommend!

So this was my second marathon after last years Detroit and am now addicted to pain. Toledo was the earliest full and closest and heard good things about it so we signed up! It was super hot with temps around 68 at 6:30am and approaching 80 by 11am. The water stations were adequate but there were some stretches between 15-18 and 20-25 that were full sun and some of the paths in the metro parks lacked crowd support. My main complaint was the lack of porta potties at start. They had a few clusters of 4-6 PP but with everyone over hydrating there were lines 100+ deep to wait for 4 porta potties. I waited in line at 6:13 and at 6:20 I took off for the finish where there were hundreds empty and ready. My friend didn't fare so well she waited til mile 6-8 until she found one without a wait I cramped up right after mile 25, another runner stopped and helped me stretch my calf's and get me up. I still PRd by 18 seconds but it was HOTTTTT and people puking, cramped up and EMS sirens galore. The expo line was kinda excessive, the early registration jacket was cheaper than it appeared online but I am thinking 2023 give it another chance. Course was flat, crowds good for 90% of race and Post race party was nice

I was surprised that the race ran. If it hadn't been for the vaccination push, I expect it would not (Ohio had a significant 4th wave of COVID deaths that peaked the week before the event, and was still averaging about 20 deaths and 1,600 cases per day). The organizers handled it very well but Mercy Health is the main sponsor, so I expected as much. As others have noted, either proof of being fully vaccinated OR a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event was required; both were free in the area where I live. COVID changes: Only one vendor at the Expo. Gear check was self-serve before the start and after the finish. Aid stations only had small, capped bottles of water, which many runners struggled trying to open (I gave up on one). There were few spectators, but more than I expected. There was a small refreshment table around the corner and down the hill after the finish; I found about it later. The really good thing: There were a LOT of corrals for the start. Runners were commenting at the beginning how nice it was, not having to dodge other runners for the first mile. THIS WAS WONDERFUL. PLEASE DO THIS FOR FUTURE MARATHONS!

A well-organized marathon that took place during a pandemic is admirable. I was irritated that the course only offered water, no sports drink. The protocols for the marathon were NOT well communicated. Lastly, the hotel situation in the Toldeo area is annoying.

I will start with the vaccine requirement. They required a vaccination for the China virus - or that you had been tested and negative - within 72 hours of checking in. Many of us are carry-overs, deferred from last year's event - that was cancelled. Within the last several weeks, this virus requirement was added. Without the proper paperwork, you would not be running on Sunday morning. The PCR tests take too long to get results and the rapid tests were not readily available - at least where I live. But I got a rapid test Thursday and got though this okay (but I had to drive 80 miles for the test). There was a long line for checking in Saturday afternoon, and that was after registration had already been open for the two previous days. I think we all got through it okay. Ground zero for this marathon was the area around the Stadium at the University of Toledo - called the Glass Bowl. Check-in was under the bleachers. The line seemed to keep moving. After your number was assigned and you had your bib, a little further down you got a box with your SWAG - a T-shirt, a glass mug, safety pins, some ads, a honey gel, and the finisher's medal (I prefer receiving my medal at the finish line). The glass mug was along the lines of an A&W root-beer mug. It is nice!! Parking lot #10 - adjacent to the stadium - was where everything seemed to be organized. The start line was there (the finish line was on the football field turf). There were 5 corrals where runners were assigned to congregate. The corrals were released in order, with a couple of minutes between each wave. This spread the runners out more at the beginning. It worked fine. The course started out meandering through the University, and went on to roads that were closed, or partially closed, for the event. Law enforcement did a great job keeping runners safe and traffic moving as best they could. Something I had never seen before, this marathon had a dashed blue line about every 50 feet along the course. It was a great alternative to cones and signs. They must have got permission from the city to do that. But from about mile 15 to almost 17, the blue dashed lines were not present. Once I noticed the line was gone, I thought I might have gotten off course. But there were Toledo Runner Club signs through that part (a neighborhood) to point the way. It might have been a neighborhood home-owner's association that would not allow them to paint a stripe on the road. But who knows for sure? The weather was mostly overcast, and the sun was obscured by clouds. Starting line temperature was probably near 40 and high was probably mid to upper 50's. It was great weather for running. Once on the course and through a couple of turns, I had no idea where in the town I was. I was unfamiliar with the town, and did not recognize any landmarks, roads, or buildings. At about mile-post 21.5, the railroad tracks oriented me for the stretch back to campus. It seemed that most of this course was on roads, but there were parts on the trail system too. Around mile 12 and 21, the course covered the same part of a trail. The first time through you turned right, the second time through, you turned left. From mile 13 almost to 20, we were on roads and in neighborhoods. There was a long, long stretch on a major road. Just before mile-post 20 we went on the trail again, and were on trails again until back on campus. From just before mile-post 22 until past mile-post 25, we were on a paved foot and bike path that ran parallel to the railroad tracks. Back on campus, the last 3/4 of a mile were on campus streets and through parking lots. The blue dashed line kept runners on track back through many twists & turns, then back to parking lot #10 and on to the stadium turf for the finish line. Closing comments: There were a lot of people here for this event. The director did the best job possible given the circumstances. There was no Gator-ade or Power-ade available. Only water was available at each water station. Sometimes neighbors might be handing out their own things to help runners (I did get one very small cup of orange Gator-ade from some stranger). I could not carry enough Gator-ade for the whole course, so I ran out with still a few miles to go. Somewhere in the second half - maybe about mile posts 16 and 19, there were men handing out Stinger honey gel. That was really significant, because there were no other carbs on the course. Also there were a few crowds of fans along the way cheering us on. That helps emotionally. Also, at the finish line there were boxed lunches  and bottles of water. The lunch was a turkey sub sandwich, pretzels, a golden delicious apple, and a chocolate chip cookie. But no other fruit (a banana would have been a nice addition). It was a great sandwich!

First off, I want to start with the good. We had a live race when every other race is cancelling and going virtual. We got to run a real marathon and have a finish inside a football stadium. Sure, we had to have proof of shots or vaccines or a negative test, but we got to run a real race. Was it different, yes. Was having no gatorade an issue, yes. But we had a live race. The course is as promised, flat and fast. I ran my first sub 2:50 marathon so believe the hype. They also had a decent medal and a nice beer glass in the race packet. Now, all that being said, a race that is 44 years old should have some things down at this point. Like not directing runners the wrong way on a course. The half marathon lead pack was all directed incorrectly and it caused mass confusion for everyone. I was in an area where runners were coming in from three directions and there were no signs where to go and no volunteers explaining what to do. It was complete chaos. My friend ended up running 14.8 miles on his half marathon as a result. Secondly, there were barely any toilets at the start. For the amount of people racing, they should have had double. I stood in line over 30 minutes and barely made my corral. I have never waited that long at a marathon is this was my 21st. Finally, the race shirt was the absolute worst race shirt I have ever received. I love wearing my marathon shirts but this one was poorly designed and improperly fitting too. I have a running team of 14 people who were at the race and not one person liked the shirt and most were giving it away. I am sure that is not the intent but I don't think anyone 'tested' the shirt to see if people would like it. Overall, props to holding a race. I ran the marathon and had no issues in my race. But not having the course marked properly (several areas had confusing sections where I saw people run the wrong way) is a huge no-no. I won't be back but only because I would normally be running Boston in the spring.

This course is flat and fast and the race weather is usually conducive to PR stuff. The route takes you through a good slice of Toledo, wonderful old homes, and tree-lined streets. Some marathons are stuck going through run-down neighborhoods or raunchy industrial areas with their fumes. This one isn't stuck. The university area is a fine place to feature the start and finish and the highways are close by, too. Part of why I like this marathon is that a running club stands behind it, rather than a tourist group. And, it's been around for a long time ...

I have run this race numerous times. Here are some things you should know. First, This race has a 'marathon relay' running on the same course as the real marathon. The marathon course should be reserved for those who have actually trained for a marathon, not someone who wants to just do 5 miles of it. Imagine being at mile 20 and having a fresh body jump right in the race beside you chatting you up while you are in the middle of an actual marathon. This whole marathon relay is a smack in the face to the real marathon athletes and is nothing more than a way to fleece out extra money from the community for this event. Second, This race really doesn't get into the real areas of Toledo. It sticks to the nicer parts. I personally would rather see this run through the scuzzy parts of town. Third, like all races these days, it is overrun with women. They make up about 64% of this event, so unless you are in the top 5% of runners be prepared to run with a bunch of chicks.

A very well run race. The course varies from residential to paved bike trails. Great support throughout the race. Spectators were sparse but enthusiastic.

I have run the Glass City twice and the half once. It was my first marathon and a wonderful experience. The course is pretty flat and goes through very nice neighborhoods as well as a park. The spectators could be more plentiful but this is a minor quibble. The expo is not overly large but well-equipped. The volunteers and race officials are very accommodating and professional. There are so many other marathons that I would not run it again but I would do the half.

The race features free parking at the race start and packet pickup. The expo was big and featured a large number of vendors. I did the half since I ran the full the day before in Dearborn. The course had rolling hills net downhill. I would recommend this race to people from Canada since you start in Ottawa Ohio! Pretty homes and vey nice people. Great restaurants nearby and I stayed at the Red Roof Inn for $50 a night about 7 miles from the race. The University gym is better than all the gyms I trained in in Canada. Worth the drive! The post race party features free beer, pizza, cinnamon sticks, bagels,licorice, cookies, pretzels and a bbq! All for free! Pricing for registration was inexpensive as well.

Toledo's Glass City Marathon has been run 41 times and that experience shows. Just about everything is well organized - good parking, a wave start with wide roads for the first 8 miles to ease congestion between marathoners and halfers (they split after running 8 miles together), easy packet pick-up, and ample porta-potties in all the right spots. I lost count, but I think there were about 87 water and Gatorade stops - they were everywhere. The course starts through some stunningly beautiful neighborhoods of Toledo's suburbs and then through two pretty parks. The last few miles are on a bike trail that does get boring at times, until finishing on the University of Toledo campus, which is pretty and very accommodating to runners (the Savage Arena is open before the race starts with lots of bathroom facilities). The course is quite flat, with just enough hills to give variety without causing pain. Their motto of 'You'll run faster in Toledo' is true - a 4 hour marathon puts you in the second half of runners. The one drawback to this marathon is the crowd support - there is very little. I ran with a large pack around a 4 hour pace and the crowd support was sparse through the neighborhoods and almost non-existent in the parks and trails. Overall, The Glass City Marathon is a well-organized race that provides good opportunities for a fast run.

I thought this marathon was well organized. I had intentions of improving on my time and was looking for a fast and flat course. This certainly lived up to what I had heard, I ran a 20 minute PR! The course was great, I like that it went through the parks, too. There is one stretch after mile 20 where there can't be much crowd support, which was a little tough. The rest of the race I was surprised at all the people outside in the neighborhoods cheering us on! Definitely a race I would recommend and run again! Thanks Glass City!

This was my first ever marathon, so I guess I am a little biased but I thought Toledo did a great job! The expo was great, lots of pre-race goodies and awesome gear. The course was well organized, mostly flat, a decent amount of turns so you're not bored running on the same long stretch for miles on end. My only complaint (or suggestion) would be the start...better communication about location of bathrooms (the lines were LONG at the start), and better organization of the corrals. I had to start on the outside of the barriers, as a lot of us couldn't fit in toward the beginning. I know they had to deal with some construction issues, so this may all be fixed next year. Overall, highly recommend this race!

This was my 8th marathon- a great flat, fast course. We had great weather. Pacers for different goal times, which was great for me. Friendly people, not too crowded, but enough people to run with. Loved this race, definitely a PR type of course!

I'm biased by the fact that I ran a PR here, but I thought Glass City was a great race! The expo was one of the larger ones I've attended. We received 2(!) nice shirts. Traffic was a bit congested at the start but easy parking. Wonderful volunteers throughout and great fan support. If you've run a few marathons, you know that no one wants to stand around all day cheering for runners, but there were more fans at this race than at many others I've attended, and they were very supportive. The race had a ton of well-stocked water stops. Perhaps best of all, this is one of the few races where you don't have to weave your way through slow-moving half-marathoners. The awards and finisher medals were top-notch. I wasn't crazy about the hill at mile 19 but my only real complaint had to do with the section of the race from 22 to 25 that circled around on bike trails. VERY lonely & difficult mentally for a racer. Otherwise the course was well-marked, and the finish area had plenty of food, beverages, etc. I have run 15 marathons, including Twin Cities, Grandmas, Boston, etc., and this is one of my 2 or 3 favorites!

The Expo was great; well organized and Dave's Running is the best. Race day? Lack of port-a-pottys and then having people start completely opposite from the direction most people are coming was a disaster. The pacer? Sorry, but to run a 3:40 you log 8:22 miles not 8:06 and such and then ease up at the end. That was frustrating as I pushed myself to stay with the pacer instead of using my watch; I paid for it the last 6 miles. The last several miles were barren. I like bike hike trails, but when you are suffering, it seems like a 10th of a mile is forever. Not my favorite marathon.

I have run about 15 marathons of various sizes (NYC, Detroit, Steamtown) and I was really impressed with the organization and amenities at GCM. The expo was bigger and more fun than expected thanks to the great location on UT campus, Dave's Running Store (cool T-shirts!), and kids races (cute and inspiring). Race morning was a breeze. Plenty of toilets (I went twice!), DJs pumping the crowd and giving directions. We did start late but I didn't have any other plans for that morning so it wasn't a problem. Great National Anthem by a local high schooler. The course is nice with good variety and no actual hills. I did read complaints about running along a road with cars but we also ran though parks, along dedicated bike paths, and through quiet neighborhoods. It never felt like monotonous miles of roadwork. The crowds are small but many Toledoans did make an effort to come out. Plus there are 19 water stations full of enthusiastic volunteers and a DJ on the course (nice touch, you see him twice). Post race food includes PIZZA AND BEER! and pasta and cookies. They were pumping Prince in the beer tent! (I never saw this in NYC or Boston.) Bottom Line: you get certain perks with a smaller marathon. Easier race day morning. Better food at the finish. A personal connection to the fans on the course. And the cache of a GCM T-shirt (which I will wear as proudly as any Boston jacket). Like I said, I have some perspective here having run races of all sizes. GCM exceeded my expectations and I would certainly recommend it for regional runners and even nationwide runners looking for a flat, medium-sized, well-organized, Spring race. You are always taking your chances with Toledo weather but everything else is handled well. Train hard, stay positive, and make it happen. Good luck to all of you.

I fully understand the reason for the course change this year. However entering the start corrals was a challenge. Coming from the staging area where the port-a-potty's were to the corrals was very congested. This resulted in slower runners just getting into the start area as the race was set to begin.

I enjoyed running in Toledo! The race was a smaller, well-organized run with wonderful swag! A great weekend - thanks so much!

This race has truly been improved over the years, better expo, course and finish party and two shirts, but be prepared the finish party and the beer stops at 6 hours on the dot. Many miles of rails to trails and scenic parks too. The course was altered a little this year due to construction and seemed to make it even better.

GCM 2016 was my first marathon experience. From the course to the spectators to the amazing volunteers - the entire day was top notch!

This was an amazing race. The organization was excellent. The course was scenic and fun. The crowd support was fantastic. Overall I think Toledo put on a great event. I think this will become a fan favorite in Ontario for those looking to do an early spring race. Toledo ... The new Boston LOL

A scenic course with many volunteers and spectators.

Everything went well. The Expo was great, the course was pretty, the support was wonderful and the food at the finish was perfect. Getting to the starting line was easy. Great job!