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☰
Akron Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Akron Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 4.5
Number of comments: 309 [displaying comments 241 to 251]
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H. T. from Elmhurst, IL
(4/17/2006)
"not certain what is happening with this race" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The course has a moderate number of hills but is closed to motor vehicle traffic, so for that I love the Akron course. Flat the course is not. There are easier courses out there but this was not that difficult. The 4-mile trail section in the middle is a great section. I haven't seen a stretch like this on any urban marathon course that I have run. I don't understand what Akron is trying to do though. In 2003 and 2004 the Akron race emphasized the 5-person relay event and brought in Olympic caliber runners from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., and offered a $25,000 prize incentive for the winner of the relay. In 2005 the Akron race emphasized the full marathon and offered a cash incentive of $12,000 for the top runner. In 2006 the Akron site indicates that Akron has slashed the full marathon prize incentive from $12,000 down to $2000 and has done away with the money awards for the relay. This might indicate that Akron only wants to be a local event and is not attempting to become a regional or national must-do marathon that it has the potential for being. | |
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S. s. from Canton, Ohio
(12/1/2005)
"tic-tac-toe, 3 in a row" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 3rd Akron and 4th marathon. I took 52 minutes off of my marathon PR this year. If you are smart, you will train for hills. A lot of focus has been put on the 'rally from the valley' but you also have to watch out for Heartrate Hill (at mile 20ish just before Stan Hywet). This hill gets your heart rate the highest it will get during the race and shortly thereafter you will most likey hit a wall. The race organizers are really friendly and listen to what you have to say and are looking hard for ways to improve this marathon! | |
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C. K. from NE Ohio
(10/13/2005)
"'Big Race' ammenities, small race benefits." (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second Akron Marathon, and once again, I am so impressed by the attention to detail apparent in this fairly new race. Even if you're a mid-packer like me, you'll be treated like an elite in Akron. Crowd support is terrific for such a small race, and there are nearly as many volunteers as there are runners - making it fast and easy to get answers to any and all concerns. The whole event has the 'feel' of the big races in terms of support, but with the attention to detail of smaller races, and no crowds to battle at the starting line. There's something very appropriate about having the Road Runner (beep! beep!) as the race's sponsor/mascot, and the founder standing at the finish shaking the hand of each and every finisher is a nice touch. I trained much harder for hills this time around, but they were just as challenging as last time. Not a PR course unless you are a terrific hill runner. But I had to run it again anyway, because it's just so well done! Nice premiums, too - l/s tech shirt, tech hat with an embroidered Road Runner, and matching cool medal. | |
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G. M. from Erie
(10/12/2005)
"Akron - happy I ran there and I plan on being back" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have run Akron in 2004 and 2005 and I agree with many of the commments that this is a good race in a mid-sized town. I have run in the NYC, Chicago, Twin Cities, LA, and Columbus marathons and Akron ranks up there with those races. In 2005, Akron had many of the features of a big town mega-marathon: 1. an impressive elite field of international runners. Seeing the many elite runners at the starting line, I thought I was at the starting line in Chicago or New York. This was great to see these runners coming to Akron to race and bypassing the other flat fall marathon courses. 2. plenty of bands and other entertainment scattered throughout the course to provide motivation to leg weary runners. 3. streets closed in both directions for the runners in the opening 6 miles and streets closed in one direction for parts of the race after that point. 4. a clompletely closed hard-packed, dirt walking trail during miles 11 through 15. 5. a completely closed asphalt road through Sand Run Park during miles 15 - 19. 6. as with most big time marathons, Akron has plenty of Gu, Powerade, and water on the course. Also, there is plenty of post-race food and beer, a finisher's medal with the Road Runner cartoon character on it, and massages. 7. runners have there name announced when approaching the finish line inside Canal Park, home of Akron's AA minor league baseball team. After crossing the finish, each runner is greeted by race director Jim Barnett. Akron could improve by closing the streets to automobile traffic in both directions throughout the course. In the big town marathons such as Boston, New York, Chicago, and Columbus the runners will not even see a car throughout the entire race. Akron is a good race as is though and I plan on running it again in 2006. | |
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B. M. from OH
(10/10/2005)
"Race staff is stupendous!" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race was one of a kind. The event staff - Mr. Barnett in particular - went above and beyond the call of duty to make me feel welcome. As a 'sub-elite' runner, he and his fellow staffers made me feel like an elite racer. If you're looking for a great fall marathon, Akron is going to be one for you. | |
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J. V. from Akron, Ohio
(10/8/2005)
"The best organized marathon I've run to date!!!!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My husband and I have run marathons in four other cities: Cincinnati, Columbus, Memphis, and Disney in Orlando. We are by far most impressed with this one!!!! We just moved to town, so we wanted to run the marathon, but certainly did not expect more than has been delivered elsewhere. We were very surprised! There were signs preceeding water and restroom stops, so we could plan our strategy.... And there were more than enough potties to not have the dreaded stench or EVER wait in line (no one used the bushes!)! They not only fed us sandwiches/fruit/drinks at the finish, but there were coffee, fruit, water, and muffins at the start. The course itself, which is marked with a distinctive blue line so there is no question about where to go, was varied in scenery so it was interesting along the way, and the elevation emulates Boston very well. We cannot say enough about how impressed we are with this marathon! | |
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S. W. from Akron, Ohio
(10/8/2005)
"Excellent support, challenging course" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and I had a great experience. I am a local - so I may be a bit biased. The course was very well supported - mostly completely closed roads, lots of volunteers, police at all crossings. The relayers can be a little demoralizing when you pass an exchange point and get passed by several, but they all wear pink relay bibs on their back so you can identify them. The course has some long hills so it is challenging, though there is a considerable downhill around mile 10 to the Towpath, then 4 flat miles, and the last few miles are mostly downhill. I train on moderate hills, and these really didn't bother me much. Looking forward to next year. | |
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D. K. from Erie, PA
(10/7/2005)
"A high-quality marathon that will test you." (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Akron Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A very interesting course that has pavement,concrete, brick and gravel to run on. The towpath section was very nice. This marathon has everything most runners need: a quality expo, a technical shirt, medium size, high-quality medal and post-race party. I especially enjoyed the bands & singers. I thought the course was tougher than Boston's. My running buddies agreed. The sun wasn't a factor until mile 22+. Probably not the best course for a first-time marathoner. A very fun experience, especially if you like hills. | |
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Raynard Packard from Akron, Ohio
(10/4/2005)
"Post-Industrial Charm" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon straight up rocks, folks. The cloverleaf course is varied and wide ranging through urban, post-industrial, university, and park settings. The finish is at a downtown stadium (cue 'Fanfare for the Common Man'). The support is clearly runner-focused, with attention to detail. If you want a race with an engaging course, tight organization and great bennies (cool shirt and medal), this is IT. | |
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T. M. from West Virginia
(10/4/2005)
"Fun course - lots of spectator support" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Akron Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second Road Runner (and second marathon). The course is not impossible by any means, but it does challenge you after mile 16 with a series of rolling hills. I've always kept up on my hill work so I thought it was fun passing everyone. :) Organizers have established pace teams to help newer marathoners like myself. I ran with the 3:20 pacer, finished in 3:21, and had a blast (thanks Tony)! Crowd support is excellent, and what a finish in front of a full crowd in the Akron Arrows Stadium! The post-race is well staffed; there was plenty of food, water, Gatorade, silver blankets, and even beer for the runners. If you are thinking about this race, check out the course on video at the website. I plan to run it again. Good job, Road Runner. |
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