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Cleveland Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Cleveland Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 3.3
Number of comments: 299 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
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R. W. from Canton, Ohio
(5/21/2013)
"Prepare to dodge potholes" (about: 2013)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Cleveland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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. | |
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D. R. from Cincinnati, OH
(5/21/2013)
"Well organized and well supported race." (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Cleveland Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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! | |
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S. J. from Columbus, Ohio
(5/19/2013)
"Med director needs to go back to med school" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Cleveland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 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. | |
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T. H. from Ohio
(5/19/2013)
"Disappointed...." (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Cleveland Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 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. | |
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K. S. from Cleveland, OH
(7/31/2012)
"Poorly organized!" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Cleveland Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 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! | |
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L. W. from Northern Ohio
(6/2/2012)
"NOT WALKER FRIENDLY" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Cleveland Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 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. | |
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Dick White from Cocoa Beach, Florida
(5/29/2012)
"Welcome to the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame" (about: 2012)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Cleveland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 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!! | |
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Ed Robins from Philadelphia, Pa
(5/24/2012)
"Good but not great Marathon" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I wanted to add a May marathon at the last minute and chose Cleveland. It is a good, fairly well organized race with more positives than negatives in my opinion. The expo was nice and good sized. If you forgot anything you easily could've purchased replacements. I listened to Joan Benoit Samuelson talk and got my picture with her. That was great. The race begins and ends at Browns stadium. Before the race you can use the restrooms at the stadium and if weather is cold or rainy (not the case in 2012) escape the elements. The course is nice but not great. It is advertised as flat and fast and for the most part that is true but there are a few hills the first half including a short and steep one at about mile ten. If you are running the full the second half is thankfully very flat. There is a fair amount of concrete that I did not expect. We run through a few nice neighborhoods, get a few nice views of the lake (especially miles 20-22) and a nice view of the skyline. We also pass the Indians ballpark. I did appreciate the downhill at the end. There are only corrals for elite runners. Most of the runners just self seed themselfs so the first miles are crowded. In 2012 it was quite hot and this tested the race organization. There were plenty of aid stations but with the heat these were often overwhelmed especially the first half with both full and half marathoners. The volunteers here were working harder than the runners just trying to keep up. They really deserved the medals. The water stops weren't organized and this contributed to the problems. Sometimes water was first, sometimes poweraid. All the cups said poweraid whether they were water or poweraid. Even without the heat I think these early stops may have been undermanned. I also would suggest having volunteers on both sides of the street at least for the first few crowded stops. The second half of the race I was impressed with the race's response to the heat. All the water stops had someone with a hose to spray you down and there seemed to be lots of race officials on bikes to help the many runners who succumbed to the heat. I'd never seen so many ambulances or runners laying on the side of a road before. For the last two stops officials were yelling to all runners that it was now mandatory to take water. It seems to me the race director deserves much praise for reacting the weather. I was disappointed with the fan support. This is a big city and the race is 35 years old so I expected a bigger turnout. Also almost no music in the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was suprising. One real downside of this race was the $8 parking fee at the expo and $10 fee to park race day. Take that into consideration when budgeting for this race. We got a short sleeve tech shirt and if the medal is important to you (it is to me) I think this one may be my favorite. | |
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G. S. from Louisville, KY
(5/23/2012)
"Not a good course" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Cleveland Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Race director can't do anything about sun & heat. No need to whine about extreme temps. PowerAde was hot & not drinkable. The layout of the course was okay but the roads were absolutely terrible. They must have looked for the worst roads in the city. The food at the finish line was bad. Bananas, bags of chips, fruit snacks, and water. Chocolate milk was gone. I saw an Eddy's ice cream truck but no ice cream. Did the half marathon people scarf all of the food or was it just poor planning? | |
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L. B. from Independence, Ohio
(5/23/2012)
"Carry water always, hot day, course ok" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Cleveland Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The 2012 course was a combination of previous years courses. I agree with another reviewer that the start line was overcrowded with spectators & hard to find the pace signs. The day before the race, volunteers were still being requested in the newspaper for the race which could acct. for the confusion at water stops. Water did run out at mile 4 when I got there. Suggestion: Always carry your own water esp. in the heat. Since I carry a water bottle, I was ok with no water at mile 4. And yes, more water stops were needed. I did have more marathoners ard me this year than previous years could be the heat more people were going slower? I assume the IX Center was chosen for the expo due to its location tho $8 for parking was IX Center fee. Several vehicles parked off the road to avoid the fee. Don't know why expo held there. Each year, expo location changes. It would have been nice to have more food at the finish line as if you aren't a sub 4hr marathoner, little food left for you. And to add insult to injury, the Edy's ice cream truck was there but locked up :( |
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