This article was published in a 2008 edition of Marathon & Beyond. It's about the Cleveland Marathon, and since the race has changed so much, the article is a little dated. On the other hand, some is still relevant. Enjoy.
Interested in running a fast spring marathon? Do you prefer low-hassle races that still have a fun, hometown atmosphere? The Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon may be your ticket. The race exudes a friendly, down-home ambiance. Everyone from the race director to all the volunteers, are welcoming, cheerful, and happy to be of help.
The Cleveland Marathon is generally well regarded as a race with a low hassle factor. No need to take a bus to the start or from the finish; the start and finish areas are at the same place. Major hotels are within walking distance, as is access to public transportation, including buses and rapid transit trains run by the Regional Transit Authority system (RTA). Parking is abundant and easy to find. If you’re staying downtown, you can just roll out of bed and mosey over to the start, and then mosey back when you’re done. Likewise, if you’re out in the ‘burbs, you can either drive, take a bus, or take a rapid transit train to a point near the start/finish area, and then repeat the process in reverse a few hours later. Although the marathon along with the tie-in events may host as many as 9,000 runners, the expo, the related events, and the marathon itself never feel too crowded.
The Cleveland weather in May can be cold, warm, cloudy, sunny or rainy, and sometimes all of the above during the same event! Another factor is the wind. Miles 19-23 are along Lake Erie, and the wind coming off the lake can sometimes be very strong. This said, the weather can generally be expected to be favorable.
How, exactly, did Cleveland get to become ranked among the fastest marathon courses in America? According to RunningUSA, the analysis of mean times for U.S. Marathons with more than 1,000 finishers showed Steamtown, Citizens Bank Philadelphia, and Rite Aid Cleveland as the top three for several different years. Cleveland’s mean finishing time was about 4:05 in 2004 and 2005, and about 4:10 for 2006 and 2007. The course is not entirely flat, however, and the weather is not always favorable. Perhaps that no-nonsense, no-hassle attitude also has something to do with running faster. Another reason may be that possibly, slower runners don’t come here to run. Note, however, that there are walking as well as running divisions, and that the course is open and times are recorded for an eight-hour time period. Slower runners and walkers may be asked to move to the sidewalks, however.
Cleveland is not at the top of everyone’s list of tourist destinations, but there is plenty to see and do there. If you like non-running spectator sports, check out the Indians or the Cavaliers. The Cleveland area is home to an exceptional park system. These include a few beaches along Lake Erie, and a chain of beautiful metropolitan parks known as the Emerald Necklace. Another wonderful park is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park south of town. Dining and nightlife is in full swing in the East 4th street area and the Warehouse District. And if you’re into cultural activities, Cleveland excels with the world famous Cleveland Orchestra and an excellent array of performing arts at Playhouse Square as well as other areas. There are several fine museums as well. See the Must See / Must Avoid section for a more complete list of these and other local attractions.
A Bit of Background
The Cleveland Marathon was first run in 1978 as the Revco Cleveland Marathon. The original course was out and back, beginning at Cleveland State University and heading westward into the western suburbs. CVS eventually bought out the Revco chain, and found itself inheriting a marathon as well. More recently, Rite-Aid has taken over as title sponsor to complete the drug chain trifecta. One wonders what the organizers will do when they run out of pharmacies. The course has also been changed in recent years to show off more of the city’s cultural and scenic landmarks on both the west and east sides of town.
Jack Staph ran that first Revco Cleveland Marathon in a time of just over 3 hours. He had been trying to qualify for Boston with a sub-3 hour time. He later learned that some cones had been moved at Public Square, causing the course to be long, perhaps by as much as 600 yards. This incident and other factors caused him to become much more involved in the race and to eventually become executive race director, a position he still holds. His son, Ralph, serves as race director.
Through the years there have been some excellent performances by some gifted marathoners. One of the most famous, however, came from someone who wasn’t one of the top runners. Several years back, a woman who had trained for and planned to run the 10K, lined up for the marathon instead. The marathon start is earlier, but she had become confused. At some point after the start, her mistake began to dawn on her. She actually ran the whole way, finished, and became an instant local celebrity.
The field for the accompanying 10K has often been in excess of 5,000, although these numbers have been a bit lower in recent years. The marathon, although it’s the signature event, has never had such a huge field. A half-marathon has also been added to the mix recently, replacing a relay team event.
In terms of prestige, reputation and numbers, the Cleveland Marathon has had its ups and downs over the years. The last few, however, have been much better than most. And the numbers show it – they’re increasing once again.
Marathon Weekend
Cleveland isn’t New York, Boston or Chicago, but the expo is a pretty good one. Vendors are well represented, there are usually several speakers, and it is quite well attended. The expo takes place the Friday and Saturday prior to the race. Check the website for the location as well as exact dates and times. There are other things to do as well:
Associated with the Marathon is the Annual Kid’s Run on Saturday. All kids get a t-shirt, medal, food, and drinks. This event takes place at the Great Lakes Science Center, located in downtown Cleveland. Race distances change depending on the age of the child.
Also associated with the marathon are two other races: a half-marathon and a 10K. There are walking as well as running divisions for all of the distances. The half-marathon shares the start and the first 12 miles with the full marathon. The 10K is run after the start of the marathon. Although the marathon has had some excellent runners compete in the past, the 10K often features world-class athletes and has seen some world records. All these events give spectators plenty to cheer about during the time that the marathoners are out on their walk-about.
The course itself now features some extra goodies: 16 music stations including 5-6 bands and 10 DJ’s, as well as 8 cheering sections. The cheering sections are manned by Cleveland Marathon sponsored charities.
Finally, the Cleveland Marathon features a 26.3 Mile Rock Party, including live music, games, prize giveaways and food and refreshments.
The Course
The start is at the corner of East 13th and St. Clair Avenue, and the initial direction is eastbound. Within a half-mile, you will turn north and then west. At East 9th Street, you turn north and quickly west. You’re now on Lakeside Avenue.
Here, just past the one-mile mark, you pass three landmarks in succession: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Great Lakes Science Center and Browns Stadium. You may catch a glimpse of Lake Erie in between. The Rock Hall is a stunning piece of architecture, designed by I. M. Pei. The Great Lakes Science Center is a hands-on science museum. Browns Stadium will be quiet, but things change just a bit on Autumn Sundays.
Continuing westward, at mile 2 you will cross the Detroit-Superior Bridge over the Cuyahoga River and the Flats. Yes, this is the river that caught fire in the 1960s. And yes, it’s much cleaner now, as is Lake Erie, into which it flows. Along the river below is the Flats, formerly a lively area of bars, restaurants and music venues, but currently undergoing a major rebuilding project. From the bridge, you can see the confluence of the river and the lake by looking to your right. You’ll also see many other bridges of all shapes and sizes. Enjoy the whole scene.
Now you’re on the west side of town. Clevelanders consider the city’s east and west sides to be almost like different cities. After mile 3 you will go down a hill towards Edgewater Park, which you will reach by Mile 4. The park includes beaches along the lake, and is also quite scenic. The beach will be quiet on an early Sunday morning in May, but come back to check it out in the summer.
You will continue westbound on Edgewater Drive, past some beautiful lakeside homes, as you approach the 6-mile mark. Here, at West 117th Street, you will turn south and then quickly back east on Lake Avenue. By about Mile 8, you’re heading back past Edgewater Park and eventually back up the hill that took you down there. This hill is not extremely steep, but it is fairly long, and is enough to slow you down a bit.
At mile 9 the course takes some turns: south on West 45th Street, east on Franklin, south on Fulton and then east on Lorain. This is the Ohio City neighborhood. You’ll pass St. Ignatius High School, famous for both sports and academics, and the Franklin Castle, which is boarded up and supposedly haunted. You’ll also pass the West Side Market, a Mecca for shoppers of ethnic meats as well as produce and other foods. It’s not on the Must See list, but it may be worth a stop on Saturday, just to witness the spectacle.
Lorain changes to Carnegie as you once again cross over the Cuyahoga River via the Hope Memorial Bridge and continue eastbound. On the Bridge, which is named for William Henry Hope, a local stonemason and father of Bob Hope, check out the two sets of huge iconic “Guardians of Traffic” statues at each end. Coming off the bridge you will pass Jacobs Field, home to the Cleveland Indians, as well as Quicken Loans Arena, aka the Q, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Spectators who were downtown for the start may have been able to watch the runners come by after the early turns and may now be able to walk a few blocks to see the runners approach downtown once again. Soon after Mile 12, the half-marathoners peel off to the left to finish their race. Suddenly, you’re running with fewer companions, and you realize that this marathon stuff is serious business.
Just past Cleveland State University, you will turn north onto East 30th Street, and then East once again on Chester Avenue. You will be on Chester for about three miles. The avenue is wide and the residential neighborhoods are quiet here. It is mostly flat with a few very gently rolling hills. You will pass the famous Cleveland Clinic to the right. It takes up several blocks and is continuously expanding.
At about mile 16, the course turns north into and around University Circle. This area is home to Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, Severance Hall (home of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra), and several acclaimed museums. After the Circle, you will turn right to continue north on Martin Luther King Drive. Now you’re running through Rockefeller Park, one of the prettiest parts of the course. While traversing the park, notice the various national gardens along the way. The course winds through this shady, wonderfully scenic park for a couple miles until you reach Lake Erie.
Mile 19 is in Gordon Park, where the course turns back to the west, along the lake. You will now be mostly along the lake, on bike paths and North Marginal Road, until you’re past the 23-mile mark. You may see fishermen along the shore here and for the next few miles. The lake has many moods: calm and blue, slate gray, choppy, or just plain angry. Most of these moods won’t affect you, other than to be a source of fascination. One thing that will affect you, though, is the wind. It would be nice to say that you can get a nice tailwind here to carry you to a PR, but don’t count on it! It is more likely to be in your face, but it is quite unpredictable, so close to the lake itself. Your best bet is to plan for this part to be tough but enjoyable nonetheless.
After mile 23, you will once again pass near the Rock Hall, Great Lakes Science Center, and Browns Stadium, before heading back to the downtown area. On West 3rd Street you will go up a short but nasty (mostly because it is 24 miles into your run) hill. At the top, you’ll turn west and then south again on West 9th. You’re in the Warehouse District, now popular residential area with several trendy restaurants. Another turn back to the east, and you’re going through the Public Square area, the center of town. By mile 25, you’re heading eastward on Lakeside, back towards the finish. You will turn south and then westbound once more, for about the last ¼ mile, to finish at East 12th and St. Clair.
There now. Wasn’t that fun? Get some refreshments, get your gear, and enjoy the entertainment. You deserve it!
Runner’s Highs / Runner’s Lows
Highs
Fast course – not entirely flat, but fast nonetheless
Generally good marathon weather, although not always
Some great scenery, including Lake Erie, Rockefeller Park and the University Circle area
Convenient start and finish locations
Music stations and cheering sections along the course
Lows
Finish area is congested and sometimes blocks runners from re-entry after they retrieve their clothes.
The wind along the Lake Erie shore can be brutal at times.
Must See / Must Avoid
Must See
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. This is one of Cleveland’s top attractions with good reason. Established in 1995, it is the home for the celebration and study of rock and roll music. The exhibits, educational programs and performance events have made it a draw for both fans and artists. The Rock Hall also became more involved with the Marathon in 2007, sponsoring an aid station and providing discounts to runners.
Cleveland Orchestra and other performing arts. The orchestra is renowned as one of the best on the planet. They play at historic Severance Hall in the University Circle area. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear classical music at its best. Cleveland also has a great theater scene, with much of the activity at Playhouse Square, just east of downtown.
Parks. The Cleveland area is blessed with beautiful parks of all kinds. The Emerald Necklace forms a partial ring around the city, where parks are linked to one another with greenways. These and other Cleveland Metroparks offer miles of scenic wooded areas with trails galore. Also nearby is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, including more great scenery and woods as well as the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath, home of the Towpath Marathon.
Lake Erie. There are several options here. Beaches include Huntington and Edgewater west of the city center, and Headlands far to the east. The Goodtime III takes a short cruise on the lake and the Cuyahoga River, and at various times includes dinner and dancing. If you have more time, you can also travel to some of the Lake Erie Islands by boat from the Sandusky area an hour or so west of the city.
Cedar Point. This attraction, also in the Sandusky area is home of the most, as well as some of the fastest, highest, and most exciting roller coasters in the world. It is usually open during weekends in May. It’s well worth the trip, especially if you’ve got smaller family members along with you.
Must Avoid
Bad guys. Like any large city, Cleveland is generally safe, but there are some areas with more crime than others. Most of downtown is ok. Just exercise caution when you’re about, especially at night. It’s best to be with others whenever possible.
The Cleveland Clinic. This institution is widely recognized as one of the best hospitals anywhere, but please don’t wind up here as a result of your efforts in the race!
The Basics
The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
29525 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 215
Pepper Pike, OH 44122
Phone: 800-467-3826
FAX: 216-378-0413
Web Site: www.clevelandmarathon.com
e-mail: clevelandmarathon@earthlink.net
Events:
Expo
Pasta Dinner
Children’s Fun Run
Marathon run and walk
Half-Marathon run and walk
10-K Run and walk
Executive Race Director: Jack Staph
Race Director: Ralph Staph
Year Race Established: 1978
Future Race Date: 18 May, 2008 (usually the 3rd Sunday in May)
Start Time: 7:00 AM
Course Records:
Women: 2:30:15 - Tatiana Pozdniakova, 1998
Men: 2:10:29 - Pavel Kokin, 2000
Awards:
Total purse: $6,200 (marathon only)
Male and Female Winners: $1,000
Other prize money to:
2nd through 5th place Male and Female
Top 3 masters
Walkers
Other awards to top 5 in each age group
Number of Volunteers: about 1,500
Finishers in 2007:
Marathon Runners: 1,925
Half-Marathon Runners: 2,913
10K Runners: 2,649
Marathon Walkers: 62
Half-Marathon Walkers: 280
10K Walkers: 444
Wheelchair Racers (multiple divisions): 24
Male/Female Marathon Finishers: 66% Male; 34% Female
Course Markings: Every mile
Aid Stations: 18-19
Entry Fees: $65 to $95
Host Hotel:
Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade, 800-233-1234
Other Hotels:
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, 800-468-3571
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 800-321-1090
Travel:
Cleveland Hopkins Airport is located southwest of downtown and is served by several large airlines.
If you are driving, Cleveland is served by Interstate Highways I90, I71 and I77. I80 and connecting interstates are also nearby.
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