I ran this race April 10, 2022, and got a PR. It is a flat, paved course through the towpath and near the nature center, with only a couple tiny … MORE
I ran this race April 10, 2022, and got a PR. It is a flat, paved course through the towpath and near the nature center, with only a couple tiny hills over the bridges (as other reviewers have noted). The weather the day I ran it was in the 30’s at start, but good for racing and it warmed up by the end. Race communication was minimal; I would have liked more info on details and at least a little bit of “yay, the race is next weekend” kind of hype, but there was none. In fact, there was so little communication I was worried I got the race date wrong…but this kind of thing may be fine for others. lol. The medal was sweet: a good size, not huge, with images of the canal and towpath, and the date. The shirt was unremarkable. Others have mentioned post-race beer and celebration, but maybe this was a pre-covid thing? When I ran it in 2022, there was an inflatable arch at the finish, an announcer, and music, but no real post-race celebrations, and not a lot of people. A couple of vendors and nonprofits had tables, which was nice, but there wasn’t a celebration to speak of. We stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel downtown, which had great rates for the weekend, and spent several hours at the Cleveland Zoo during our time there. Overall, I would recommend this race for someone who lives in the Cleveland area, but it is not a very travel-worthy race (unless you’re aiming for 50 states, and it fits your schedule, like it did mine).
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Simple, Flat Course & PR
I ran this race April 10, 2022, and got a PR. It is a flat, paved course through the towpath and near the nature center, with only a couple tiny … MORE
I ran this race April 10, 2022, and got a PR. It is a flat, paved course through the towpath and near the nature center, with only a couple tiny hills over the bridges (as other reviewers have noted). The weather the day I ran it was in the 30’s at start, but good for racing and it warmed up by the end. Race communication was minimal; I would have liked more info on details and at least a little bit of “yay, the race is next weekend” kind of hype, but there was none. In fact, there was so little communication I was worried I got the race date wrong…but this kind of thing may be fine for others. lol. The medal was sweet: a good size, not huge, with images of the canal and towpath, and the date. The shirt was unremarkable. Others have mentioned post-race beer and celebration, but maybe this was a pre-covid thing? When I ran it in 2022, there was an inflatable arch at the finish, an announcer, and music, but no real post-race celebrations, and not a lot of people. A couple of vendors and nonprofits had tables, which was nice, but there wasn’t a celebration to speak of. We stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel downtown, which had great rates for the weekend, and spent several hours at the Cleveland Zoo during our time there. Overall, I would recommend this race for someone who lives in the Cleveland area, but it is not a very travel-worthy race (unless you’re aiming for 50 states, and it fits your schedule, like it did mine).
Nice flat, scenic race
This is a local race for me that I've done several times. I always refer to this as the little brother of the Fall Towpath Marathon/Half Marathon as it's the … MORE
This is a local race for me that I’ve done several times. I always refer to this as the little brother of the Fall Towpath Marathon/Half Marathon as it’s the lesser known of the two. It is smaller and takes place on a scenic, but not as scenic as the October race, part of the Towpath
This is a really fast course and the weather usually hovers between 40-60 degress so it definitely has PR potential. The first mile is a downhill start through the parking lot of the nature center and onto the Towpath. After that the only hills are two small bridges that you pass over around the 3 and 5 mile marks and then one more just after the 12 mile mark. The course does “corkscrew” so at about mile 9, you turn around and re-run part of the course before heading on to the finish. There were some issues this year with runners not being directed in the right direction but it didn’t add/subtract any distance and the race director acknowledged it afterward and promised to make sure it was fixed for next year.
The medal is nice (actually a little better than the fall race surprisingly) and a local bar hosts the afterparty so you can enjoy a good local brew while waiting for the awards to be given out.
Overall this is a good race and I’d recommend it…but if you are only going to be able to do one, the fall race is much better in my opinion.
A beautiful day on the Towpath
The weather was beautiful on race day; high 50's-low 60's, sunny, and not windy. In Ohio in April you never know what you're going to get weather-wise, so that was … MORE
The weather was beautiful on race day; high 50’s-low 60’s, sunny, and not windy. In Ohio in April you never know what you’re going to get weather-wise, so that was a pleasant surprise!
The only downfall to racing this time of year is the trees are still dead and the race takes place on a bike path, so there wasn’t much to look at for most of the race. The first couple of miles were stunning; the sun was coming up and running over the bridges was so pretty. But as it progressed, it got a little tough mentally with no room for crowds to cheer us on and not much scenery. Personally I could handle it because it was my 4th half marathon, but for a first-time runner that would be hard.
I heard some people complaining that the course is out-and-back, because that meant some points of the race are single-file. You can see the faster runners coming toward you, and if you’re trying to pass the people in front of you it’s very difficult, being single-file. I was not in the mood to PR that day, so I didn’t care and just took my time.
I received very thorough and frequent communication from the race directors prior to the event. As an out-of-state runner, this is very important to me and can make or break the experience. I really appreciated how organized this race was, from pre-race e-mails to adequate parking and instructions, down to the directors placing water stations at every single mile (thank you!). I have zero complaints about the production.
I wouldn’t say the swag is the best I’ve ever received; however, for a small race it wasn’t terrible either. You get a nice tech shirt and a super cool medal. I personally don’t really need more than that from a race.
Post-race was great! They had a DJ, a fun photo backdrop to take pictures in front of, a local brewery passing out beer, and plenty of food options.
It’s hard for me to rank this race amongst the other ones I’ve done because it was so different from my past experiences. I loved the weather and the organization, but the crowd wasn’t very energetic and it was my first time not having people along the way cheering us on.
If you’re from out of town, like me, this is a great location. I had fun checking out the city of Cleveland the night before and doing some touristy sight-seeing after the race. The course is only 15 minutes from downtown, but still in a nature setting.
A highlight run in an urban park
I love all the races through the Cleveland MetroParks. This one showcases the Ohio & Erie Canal. Keep your eyes open. An eagle watched us from its nest!!!! There is … MORE
I love all the races through the Cleveland MetroParks. This one showcases the Ohio & Erie Canal. Keep your eyes open. An eagle watched us from its nest!!!!
There is a 3-miler, 5-miler, and half marathon to choose from. Each one has a different start but ends on the same finish line to prevent clogs. It worked out very well.
The shirt is high quality and beautiful as always. There is only a medal for the half marathon finishers. The post race food and party is good and fun because it has a local feel. It’s never too crowded.
Awards are amazing. Signed Cleveland art work! Seriously unique.
Trails are built with the money raised so you see your dollars at work year after year.
Beautiful course in the MetroParks
This was a fun and easy half marathon. The course is in the park along the towpath, nestled in Mother Nature. The weather is generally good for running in April. … MORE
This was a fun and easy half marathon. The course is in the park along the towpath, nestled in Mother Nature. The weather is generally good for running in April. 40 degrees, though it may or may not be rainy. The money supports the maintenance of the trails, and since I live here, this means a lot to me.
This is a perfect race for someone doing their first half marathon. With other distances to choose from, the easy paths, and the park-setting, this is a great family run for people of all ages. There are families that make this a generational event. Grandparents, parents, children, etc. running with one another.
It’s not a crowded race, either. The food at the end was plentiful and the prizes are unique – unlike what you will see at other races. When I ran it, it was signed art-work from local artists.
I love the fit of the tech shirt. It’s comfy so I wear it to the gym often. The artwork is not my favorite. The medal matched the shirt. Not my favorite, but still an impressive piece of hardware. Worth working for. I hang it proudly.