akron marathon

GREATER AKRON ― Three participants in this year's Road Runner Akron Marathon will be covering the course in a wheelchair.

One will complete the full marathon course, another will participate in a 5-K (3.1-mile) leg of the relay and the third will be pushed by his mother while she runs a half-marathon.

All wheeled vehicles have previously been excluded because of safety concerns. This year, however, race officials have decided to allow a select group of participants to "test" the course to see how it may fare for a new division. For Race Director Jim Barnett, it's all about inclusion.

It's why the marathon features a Fun Run for children and why for the first time in five years there will be a half-marathon.

"We're certainly a race that believes in inclusion," Barnett said. "Each year, we listen real close to the running community."


Barnett said the ability to listen is a reason the race is considered one of the top 50 best marathons in the nation. He said it's also the source of some new innovations hitting the streets of Akron along with the fifth annual marathon, which will take place Sept. 29 at 7 a.m. Joining the race family this year will be a 13.1-mile half-marathon that takes runners as far north as York Street and as far south as Wilbeth Road. It will be the most recent addition to an event that includes a full 26.2-mile marathon, five-person and two-person team relays, a business challenge and a 1-K (0.62-mile) Kids Fun Run.

As an extra incentive for runners, marathon organizers are again offering free running shoes to all full marathon individual runners that complete the race in six hours or less. Brooks Sports Inc., which became the official running shoe and apparel sponsor of the race Feb. 2, will offer choices among four available models of running shoes. All participants in the full, half and team relay marathons will receive a Brooks Podium long-sleeve technical shirt with the race logo. Competitors also will receive a "goodie" bag, commemorative medal, subscription to Running Times magazine, access to post-race festivities and other items in addition to various types of free race services.

In 2006, about 5,800 people took to the streets of Akron to participate, setting a marathon record. More than 1,000 received $75 Etonic shoe coupons. According to Barnett, the Akron Marathon was the first in the nation to offer free shoes to its full-marathon finishers. It was a popular innovation among runners.

Another event innovation, the Brouse Cup, will make its debut and be presented to marathon winners at an awards ceremony in Canal Park after the race. Marathon officials collaborated with the law firm Brouse McDowell to create an 18-1/2-inch, 20-pound sterling silver trophy that will be engraved with the names of each year's winners in the men's and women's open and masters divisions.

The spirit of innovation isn't limited to runners, however. According to Barnett, community members have lined up along the race routes, crowds of which he said have been estimated at more than 80,000 people. They also can hold an official block party and be eligible for an award of their own based on which group can be the biggest, loudest and most creative. A few minutes spent on the marathon's Web site, www.akronmara thon.org, scores each participating group a block party kit, which includes invitations, hats, cups, cow bells and an official block-party banner.

Barnett said the idea of the block parties is to encourage Akron to come out and celebrate, to line a course in which the first 11 miles are mostly concrete before a 4-mile stretch on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Runners then take to the asphalt up through Sand Run Parkway and West Akron to the 24-mile mark before hitting concrete en route to the entrance to Canal Park Stadium and an Olympic-style finish. The half-marathon route starts and follows the existing marathon course and continues past the 11-mile turn before a Canal Park finish.

The full marathon course will remain open for six hours total and will close on a continuous pace of 13 minutes, 41 seconds per mile. Those who can't maintain the pace must move to the sidewalk or catch a shuttle bus as the course closes to allow regular traffic through. According to marathon officials, runner services cannot be guaranteed for participants beyond the shutdown pace. The half-marathon route will remain open for three hours, following the same 13:41 pace requirement and procedures as the full marathon.

For more information on the race or to register, visit the marathon's Web site or call (330) 375-2786. The last opportunity to register will be Sept. 28 at The University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo, which will take place at the John S. Knight Center from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Only a few streets will be completely closed for the marathon, and traffic will be restricted on several other streets. Runners will be given the right-of-way over vehicles. Police are asking motorists to obey police officers who are directing traffic at intersections, even if the signals are operating. For a complete list of street closings, visit www.akronmarathon. org/map.asp.

CLEVELAND -- Running a marathon after open heart surgery may not be at the top of the list for most patients.
But a group of runners are up for the challenge.

Mark Siwik has organized a group of runner from all over the world. The group includes 69-year-old Mel Pugliese.

They both will run in the Akron Marathon Saturday.

They spoke with Channel 3's John Anderson about what drives them to run and what their doctors really think about their hobby.

To see the entire interview, click "Play Video." Thousands of people are set to hit the streets of Akron on Saturday morning for the 5th annual Road Runner Akron Marathon.

People stood in line on Friday to pick up their numbers and finalize registration.

The Road Runner has tripled its number of participants in its five years, and many say it's because of its fantastic organization.

"It's wonderful. It's put together very well. I've run marathons before and I've run for about 30 years, and this is one of the better races I've ever run," said participant Jo Cronrath.

This year, they've added a half-marathon for those who don't want to run the full 26.2 miles or are just in training.

There's also a two- or five-person relay marathon. All told, more than 7,000 people will be running and taking in the view.

"The city course is nice. You get to see the downtown area and stuff, and then you get on through the towpath, and that's nice also. You see the city and then the towpath if you're going to do the full marathon," said Hudson resident Mike Juppe.

The Road Runner Akron Marathon kicks off at the National Inventors Hall of Fame at 7 a.m.

Registration will be open until 9 p.m. Friday at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron.For the first time, wheelchair racers will participate in the Akron Roadrunner Marathon.

One of the racers will take part in the 5k leg of the relay, a child will be pushed by his mother, and Joe Booth, 48, hopes to complete the entire 26.2 miles.

Event organizers say they don't believe the "wheelers" will have any trouble competing with the other racers.

"I've been on every inch of the course, and I know it extremely well," said Jim Barnett, race director.

"The concerns we have are primarily involved with the hills on the course. The Towpath itself is crushed limestone and really not an issue. Just as we can ride bicycles on the Towpath, certainly we can get wheelers out there, but we do have some pretty challenging hills that we're a little concerned with."

After the marathon, race officials will meet with the wheelers to get their feedback about the safety and maneuverability of the course.

Sometime this fall, two additional highly experienced wheelchair racers, invited by marathon officials, will wheel the marathon course behind a police escort to provide further feedback.

Their input will help organizers decide if a wheelchair division should be added next year.