Akron Marathon schedule and course route announced for September 25

Race Weekend Schedule and Event Lineup

Activities begin on Friday, September 25, with the Health & Fitness Expo at the John S. Knight Center. The free public expo operates from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and serves as the mandatory packet-pickup location for registered marathon participants. Organizers note that race packets, which include a timing-chip bib and runner bag, must be collected on Friday, as no morning-of-race pickup is available. Official race shirts are distributed separately near the exit of the expo.

On Friday evening at 6 p.m., the Mandel Family Kids Fun Run invites children ages 12 and under to participate in a complimentary one-mile dash. The youth run starts at 214 W. Bowery Street near the Akron Children’s Hospital and finishes at Lock 3. Saturday morning opens with a formal opening ceremony at 6 a.m., followed by the wheelchair division and Push Team starts at 6:58 a.m. The main fields for the full marathon, semi-marathon, and team relay cross the starting line at 7 a.m.

Course Route and Elevation Profile

The 26.2-mile marathon course offers runners a comprehensive tour of Akron’s urban neighborhoods and natural parks. The race begins in front of the Akron Art Museum at 1 S. High Street in Downtown Akron, sending participants across the All-America Bridge into North Hill. The USATF-certified route subsequently navigates the University of Akron, Firestone Park, and additional residential sectors before reaching the halfway point.

During the second half of the race, runners transition onto the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, a crushed limestone path that traces the historic canal. The course then loops through Sand Run Metro Park, Sand Run Parkway, the Stan Hywet Estate, and Highland Square. The final miles direct participants back into downtown to the finish line at Lock 3, located at 200 S. Main Street.

The race course covers a variety of surfaces, combining asphalt and concrete city streets with the crushed limestone of the Towpath Trail. According to event specifications, the course features an elevation gain of approximately 306 meters and a descent of about 310 meters. Because the route holds full USATF certification, verified finishers can submit their official times to the Boston Athletic Association for consideration toward Boston Marathon qualification.