Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, and Team Relay

I've been running in the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, and Team Relay since 2010. I have been a part of many relay teams and have run a few full marathons as well. This year (2022) was the first year I've participated in the entire Akron Marathon race series. I ran the Akron National Interstate 8K in June, The Goodyear Half Marathon in August and the Akron Half Marathon plus the first leg of a relay team in September. Every event was very well organized and the swag was fantastic with a special finisher medal for completing all three races. I especially LOVED the Akron Marathon Race Expo & Packet Pick-Up this year! I learned so much from Meghann Featherstun's talk about nutrition and Dr. Leo's stories were inspirational! I even bought a pair of my favorite running shoes on sale at the Expo! On race day morning, I got there an hour early, which was plenty of time to stop at bag drop, get my warm up in, meet friends for a photo and use the port-o-potty (Akron Marathon has plenty of port-o-potties in multiple locations which is a must before race start)! The start of the race was very well organized and easy to locate. It was a cold morning, but I hardly noticed with the crowds of people preparing to race. The start of the race always gives me chills with all the energy beaming from talented athletes. We have all worked so hard for this....let's go!!! During the race, I was surprised at how many friends I saw out of the course. It was like I had built in pacers for 10-20 minutes at a time and then I would move on to the next! I'm starting to realize that the longer I am a runner, the more connected I am to other runners, and as the years go by, the more this community grows! Then, in September, we all meet up for a reunion at the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, and Team Relay. It is the perfect race for everyone...no matter your pace, skill level or distance. It is truly amazing to see and cheer on the athletes that trained so hard all winter, spring and summer long, reaching their goals in the fall. Nothing is more rewarding than crossing the finish line and yelling and cheering as I watch others cross the finish line. The after party at the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, and Team Relay is top notch. They never run out of cold beer and the music, dancing and smiling is endless. I highly recommend this race to anyone and everyone!