Coming off of running the Akron Half Marathon earlier today. I live in Cleveland and actually ended up driving down yesterday and staying at one of the race hotels. Worth it to me to be able to wake up an hour later and shower before heading back on the road!

Expo: At the John Knight Center. Only on Friday since it's a Saturday race, but it goes from 11-9 pm. Parking garages were free by the time I got there around 545. When you go in, you get your bib and bag and then have to weave your way through the vendors in order to get your shirt. If you ran the full, you got a jacket and they do exchanges, but only after the race and starting in October. I was cranky because I got stuck behind slow people walking around. Typical Expo. They do have merchendise there for sale, I may have gotten some sweats.

Race Day Parking: If you stayed at one of the race hotels, they offered a free shuttle (at least at the Holiday Inn Express). I signed up for it, but then decided to drive myself since the shuttle left at 515 and I wanted an extra hour of sleep. I drove and was parked within 15 minutes and parking was free in the garages/lots (public at least). I got within 1/4 mile of the start.

Start time: 7 AM

Bathrooms: porta potties, and if you were thinking and went to the student union first, indoor bathrooms

The Course: Akron has Hills. I hate hills. There were parts that were flat and/or down hill which were fine, but you do go over bridges which have some incline of their own. You see some good parts of akron and then some other parts that are meh. They had a good amount of entertainment on course, a plus. There were parts with spectators and other parts where it was you and your music if you had any. Since there was a Half and Full marathon and a Full Marathon Relay, the course was marked well and had color coded letters (H, F, R) to let you know where to go. When the relay runners split for there hand offs, there was more than enough staff at each exchange during the first 2 to keep things in line. Also more than enough people and notice just after mile 12 to let the Full and Relay Marathon runners to go one way and the Half Marathon Runners to go another. If you missed it, it was your own fault.

The Finish: In Canal Park Stadium- at least you didn't have to go around it!

Post Race Party: you walked after the Chute and got water and your medal. You kept walking and there was a food tent that took your food tab off your bib and handed you a bag and afterwards, you got a banana, another water and chocolate milk. You were then directed to the beer tent and then there were the porta potties right there if you needed it. They also had a Pizza tent. Took no more than 5 minutes if you weren't waddling!

Organization: A+! Just wish there were 1-2 more aid stations at the beginning