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Sat, Sep 26 · 2026Akron, OHSince 2003

Akron Marathon

A rolling loop through Akron's neighborhoods and parks, this race rewards honest preparation with a genuine shot at a Boston qualifier on a crisp September morning.

HillyOpen
AKRON · US
Akron
SAT, SEP 26
2026
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Race Overview

EST. 2003

The Akron Marathon runs a loop through the city and its surrounding parks on the last Saturday of September. The course rolls the whole way. There are real climbs spread throughout, and they don't let up much in the second half. The autumn temperatures are usually in your favor, which helps, but this is not a flat PR course. It rewards runners who go out controlled and grind patiently. Don't bank time on the early downhills. Save something for the back half, because the hills keep coming.

It's a smaller field, which means no elbowing through crowds at the start and easy access to aid stations. Registration is open, so getting in is straightforward. Sign up through Race Roster once the entry window opens in January. If you're chasing a BQ here, it's doable, but you'll earn it. Come with a plan that accounts for the climbing, dial back the first five miles, and let the cool air do its part.

Field size
~818
818 finishers
BQ rate
6%
Near national average
Time limit
6:00
Tight cutoff
Entry
Open
First-come registration
Course records
Men
2:15:59
Getachew Asfaw
2013
Women
2:39:09
María Portillo
2005

The Course

Total ascent
—
Total descent
—
Net elevation
—
Highest point
1,104 ft
Lowest point
749 ft
Course shape
Loop
Start and finish in one place

The Akron Marathon is a loop course with over 1,100 feet of cumulative gain, meaning the climbing never fully stops. The course rolls through urban streets and park terrain, with elevation swinging between roughly 750 and 1,100 feet. Expect the hills to compound in the back half. There are no long flat recovery stretches to coast on, so even pacing is critical. Runners chasing a BQ need to resist early surges on the downhills and treat the climbs conservatively. The course is USATF certified. Late-September temperatures typically sit in a manageable range, but NE Ohio autumn weather can shift, so check forecasts in the week before race day.

View official course mapDownload GPXPast results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median
Low
50°F
High
70°F
30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°
What to expect

Late September in Akron usually means a cool morning and a mild afternoon. You'll likely start in the low 50s, which feels great for the first half, but by the time you're grinding through the back miles the day has warmed into the upper 60s. That's manageable, not brutal, but it's enough to make the final stretch feel harder than your splits suggest. Don't skip the aid stations early just because you feel good.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration through Race Roster platform. Registration closes online on September 20, 2026, but spots may be available at packet pickup if space remains.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in
Closest airport
CAK
12 mi
from the start
≈ 19 min transferOn the doorstep
What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into CAK, about 12 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 19-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Akron, OH so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

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