Rite Aid Cleveland Half/Full Marathon 5/17/09

[aladdinsgirl]

For those of you who have run this marathon (I'm thinking specifically of the half), what are your thoughts? How was the overall course? Crowd support? How fast were the runners? I anticipate running the half in the mid to upper 10:00's, so would I be coming in all alone around the 2:25ish mark?

Here is my dilemma: I think everyone knows, but in case you don't I ran my first full marathon in January, 2007. I was injured during the marathon, so I took some time off from fulls and did 2 half marathons later in the year. I got pregnant in the fall of 2007 and I haven't run any half or full marathons since Carter was born in July. I am running the WDW half in January, but I do not plan on PRing the half. If I do, great, but it's a little unrealistic I think. I was planning on running the Flying Pig full in May 2009, but I'm thisclose to being talked into running MCM in October. If I run MCM, then I would run the Flying Pig half, but I was planning on really training hard, pushing the pace and beating my PR of 2:27. Well I got the e-mail today that registration is now open for the Pig, when I made the comment about the registration, one of my co-workers asked if I thought if she was capable of walking the half in May. I said absolutely, as long as you train than you can absolutely walk a half marathon. Over the course of about 2 hours, I recruited 3 definite walkers and 2 maybe walkers for the half. I'm really excited because a couple of the women are out of shape and I know training for the half will help them get into shape, but at the same time I am now committed to walking the Pig (if it pans out that they really will do the event) when I was hoping to PR it. I honestly don't mind walking with them, I know we will have a blast, but now I have to find another half marathon in the spring to shoot for my PR.

The Cleveland half/full marathon is 2 weeks after the Flying Pig, so I think I can walk the Pig and be fine to run Cleveland. I wanted those who have done Cleveland in the past to weigh in with their experiences before I seriously look into the half marathon. And is there anyone out there maybe considering running or walking Cleveland in May?

Okay, now I need to talk to Stephen and get his thoughts on the matter before I go crazy planning!

 

[FireDancer]

I ran the half in 2006. The course is flat and fast. The only “hill” is the on ramp for Rt. 2 which you can see at about the 2 mile mark in the race elevation. The expo was very messed up because of a sponsorship issue in 2006 so I can’t speak for what the expo normally is but I have heard it is pretty typical.

I have to admit the crowd support was the worst I witnessed in a half marathon. It was a little cold and rainy in 2006 but it was way too dead even for the weather. It is Cleveland, by May we are used to less than ideal weather. There was only 1 band on the course that year, which is kind of sad for the rock and roll capital of the world. I contrast this with the Country Music Half I did one month earlier where we had 12 bands on the half.

I will do the run again. In 08 I was on vacation for the weekend and in 09 I will still be in FL because of the podcast cruise. If you do come in and want to carb load the night before make sure you go to Little Italy for your pre-race meal.

 

[ScoJo15]

Hi Krista!! Hope things are well with Stephen and Carter and Hines!

I have an idea...

Instead of the 2.5 hour drive to Cleveland...make it a 4 hour drive down to Nashville and run the Country Music Half with me and Amy!!! It's the last weekend in April...get that PR before doing he 'Pigwalk'...

Food for thought :

Scott

 

[aladdinsgirl]

Frank--Thanks for the info. I was afraid it would be a super fast field and I would most likely be in the back of the pack. I saw on the website the course is fast and flat, however I only have one speed and I wouldn't call it fast!

Scott-- I have missed you and Amy!!!! How are you guys doing? We are doing great. Carter is starting to babble and he goo and gaa's constantly. Hines is adjusting well, he is very protective of Carter and will usually lay within feet if wherever Carter is. That is until Carter starts crawling and walking and tugging on his tail and ears. Okay, so you and Amy are doing Nashville. Hmm, I may have to think about this. I love Nashville, I would love a Wish meet, we have family that live in Asheville, NC and could probably be talked into making the trek to run the half, and I know the Music marathons are huge so no worries about being the last one on the course.

I think I'll be spending the rest of the afternoon looking at cmmarathon.com and clevelandmarathon.com.

 

[ScoJo15]

I do have to admit that the CMM course is a bit "rolling" but nothing bad at all...especially the huge downhill finish down towards the football stadium!

While we have not signed up for it, it is definitely on our radar for a late spring race. We loved downtown there (with the bars and live music) and do want to go back. So while it's not a definite thing for us, I think it is a very realistic possiblity...especially if we drum up a WISH meet!!

I was trying to twist her arm into doing the San Diego full instead, but I'm not getting that "I want to do a full" vibe from her

I'm glad all is well with you guys...Carter is so cute!

Scott

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I'm from Cleve, but have never done the event. That is always our vaca week, so I cannot advise.

Go to the thread about Pig vs Nashville, there will be other WISHers attending Nashville it seems. I have not registered, will do that probably after January's week in The World.

 

[WDWFAN9]

I have an idea...

Instead of the 2.5 hour drive to Cleveland...make it a 4 hour drive down to Nashville and run the Country Music Half with me and Amy!!! It's the last weekend in April...get that PR before doing he 'Pigwalk'...
Food for thought :
Scott

http://scojo262.blogspot.com

Excellent idea!!

DH and I, and Anne and her DH are already registered for Nashville! And if you do it you might as well come to Chicago in Aug and qualify for the bonus medal you get if you do two RnR events in the same year. WISH meets all over the country!!

 

[ryley26]

Krista Hey good to here from you again. Ive run the rite-aid three times. Not a bad course a little uphill in some spots. Scott they changed the course you don't run the vets bridge last year. I don't know if this permanate. I ran a PR last year there. We need to coordinate rabbits I was thinking of running the Pig this year. If your coming up here Ill run the rite aid instead. Krista if you have any other questions just PM me. Rich

 

[ScoJo15]

Excellent idea!!

DH and I, and Anne and her DH are already registered for Nashville! And if you do it you might as well come to Chicago in Aug and qualify for the bonus medal you get if you do two RnR events in the same year. WISH meets all over the country!!

Funny you should mention Chicago...we were discussing that today, since it's now an RnR event!

Looks like Nashville is gonna be a fun one!!!

Hey, are you running Las Vegas this year??

Scott

 

[WDWFAN9]

Funny you should mention Chicago...we were discussing that today, since it's now an RnR event!

Looks like Nashville is gonna be a fun one!!!

Hey, are you running Las Vegas this year??

Scott
http://scojo262.blogspot.com

Yes to Vegas! Are you??

 

[ScoJo15]

Yes to Vegas! Are you??

Yes, Amy and I will be running the Half in December :

Scott

 

[kareneast]

Instead of the 2.5 hour drive to Cleveland...make it a 4 hour drive down to Nashville and run the Country Music Half with me and Amy!!! It's the last weekend in April...get that PR before doing he 'Pigwalk'...
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I agree with Pat.....Excellent idea!!!

John & I will be at Nashville too. We're registering next week while we are at the San Antonio Expo.

 

[FireDancer]

After my experience in Cleveland and Nashville I would definitely chose Nashville over Cleveland, especially if it isn’t a 20 minute drive away. I have always said when asked that Nashville was the best run marathon experience I have had in the normal (ie non-Disney) world. I haven’t done any of the other Elite races but have never heard a bad thing from anyone who has run them.

 

[aladdinsgirl]

Thanks for all the opinions guys! I think Nashville and Cleveland are the same distance from Cincinnati. I know Nashville is 5 hours and I think Cleveland is close to the same distance. I've never been to Cleveland, but Sandusky is 4 hours, so I'm guessing Cleveland is about the same, maybe a little more.

Does anyone know how fast either Cleveland or CMM fills up?

 

[ScoJo15]

Thanks for all the opinions guys! I think Nashville and Cleveland are the same distance from Cincinnati. I know Nashville is 5 hours and I think Cleveland is close to the same distance. I've never been to Cleveland, but Sandusky is 4 hours, so I'm guessing Cleveland is about the same, maybe a little more.

Does anyone know how fast either Cleveland or CMM fills up?

While I cannot speak for last year, the 2007 CM Half did not fill up until a few weeks before the event. This year does mark the 10th anniversary though, so I'm not sure if that will make a difference or not. You also get a price break for early sign up:

1/2 Marathon Entry:

* $80 through 12/31/08
* $95 (1/1/09 - 4/19/09)
* $125 at the Expo (if available)


Scott

 

[princessrunner]

Also check on the 10th of every month as they are offering other freebies. It was another $10 off the registration fee last month.

 

[FireDancer]

Thanks for all the opinions guys! I think Nashville and Cleveland are the same distance from Cincinnati. I know Nashville is 5 hours and I think Cleveland is close to the same distance.

It is about 250 miles from Cincy to Cleveland so you can do it in under 5 hours…I did it once in 3 hours but it was the middle of the night and I speed.

 

[Optimator]

Krista - Hey, I ran the full last May. I thought it was a good race.

The expo was surprisingly nice. It wasn't Disney/MCM big but lots of decent freebies for a smallish race. We even scored some full boxes of "healthy" donuts with various Browns players on them . I also got to chat with John Bingham and Bart Yasso from Runner's World, so that was cool.

The course was fairly flat, with the biggest hill coming around mile 2. A mix of city, burbs, along the water, and in town. Crowd support was pretty sparse at times, especially for the second half. While the promotions really talked up the relationship with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there wasn't really much entertainment to speak of. Kathy was able to make it around town on foot easy enough to see me at 5 different spots.

While the course was "flat and fast" (don't they ALL say that ) the race seemed very inclusive, with a generous pace limit and a walker division so you wouldn't have to worry about DLF by any means.

Post race stuff was pretty typical but easily accessible.

The organizers did send out a lengthy post-race opinion survey. I received a follow-up e-mail a few weeks ago and it seemed pretty sincere about how they were working to address any negative areas (I didn't really have any complaints). It sounds like they may actually make some changes to the course for next year to make wind conditions towards the end of the full a little less of an issue. Don't know how else it will change, but we'll see.

Overall, it may not compare to the glitz of a RnR event like Nashville but I'd give it a favorable review. Plus, you're running around Browns Stadium. What more could a girl want???