Race: Cleveland Half Marathon
Runner: Kara Hickok
Race Date: 05/21/2023
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Results: 2:25:59
Strava Activity Link: https://strava.app.link/qeYOF5EN0zb
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- Pacers for this race were amazing! Very encouraging and you could tell they had plenty of experience. Shout out to pacer Jim from Pittsburgh!
- I like that this course is relatively flat, the few hills that were in there were manageable.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Nuun and water was given at aid stations, but it was hard to tell which table had water vs nuun.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
At one point you run over a bridge and it felt very strange to run on. You could also see through the grate looking bridge and see water below.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
We were lucky to have great running weather, so I surprised my self and did better than my goal!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Pro tip is to stay at the Westin hotel. It’s a one block walk to the start/finish line.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
There are parts of Cleveland that are very pretty! So yes! Running through the flats and a residential neighborhood that included the A Christmas Story house was very cool.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I would say it’s difficult. Hills were not bad.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Felt smooth to me, but it was my first half so I haven’t seen another!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Book hotel by April. (One month prior to race)
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Stations has nuun, water, and Gu energy gels.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
For sure! I saw a few groups of the same people about 5 times on the course, so it is easy for spectators to move around.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4.5/5 stars! Fun race and I would recommend to others!