Estimated 10,000 runners to take part

More than 200 U.S. soldiers ran an official half marathon (13.1 miles) at Camp Victory in Iraq Sept. 14 as part of the Road Runner Akron Marathon. The sixth annual Akron race takes place Sept. 27.

Photo courtesy of Anne Bitong

However, a satellite race put together on the strength of employees and volunteers willing to set aside an entire day to make it happen — on short notice and during “crunch time,” no less — is quite different.

But the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division stationed in Iraq asked. Master Sgt. Carl Berg, a Munroe Falls resident who saw Akron’s Road Runner Akron Marathon listed as one of the 10 best up-and-coming races in Runner’s World magazine, asked.

Actually, Bitong said Berg asked a lot of marathons to consider hosting a satellite race for the 10th Mountain Division. But it was the Akron staff that answered.

So on Sept. 14, 220 troops ran a 13.1-mile half-marathon in official Road Runner Akron Marathon personalized bibs under official Road Runner Akron Marathon start and finish banners to earn official Road Runner Akron Marathon “goodie” bags volunteers filled with items suggested by the United Service Organization. As for troops who served as volunteers in Baghdad, they gave support wearing official Road Runner Akron Marathon gold volunteer shirts.

It only takes Bitong, Executive Race Director Jim Barnett, or any of the employees and numerous volunteers a few minutes to put their six-hour race in a “people first” perspective — whether those people are wearing runner’s bibs in Akron or Camp Victory, just west of Baghdad.

“We really listen to every comment, every question,” Bitong said. “We really do try to make the race personal. We really focus on the runner.”

That’s why Barnett said he takes time out of each 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. workday — those being seven days a week starting 45 days before the marathon — to personally e-mail each runner who registers links to a video of the course, training tips and, most importantly, a thank you. It isn’t the only thank you runners receive from Barnett, however. Ever since the first race five years ago, he’s always stood at the finish line to give each runner a handshake and congratulations.

“We view them as our guests,” Barnett said. “We really treat them like we want to be treated. We treat each runner as an elite runner.”

And in addition to the estimated 10,000 “guests” who will participate in the Sept. 27 26.2-mile full marathon, the 13.1-mile half, relays and Kid’s Fun Run, Akron will host some of the nation’s top women runners as the 2008 USA Women’s 8K Championship, the seventh of nine stops for women on the 2008 USA Running Circuit, will run concurrently. The circuit is a USA Track and Field road series that features U.S. championships from 5K to marathon distance.

Other changes to this year’s race include a newly expanded 20-foot finish line and roomier entrance through Canal Park Stadium’s centerfield; expanded use of the stadium’s concourse so spectators and runners can easily reunite after the race; a free text message timing service that alerts spectators of their runner’s progress; a new D-tag timing system that Barnett said is lighter and can determine the exact time and location of runners within 4-8 seconds; improved start line activities and staggered start times for the Kid’s Fun Run; and more.

The course itself, however, will stay the same, according to Bitong. The first 11 miles are mostly concrete before a 4-mile stretch on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Runners then take to the asphalt up through Sand Run Parkway and West Akron to the 24-mile mark before hitting concrete en route to the entrance to Canal Park and an Olympic-style finish.

The full marathon course will remain open for six hours total and will close on a continuous pace of 13 minutes, 41 seconds per mile. Those who can’t maintain the pace must move to the sidewalk or catch a shuttle bus as the course closes to allow regular traffic through. According to marathon officials, runner services cannot be guaranteed for participants beyond the shutdown pace.

The marathon will begin at 7 a.m. in front of Morley Health Center on South Broadway in Downtown Akron. For more information on the race or to register, visit www.akronmara thon.org or call (330) 375-2786. Online registration closes Sept. 22, with last-minute registration taking place Sept. 26 at the expanded University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo, which will be at the John S. Knight Center from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Only a few streets will be completely closed for the marathon, and traffic will be restricted on several other streets. Runners will be given the right of way over vehicles. Police are asking motorists to obey police officers who are directing traffic at intersections, even if the signals are operating. For a complete list of street closings, visit www.akronmarathon.org/coursemapdetails.aspx.