9/26/2026
The Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, And Marathon Relay
Akron, Ohio
Full Marathon
John Fabianich McClay
Finish Time: 3:42:48
Overall Place: 137th Place / 821
Division Place: 6th Place / 31
Laura Fairfax
Finish Time: DNF
Overall Place: N/A
Division Place: N/A
Half Marathon
Rachel Turner
Finish Time: 1:37:25
Overall Place: 171st Place / 2288
Division Place: 10th Place / 162
Christine Churpek
Finish Time: 1:43:35
Overall Place: 252nd Place / 2288
Division Place: 11th Place / 158
Scott Orlando
Finish Time: 1:49:28
Overall Place: 389th Place / 2288
Division Place: 17th Place / 82
Steve Zenar
Finish Time: 1:54:40
Overall Place: 536th Place / 2288
Division Place: 43rd Place / 109
Stephanie Orwick
Finish Time: 1:57:28
Overall Place: 641st Place / 2288
Division Place: 33rd Place / 158
Mike Williams
Finish Time: 2:07:24
Overall Place: 968th Place / 2288
Division Place: 37th Place / 82
Peter Heroux
Finish Time: 2:12:50
Overall Place: 1131st Place / 2288
Division Place: 71st Place / 109
Lisa Keane
Finish Time: 2:22:51
Overall Place: 1434th Place / 2288
Division Place: 26th Place / 55
Cleopatra Sirnic Clifford
Finish Time: 2:35:09
Overall Place: 1716th Place / 2288
Division Place: 50th Place / 79
Marathon Relay
Team Birthday Banana Bunch
Felicia Neal, Josh Keane, Lisa Keane, and Lynett McClay
Finish Time: 4:28:36
Overall Place: 311th Place / 586
Division Place: 243rd Place / 438 Coed Teams
Team The Collective Pace
Gretchen Snyder
Finish Time: 4:35:23
Overall Place: 357th Place / 586
Division Place: 279th Place / 438 Coed Teams
Team The Performance Collective
Kevin Christensen
Finish Time: 4:45:09
Overall Place: 412th Place / 586
Division Place: 319th Place / 438 Coed Teams
Team Not Fast, Just Furious
Brittany Kiehl
Finish Time: 5:32:03
Overall Place: 545th Place / 586
Division Place: 412th Place / 438 Coed Teams
Volunteers
Kevin Christensen and Stephanie Orwick volunteered for packet pick up duties.
Race Recap By John Fabianich McClay:
On Saturday I stepped out of my environment from trail running I signed up for the First Energy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay. What was it thinking? The last time I ran a road marathon was 2018. The course was well-marked just follow the blue line. Aid station had Gatorade and water. The staffing was friendly and helpful. I finished 137 out of 815 a time of 3 hours 42 minutes and some change and I also set a new PR my fastest marathon ever. Good job to everyone that finished and good job to team ER.
Race Recap By Laura Fairfax:
My first DNF in my running career. I went into the race battling a knee injury, was curious how far I could go. Made it to mile 12 and decided the pain wasn’t worth it. I’ll take some time to rest and heal and have some redemption on the blue line next year.
Race Recap By Scott Orlando:
A chilly morning made for excellent running conditions for today’s
Akron Marathon. I wasn’t sure how my race would go. My training cycle wasn’t what I had hoped. I didn’t get as many long runs in as I would have liked. Worse I came down with a cold a few days ago. Heading to the start line I was very unsure and wasn’t feeling well.
Like most races there are never enough port-o-potties. After team pictures I hurried to stand in line. The lines were long and slow moving. I finally got my turn and made it to the start coral with less than 1 minute to spare. I started running with gloves and a long sleeve throwaway shirt on. I quickly settled into a much slower pace than normal. My body felt fine but the head cold had me feeling weak and unsure of myself. I seemed able to hold the slower easy pace but just wasn’t feeling good. I was definitely running to finish and not racing. At mile 2 I ditched the gloves. At mile 3 I stopped for a moment and removed the long sleeve shirt. By mile 6 I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue running and was struggling mentally. I even stopped for a bathroom break which I never do in a half marathon. I took a mental inventory of my body and decided to push through.
About this same time a consumed a Maurten Gel. I usually don’t use these gels because they are expensive but I had one left over from the Chicago Marathon and decided to try it. The texture was somewhat unpleasant but I tolerated it. I’m not sure if it was the caffeine in the gel or I got over a mental hump but at mile 8 I started finally feeling stronger. I found some confidence in myself and started attacking the course. I picked up the pace and started racing. At mile 12 my watch died which was frustrating but with a little over a mile left it wasn’t much of a concern. I pushed hard the last mile to the finish. I finished in 1:49:28 beating last year’s time.
My favorite part of the race was seeing all my teammates and running friends accomplish great things today.
Congratulations everyone that ran today!
Thank you to the Akron Marathon and all the volunteers for putting on another great race!
Race Recap By Steve Zenar:
What an incredible day at the Akron Half Marathon!
Today marked my first time racing this distance in 11 years, and I’m beyond excited to say I came away with a brand new half marathon PR (along with a few others along the way)!
The weather was absolutely perfect, the energy was off the charts, and the crowds were amazing from start to finish. There seemed to be support around every corner, and it made a huge difference when the miles started adding up.
It was also awesome seeing so many Team-ER teammates out there today. Whether racing, cheering, or celebrating afterward, it’s always inspiring to be surrounded by so many positive and motivated people.
Most of all, I’m pumped and proud that even as I get older, I’m still finding ways to improve and set new personal bests. It’s proof that growth doesn’t have to stop with age. In fact, sometimes the best accomplishments come after years of patience, consistency, and believing there’s still more in the tank.
And let’s not forget the post-race celebration! Great food, tons of goodies, awesome atmosphere, and plenty of reasons to celebrate a day that I won’t soon forget.
Feeling grateful, inspired, and already looking forward to the next challenge.
Race Recap By Mike Williams:
Saturday was a beautiful day to run a Half Marathon. You couldn’t ask for better weather or friends to run with.
Race Recap By Felicia Neal:
Event #52 was Akron Marathon Birthday Banana Bunch Relay to celebrate our friend Jen’s Birthday! We made a great bunch! This was my 2nd relay, but my 1st road relay. It was so much fun and I decided to really get into the spirit. We got 21st place for our coed team! This race was so much fun, well organized and just a splitting good time. I had the 3rd leg and peeled out and went totally bananas ripe with adventure! I slipped into greatness because of our team! I would definitely do this race again maybe 1st leg relay and complete the half or full. The weather was perfect, it was very a peeling!
Race Recap By Lisa Keane:
I am generally not a road runner but Akron knows how to put on an event!
From expo to race day, this race is organized, professional, & fun!
I joined a relay team to celebrate our friends birthday and took advantage of the 1st leg / half marathon combo!
It was a beautiful morning and I had the best time!
I ran my relay leg by myself and then teamed up with my BFF and ran the 2nd leg with her to get my half marathon.
So much spectator and community involvement with music, friendly faces and even a quick beer station!
The course is challenging with police for safety. The best after party hanging with friends and enjoying the food trucks, beverages, & live music! Nice swag!
Race Recap By Gretchen Snyder:
I ran the fourth leg in the Akron Marathon team relay this morning. While the race was well organized, per usual, I do miss two things: the team finish into the Rubber Ducks stadium, and the race timing app.
I appreciated the very clear announcing of the incoming bib numbers (hasn’t always been the case)!
Running through Sand Run Metropark was completely uphill (almost 300’ incline in 4.5 miles). Major props to the full marathoners who hit this at mile 17, FOR REAL
While running through the Metropark was bereft of any cheering spectators, at around mile 20-21, the Wiltshire neighborhood was packed with cheering crowds, fuel stations, and live music.
After I finished, of course I felt like I could have run faster, but while I ran, not so much.
The finish line viewing area was way too crowded and difficult to navigate, especially for a shortie. The after-race food and drinks, live music were great. I enjoyed seeing so many other Team ER members out there.
Overall, loved the relay and will be back next year, different leg….someone else can take the hills.
Race Recap By Brittany Kiehl:
It was a beautiful day. Leg 2 of the relay started on the University of Akron campus and ended in downtown Akron. It was roughly 5.5 miles. This leg allows you to be able to cross the All America Bridge. There was little crowd support on the bridge. We finished on Main Street and had just over a half mile walk to the finisher’s area at Lock 3. Parking was easy and was close to the starting point of leg 2. However, it was over a half mile back from the finish almost completely uphill. It would have been a nice option to have a shuttle back to the Exchange parking deck.
The finishers area this year was at Lock 3. They had a few different food trucks to choose from which was a nice variety. The Akron Marathon continues to be one of the best days of the year in Akron. They put on a fantastic expo on Friday before the race. I already can’t wait to complete series again next year.
