The University Hospitals Cleveland Marathon is shaking up its signature race, unveiling a revamped 26.2-mile course that will start and finish at St. Clair Avenue and Mall B in downtown Cleveland. Race weekend is set for May 16–17, with the full marathon scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026. Organizers say the redesigned route is meant to showcase the lakefront and downtown landmarks while giving runners long straightaways and dedicated cheer zones.
The change was announced March 26 and, organizers said, reflects runner and spectator feedback about the city's best viewing spots and fan-friendly stretches. That announcement is detailed by Cleveland.com.
Start and route highlights
The start and finish will be at St. Clair Avenue Northeast and W. Mall Drive (Mall B), with course maps showing runners threading past Public Square, Tower City and Playhouse Square, then heading along the lakefront with views of Lake Erie and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The half marathon mirrors the first portion of the full course, with aid stations and medical tents placed along the route. For a full map and turn-by-turns, see the race's course resources on the Cleveland Marathon website (Cleveland Marathon).
Last year's turnout and winners
Last year, more than 11,000 runners took part in the marathon weekend, underscoring the event's regional draw. Local coverage shows Ashton Swinford won the women's marathon, her fourth consecutive Cleveland victory, while Zach Kreft took the men's title. The results and turnout were reported by WJW/Sports.
Registration and race-day logistics
Registration is open for the 49th University Hospitals Cleveland Marathon, and the event will again include the full and half marathons, a 10K, 5K, Kids Fun Run and a Challenge Series. The half marathon start time is 7:00 a.m., and the start/finish area at Mall B will host post-race amenities and the 26.3 Mile After Party. For registration details, course maps and the event schedule, see the race's official pages: Cleveland Marathon.
Between the lakefront stretches and the downtown run, the new course is built to be easier to watch and faster to run, a tradeoff meant to keep more of the city inside the race's roar. Expect more details and street-closure notices as race weekend approaches; organizers have urged fans and drivers to consult official race and city traffic pages before May 16–17.
