The Cleveland Marathon was Sunday, and people you've never heard of won. Some bloggers whom you might have read also ran.
The race directors have continued to improve the race over the past few years. The marathon and half marathon races sold out for the first time in 33 years. However, despite the increased popularity, the race doesn't draw the big names. That said, Cleveland could be the place where you win.
Women, if you can run a marathon in less than three hours, you have a real chance of winning in Cleveland. For the men, if you can get under 2:30, you're in the hunt. Likewise, the half marathon winners finished in 1:12 for the men and 1:20 for the women. The 10-K is the event you have to watch out for, as that race draws the Kenyans and Ethiopians -- but still nobody you've heard of before.
It seems that the Cleveland Marathon is the only sporting event in the city where the local athletes win.
Ohioans took five podium spots in the marathon and half marathon, winning the men's and women's marathons and women's half marathon, and placing second in the women's marathon and men's half marathon.
Yet, for some reason, I seem to be advocating for outside competitors to come make life miserable for the homegrown runners. I guess I'm just used to watching the home team lose.
9 comments:
And you won't have to worry about Lebron.
Sounds like the prize money is too low... it is cool that the top local runners can actually be successful... maybe races should start giving out an additional award to the top local athlete (maybe the top runner from the state the event is in or the top runner within a certain radius from the event?)... I wouldn't want it be advocating any anti-foreigner sentiment or anything but it would be nice if you could have some success without being a professional runner!
Your last paragraph was the joke I wanted to make, damn it.
The purse for the top spot in the marathon is $1,000. Not exactly an annual salary.
I finished the half in time to watch the first 6 or so men's marathoners come in, including the winner. He made running sub-6:00 miles look like he was barely moving. Wish I could do that.
And the trend continues...
I'd love to run that race (not that I can go anywhere near sub-3) but the time of yr. keeps me away. It could be a very hot day in late May!
Houston used to be like that - then they started offering prize money again.
In my dreams, I could run a half in "only" 1:20. So it seems that even in Cleveland dreams don't come true!
I guess you didn't run it, huh? I could never run a marathon in under 3 hours, so I'm out...
I was in Cleveland last Thursday and cried at Panini's in Westpark. Tragic.
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