race information Race: Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K Date: Sunday, October 10 - 8:00 am Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park 1556 Boston Mills Road, Peninsula, OH 44264 Peninsula is located between Cleveland and Akron Ohio. From Cleveland Hopkins Airport, it is a 30 minute car ride to the start. From Akron/Canton Airport, it is a 35 minute car ride to the start. Marathon course and aid stations will be open for 6 hours Marathon Starting location: Riverview Rd., just north of Boston Mills Ski Resort. Park at Boston Mills Ski Resort Parking Lot. Race finishes at the Boston Store. Roads close at 7:30. Half Marathon and 10K Starting Location: Brandywine Mills Ski Resort. Park at Brandywine Ski Resort Parking Lot. Race finishes at the Boston Store. Roads close at 7:30. MARATHON HALF-MARATHON 10K WALKERS PACKET PICKUP MEDICAL SUPPORT BOSTON MARATHON RULES AND REGULATIONS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS DRIVING DIRECTIONS MARATHON The marathon will begin at 8:00 am. Runners and spectators will park at BOSTON MILLS Ski Area, located at 7100 Riverview Rd. in Peninsula, just north of the Boston Mills Rd. intersection. This parking lot is walking distance (less than 1/4 mile) from the finish area at Boston Store. Runners will start the race on Riverview Rd. Check out our course page for a detailed description and information on aid stations and restroom facilities along the course. HALF MARATHON The half-marathon will begin at 8:00 am. Runners will park at BRANDYWINE Ski Area, located at 1146 W Highland Road, Sagamore Hills, Ohio 44067. Runners will start the race from the Ski Resort parking lot , cut across Highland Rd. to Riverview Rd. and head south toward the Towpath Trail entrance at the Boston Store. Runners will then head north on the Trail to the northern turnaround and head back to finish at the Boston Store. You will be shuttled back to your cars at Brandywine. Check out our course page for a detailed description and information on aid stations and restroom facilities along the course. 10K The 10K will begin at 8:00 am. Runners will park at BRANDYWINE Ski Area, located at 1146 W. Highland Road, Sagamore Hills, Ohio 44067. Runners will start the race from the Ski Resort parking lot , cut across Highland Rd. to Riverview Rd. and head south toward the Towpath Trail entrance at the Boston Store. Runners will then head south on the Trail to the southern turnaround on the trail just past the boardwalk and head back to finish at the Boston Store. You will be shuttled back to your cars at Brandywine. Check out our course page for a detailed description and information on aid stations and restroom facilities along the course. WALKERS We have always taken care to accomodate our walkers. With the race growing as much as it has this past year, this is becoming a little more complicated. Walkers for the full marathon AND the half marathon will both start at 7:00 am at Boston Mills. The marathon walkers will walk the entire marathon course and the half marathon walkers will have their own separate half marathon course, heading south. They will also have special mile marker signs. This course will be sent out to half marathon walkers and also posted on the website shortly. We are discouraging walkers for the 10K UNLESS they can commit to walking at least a 15 minute mile for the first 3 miles because of the length of time we are allowed to close the roads. 10K walkers will start at 8:00 am with the runners. return to top PACKET PICKUP Packet pickup will be held at the Boston Mills Ski Resort at 7100 riverview Rd. Date and hours are: Friday evening, October 8th from 4:00 pm - 8:00 with limited vendors. We will have our full expo on Saturday, October 9th from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. In response to the many requests from runners, this year we are offering the option to have your bib and chip mailed ahead of time for a convenience fee of $10. You will only receive your chip and bib in the mail. Your shirts will be available for pickup on race day at the finish area. This needs to be paid separately and this offer expires On SEPTEMBER 25th. We still highly encourage runners to come and pick up their packet. If you are not able to pick up your packet yourself, you can have a friend or another runner pick it up for you. If you would like to take advantage of our offer to mail your packet, please fill out this form and send it by fax, e-mail or snail mail to our office. MEDICAL SUPPORT Medical Staff will be available to assist runners at all times. We will have EMT vehicles along the course to aid distressed runners as well as trained professionals in golf carts along the trail. In addition, the Cleveland Clinic will have doctors along the course to help where needed. Aid station captains will be able to communicate with the race directors and the EMT staff. The Medical Staff will have the right to withdraw any runners from the race who appear in distress or at risk should they continue running. In the Finish Area, there will be a fully equipped medical tent staffed by a team of professionals equipped with emergency medical supplies should any runner require treatment. BOSTON QUALIFIER The Towpath Marathon is a qualifier for Boston. Our certification code will be posted prior to the race. return to top RULES AND REGULATIONS There is not an age limit to run in the marathon. Those under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian signature on the entry form. We do not allow runners under the age of 16 for the full marathon and 14 for the half marathon, EVEN WITH parental signature. The course will be open for 6 hours. Those wanting to walk the race are encouraged to arrange for an early start time by contacting us. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, October 8th 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Packet pickup Saturday, October 9th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Packet pickup and full expo 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Pasta Dinner at Host Hotel Sunday, October 10th 6:00 am - 7:15 am - Shuttle service loops from host hotels to marathon and half marathon start sites 7:00 am - Walkers start marathon 7:30 am - Walkers start half marathon 7:30 - 8:45 am - Roads Close for Boston Mills and Brandywine 8:00 am - Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K begins 10:00 am - Beer Garden Opens 10:45 am - Marathon Award ceremony begins and continues at regular intervals throughout the day 2:00 pm - Marathon course closes DRIVING DIRECTIONS Boston Mills Ski Resort (marathon start, WALKER start for FULL AND HALF, packet pickup) Brandywine Ski Resort (1/2 marathon start (runners only), 10K start) Recommended Spectator Areas For MARATHONERS, HALF MARATHON WALKERS and PACKET PICKUP (Half Marathoner runners and 10K-ers, scroll down for directions to the start at Brandywine): ***NOTE!!! There is NO parking on local side streets in Boston Township. Your cars WILL be towed. Park at the BOSTON MILLS SKI RESORT, located at 7100 Riverview Rd. Click here for a downloadable pdf map. From the South - Interstate 77 north to Route 21 north exit. Follow Rt 21 to Snowville Road; turn right onto Snowville Road. When Snowville dead ends into Riverview Road, turn right. Boston Mills will be approximately 2 miles down Riverview, on the right. From the Southeast - Route 8 north to Rt 303 exit. Turn left on Rt 303 toward Peninsula. At the second light in Peninsula, turn right onto Riverview Road. Boston Mills will be down approx. 3 miles on the left. From the Southwest - Interstate 71 north to interstate 271 north to the route 303 exit. Turn right onto 303 and follow to the first traffic light. Turn left onto Riverview road and follow approximately 3 miles and Boston Mills will be on your left. From the West - Interstate 480 East to Interstate 77 south to the Miller road exit. Turn left on Miller road and follow to route 21(Brecksville Rd) and make a right. Follow to first traffic light and make a left onto Snowville road. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn right onto Riverview road and follow approximately 2 miles and Boston Mills will be on your right. From the West - Interstate 90 East to Interstate 490 East to Interstate 77 South to the Miller road exit. Turn left onto Miller and follow to route 21(Brecksville Rd) and make a right. Follow to Snowville road and make a left. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn right onto Riverview road and follow approximately 2 miles and Boston Mills will be on your right. From the West - Ohio Turnpike East to Exit 173 which is route 21. Head north on route 21 to Snowville road and make a right on to Snowville road. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn right onto Riverview road and follow approximately 2 miles and Boston Mills will be on your right. From the East - Interstate 271 South to the Route 8 exit. Head south on route 8. Follow to the first traffic light, which is Highland road. Turn right on Highland and follow to dead end, which is Olde Eight road. Turn right on Olde Eight and follow to the first street on your left, which is Highland road. Follow Highland road approximately 3 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road and make a left. Follow approximately 3 miles and Boston Mills will be on your right. From the East - Ohio Turnpike West to exit 180 and head south on route 8. Follow to first traffic light and make a right onto Boston Mills road. Follow approximately 4 miles to Riverview road and make a right. Boston Mills will be on your left. From the North - Interstate 77 south to the Miller road exit and make a left. Follow to route 21 (Brecksville Rd) and make a right. Follow to Snowville road and make a left. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn right onto Riverview road and follow approximately 2 miles and Boston Mills will be on your right. For HALF MARATHON runners and 10K-ers: Park at the BRANDYWINE SKI RESORT, located at 1146 W Highland Road, Sagamore Hills, Ohio 44067. Click here for a downloadable pdf map. From the South - Interstate 77 north to Route 21 north exit. Follow Rt 21 to Snowville Road; turn right onto Snowville Road. When Snowville dead ends into Riverview Road, turn left onto Riverview. At the 1st stop sign, turn right onto Vaughn Road. Vaughn Road and Highland Road are one in the same, and you will see Brandywine approx. 1 mile down on your right. From the Southeast - Route 8 north to Highland Road. Turn left onto Highland Road. At the 1st stop sign, turn right onto Olde Eight, then turn left immediately after the overpass to pick up Highland Road again. Follow approximately 4 miles and Brandywine will be on your left. From the Southwest - Interstate 71 north to interstate 271 north to the route 303 exit. Turn right onto 303 and follow to the first traffic light. Turn left onto Riverview Road, and pass Boston Mills Ski Resort. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Vaughn Road. Vaughn Road and Highland Road are one in the same, and you will see Brandywine approx. 1 mile down on your right. From the West - Interstate 480 East to Interstate 77 south to the Miller road exit. Turn left on Miller road and follow to route 21 (Brecksville Rd) and make a right. Follow to first traffic light and make a left onto Snowville road. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn left onto Riverview Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Vaughn Road. Vaughn Road and Highland Road are one in the same, and you will see Brandywine approx. 1 mile down on your right. From the West - Interstate 90 East to Interstate 490 East to Interstate 77 South to the Miller road exit. Turn left onto Miller and follow to route 21(Brecksville Rd) and make a right. Follow to Snowville road and make a left. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn left onto Riverview Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Vaughn Road. Vaughn Road and Highland Road are one in the same, and you will see Brandywine approx. 1 mile down on your right. From the West - Ohio Turnpike East to Exit 173 which is route 21. Head north on route 21 to Snowville road and make a right on to Snowville road. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn left onto Riverview Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Vaughn Road. Vaughn Road and Highland Road are one in the same, and you will see Brandywine approx. 1 mile down on your right. From the East - Interstate 271 South to the Route 8 exit. Head south on route 8. Follow to the first traffic light, which is Highland Road. Turn right onto Highland Road. At the 1st stop sign, turn right onto Olde Eight, then turn left immediately after the overpass to pick up Highland Road again. Follow approximately 4 miles and Brandywine will be on your left. From the East - Ohio Turnpike West to exit 180 and head north on Route 8. Turn left onto Highland Road. At the 1st stop sign, turn right onto Olde Eight, then turn left immediately after the overpass to pick up Highland Road again. Follow approximately 4 miles and Brandywine will be on your left. From the North - Interstate 77 south to the Miller road exit and make a left. Follow to route 21 (Brecksville Rd) and make a right. Follow to Snowville road and make a left. Follow approximately 4 miles to dead end, which is Riverview road. Turn left onto Riverview Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Vaughn Road. Vaughn Road and Highland Road are one in the same, and you will see Brandywine approx. 1 mile down on your right. return to top RECOMMENDED SPECTATOR LOCATIONS Station Road: From North or South: Take I-77; exit onto Rt 82 (exit # 149) - east. Turn east, past Rt. 21 and enter Cleveland Metroparks Parkway to Riverview Road. Cross road into Station Road Bridge parking area. Hunt Farm: From North or South: Hunt Farm is accessed from I-77 via the Richfield exit (exit # 143) Wheatley Rd./176. After exiting from I-77, drive east on Wheatley Rd. until it dead ends on Riverview Rd. Turn south (right); be prepared to make a quick turn left onto Bolanz Rd. Signs will direct you on where to park. Boston Store: Park in the Boston Mills Ski Resort Parking lot: From the south: take I-77; exit onto Rt 21 (exit # 145). Prepare to turn right (east) onto Boston Mills Rd. Turn left (north) onto Black Rd. for short trip over bridge; then turn right (east) back onto Boston Mills Rd. Drive down, to Riverview Rd. Turn left and prepare to take a quick left into the Boston Mills Ski Resort Parking Lot. From the north - Take I-77; exit at the Miller Rd. exit (exit #147) - head west (left); turn south (right) on Rt. 21; turn left on Snowville Road - drive to bottom of hill; turn right (south) on Riverview Road. About a mile and a half on your right, turn right into the Boston Mills Ski Resort parking area. Village of Peninsula: From the south: take I-77; exit at the Richfield exit (exit # 143) Wheatley Rd./176. After exiting from I-77, drive east on Wheatley Rd. until it dead ends on Riverview. Turn left and drive north towards Peninsula. Turn right onto Rt 303 and park in the CVNP trailhead parking. From the north - Take I-77; exit at the Miller Rd. exit (exit # 147) - head west (left); turn south (right) on Rt. 21; turn left (west) on Rt. 303 - park in the CVNP trailhead parking