The Towpath Marathon

Register for the race online, or by mailing the race form.

Mail to:
Canalway
PO Box 609420
Cleveland, OH 44109

If you have further questions or concerns on registration, please feel free to email julie@canalwaypartners.com

The cost of The Towpath Marathon increases as the race gets closer. The Towpath Marathon prices also depend on race length you choose to run.

Full Marathon Length:
Jan. 8 – July 31: $80
August 1 – September 6: $85
September 7 - October 1: $105
October 2 - October 4: $110

Half Marathon Length:
Jan. 8 – July 31: $70
August 1 – September 6: $75
September 7 - October 1: $95
October 2 - October 4: $105

10K Length:
Jan. 8 – July 31: $50
August 1 – September 6: $55
September 7 - October 1: $65
October 2 - October 4: $70

You can pay an additional fee to have your t-shirt and race packet mailed to you if you register before September 15.

All participants will receive a long-sleeved technical shirt.

Full and half marathoners receive finishers medals.

You can register for The Towpath Marathon until noon on Oct. 4.

To have your packet mailed to you, you must register by September 15. If you register via the mail, your form must be received by September 20.

There will be no race day registration.

We welcome walkers and encourage them to take advantage of our early start time for the full and half to ensure that they finish within the allotted time. This is 1 hour before the official start time. We do not offer a walker’s division for the 10K and find that runners tend to do a walk/run combo if they desire.

All walkers and runners will finish at the same finish line. Be careful as it will be dark walking to the start line and we recommend bringing water as the first water stop will not be set up yet.

When you sign up virtually, you run the race on your own time and at your own preferred location and submit results online. Learn how to submit results on Run Signup here.

You will still need to pick up your packet at the available times or pay to have your packet mailed to you.

Virtual runners are not eligible to win awards.

Runners should be on site and ready to run 20 minutes before the race start time that was assigned during your registration. Please leave plenty of time to find parking and walk to the start line.

Top Three Overall Male & Female

Top Three Male & Female in Age Division (Subject to Change)

Age Divisions for The Towpath Marathon are: 19 and under; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70 and over.

Early start registrants are not eligible for awards.

All winners receive a photo award commemorating the race.

Fleet Feet awards a $50, $40, $30 gift certificate to the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd overall male & female finishers.

You may also choose to have your award mailed to you for $7. (Fill out form to have your award mailed to you after the race).

No, all entries are non-refundable. Once we’ve received and processed your entry, you will not receive a refund and entry fees are not transferable to the next year’s race or any other race. You do have the option to switch your registration to the virtual race option.

If the in-person events are canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all participants will be automatically converted to the virtual event. This race will not be postponed to a future date.

If you are interested in transferring your registration to another runner, email Julie@canalwaypartners.com. There is a $10 transfer fee.

You may transfer your entry to another person for a fee of $10.00.

To complete a Transfer, go to your profile on Run Signup and chose either the refund transfer or gift transfer option. Enter in the Transferee’s name and email to send them the transferring registration. Once the transferee completes the registration, the original registrant is removed from the race.

More information on race transfers on Run Signup.

For assistance, email julie@canalwaypartners.com. There will be NO transfers on race day!

Results will be posted on our website in real time as runners are finishing.

All courses are on paved surface, though the surface in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is crushed limestone.

The course is relatively flat but the first 3 and last 3 miles of the races are hilly.

View Elevation Chart

Yes. Please be mindful of other runners while wearing them.

No, the Towpath Trail can vary in size from 8 to 10 feet wide and with runners racing in both directions in separate race divisions, we do not allow dogs out of concerns for safety.

No, the Towpath Trail can vary in size from 8 to 10 feet wide and with runners racing in both directions in separate race divisions, we do not allow jogging strollers or racing wheelchairs out of concerns for safety.

The 2024 Towpath Marathon course is certified by the USATF as a Boston Marathon Qualifier.

No roads are totally closed because the majority of the race in run on the Towpath Trail. As runners go through intersections, Cleveland police will stop traffic as needed. Please make sure you are parked at least 20 minutes before the start of the race.

Yes, we have several race distances and all will be marked.

The course will be supported with aid stations for 6 1/2 hours, from 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM. We cannot guarantee road closures or staffed aid stations past this time. This means that runners finishing the race in over 6 1/2 hours (or running slower than 13-minute mile) will not have support for the time over 6 1/2 hours (or past 2:00 PM). If you are concerned that you may not finish within 6 1/2 hours, you may want to consider an early start. See question below.

There is NO bag drop or day of packet pickup.