AKRON, Ohio – To protect Akron Marathon participants from COVID-19, this year’s Akron Marathon Health and Fitness Expo is closed to the public, event organizers said.
The health expo, scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24 at the John S. Knight Center, features health and wellness vendors, and official marathon merchandise. The Knight Center is located at 77 E. Mill St. in downtown Akron.
The health expo is only open to registered runners and those picking up race packets for the final events in the marathon series, as well as vendors, volunteers, staff and media, officials said. Masks will be required for all event attendees.
The FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay are scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. The Blue Line marks the marathon course through the city, with the starting line on Broadway Street and the finish line at Lock 3 Park on South Main Street.
Events this weekend will complete the race series, which included the National Interstate and 1 Mile in June, and the Half Marathon and 10K in August.
About 8,500 runners are expected to participate in this year’s series, which averages 100,000 spectators and 2,000 volunteers, organizers said.
Another change this year is the launch of Art & Sole, a collaborative project between ArtsNow, a nonprofit advocating for art in Summit County, and the Akron Marathon Charitable Corp. The organizations were awarded an ArtsNext grant by the Ohio Arts Council to create the project.
Art & Sole will showcase local artists and different types of entertainment along the Blue Line during the race, with “experiences” set up in each of Akron’s 13 neighborhoods.
“This year, the arts will only make for more of an incredibly unique running experience,” said Anne Bitong, Akron Marathon charity president.
In August, race organizers announced all runners, volunteers and other marathon participants are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or a negative result on a COVID-19 test taken no more than 72-hours prior to the race.
Organizers said they define “fully vaccinated” as being two weeks past a second dose of either the Pfizer, or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks past a single-dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
A survey of runners in events held before the new rule went into effect indicated 81% of runners were fully vaccinated, officials said.
For more information on upcoming events, including information on road closures in and around Akron, check the Akron Marathon website.