Football fans, this is the race for you — the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio hosts its annual Marathon & Half Marathon this year, along a course that features mostly gently rolling hills and long stretches through the parks along the West Branch of the Nimishillen Creek, which cuts through the heart of the city.

Though the football hall of fame is probably Canton’s biggest claim to fame today, this city of just over 73,000 was also the adopted home of U.S. President William McKinley, who served from 1897 until an assassin’s bullet took his life in 1901.

While you’re in town, you can visit the McKinley National Memorial, which once had a 575-ft.-long, five-tiered reflecting pool called “The Long Water,” but which today has been replaced by stairs leading up to McKinley’s final resting place inside the mausoleum.

Start at the Stark Count Fairgrounds. As for the race, runners will start the race at the Stark County Fairgrounds just outside of downtown Canton and from there they’ll make a U-shaped loop through the city, running through Stadium Park along the west branch of Nimishillen Creek in the second half of the race.

Along this stretch, runners will also make their way toward Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, which they’ll run all the way up to the front steps up and back.

All throughout the race, local bands will be playing music to cheer the runners on, and the Canton Bluecoats marching band will be playing at the finish line.

05-06-2023, 09:00 am - 12:00 pm