Cleveland Marathon

Name

Cleveland Marathon

Legal name

Cleveland Marathon, Inc.

Website

https://clevelandmarathon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Race Events

NAICS

Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling) (MPAKADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA), Virtual & Hybrid Participation Events (App-Based, Remote/Hybrid Races) (MPAKAIAH)

Keywords

• Marathon race events
• Distance running events
• Road race management
• Charity running events
• Youth marathon programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Race Registration Fees: Revenue generated from participant registration fees for Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run, Challenge Series, and Virtual race categories. The event offers various distance options at different price points.
2. Title Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship revenue from title sponsors. Rite Aid was the title sponsor for over 40 years (since 2003), and currently University Hospitals holds the title sponsorship. These are major long-term partnerships.
3. Charity Program: The marathon facilitates fundraising for charity partners. In 2026, $500,000 was raised through 43 organizations and 470+ runners. Cleveland Marathon Charities (501c3) was created in 2007 to coordinate charitable participation.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online merchandise store selling official Cleveland Marathon merchandise including apparel and gear.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cleveland Marathon organizes an annual multi-distance road race weekend featuring a 26.2-mile Full Marathon, 13.1-mile Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids' Run, Challenge Series (multi-distance combinations), and a Virtual race option. Complementary offerings include official training programs (Runna by Strava personalized plans and Fleet Feet coached group runs), a cross-training package with Harness Cycle and Soul Yoga, on-course medical support from University Hospitals, a Charity Program coordinating fundraising for 43+ local nonprofits, and official race merchandise.

Product overview

The Cleveland Marathon is a multi-day running event offering multiple race distances: Full Marathon (26.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), 5K (3.1 miles), Kids' Run, Challenge Series (multi-distance combinations), and Virtual race options. The 2026 event drew over 13,000 runners. Supporting the race events are official training programs including Runna by Strava (personalized digital training plans), Fleet Feet Training Programs (in-person coaching with group runs), and Harness Cycle X Soul Yoga cross-training packages. Medical support is provided through University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute. The marathon also operates a Charity Program partnering with local organizations for fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Marathon 26.2-mile flagship road race touring downtown Cleveland, Lake Erie, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and neighborhoods including Tremont, Lakewood and Edgewater; serves experienced distance runners, Boston Marathon qualifiers, and AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Qualifier aspirants.
• Half Marathon 13.1-mile race distance added in 2005 for runners and walkers as a standalone challenge or step toward the full marathon; serves recreational runners and event newcomers.
• 10K 6.2-mile race distance offered as part of race weekend; serves fitness-focused runners seeking an intermediate distance.
• 5K 3.1-mile race distance first held in 2009 as part of race weekend; serves recreational runners, families and first-time racers.
• Kids' Run Youth running event offered as part of race weekend activities for children and families.
• Challenge Series Multi-distance challenge requiring participants to complete two race distances (e.g., 8K + Half Marathon or 8K + Full Marathon) during race weekend; serves runners seeking a combined endurance achievement.
• Virtual Race Remote participation option allowing runners to complete a chosen race distance from any location; a virtual event was held in 2020.
• Runna by Strava Training Plans Personalized digital training plans from Runna by Strava that adapt to runner pace and schedule, with advanced pacing insights, heart rate guidance, running-specific strength sessions, and an in-app community of more than 1,000 runners.
• Fleet Feet Training Programs Coached in-person group training programs from Fleet Feet Cleveland covering marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K distances; includes weekly group runs from east and west side locations, coaching support, educational clinics, and exclusive ASICS apparel and partner discounts ($130–$150 marathon/half tier; $85–$100 5K/10K tier).
• Harness Cycle X Soul Yoga Cross-Training Package Cross-training package of 12 beat-driven cycling classes at Harness Cycle and 12 yoga sessions at Soul Yoga in Cleveland's Historic Vitrolite Building in Ohio City; priced at $195 (retail value $564) and designed to build endurance and support marathon recovery; credits expire July 15, 2026.
• Charity Program Charity partner program enabling organizations and runners to raise funds through race participation, coordinated through Cleveland Marathon Charities, the 501(c)(3) created in 2007; 2026 had 43 partner organizations and 470+ runners raising $500,000 collectively.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ total runners participated since 1978
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• University HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle sponsor and official medical provider for the Cleveland Marathon. University Hospitals provides sports health expertise, medical director services, training tips, injury prevention resources, and hydration guidance. The partnership includes the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute as the official medical provider.
• Rite AidcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer title sponsor for over 40 years (since 2003). Rite Aid's sponsorship coincided with the race's most significant growth period, with participation increasing 300%. This is one of the longest title sponsorships of any race in the country.
• Fleet FeetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial training partner providing marathon and half marathon training programs, 5K/10K training, group runs from east and west side locations, coaching support, and exclusive partner discounts.
• Runna by StravacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Training Partner providing personalized Cleveland Marathon training plans that adapt to runner pace and schedule. Offers advanced pacing insights, heart rate guidance, running-specific strength sessions, and an in-app community of 1000+ runners.
• ASICSmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraining program sponsor for Fleet Feet, providing exclusive program apparel items for participants and demo opportunities for runners to try new gear.
• Harness CyclesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-training partner located in the Historic Vitrolite Building in Ohio City. Provides beat-driven cycling classes as part of the official Cross-Training Package.
• Soul YogasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-training partner located in the Historic Vitrolite Building in Ohio City. Provides yoga sessions focused on recovery, flexibility, and mindfulness for marathon training.
• Cleveland Marathon CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA 501(c)(3) organization created in 2007 to coordinate and organize local charitable organizations' participation in the event. Distributed $40,000 in its first year and has helped raise well over $5 million for local charities since inception.
• YMCA of Greater ClevelandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the We Run This City Youth Marathon Program, which trains Cleveland Metropolitan School District students (ages 13-18) to run in marathon events. Grew from 81 kids in first year (2006) to over 700 participants by 2012.
• Cleveland Metropolitan School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner in the We Run This City Youth Marathon Program, providing access to students for the free youth marathon training program.
• Abbott World Marathon MajorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Cleveland Marathon is an AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Qualifier, providing runners with qualification opportunities for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
• Second SolesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides footwear and socks at cost for participants of the We Run This City youth marathon program.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marine Corps Marathon Organization: Operates the Marine Corps Marathon and affiliated races in the Washington, D.C. area. Comparable as a nonprofit/mission-driven mass-participation road race organizer with charity fundraising and multi-distance event formats.
• Boston Athletic Association: Operates the Boston Marathon, the most prestigious U.S. road marathon and a Boston qualifier reference race. Directly comparable as a long-standing nonprofit road-race organizer with elite runner focus and AbbottWMM qualifier status.
• Los Angeles Marathon: Major U.S. city road marathon organized as a mass-participation event with multi-distance weekend offerings. Comparable in business model and event structure, though based in a larger market with stronger destination appeal.
• Bank of America Chicago Marathon: One of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors and a large-scale U.S. city marathon. Comparable as a marquee road marathon event with charity program, sponsor stack, and similar operational model, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• New York Road Runners: Operates the TCS New York City Marathon and a portfolio of year-round races and youth programs. Comparable as a large-scale nonprofit-style road race organizer with sponsor, charity, and training ecosystems, though at materially larger scale.
• Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series: National series of themed road running events across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable as a multi-event mass-participation race organizer, but operates as a broader series rather than a single city anchor.

Regional players

• Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon: Regional U.S. city marathon and multi-distance race weekend in the Midwest. Comparable as a peer-sized mass-participation event organizer in the broader Great Lakes/Midwest region with similar nonprofit-style operations and community charity integration.
• Flying Pig Marathon (Cincinnati): Ohio-based mass-participation road marathon with multi-distance offerings and charity program. Comparable as a nearby in-state peer competing for Ohio-based runners, sponsors, and charity partnerships.
• Detroit Free Press Marathon: Regional Midwest road marathon with multi-distance race weekend format and charity partnerships. Comparable as a similarly sized Great Lakes city marathon with overlapping competitive geography and sponsor profile.
• Grandma's Marathon (Duluth): Mid-sized U.S. road marathon with multi-distance race weekend and community charity focus. Comparable as a similarly scaled nonprofit mass-participation race organizer with Boston-qualifier status and similar regional market dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clevemarathon
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/clevelandmarathon
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Rite-Aid-Cleveland-Marathon/94744046445
• Instagraminstagram.com/clevemarathon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleveland-marathon-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleveland Marathon