Runners hit the pavement Saturday to participate in the 22nd annual Akron Marathon Race Series. The Blue Line through Akron led the athletes along the marathon, half marathon and team relay routes beginning at 7 a.m. on High Street next to the Akron Art Museum. and finished in front of Canal Park (Akron RubberDucks stadium).

Runners traversed through North Hill, past the University of Akron, into Firestone Park, along the Towpath Trail, and through Sand Run Park before circling through Highland Square to West Market Street and back downtown. 

"Mr. Peanut" runs briefly with his daughter, Kari Suggett, as Kari runs the half marathon race.
“Mr. Peanut” runs briefly with his daughter, Kari Suggett, as Kari runs the half marathon race as part of the Akron Marathon Race Series Saturday. Her dad waited for her to come across the bridge so he could meet up with her. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Signal background
The marathon, half marathon and team relay gets started
The marathon, half marathon and team relay get started at 7 a.m. in downtown Akron on High Street next to the Akron Art Museum. The races finish in front of Canal Park Stadium. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Eleanor Sovacool cheers along runners.
Eleanor Sovacool cheers along runners at mile 7.8 while handing out water at Aster Ave. and Lindenwood Ave. (Doug Brown / Signal Akron)
Runners make their way up the last sizable hill on the course during the 22nd Akron Marathon Race series.
Runners make their way up the last sizable hill on the course during the 22nd Akron Marathon Race series Saturday, Sept. 28. The hill was on West Market Street near the Akron Family Restaurant. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
One of the waves of runners takes off at the start of the 22nd Akron Marathon Race series.
One of the waves of runners takes off at the start of the 22nd Akron Marathon Race series Saturday, Sept. 28. The race started on High Streeet downtown next to the Akron Art Museum. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Aaron Davidson crosses the finish line of the Akron marathon,
Aaron Davidson crosses the finish line of the Akron marathon, coming in first place with a time of 2:25:30. (Doug Brown / Signal Akron)
Elena Soster, left, Hailee Yoshizaki-Gibbons, and Caitlin Gibbons.
Elena Soster, left, Hailee Yoshizaki-Gibbons, and Caitlin Gibbons, right, cheer on runners participating in the Akron Marathon Race Series on North Portage Path next to Portage Country Club. Emma Soster, 4, and Eloise Soster, 2, helped encourage the racers as well. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Laura Taucher of Akron, who ran in the 22nd annual Akron marathon, gets a hug of encouragement from her friend, Kirsten Bardwell as Kirsten's sister, Kelly Dickerson, looks on.
Laura Taucher of Akron, who ran in the 22nd annual Akron marathon, gets a hug of encouragement from her friend, Kirsten Bardwell as Kirsten’s sister, Kelly Dickerson, looks on. Kirsten and Kelly said they come to the race every year and “attempt to cheer for the last people” to finish running. The two started on the north end of downtown near the All American Bridge, then went over to West Market Street near St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Parish church. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Evan Walker, 7, uses a snow shovel to help clean up discarded water and Gatorade cups.
Evan Walker, 7, uses a snow shovel to help clean up discarded water and Gatorade cups along the Akron Marathon route downtown. Evan and his mom, Betsy, were at the marathon to cheer on Evan’s dad, who was running — they’re from Columbus. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Vincent Horning makes his way south on North Portage Path.
Vincent Horning makes his way south on North Portage Path in Highland Square during the 22nd Akron Marathon Race series Saturday, Sept. 28. Horning finished the marathon in 3:18:42. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Jennifer Brewer runs in the half marathon.
Jennifer Brewer runs in the half marathon as part of the Akron Marathon Race Series Saturday as she nears the end of the All American Bridge on the north end of downtown. Brewer, from West Virginia, finished third overall for women with a time of 1:20:27. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
A runner grabs a drink from a water station on West Market Street.
A runner grabs a drink from a water station on West Market Street near St. Vincent-St. Mary’s church (in the background) during the 22nd Akron Marathon Race series Saturday, Sept. 28. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Ellen Dies, left, Ulius Benson,. center, and Selena Holmes cheer on runners.
Ellen Dies, left, Ulius Benson,. center, and Selena Holmes cheer on runners from the front landing of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Parish church during the 22nd Akron Marathon Race series Saturday, Sept. 28. The ladies are parishoners at the church. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.