Cleveland Marathon 2015: Route, Course Map, Times, Road Closures, Event Details

One of the globe's fastest and flattest courses returns this weekend at the 38th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

The 26.2-mile romp through downtown Cleveland and beyond is one of the season's biggest spectacles, ripe with various levels of competitiveness, health and fitness expos and more.

For those looking to find their way to the Boston Marathon or just tackle a new challenge, this year promises a scenic route, favorable weather and plenty of action over the course of the weekend.

Here's a look at the start times:

Event	Date and Time (ET)
5K	Saturday, May 16 at 8 a.m.
Kids' Run	Saturday, May 16 at 11 a.m.
Full and Half Marathon and 10K	Sunday, May 17 at 7 a.m.

Feel free to call it one of the busiest four-day stretches of the year in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Indians continued a series with the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday, while the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted a viewing party at Quicken Loans Arena as LeBron James and Co. continued their playoff trek.

Alison Grant of Cleveland.com provides an extensive look at road closures runners and commuters must be aware of, including highways, exit ramps and parking restrictions.

As for the expansive route itself, the marathon's Facebook page provides a detailed look:

Like many of the nation's biggest races, this weekend's event can only stay open and reroute traffic for so long, so the full marathon will remain open for a full seven hours until 7 p.m. ET. If runners don't check in at mile markers in a determined time frame, marathon organizers will send a recovery vehicle to transport them to the finish line.

Not like past events is the third starting point change in the last three years. This time, runners will begin their quick trek from Quicken Loans Arena, although the finish line remains the same, planted on a street close to Huntington Park and City Hall.

For race director Ralph Staph, this year provides a unique opportunity to partner with the Cavaliers.

"If this works out well there, this could be a good partnership with the Cavs,'' Staph said, per Tim Warsinskey of Cleveland.com. "We have a large street to start on (Ontario Avenue) and access to indoor bathrooms at The Q.''

Other than the change at the beginning, the rest of the course remains about the same as prior years, although it is clear the beginning change could mean bigger things in the future for the event.

Warsinskey's report also notes the addition of more water stations at strategic points along the route, a great idea provided that it looks like race day will be quite humid, as Greg Dee of WKYC in Cleveland captures:

Race organizers expect somewhere around 20,000 people to brave the heat, ranging from competitive runners looking to advance to Boston down to the everyday citizen.

Of the notables sure to attend are Parma Heights firefighters, who will run in their full firefighting gear despite the heat in an effort to raise money for ALS research, as Vince Grzegorek of Clevescene.com chronicles:

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Kaszar and two of his fellow firemen — Pat Mason and Brian Durante — will be running the Cleveland marathon on May 17 in full firefighter gear. Never mind that most folks can't run 26.2 miles in shorts, these guys will be suiting up on what could be a balmy day in pounds and pounds of protective gear meant to keep them safe from fires. Why? Pretty simple: to (hopefully) raise a whole ton of cash to donate to ALS research.

"

It's sure to be one of the many unique, inspiring performances this weekend at one of the nation's oldest and most beloved marathons.

With event organizers going the extra mile to improve the route and its surroundings and runners from around the world ready to tackle the flat trek in daunting heat, this year's iteration of the Cleveland Marathon isn't one to miss.

Information via ClevelandMarathon.com unless otherwise specified.