Glass City Marathon: Where to park, where to watch, road closures and tracking

TOLEDO, Ohio — It’s race week! The 48th annual Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is set to take place on Sunday. Hosted by the Toledo Roadrunners Club, this event offers a variety of races and activities for participants and spectators alike.

RELATED: Glass City Marathon weekend has something for everyone of all ages | #11Together

Over a third of participants in the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon qualify for the Boston Marathon. The Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is a USA Track & Field sanctioned event, allowing for Olympic trials qualification.

The weekend begins Friday with packet pickup and the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Health Expo inside Savage Arena on the University of Toledo campus. The expo is open to the public and is free of charge.

At the expo, you can register in person for any events that may still have openings, pick up packets, visit vendors and more. The expo will take place on Friday and Saturday.

RELATED: Mercy Health Glass City Marathon forecast: What weather is ideal for running?

Registration for the races is available online in advance or in person during the health expo:

To register, visit the official Mercy Health Glass City Marathon registration page at this link.

• Toledo Kids Run
  • Fun Run: 11 a.m.
  • 1 Mile: Immediately following start of Fun Run
  • Mercy Health Kids Zone
• 5K Run/Walk: 8:30 a.m.

• Marathon, Half Marathon and 5-person Marathon Relay: 6:30 a.m.

Several road closures are expected throughout race weekend in the areas surrounding the University of Toledo campus in west Toledo, along with portions of Ottawa Hills, Sylvania and Sylvania Township near the University/Parks Trail.

Residents should keep all road closures in mind and plan ahead from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.

Race day street closures will follow a “rolling pattern,” which means as the last participant passes, the road will completely reopen for traffic to return to normal as quickly as possible.

Anyone who needs more information or assistance is encouraged to reach out to info@glasscitymarathon.org. Include your address and how race officials can help.

Eastbound Bancroft Street between Secor Road and Westwood Avenue is expected to be closed from 5 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday.

The following road closures will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. as runners pass through the area:

• Sylvania Avenue (eastbound): Closed from King Road to Corey Road

• King Road: No eastbound turns permitted onto Sylvania Avenue

• Sylvania Avenue: No eastbound traffic allowed from King Road to Holland-Sylvania Road

• Farmbrook Subdivision: Roads throughout the area will be closed; Sylvania Township Police will assist residents with departures as needed

• McCord Road: Intersections at Sylvania Avenue and the University Parks Trail closed to inbound traffic

• Holland-Sylvania Road: Intersections at Sylvania Avenue and the University Parks Trail closed to inbound traffic

• Corey Road: Closed to southbound traffic from Sylvania Avenue to Central Avenue

Ottawa Hills road closures 

The following closures will occur between 6:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., unless otherwise noted:

• Bancroft Street:

  • Closed between Secor Road and University Hills, 4 to 11 a.m.

  • Closed at University Parks Trail to Secor Road, 6:30 to 10 a.m.

• Various streets within Ottawa Hills: Closed from Talmadge Road to Exmoor Road, 6:30 to 9:15 a.m.

• Indian Road: Closed from Talmadge Road to Secor Road, 6:30 to 9 a.m.

• Talmadge Road: Closed from Indian Road to Bancroft Street, 6:30 to 9:30 a.m.

• Exmoor Road: Closed 7 to 9:15 a.m.

• Central Avenue: Closed from Reynolds Road to Corey Road, 7 to 9:15 a.m.

• Richards Road: Closed to northbound traffic from Dorr Street, 7:15 a.m. to noon (southbound open)

• Hasty Road: Closed from Damascus Road to Talmadge Road, 7:15 to 10 a.m.

• Edgevale Road: Eastbound egress available for roads south of Bancroft Street

Closures will be in effect between 4 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in the following locations:

• Bancroft Street (half marathon, marathon and relay start line):

  • Closed from Secor Road to University Hills, 4 to 11 a.m.

  • Closed from Secor Road to Parkside Boulevard, 6:15 to 8:30 a.m.

• Dorr Street: Closed in both directions from Douglas Road to Parkside Boulevard, 6:15 to 7:15 a.m.

• Parkside Boulevard: Southbound lane closed, 6:30 to 7:15 a.m.

• Douglas Road: Closed from Pelham Road to Dorr Street, 6:15 to 8:30 a.m.

• Richards Road: Closed to northbound traffic from Dorr Street, 7:15 to 11 a.m. (southbound open)

• I-475 Corey Road Exit: Closed from 7:45 to 11 a.m.

• Corey Road: Closed between Sylvania Avenue and Central Avenue, 8:15 to 10:45 a.m.

Road closures specific to the UToledo campus and immediate areas include:

Saturday
Closures for the Savage 5K and Kids Race are scheduled in the morning hours:

• West Bancroft Street between North Westwood Avenue and Orchard Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to noon.

• West Rocket Drive and West Towerview Boulevard will be closed from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

• East Rocket Drive will be closed from 6:15 to 10:45 a.m. Eastbound traffic will resume at 10:45 a.m.

Sunday
Additional closures will occur for the marathon, half marathon and relay events:

• West Bancroft Street from Secor Road to Parkside Boulevard will be closed from 4 to 10:45 a.m.

• Stadium Drive will close at 6:15 a.m. and reopen around 1:30 p.m.

• North Towerview Boulevard will be closed at 6:20 a.m. Traffic may flow north and turn only east after race participants reach Parkside Avenue, expected to be around 7:30 a.m. Around 10:30 a.m., traffic will be permitted to travel north on North Towerview Boulevard to turn either east on West Bancroft Street or continue north to University Hills Boulevard and to Douglas Road.

• West Rocket Drive and West Towerview Boulevard will close from 6:20 to 10:30 a.m. Southbound travel on West Rocket Drive will be closed at University Parks Trail; northbound and westbound travel to Secor Road will remain open.

• South Towerview Boulevard and East Rocket Drive will be closed beginning at 8 a.m.

• Traffic from Dorr Street will be allowed west on West Rocket Drive to College Drive. Northbound access at University Parks Trail will remain closed until the race concludes.

• East Rocket Drive and Douglas Road will be closed at 6:20 a.m. Douglas Road is expected to reopen by approximately 8:15 a.m.

You can stream the marathon online at the Glass City Marathon’s website. WTOL 11 will have a full recap of events during the evening newscast.

Plenty of space is available on the final stretch of Stadium Drive. The race finishes inside the Glass Bowl. Spectators are encouraged to line the final stretch and enjoy “Celebration Village” at Parking Lot #10, adjacent to the stadium. 

Additionally, “Rally Row” will be available at Mile 26 for registrants. At Rally Row, registrants will have a 10-foot by 10-foot space reserved on a first-come, first-served basis to set up a personal cheering section near the homestretch party. Pop-up tents and tailgating (no fires) will be allowed in Rally Row. More information is available at this link.

RECOMMENDED VIEWING AND CHEERING LOCATIONS

The following locations are recommended by Glass City Marathon for spectators to enjoy the races. All locations are for the marathon, half marathon and relay unless otherwise noted:

• Stadium Dr., University of Toledo (Saturday start line)
• Bancroft St. at N Towerview (Sunday start line)
• Rally Row, University of Toledo lot #5 (mile 26 between Glass Bowl Stadium and Savage Arena)
• University of Toledo, Stadium Dr. (just outside Glass Bowl Stadium)
• Glass Bowl Stadium Finish Line (Saturday and Sunday)
• Parkside between Door and Bancroft
• Bancroft St. between N Towerview/University Hills and Secor Rd.
• Bancroft St., at University Hills (Relay exchange point #1)
• Ottawa Hills High School
• University of Toledo E Rocket Dr. (Saturday 5k)
• Neighborhoods of Ottawa Hills
• St. Ursula High School and Indian Rd.
• Central Ave. at Wildwood Metropark Entrance
• Wildwood Metropark (Manor House, Stables, UParks Trailhead)
• Bancroft St. from University Parks Trail to Orchard Rd.
• University Parks Trail, King Rd. to University of Toledo
• Corner of King Rd. and Sylvania or Brint Rd.
• Sylvania Southview High School, Cougar Lane
• Corner of Sylvania Ave. and McCord Rd.
• Corner of Sylvania Ave. and Holland-Sylvania.
• Corner of Sylvania Ave. and Corey Rd.
• Corner of Corey Rd. and Springbrook Dr.
• University Parks Trail from Wildwood, east to UT Campus, or west to King Rd.
• University of Toledo Recreation Center Parking Lot
• Savage Arena Parking Lot

Participants and spectators are encouraged to download the RaceJoy app. Using the app, spectators can track the actual locations of participants in a map view and send audio cheers to show support. Participants need to opt in for spectator tracking in RaceJoy.

Participants who opt in must carry their phone as they complete the course.

Spectators can also receive tracking alerts by text or email based on a participant’s racing bib and chip. Participants do not need to carry their phone for these alerts.

You can sign up to receive notifications online, and even track WTOL 11 meteorologist John Burchfield (bib 2009) as he competes as an elite runner in the half marathon. Good luck, John!

The 2025 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon map, including relay and half-marathon routes, is available below or by clicking this link:

On Friday and Saturday, parking will be open for participants and spectators on campus in areas 1N, 1S, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Parking outside of those areas on the University of Toledo campus requires a permit or payment via ParkMobile app.

Additional lots will be available Sunday. Vehicles parked in certain areas will not be able to leave until certain times. More information is available here.