Road Closures Planned for 48th Annual Glass City Marathon This Weekend

TOLEDO, Ohio — The 48th annual Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is set for Sunday, and runners and drivers alike are advised to prepare for road closures in Toledo, Ottawa Hills, and Sylvania. The event, hosted by the Toledo Roadrunners Club, attracts thousands of participants and their families, with many returning for years.

The marathon weekend kicks off Friday with a health expo at Savage Arena on the University of Toledo campus, where attendees can register for races, pick up race packets, and visit vendors. The expo runs from Friday through Saturday and is free to the public.

Race day will feature several road closures from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, facilitating a smooth experience for runners. Roads will reopen in a rolling manner as each runner passes through. Eastbound Bancroft Street, for example, will be closed from 5 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday.

In Ottawa Hills, various streets, including Talmadge Road and Indian Road, will close intermittently on Sunday morning. Similarly, in Sylvania, closures are expected from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

“We want to thank everybody in advance for being patient about the road closures, because all the racers really appreciate it,” said Kelsey Whelan, a participant who has run the marathon for over a decade.

Local businesses, such as Stubborn Brother Pizza, are also preparing for the influx of visitors. Manager Andrew Mancy noted that even with road closures, the marathon helps bring in customers. “We’ll have so much foot traffic around this area anyway that it won’t really matter for us at all,” Mancy said.

Runners are also encouraged to download the RaceJoy app to track their progress and receive encouragement from spectators. The event continues to draw participants from across the country, making it a staple in Toledo’s community calendar.

Officials remind residents to plan ahead and stay informed about road closures throughout the weekend.