Andrew Hettinger only planned to run one marathon. After his brother, Danny, completed the Akron Marathon to celebrate his five-year remission from testicular cancer, they signed up for the 2014 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon together. “I loved every second of it,” Hettinger says. The Canton resident has since completed four full marathons. “I love chasing that joy that I felt the first time I crossed the finish line,” he says. On May 21, Hettinger takes his third crack at Cleveland’s 26.2-miler, which starts at the Quicken Loans Arena, winds through the Gordon Square Arts District, Lakewood and Ohio City, and finishes in the newly renovated Public Square. With more than 30,000 runners expected to hit the road for the race’s 40th anniversary, the new Public Square finish line is a fitting gift for a race that started in 1978 to highlight a city down on its luck. “I’ve always loved how well the race represents Cleveland,” Hettinger says. “It will always have a special place in my heart.” clevelandmarathon.com
We Run This City
The Cleveland Marathon hits a milestone May 21 as we hit the pavement with someone running in it.
